Low Carb Snacks (Sweet & Salty)

Need some yummy low-carb snacks to help keep you satiated and on track? You’re in the right place because I’m sharing all sorts of recipes, everything from savory to high protein and even low-carb treats for the occasional sweet tooth.

This post has a recipe for everyone, no matter how much time you have to prep, plan, ingredients, and whether you’re following a low-carb diet, keto diet, or moderate carb diet.

What is Low Carb?

A low-carb diet is a way of eating in which the number of carbohydrates is reduced, and the number of healthy fats increases with substantial amounts of protein. Many low-carb recipes and diets are tailored to those who want to make better eating choices or lose weight.

However, not all low-carb diets are the same. There are a few variations to the diet, each with a different allotment of carbs, which you can reference in the chart below:

Diety Type	Net Carbs
Keto	25g
Low Carb	40g
Moderate Low Carb	75g to 100g

Keto 
This is the strictest form of low-carb available and puts the body in a highly effective state at burning fat, also known as ketosis. 

The macro count includes 5-10% carbs, 15% protein, and 60-75% fat. As with any major dietary changes, it is best practice to consult your primary care physician before attempting a ketogenic diet.  

Low-Carb
A standard low-carb diet that’s not quite as strict as keto but quite restrictive compared to a traditional diet. The macro count typically follows as 15% carbs, 15-30% protein, and 55-75% fat. 

Moderate Low-Carb
This low-carb diet type is more lenient and flexible and often followed by active people. With about 20-30% carbs (up to 150 grams), 20-30% protein, and 40-65% fats. 

A moderate carb diet is much easier to follow and incorporate into your lifestyle than a strict keto and low-carb diet which tend to be followed short-term.

What is the Difference Between a Carb and Net Carb?

A “carb” is the total carbohydrate count of a food and a net carb is the total carb MINUS fiber and sugar alcohols. 

For example, per 1 cup strawberries, there are: 

• Total carbs = 11 grams
• Fiber = 3 grams
• 11-3 = 8 grams net carbs 

Do I Count Total or Net Carbs

Counting net carbs are what most low-carb diets recommend vs. counting total carbs. Counting net carbs is the more sustainable option and the best method to stay nutritionally balanced.

By following a net carb count you’ll be able to have a higher intake of nutrient-dense vegetables like broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, and tomatoes, which are high in fiber content as well making them a lower-net carb vegetable option.

You’ll also be able to include limited amounts of fruit such as avocado, strawberries, blueberries, and olives for this reason.

Low Carb Foods

Low-carb seems to be all the rage these days due to its effective results for weight-loss-related goals, mental clarity, and increased energy. 

Much of this is achieved through following a strict plan and counting macros. The recipes we’ve linked to this post all have nutritional data, so you’ll be able to decide which ones best fit your dietary needs.

Since most refined flours, grains, and starch are limited, a low-carb diet is based on healthy fats, lean protein, and vegetables. 

You’re probably already incorporating a lot of low-carb foods into your day, outside of snacks, such as:

• Eggs and meat: chicken, beef, pork, eggs, turkey
• Seafood: shrimp, fish, crab, and scallops
• Full-fat dairy: yogurt, butter, and cheeses
• Limited veggies and fruit: cruciferous (high fiber) veggies, cucumber, bell pepper
• Nut butter: almonds, cashews, pistachios, etc. 
• Fats and oil: butter, coconut oil, olive oil, ghee, and avocado oil

While there are many health benefits to eating low-carb, it isn’t always easy to get your family on board – especially when you have kids. 

I’ve written an entire post on family-approved low-carb dinner ideas as well as low-carb lunch ideas, but to tie it all in, I wanted to create a guide on the best snacks to enjoy because we all know how tempting those kid snacks that are in your pantry can be.

Low Carb Snack List

For easy reference, below you’ll find a low-carb snack list. These can be enjoyed as a stand-alone snack or to build healthy lunches:

Snack	Serving	Net Carb
Strawberries	1 cup	9 grams
Orange	1 (small)	9 grams
Cherry tomatoes	1 cup	4 grams
Edamame	½ cup	7 grams
Avocado	½ fruit	2 grams
Nuts	1 ounce	8 grams
Almond butter	1 tablespoon	3 grams
Peanut butter	1 tablespoon	3 grams
Baby carrots + hummus	½ cup + 2 tablespoons	11 grams
Hard-boiled eggs	1 hard-boiled egg	0 carbs
Cottage cheese	½ cup	3 grams
Hard or soft cheeses	1 ounce	0.5 grams
Beef jerky	1 ounce	6 grams
Pickles	1 whole dill pickle	⅗ grams
Low fat Greek yogurt	¾ cup	7 grams
Rolled deli meat	3 – 1 ounce roll ups	3 grams

High Protein Low-Carb Snacks

My favorite low-carb snack combination is high-protein and low-carb because it not only satisfies but it also keeps me full longer.

