10 Snacks & Desserts You Can Eat On The Atkins Diet
Yeah, we're at it again... though I'm not sure we have near enough willpower to stick with it this time.
For the record, here's how we did last time.
Jim travels A LOT, and neither of us takes the time to cook these days. So sticking to a 100% Atkins-friendly diet is going to be quite difficult this go-around.
Nevertheless, we're bound & determined to give it a go & see what happens.
To help us enjoy the ride this time... we've found 10 snacks & desserts that make the "dieting" process a little bit easier and a whole lot more FUN!
Low-Carb Snacks & Desserts
Here are 10 Atkins-friendly snacks and desserts -- "sweet cheats" that don't add much (if anything) to your daily allotment of daily carbohydrates:
1. Sugar-free Jello [0 carbs per Jello cup]
We eat this stuff like it's going out of style. Thank GOD for artificially-colored blobs of gelled goo! Believe it or not, there's actually some flavor to sugar-free Jello. Sometimes we'll dip spoonfuls of Cool Whip whipped cream into our Jello cups. Ah... added sweetness for just 1 carb per tablespoon.
2. Peanuts (in the shell) [3.6 net carbs per 28 nuts]
I've been addicted to these things for years. (I'm usually known as "the girl who brings baggies of peanut shells to work.") The good thing about nuts, is you get to take into consideration the amount of fiber they also provide. While 28 nuts amounts to about 6.1g carbs as a whole, when you subtract out the fiber at 2.5g, you're only taking in 3.6 net carbs... for 28 nuts!
3. Sugar-free Popsicles [4 carbs per popsicle]
These slow-eating sweet treats on a stick help to pass the time when all you can think about is making it to your next meal. They're really sweet tasting. EXTRA-SLIMMING BONUS POINTS: When you're done with one, your mouth is so cold that you don't even want to consider eating anything else at the moment.
I can't wait to try Carb-Smart Creamsicles which have 0 net carbs! (FYI: Popsicle's own brand of creamsicles with no sugar added have 5 carbs.)
4. Almonds [2.3 net carbs per 24 nuts]
Similar to peanuts, you get to subtract the fiber 3.3g (or, what I think of as "good carbs") from the 5.6g of [bad] carbs that 24 almonds provide, leaving you with 2.3 net carbs. For 24 whole almonds, that's pretty darned good!
5. Dill Pickles [1 carb per 3 [big] slices]
We get the Vlasic OVAL Hamburger Dill Chips, and these things are huge! So three are a considerable snack. Dill pickles don't have sugar in them, while sweet pickles (obviously) are loaded with sugar. My point: probably any variety of dill pickles -- ovals or not -- would make a good snack on the Atkins Diet.
6. Grapes [7.4 net carbs per 1/2-cup]
It's easy to go overboard when snacking on grapes... much like potato chips, you can't eat just one. (Same with pickles, for me.) But we appreciate the sweet taste from a handful of grapes on occasion.
7. Lemons (raw) [3.8 net carbs per lemon]
Another wacky snack food... I know. Nonetheless, raw lemons have always been a favorite of mine. Sometimes only a half a lemon suffices for a sweet (or sour!) snack, and at just under 4 net carbs, you can't beat that! Pucker up.
TIP: Squirt some lemon into a bottle of water and enjoy some healthy flavored water on-the-go. (Remember, the more water you drink, the fuller you feel and the less you think about food... a great mind-trick when you're trying to make it through a diet!)
8. Strawberries (raw) [1.7 net carbs per 1/4-cup]
While, that may not seem like many strawberries, I'm comfortable giving up about 5 carbs for about 5 strawberries. They're oh so sweet... and worth every carb!
9. Eggs [1/2 of a carb per whole egg]
Sometimes when you're on a diet, you need to think outside the box when it comes to finding things to snack on. I know eggs seem more like a meal than a snack, but sometimes that just doesn't matter. Plus, they're filling, so you win big simply because you've managed to find something low-carb to munch on. (I like to make a fried egg or two and add a smidgen of ketchup -- or low-carb catsup -- on top.)
10. Cheddar Cheese. [0 net carbs per 1/2-cup]
Our intake of cheese is just about as high as our intake of sugar-free Jello when we're following the Atkins plan. It's tasty... and filling! But you've got to be careful -- not all cheeses as low-carb as cheddar cheese is.
