We’re all on the move, whether it’s out in the world or jumping between homeschooling and that next Zoom call!
Here are some great ideas for low-carb snacks that will keep you on track with your low-carb lifestyle. They’re divided into two sections: 1) easy to make ahead, and 2) buy ready-made and ready to go. With these best ‘easy-to-prep or get’ low-carb snacks, you don’t ever have to feel deprived or go hungry until the next meal.
BEST LOW-CARB SNACK RECIPES TO MAKE AHEAD
These ideas and recipes can be made ahead and eaten straight out of the fridge or heated briefly in the microwave or toaster oven.
MINI EGG MUFFINS
Make a batch of these for snacks or try two for breakfast. The options are virtually endless.
In a regular lined muffin tin (or a mini tin — reduce cooking time by about half), pour a mixture of beaten eggs, salt and pepper (to taste), to about 2/3 full. Cook 12–15 minutes in a 350○ oven. (The best part is they heat up in the microwave in 30–40 seconds when you’re ready to eat.)
Now the fun part — before you pop them in the oven, you can add tons of extras, including:
- Broccoli & cheddar
- Ham & swiss
- Mushroom, pepper & chard
- Spinach & cheese
- Buffalo chicken — shredded chicken, a splash of Frank’s Hot Sauce and a little cream cheese
- Jalapeno popper
- Tomato parmesan
- Sausage & mushroom
- Kimchi
- Bacon & spinach
- Sun-dried tomato & kale
Just remember to reduce the egg mixture so that it still fills the cup to about 2/3s. You’ll like these so much that you’ll want to invest in some silicone baking cups to make them easy to remove. Or try avocado oil spray to line the cups and make them pop right out.
CHIA PUDDING
Make a batch of chia pudding and you are set for the next day’s low-carb snacks.
A good ratio is 3 tablespoons of chia seeds to one cup of almond milk, plus 1 teaspoon of Monk Fruit Sweetener and a dash of cinnamon. Just mix it together and put it in the fridge overnight.
By the next day, you have a creamy smooth pudding that can be garnished with fresh berries for a great keto diet snack idea.
CHICKEN OR SHRIMP KEBABS
Cook these on the grill or in the oven for a flavorful protein boost. Try with cut-up vegetables like red or green peppers, onion, mushrooms, or kick it up a notch with cherry tomatoes, asparagus, or summer squash. Chicken or shrimp kabobs can be eaten cold or heated up for a quick snack on a stick.
BONE BROTH
Warm, comforting, and filling, bone broth is also loaded with collagen and gelatin to keep your joints healthy and help reduce inflammation.
It may also help fight infections as well as strengthen your nails and hair. And because bone broth is typically cooked longer than traditional broths, it can contain up to 10 grams of protein per cup.
Try making bone broth in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot where you can control the amount of salt added. If you are struggling with getting the recommended fats into your diet, consider supplementing your bone broth with butter or ghee.
MIXED NUTS
Good for your heart and your low-carb diet, try mixed nuts — a good low-carb diet snack. Cashews, almonds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts…all chock full of healthy fats, fiber, and a variety of vitamins.
LETTUCE SANDWICH WRAPS
Choose any type of lettuce: romaine, butter, iceberg. Now use the leaves whole as a substitute for bread or pita or taco shells. Try these types of fillings for a healthy and filling snack:
- Chicken or Tuna Salad
- Sliced Turkey or Ham
- Roasted Veggies
- Cream Cheese and Salmon
- Taco Meat
- Egg Salad
- Nut butters
GUACAMOLE WITH VEGGIE STICKS
Whether you make your guacamole home-made or buy it from the store, it makes a terrific snack with veggie sticks or parmesan crisps. Plus you are getting a healthy dose of good fats from the avocado.
SALMON CELERY STICKS
Try mixing smoked salmon with cream cheese stuffed in celery stalks. It makes a good low-carb snack and adds some omega 3s to your diet as well.
Just shred some smoked salmon and mix thoroughly with the cream cheese. From there it’s easy to fill the celery sticks and you can even make a whole tray of them to keep covered in the fridge where one will be ready when you feel the urge to snack.
CAPRESE SALAD SKEWERS
You may have tried these delicious little morsels at a recent backyard picnic or potluck. These one-bite wonders are easy to make and provide a great pop of cheese, tomato, and basil.
Just take a toothpick and layer on a small ball or cube of mozzarella, a cherry tomato, and a piece of fresh basil leaf. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar glaze for a pungent, sweet/sour type of mouthful.
STUFFED AVOCADOS
Half an avocado stuffed with chicken, crab, or tuna salad makes a filling afternoon snack, plus you are getting a good dose of healthy fats in the avocado and the salad dressing. You can also experiment with tastes by adding fresh or dried herbs — tarragon, cilantro, or dill — to make them more interesting.
LOW-CARB SUSHI SNACK ROLLS
With a pack of nori seaweed sheets, that by themselves are packed with nutrients, add thinly cut strips of vegetables like cucumber, avocado, carrot, and pepper, some cream cheese, and a chunk of shrimp or salmon. Roll tightly, and presto, you have sushi. Serve with soy or sugar-free peanut sauce for a great snack.
In place of the nori, you can also try strips of cooked bacon or thin slices of cucumber or zucchini.
FAT BOMBS
Savory or sweet, fat bombs are a great way to pump up the healthy fats in your diet and also curb the occasional craving.
Try keto burger fat bombs, little meatballs made with either hamburger meat or ‘Beyond Meat’ plant-based meat substitute and butter or ghee and topped with cheese.
Or for a sweet-tooth satisfying treat, start with cream cheese, nut butter, and coconut oil, then add whatever accompaniments you want to make a sweet treat like adding monk fruit sweetener and a variety of tasty add-ons — unsweetened cocoa, or cinnamon, or blueberries. Endless opportunities for the creative for sure.
BEST LOW-CARB SNACKS TO BUY
There are plenty of pre-made and pre-packaged options as well. Try adding some of these to your keto diet snacks list:
SAVORY NUT SNACKS
Try a nut snack mix made with simple clean ingredients and 2 g of net carbs. Almonds, walnuts, and pepitas (or pumpkin seeds) mixed with dried cheese make a tasty snack that satisfies. Try in place of popcorn on movie night.
CHEESE WRAPS
There are lots of bread substitutes out there today, but one of the best is cheese wraps made from nothing but cheese — parmesan, mozzarella, cheddar. You can eat them warm or cold and fill them with taco fixin’s, deli meat, or pepperoni slices for a pizza substitute. And the best part is their lactose-free so if you have dairy sensitivities, these should be fine.
ALMOND CRACKERS
These are a great little find and have a nice crunch when you’re in the mood for something with a little salt. Try them with cheese slices or nut butters for a protein-rich snack.
PORK RINDS
Speaking of crunch and salt, don’t forget pork rinds or chicharrones. They make a great snack on their own or you can crush them for breading chicken or fish before cooking to add additional flavor.
Today, they come fried or baked with flavors like ‘chicken and waffles’, ‘pineapple ancho chile’, or ‘kimchi bbq’.
BEEF, PORK,CHICKEN JERKEY OR BILTONG
Jerky and biltong are perfect snacks to take with you on the go. They both come in tons of flavors and different meats and while jerky can be harder to chew and has a lot of sodium, biltong, an African dried meat, is a clean protein snack that usually has no added sugar or soy and is prepared with vinegar and spices.
TO SUM UP
We’ve given you some ways to bring low-carb snack ideas into your life and with a little pre-planning, you can have your fridge stocked with your favorites in no time.
