Slashing carbs from your diet can be surprisingly easy. There are plenty of ways to lighten up your carb intake without sacrificing your favorite foods!

Let’s start with pasta. Pasta is delicious, but most pasta isn’t exactly helpful if you’re trying to lose or maintain weight. Enter spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, and

and broccoli cole slaw. You can save around 160 calories and about 30g carbs per cup with any of these veggie swaps.

Spaghetti squash is the perfect base for classic pasta pals like meatballs and marinara sauce. They have a similar texture to traditional pasta and a mild, slightly sweet flavor.

Zucchini noodles (commonly known as zoodles) are a great replacement for spaghetti or fettuccine. Just use a veggie spiralizer to create perfect zucchini noodles. And when steamed until soft, bagged broccoli slaw is an excellent option. It works well with practically any type of sauce, and there’s practically no prep required.

Use Reduced-Carb Flatbread or Tortillas Instead of Sliced Bread

Turn your sandwich into a wrap. It’ll be just as delicious, and portable!

You can easily save around 100 calories and 20g carbs without sacrificing any taste by swapping out two slices of regular bread for a reduced-carb tortilla or flatbread. La Tortilla Factory’s Low Carb tortillas are one choice.

3

Wrap Your Sandwich or Burger in Lettuce or Cabbage

Another great swap for sandwich bread or a burger bun is to wrap your goodies up in big pieces of lettuce or cabbage. You’ll save significant calories and carbs, plus you’ll add some freshness and crunch to your meal. And if you want to go the cabbage route, just steam the leaves until partly softened. Blot dry, let cool, and store in the fridge.

4

Use Cauliflower as a White-Rice Swap

A newly popular way to use this white veggie is to turn it into rice. It has the perfect texture and flavor and you can have a cup of the stuff for only around 30 calories and 7g carbs, versus a cup of white rice for 200 calories and 40g carbs. Use it anywhere you would use normal rice!

5

Watch out for High-Carb Veggies

 

Sure, vegetables are healthy, but some of them are surprisingly high in carbs. A cup of green peas has 21g carbs, and a cup of yellow corn kernels has around 36g carbs. If you’re strictly watching your carb intake, stick with low-carb veggies like leafy greens, asparagus, and green beans.

6

Do the scoop

Scoop out the insides of carb-dense foods like bagels and potatoes. You wouldn’t believe how many carbs you’ll save. Plus, you’re making room to add yummy toppings of your choice, like marinara sauce and cheese.

For more tips ’n tricks, plus guilt-free recipes, food finds, and more, sign up for free daily emails at hungry-girl.com!