NET CARBS CALCULATION: Net carbs are calculated by taking the grams of total carbohydrates and subtracting the grams of fiber and the grams of sugar alcohol as found in the Nutrition Facts box on the side of the product.
Splurging On "Sweet" Alcoholic Beverages
Perhaps the best news of all...
Our all-time-favorite dessert of choice -- a mixed drink consisting of Wild Turkey (bourbon) and Diet Coke -- is not off limits!
To me it tastes like Cherry Coke, so I've always thought of these after-dinner drinks as dessert anyway.
I know, I know, you're "technically" not supposed to have any alcohol during the first phase of the Atkins Diet. But what fun is it if you play by the rules all the time? Besides, there isn't one stinkin' gram of carbohydrate in the Wild Turkey and only 1/10th of a gram of carbs in the Diet Coke, so it can't be that bad...
Other Atkins-Friendly Snack Foods
Here are some other low-carb snacks you might consider:Pork Skins - 0 carbs per ounce (.5 carbs per ounce for BBQ flavored)
Butter Cookies - 1 carb per cookie
Fortune Cookie - 6.6 carbs per cookie
Shortbread Cookie - 5.1 carbs per cookie
And, here's one that I find really hard to believe:
Chocolate Chip Granola Bar (chewy/soft) - 4.7 net carbs per bar
Say what?!... Can this be true? According to the Atkins Official Carb Counter it is!
You can bet I'm heading to the store to find some of these!
Atkins Dieting: Then & Now
We'll most likely be referring to these tips often.
And here's a summary about the Atkins Diet Plan from their official website.
For the record, we're still addicted to Smoothie King angel food smoothies.
And... it's been a couple of years since we tried their low-carb version (only 6 carbs!) and were very unimpressed.
And... someone else mentioned that we might have just been at the wrong Smoothie King on the wrong day.
So... we're anxious to try it again. Will let you know what we think.
Also, for the record, we're still not convinced that the Atkin's plan is the #1 best way to go for weight loss, dieting, and a healthy approach to eating, but it's worked for us in the past, so it's at least a great kick-start to get us headed in the right direction... again.
Here's some research I've compiled comparing low-carb vs low-fat diets.
im starting the diet tomorrow. im 136lbs and i want to go down to 115lbs.
pleas wish me luck!!!
I weigh 160 now and I started the carb diet and I would like to be down to 130 by October wish me luck.
There is sugar free whip cream that has 0 carbs at grocery store it is made by Land o lakes and tastes great
Hi,
I started this diet again (2nd time) I started in January, but cheating alot and on the weekends. However, in April, beg of May I went full force, and I was 168 lbs in Jan today I weigh 139 and feel great. My goul is 130, by 8/9/2009 for my 42 birthday.
To All, it works, just stick with it. I have found one product I cant live with out, Romero's Low Carb flour tortillas, they are awesome and taste alot better than the others on the market. 7 grams, I use them for a sandwich, burritos, hot dogs & I also take them with me to a restarants, There awesome!
Good Luck, SKINNIES!!!!
How are you doing now? Today is my first day. Wish me luck
What was your start date? I started today...I hope to see some results! I'm 160lbs, goal is to be 140 lbs by July!
hi. well in my case the diet has worked wonders for me and in the first 2 weeks i lost 15 pounds without exercise . it could be attributed to drinking a lot and i mean a lot of water. so maybe you can try that. good luck
I love rootbeer and I'm going to try the diet kind out with cool whip! thanks!
CONGRADULATIONS!!!! I will try not to give up! Keep up the great work!
Weighed in, so far I lost 14lbs! woohoo!
Started at 169 and now 155! Remember my goal is 145 by June 09. Let's see!
Well, in Dr. Atkins latest book out, it even says that it's easier for men than women. I have done this diet 3 times in my past and it always took me about 3 months to lose 20lbs. The first time I was on birth control and stopped taking it, just to lose weight. I lost the weight, but it took atleast 1 month for those hormones to leave my system before the ketosis kicked in. Talk about frustrating. My kids say I look much smaller than a few weeks ago, but the scale doesn't say so. I haven't been excercising because aunt Flo came to town and I couldn't move for the last 2 weeks. But, I am feeling much better today. Just don't give up because I know this diet really works, it just takes more time for some than the others. 1 month, I feel like I should of dropped more weight by now, especially with the sacrifices I am making on a daily. But I try not to think about food so much, telling myself, "eat for fuel, not for fun." As long as I have what I need to keep moving, that's enough and there is no need for me to go overboard. But, I am with you...it's feels even harder when you're not seeing much results for you sacrifices. I am giving myself until June 1st to reach 145lbs. I am 157lbs today. I am trying not to be so hard on myself and give myself time to lose 12lbs,but I would think on Atkins, it shouldn't take me 2 1/5 months to lose 12 more pounds, ya know. (sigh)We'll see...keep ya head up. All I know is I feel much better today than I did just a few weeks ago. So, that's a plus.
