Low Carb Substitutes for Pasta, Bread, & More | Atkins (2024)

Finding ways to cut carbs and still enjoy an abundant variety of foods can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to. We’ve rounded up 10 low carb hacks below to show you how. Whether you’re just getting started on Atkins, or looking to breathe new life into your longtime low carb lifestyle, these substitutes only require swapping a few easy-to-find ingredients in for carb-laden breads and pastas.

If you’ve got a packed schedule, set a manageable goal to try one low carb hack a week.

Low Carb Substitutes

1. Swap spiralized zucchini or spaghetti squash in for noodles in Asian and Italian dishes.

2. Make breads, muffins, pizza crusts, and pancakes with Atkins All Purpose Baking Mix (also available in Gluten Free).

3. Substitute riced cauliflower for rice—our Cauliflower Risotto recipe shows you how.

4. Use lettuce wraps in lieu of taco shells.

5. Layer your lasagna with eggplant slices, not pasta.

6. Whip up some “cloud bread,” a low-carb, three-ingredient recipe that’s become a popular health trend.

7. Mash up baked cauliflower, not potatoes. This Atkins recipe makes it easy.

8. Forget the bun, and stack your burger between two portabello mushrooms.

9. Satisfy a french fry craving with baked butternut squash, carrot, or even turnip fries.

10. Replace all or half your instant mac-and-cheese noodles with diced non-starchy veggies.

Get more resources to begin your low carb diet by joining our community today.

Low Carb Substitutes for Pasta, Bread, & More | Atkins (2024)

FAQs

Low Carb Substitutes for Pasta, Bread, & More | Atkins? ›

Rice, potatoes, and corn are all excellent sources of carbohydrates, and they are just as healthy as bread and pasta. Fruits are also an excellent source of carbohydrates, but it would be a stretch to call them a bread substitute.

What can you replace bread and pasta with? ›

Rice, potatoes, and corn are all excellent sources of carbohydrates, and they are just as healthy as bread and pasta. Fruits are also an excellent source of carbohydrates, but it would be a stretch to call them a bread substitute.

What is filling but no carbs? ›

These include protein choices such as chicken breast, eggs, plain yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, and cheese, as these foods are lower in overall calories but are high in protein to aid in an increased feeling of fullness, she explained.

What can I eat instead of bread for no carbs? ›

Sandwich bread alternatives
  • Ezekiel bread. Ezekiel bread is a healthful bread that got its name from a Bible verse that mentions an ancient process of bread making. ...
  • Cloud bread. Cloud bread, or oopsie bread, is very popular with low-carb and keto dieters. ...
  • Eggplant disks. ...
  • Portobello mushroom burger buns.

What happens if I eat no carbs for 2 weeks? ›

Severe carb limits can cause your body to break down fat into ketones for energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis can cause side effects such as bad breath, headache, fatigue and weakness. It's not clear what kind of possible long-term health risks a low-carb diet may pose.

What happens if I stop eating bread and pasta? ›

By decreasing carbohydrate consumption such as bread, the body burns stored energy as glycogen (which is the image of stored carbohydrates in the liver and muscles), which leads to water loss and weight loss.

Is it really worth not eating bread pasta and other carbs? ›

Science makes the answer pretty clear: no. While bread, pasta and sugar are hard-to-resist sources of calories without much in the way of nutrition, other carbohydrate-heavy foods — whole grains, legumes and fruit — are nutrient-rich.

What is the number one worst carb? ›

1. Sugary Foods. Most people already think of many of the foods in this category as unhealthy treats. Candy, soft drinks, and sweet desserts such as cake, chocolate, and ice cream are all expected entries on a list of carbs to avoid to lose weight.

What foods are basically no carbs? ›

Food and drinks allowed on a no-carb diet include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, oils, water, and plain coffee or tea.

What is a low carb substitute for sandwiches? ›

Here are nine tasty bread swaps for a low-carb sandwich:
  • Eggplant Slices. A meatier alternative to lettuce, eggplant is another great bread substitute that packs a nutritious punch. ...
  • Portobello Mushrooms Caps. ...
  • Baked Cheese. ...
  • Almond Flour Bread. ...
  • Cloud Bread. ...
  • Sweet Potato Toast. ...
  • Cucumber or Zucchini Subs. ...
  • Bell Peppers.

What type of bread has no carbs? ›

A typical slice of cloud bread has zero carbs, 36 calories, and 2 grams each of fat and protein.

What is the lowest carb breading? ›

Low-carb recipe collections often tout pork rinds as a great low-carb "breading" for chicken or fish, zucchini strips or mushrooms. Pork rinds have no carbs, according to the USDA; they're simply strips of pork fat, usually fried in lard and seasoned with salt.

How to flush carbs out of your body? ›

Start by drinking more water and increasing your fiber intake (try eating more non-starchy vegetables or taking a fiber supplement). Ginger, peppermint and licorice – either fresh or in tea form – can also help to get things moving, as can taking magnesium, probiotics or digestive enzymes.

What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat? ›

Five foods that may help burn belly fat include:
  • foods with soluble fiber like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
  • foods with protein like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
  • fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
  • foods with probiotics like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
  • green tea.

What can I replace eating bread with? ›

Here are some options to try:
  • Corn, reduced-carb or whole-grain tortillas.
  • Cheese wraps or cheese slices.
  • Coconut wraps.
  • Cauliflower bread.
  • Cucumber slices.
  • Sweet potato slices.
  • Bell pepper slices.
  • Portobello mushrooms.
Jun 29, 2022

What can you use instead of pasta? ›

8 Low-Carb & Grain-Free Substitutes for Pasta
  • Zucchini. Zucchini is a popular noodle substitute because its texture makes it easy to spiral out into spaghetti-like shapes. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Spaghetti Squash. ...
  • Egg Noodles. ...
  • Cucumber. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • Cabbage.

What is a healthy alternative when craving bread? ›

Minimally processed and real-food carbs — outside of fruits and vegetables — can have a place in a diet when it comes to losing weight and being healthy. Higher carbohydrate foods, such as steel cut oats, brown rice, or quinoa, can be eaten alongside any combination of quality protein and fats.

What are the carbs other than bread and pasta? ›

Starchy vegetables like peas, corn, lima beans and potatoes. Dried beans, lentils and peas such as pinto beans, kidney beans, black eyed peas and split peas. Grains like oats, barley and rice.

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