Patient EducationJul | 9 | 2019
Understanding Low-Carb Foods
Lower-Carb Foods
There are lots of low carbohydrate foods that do not raise your blood sugar levels. Low carbohydrate foods have 5 or fewer grams of carbohydrates.
Vegetables
1/2 cup cooked = 5 grams of carbs
1 cup raw = 5 grams of carbs
Note: 1 1/2 cup cooked or 3 cups raw = 15 grams of carbs
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Beans (green, wax, Italian)
- Bean sprouts
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Green onions or scallions
- Greens (collard, kale, mustard, turnip)
- Leeks
- Mixed veggies (without corn, peas or pasta)
- Mushrooms
- Okra
- Onions
- Pea pods
- Radishes
- Salad greens
- Sauerkraut
- Spinach
- Summer squash
- Tomato
- Turnip
- Zucchini
Fats
- Butter (1 teaspoon)
- Cream cheese (1 tablespoon)
- Light salad dressing (2 tablespoons)
- Margarine (1 teaspoon)
- Oil (1 teaspoon)
- Regular salad dressing (1 tablespoon)
- Sour cream (2 tablespoons)
Other Foods
These foods are considered "free." This means you can use as much as you'd like.
- Bouillon or broth
- Diet soft drinks
- Flavoring extracts
- Garlic, herbs and spices
- Lemon or lime juice
- Mineral or seltzer water
- Pimento
- Soy sauce
- Sugar substitutes
- Sugar-free drinks
- Tabasco or hot sauce
- Taco sauce
- Tea
- Vinegar
- Worcestershire® sauce
Meat and Fish
- Beef, chicken, fish, lean ham, lean pork, seafood, veal (1 ounce)
- Tuna or salmon (canned) (1-2 ounces or 1/4 cup)
Meat Substitutes
- Cottage cheese (1/4 cup)
- Cheese (1 ounce or 1 slice)
- Egg (1)
- Egg substitute (1/4 cup)
- Egg whites (2)
- Nuts (1 ounce or 10-15 nuts)
- Peanut butter (1 tablespoon)
- Tofu (2 ounces or 1/4 cup)
Rev. 1/2015. This webpage is intended to provide health information so that you can be better informed. It is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to treatment of any medical conditions.