I know what you mean! I am the same way. Hubby has lost over 30 pounds in 5 or 6 weeks and I have lost all of 12...always feel like I am doing something wrong. He actually lost all that and was still eating breads(the lowcarb breads from Sarah lee and weight watchers but never the less...errr. He even cheats almost every weekend or every other weekend and STILL looses! What in the world? Why is it sooo much easier for men than for us women?? I feel like giving up all the time. Not like I ate much bread and mashed tater or macaroni or anything to begin with so why not go to my normal diet....? My problem is I have back issues and cannot workout like most people can..I do what I can on my recumbent bike but its not much. I cannot walk far without getting sharp pains shooting through my body within minutes! ERRRR! I am trying sooo hard!
Update on me:
It's almost 1 month since I started. Test strips show I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. Scale is barely moving, but my clothes are definitley looser. Frustrating, but not giving up.
Just wanted to tell you that this snack is sooooo yummy and it has helped me with my cravings when aunt Flo came to visit!
Thanks :D
im in highschool and im trying to do this diet. what are some simple breakfasts & snacks that you have had
The Ketostix that you use to test your urine to see if you're in Ketosis or in the new book he says, Lipolysis or in other words in the burning fat phase.
What test strips are you referring to? Did I miss something?
Thanks AZ!
I have done Atkins twice before and had lost 20lbs,but it took me about 3 months with some walking. I am trying to lose about 20 to 25lbs by June. I bought the test strips yesterday, but I noticed that using those strips, can really become addicting, like you just have to know if your in ketosis because you don't want to be do anything wrong or waisting precious time in the induction phase with limited foods to eat...ya know. But, I will post my progress in a few weeks. Have a blessed day!
Hi Nia! I can't speak for other individuals but I have done atkins for years and I have used SF Jell-O in the induction phase as well. I don't know the official postions of Atkins.com, but I never had problems with SF Jell-O during phase one....still managed to lose weight! Hope that helps....stick with it!! (-:
Thanks for your responses...Karin and AzHomeschoolmom...I was just wondering too if I am supposed to stay away from that sugar free jello w/cool whip scoop in the induction phase? cause it's a very low carb snack and sounds pretty tasty right now :)
Although Atkins may suggest no peanuts during induction (first phase), I have been eating peanuts in the first month and have no problems losing consistent weight- I'm at 13 pounds thus far! I'm not saying 'go eat peanuts because it's okay' but I am saying if you're tempted to snack and have a bag of chips laying around or a bag of peanuts- go for the peanuts because you won't hate yourself in the morning.
I found that the best thing to cure a snack craving is peppercinis. The little mild green/yellow peppers that sometimes come with your pizza. They are crisp, spicy and tasty. # of them make up 1 carb. I keep a jar at my work as well as at home so that I can enjoy them as needed :)
are these snacks appropriate for the induction phase of Atkins?
I have found that "cheating" every so often...once a month or so, has helped me continue to loose weight. Once you hit the "slowdown" time you might want to try that and see if it will help you regain the losing streak.
I have been the diet for a little over a month. Being the carb(potato) addict I am, I thought it would be difficult. But the wonderful thing about Atkins is I dont have to portion my food. There are certain things I can eat until I get my fill.
I enjoy hot dogs with cheese and mustard, onions and peppers.
For lunch I had shaved almonds.
SF JELLO has been a god send! It can get boring, but the results are there. I have lost nearly 30 lbs. with a little bit of excercise and the atkins diet. The past week I have slowed down on the rapid weight loss, but I am still sticking to it. I had a few glasses of red wine for the first time this weekend and I didnt put on any weight. Working three jobs and going to college, ya gotta drink every now and then. So also thankful for the wild turkey. I did have a question: While I understand that booze may not contain carbs, doesnt it break down into sugers? And isnt sugers=bad?
