9 Veggie-Packed Ways To Substitute Refined Carbs

Dec 29, 2018 by apost team

"Carbs" has become a bad word. Everyone is searching for ways to cut them out of their diet. It makes sense -- most of the carbs we eat are useless. They might taste good, but many contain little nutritional value. Not only do they lead to weight gain, they cause your blood sugar levels to spike.

Some carbs are good for you. Whole grains and veggies -- yes, veggies can be a source of carbohydrates -- contain nutrients that your body needs. Leafy vegetables are also a good source of fiber. Studies show that people who eat fiber-rich diets tend to have lower cholesterol. They're less likely to develop diabetes, intestinal cancer, or heart disease.

The trick is to reduce the amount of bad, refined sugar in your diet. This is most common in things like soft drinks and pastries. One easy way to do this? Swap in veggies instead. You'll be amazed at how versatile and tasty they can be!

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It might sound crazy, but you can make some truly delicious deserts from vegetables. Take pie for example, because who doesn't love pie? Instead of a traditional sugary crust, use sweet potatoes. They're naturally sweet, plus they have loads of health benefits. They contain multiple vitamins, like A and C. They fight inflammation and provide the body with antioxidants that fight disease.

They make a perfect pie crust if you arrange them in thin slices on the bottom of a pie pan. You can also whip them into a yummy pudding.

Forget the pita bread or tortillas. Instead, use kale or romaine lettuce. You can pile on tasty ingredients like shredded meat or beans for protein. Hummus, tomatoes, and peppers also taste great and are good for you. The only limit to the type of veggie wrap you can create is your imagination.

Unless you live under a rock, you've probably heard of kale chips by now. They're simple to make -- cut kale into pieces, use some olive oil and your choice of flavorings, and bake.

Don't limit yourself to kale, though. Give carrot chips, turnip chips, and sweet potato chips a shot too.

Whatever type of burger or sub you're creating, you can cut the extra carbs by skipping the typical bun. Large portobello mushrooms are the perfect substitute. They come in similar shapes and sizes to burger buns but are low in calories, carbs, and fat. You can roast, toast, or grill them for extra goodness.

Not a mushroom fan? No worries. Zucchini and cauliflower are just as tasty and easy to use.

Bread bowls taste good, but eating one will drown you in bad carbohydrates. You can use peppers instead. Just slice one in half, stuff it with your favorite ingredients, and then bake it. Squash works too!

Cutting carbs doesn't mean cutting pasta out of your life. Zucchini, sweet potatoes, and beets make perfect substitutes. You can use a sharp knife to slice them into long, thin strips. Alternately, use a spiralizer. This handheld or countertop device will very easily create noodle-like slices.

There's no need to cut rice from your low-carb diet. Trusty cauliflower is right there, ready to make your taste buds happy in its place. Use a grater or blender to chop it into rice-sized chunks, and then saute it. Voila! You've got rice. You can eat it alone or use it in other recipes that call for rice.

At this point, it shouldn't surprise you that you can replace a typical pizza crust with a veggie crust. Cauliflower works perfectly. Zucchini is another option. Using cauliflower will give you a more traditional crust. For zucchini pizza, you can simply slice the zucchini, pile on the ingredients, and bake.

What are your favorite low-carb alternatives? Try some of these and let us know what you think.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!