These high-protein and low-carb snacks can easily be enjoyed solo or turned into an office lunch meal prep. Each recipe offers a double whammy of healthy fats and satiating protein to keep you full for hours and energized through the afternoon slump.

Recipe: Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado
1 scoop of chicken salad in half and avocado = 3 grams of net carbs.
For times when snack time is close to lunchtime, this option is my favorite.

Recipe: Loaded Deviled Eggs
2 deviled eggs = <1 grams of carbs
These have everything you love in a baked potato but without the carbs.

Recipe: Fiesta Deviled Eggs
2 deviled eggs = 2 grams of carbs
Love chips and dip? You’ll love these.

Recipe: Ham & Cheese Apple Wraps
2 wraps = 6 grams net carbs
A little bit of fruit goes a long way in this snack option!

Sweet Low Carb Snacks

These sweet low-carb snacks are the type that satisfy your craving for something sweet without blowing your diet out the window.  

Recipe: Avocado Chocolate Smoothie (recipe below)
1 smoothie = 6 grams of net carbs. Carb count depends on the type of protein powder used. I use a chocolate, low-carb plant-based protein option. 
My go-to mid-morning snack when I followed a strict keto diet that packs lots of nutrition per serving with minimal impact. 

Recipe: Keto Hot Cocoa
1 cup = 4.5 net carbs
For cold days when coffee isn’t an option.

Recipe: Chocolate Brownie Energy Bites
1 bite = 6.5 grams net carbs
I love making these ahead of time and packing them for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.

Recipe: Dairy-Free Yogurt with ½ cup diced strawberries
½ cup yogurt + ¼ cup berries = 10 net carbs
I use 1 packet of stevia per serving (4 total) and keep this low carb. It’s much better and cheaper than store-bought dairy-free yogurts.

Salty Low Carb Snacks

If you tend to reach for chips, pretzels, and other salty foods, these healthy snack food options will satisfy that craving. These recipes are also worthy of being served as appetizers or a side for school lunches. 

Recipe: Easy Guacamole with veggies
¼ cup = 2 grams net carbs
Guac-it-to-me by swapping the chips for veggies.

Recipe: Greek Hummus with veggies
2 tablespoons of hummus = 5 grams net carbs
Omit the pita chips and dip dip dip some celery in there!

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Hummus Dip
¼ cup = 8 grams net carbs
The best-kept secret for parties or make sure to pre-measure to not eat the entire dish -it’s that good.  

Recipe: Edamame Hummus
¼ cup = 4 grams net carbs
Swap the chickpeas for edamame and give it a little Asian flair with this recipe.

Recipe: Baked Carrot Fries
5-6 fries = 7 net carbs
Packed with nutrients, I often enjoy these cold or served with an egg.

Is Popcorn Low Carb

Each serving of popcorn has 30 grams of carbohydrates. Compared to most prepackaged snack foods, popcorn is lower in carbs and a much healthier alternative. However, it’s not the best option if you are following a low-carb or keto diet.

Zero Carb Snacks

The only zero-carb snack is air and water. Otherwise, also considered a “no-carb” snack are those that contain less than 1 gram of net carbs per serving. 

While this isn’t a broad category, there are still several yummy options from real foods that you can easily fit into your day. 

Recipe: Celery with Ranch Dressing
My go-to dressing when I want to enjoy pleasure out of my low-carb veggies.

Recipe: Hard-boiled eggs
Sprinkle a little Everything Bagel Seasoning on these or your favorite spice and you have a legit high protein and low carb snack.

Recipe: Chicken Salad with sliced cucumber
Transform your rotisserie chicken into lots of meals and snacks for the week with this epic recipe.

Low Carb Snacks to Buy

Not all prepackaged snacks are off-limits and there are many healthy options you can find in stores or online. Below are a few of my most trusted and favorite go-to’s: 

• Moon Cheese Snacks
• StarKist Tuna Packs
• Quest Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie
• Mario Snacking Olives
• Jack Links Beef Jerky
• Justin’s Classic Almond Butter
• Epic Pork Rinds

Snacking on the Go

Packing the perfect snacks to the office or in a lunch bag requires the perfect snack containers, right? Of course, and I prefer using containers with compartments, so dry ingredients, dips, and spreads can be packed under one lid without becoming one big mess. Below are my go-to container options for all things lunch and snacks: 

• Easy Lunchboxes Lunch ContainersEasy Lunchboxes Snack Containers
• Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers

Dips can also be packed into mini sauce containers to keep them separate from dry ingredients. 

Using the right container also gives you options to make any of the low-carb options above and store them in the fridge or pantry for easy snagging throughout the week. Which recipe will you try first? 

Print