Either way, I am only another 3 bounds away from my ideal weight. I hope i reach it over the next three months.
This Diet does get boring at times especially if your big into food on-the-go. I have been able to lose 16 lbs in less than a month but I am at a standstill and eating little to no carbs daily?!?!
Can anyone comment on more little to zero carbs snacks other than pork rinds, peanuts, string cheese, or low carb bars?
A serving size for peanut butter is 2 tbls (tablespoons)
here i am just my fourth day, and doing well with keeping my carbs below 20 , but i feel weak, i think that is why i couldn't stick before, does any one way any suggestions. recently i went to the dr and did blood work, so i am good. thanks
Hey! I have been trying to do Atkins off and on for a while it fits into my life syle really well. I was wondering on peanut butter what is a serving and also what is the best Cool whip Sugar free or just the free.
There is no better diet on the planet. I've lost 50 pounds, my brother has lost around 40. I snack on almonds, creamcheese (cold), and low carb ice cream you can find in most super markets. When I'm at a comfortable weight I eat more strawberries, grapes, watermelon and on occasion bran muffins. But what really helped me the most is Alvarado st. Low-carb flax seed bread, found at Trader Joes. The slices are kinda small but at 6 grams per slice, you can build yourself one fat sandwich! I've been doing this for over a year so anybody who has questions or needs support, don't hesitate to ask! I wish Dr. Atkins was still alive so I could shake his hand. His diet has changed my life.
YES! I LOVE this nighttime snack! I was eating the low carb ice cream (every night)but I think the ricotta cheese is just as satisfying and helps me not crave carbs the next day. I've been eating 1 cup per night. Any thoughts?
i think the cauliflower mash will save me
i love this had for the first time while not evan counting carbs, here i go i need to lose weight i put on years back from a surgery that changed my metabolism. five years free of cancer i am ready
is there any one out there who can cheer me on i need it!
thanks for the secrets will need them i am a sweet tooth and a carb lover
i started today and my husband is joining me
No nuts during induction and I don't believe you can have any of the low carb ice creams. I've always had jello. Now there is one snack I love that I have 4 times a week.
1 Lb Ricotta Cheese (polly-o)
I add 2 packets of Splenda, about 1/2 of almond extract and top with cinnamon. Totally legal & to me its like a piece of Italian Pastry without the shell and I'm okay with that. If you don't like almond, you can use vanilla extract.
can these yummy snacks be eaten during the induction period?
ok... you said that you cant have ice cream on this diet, you can have no carb ice cream (or low carb) its just as good!
thanks for the help..it helped me think outsid ethe box for some quick yummy snaks
Here's a tip we do all the time. We love Root Beer Floats, but can't have the ice cream while on the diet. We discovered Cool Whip is an easy subtitute....Just add a couple small scoops to Diet Root Beer and there you go.
Cool Whip saves us while we're on the diet. If you like peanut butter, melt a little in the micro and pour over cool whip. When you mix it together, it almost tastes like the inside of a reese's cup. It helps if you have been on the diet for a while, as anything a little sweet tastes VERY sweet. =)
i found some diet chokolate that had about 3g of carbes and then i added cream and splenda to make it taste sooooo good!
on the atkins diet can i snack on all the almonds and pickles i want or is there a limit?oh and do i have to excersise? i know that if i can ill do the diet perfect so please anwser my questions
Your info was VERY helpful. I bought grapes today at the gorcery store thinking they'd be ok, THEY ARE!!! yay!
There's so many things that i'm used to eating that i can't or shouldn't, to know that i can still have grapes is a major plus!
I also almost fell out my chair while reading that choc chip granola bars are ok. That's GREAT. When i need a slight choco fix there i'll go....
Keep the fantastic info coming, it's honestly a great help on my end.
thank u 4 the info
I want to start this diet rjteaway so if ne1 can help me get started get back soon .I need to know what i can and can not eat thanks.
Ian
I have tried the Carbohydrate addicts diet in the past, love it. Easy to follow, and the only diet where I lost inches, not as detailed as other diets, so you don't feel like your doing without or that it is too much work. I followed, low carb breakfast, low carb lunch and for dinner anything and everything that I wanted, but had to be eaten in a one hour time-frame. Easy and fun.