Low-carb Swaps

While many people are happy to just give up sweets and starches completely, many others are looking for low-carb swaps for foods they currently enjoy. Most of these will work for keto as well as other low-carb diets. This post lists a bunch of ideas for low-carb swaps. You can try these or they may give you ideas for other things to try. For example, if a swap is to use kale, you could also use swiss chard or other greens with large leaves.

I also have a graphic you can download by clicking here: Low-Carb Swap Graphic.

100 Low-Carb Swaps

Low-carb Swaps for Bread And Burger Buns

• Kale leaves
• Lettuce leaves
• Thick sliced cucumbers
• Roasted Portobello mushroom caps
• Napa or Chinese cabbage

Save 18 plus grams of carbs per 2 slices of bread and 21 grams for each bun

Low-carb Swaps for Wraps

• Lettuce
• Kale
• Cabbage

Save 32 to 43 grams of carbs in traditional wraps and tortillas

Low-carb Swaps for Spaghetti And Pasta

• Spiral cut zucchini
• Japanese shirataki noodles
• Spaghetti squash
• Kelp noodles

Save 37.3 grams of carbs for each 1 cup of pasta

Low-carb Swaps for Lasagna Noodles

• Thick cut zucchini slices
• Sliced eggplant
• Cabbage leaves

Save 21 grams of carbs by replacing just 2 noodles

Low-carb Swaps for Potato Chips/Crispy Salty Snacks

• Kale or Spinach chips
  • Wash and thoroughly dry veg, cut into pieces, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt, garlic, or parmesan cheese. Bake at 350F until edges are brown but not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Crispy green bean fries
  • Toss green beans in oilive oil in a large bowl, add salt, and optional garlic, parmesan cheese or parika and toss to coat. Place on parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 375 for 10 to 15 minutes or until crispy.
• Parmesan cheese crisps
  • Place small piles of shaved parmesan on a non- stick pan, and fry until melted and chew, or longer for extra crispy
• Pepperoni chips
  • Microwave on paper towels until crispy
• American cheese crisps
  • Cut into 1×1 squares, place on parchment paper and microwave for 60 seconds or until crispy
• Almonds and walnuts
• Crispy veggie sticks – Carrots, cucumber, celery, and jicama
• Pickles
• Almond flour or coconut flour crackers (recipes online)
• Flax crackers (several brands have 1 gram per 6 crackers in various flavors)
• Roasted seasoned seaweed (Asian section of supermarkets, online or in health food markets)

Save an average of 114 grams of carbs that are in 8 ounces of chips

Low-carb Swaps for Mashed Potatoes

• Mashed cauliflower – Flavor with a little cheese, garlic, butter, or sour cream

Save 18 grams of carbs per ½ cup

Low-carb Swaps for Hash Browns

• Use spaghetti squash instead of potatoes, fry up as usual

Save 18 grams of carbs per ½ cup

Low-carb Swaps for Potato Salad

• Use softened cauliflower chunks instead of potatoes

Save 20 grams of carbs with each 1-cup serving

Low-carb Swaps for Tacos, Fajitas, and tortillas

• Put all the fillings on a piece of kale or cabbage instead of tortillas
• Keto tortillas for things like enchiladas

Save 23 grams of carbs in taco size tortillas

Low-carb Swaps for Buttermilk Pancakes

• Almond flour pancakes (easy recipes online)

Save 20 grams of carbs in two buttermilk pancakes

Low-carb Swaps for Cereals And Breakfast Grains

• Eggs any style
• Cauliflower hash browns
• Bacon and eggs or sausage and eggs
• Breakfast sandwiches wrapped in a firm omelet instead of English muffin, bagels or breads, and stuffed with bacon, sausage, cheese etc.
• Eggs with salsa and flax cracker with cream cheese
• Bacon, onion and tomato wraps (wrapped in lettuce or kale)
• Omelets with vegetables, meats, and/or cheese
• Egg bakes and skillets with meats and veggies
• Pancakes and waffles made with coconut or almond flour
• Smoked salmon with cream cheese, tomatoes and onions
• Smoked salmon scrambled eggs with chives and sour cream on top
• Flax crackers and cheese
• Deviled eggs
• Deviled eggs with a shrimp on top
• Green smoothie
• Hard-boiled eggs cut in half with fresh guacamole and bacon on top
• Flax crackers with peanut or almond butter and a few mashed berries or sugar free jam on top
• Flourless egg and cottage cheese savory breakfast muffins (recipe online)
• Egg frittatas (recipes online)
• Cream cheese pancakes (recipe online)

Save 25 plus grams of carbs over cereals and other breakfast grains

Low-carb Swaps for Bread Crumbs

• Almond flour
• Coconut flour

Save 23 grams of carbs per half cup

Low-carb Swaps for White Flour

• Almond Flour
• Coconut flour
• Nut crusting
  • Crushed nuts make a great low carb coating for fish and chicken

Save about 40 grams of carbs in ½ cup of white flour

Low-carb Swaps for Croutons

• Sliced nuts (almonds, walnuts, peanuts)
• Real bacon bits
• Baked crispy cheese broken up into small pieces
• Crumbled flax crackers
• Sunflower seeds

Save 15 grams of carbs per ounce

Low-carb Swaps for Crackers

• Flax Crackers
• Parmesan cheese crisps
  • Place small piles of shaved parm on a non- stick pan, and fry until melted and chew, or longer for extra crispy
• Almond flour or coconut flour crackers (recipes online)
• Cucumbers, raw zucchini, celery and carrots

Save 6 or more grams of carbs per 5 crackers

Low-carb Swaps for Soda

• Zero calorie flavored seltzers

Save 39 grams of pure sugar carbs in a 12-ounce serving

Low-carb Swaps for French Fries

• Baked carrot sticks
• Crispy green bean fries
• Crispy turnip fries
• Crispy daikon Fries
• Crispy zucchini Fries
  (recipes online for all above swaps)

Save a minimum of 56 grams of carbs in a 1-cup serving

Low-carb Swaps for Ketchup

• Crushed fresh tomatoes

Save 4 grams of sugar per tablespoon

Low-carb Swaps for Pizza Crust

• Portobello mushroom cap
• Cauliflower Pizza Crust (recipes online)
• Coconut flour pizza crust (recipes online)

Save a minimum of 16 grams per 2 slices of crust

Low-carb Swaps for Sushi

• Sashimi
• Sushi cut and hand rolls without rice
• Cut rolls wrapped in cucumber without rice

Save 26 or more grams of carbs in each roll

Low-carb Swaps for Desserts

• • Blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries with heavy whipping cream
  • Sugar free Jell-O™ with heavy whipping cream

• Milk shake with almond milk, cocoa powder, and nut butter
• Sour cream with stevia and berries
• Strawberry with almond or peanut butter
• Coconut-cashew chocolate truffles (recipe online)
• Almond flour cookies and muffins (recipes online)
• Chocolate and flan layered mini cakes (recipe online)
• Strawberries dipped in sugar free chocolate
• Strawberries dipped in sugar free caramel
• Sugar free ice pops

Low-carb Swaps for Sugary Cocktails

• Straight spirits (vodka, gin, whiskey) mixed with club soda or diet tonic
• Wine

Low-carb Swaps for Milk

• Heavy whipping cream

Save 13 grams of carbs per cup

Low-carb Swaps for High Carb Fruit

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Cantaloupe

Save 25 plus grams per fruit