If you follow me on Instagram Stories or are in my private Facebook Group (request to join and I’ll accept you!), you know I’ve been pretty open about our F-Factor journey and what Austin and I have done to lose weight and make healthier choices. Our goal this year was to shed a few extra pounds and actually stick with this as a lifestyle. A lot of you have requested “grab and go” snacks that would support a low-carb/high fiber diet, so I wanted to share what we keep on hand.
Being someone who loves snacking and sweets, this wasn’t easy. But I have to say, the results have been worth it. We are believers in moderation. And if we have a cheat day, we try to make up for it by really eating clean the next week or going on a long walk that day. I talked about this in a newsletter a while back and if there’s interest, I could definitely put together a blog post.
I see a lot of questions come through my inbox regarding meal ideas and snack options. I snapped a few pictures of my latest grocery run and these are a few of the low-carb snacks we keep in the house to help us stick to our meal plan.
Our “diet goals” include: cutting carbs (we try to eat no more than 35 net carbs/day) and eating foods that are rich in fiber (around 30-40 grams of fiber/day). We eat a lot of high-fiber veggies at each meal and limit our fruits. I usually only stick to raspberries if I’m eating fruit since they have a lot of fiber. These are some “quick and easy” snack help us stay on track.
SALTY LOW-CARB SNACKS
ALMONDS
Almonds are a great source of fiber and protein. For a mid-day snack, we like to pair them with a cheese stick (the Rosemary + Sea Salt flavor is our favorite with cheese) or with a Choc Zero Bar when I want something that is “salty-sweet”.
PRIMAL THIN CRACKERS
We love these crackers. I have tried so many and found that most “low-carb” options are not that great. These actually taste like a real cracker. The only bummer is the portions are small and they are pricey. So if you are counting carbs, you may want to portion these out because it’s easy to eat the whole box.
QUEST CHIPS
Our favorite salty snack — they really do taste like an actual chip. They also have a good source of fiber. My top flavors are Chili Lime or Ranch.
WHISPS CHEESE CRISPS
These are another great low-carb crunchy snack. We eat them out of the bag or sprinkle on our salads for a crunch. I like the Cheddar and Parmesan flavors best.
CARB BALANCE TORTILLAS OR LAVISH BREAD
We alternate between these two brands for our lunch wraps. They are great with turkey, avocado, spinach, mustard seed and this salt mix. The Carb Balance tortillas are higher in fiber but I prefer the taste of the Lavish Bread for a pita wrap.
SWEET LOW-CARB SNACKS
SMART SWEETS
If you love gummy candy, these are a must. Pricey but worth it if you want a “healthier” candy alternative They are rich in fiber and low in sugar. It’s easy to eat the whole bag, but if you are counting carbs, you want to make sure you portion control. My favorite ones are the Peach Rings and Gummy Bears. I’m weird, but if you open the bag and let them sit out for a few hours, they kind of harden up and have a texture closer to real gummy candy. Austin says I’m crazy but I promise it works!
CHOC ZERO
These Choc Zero bars are a great option for chocolate lovers. I will pair this will a small handful of almonds or fresh raspberries for a dessert. I like to keep mine in the fridge.
GRAB + GO BARS:
Quest Birthday Cake Protein Bar – My favorite of all the Quest bars. I pop them in the fridge for a couple minutes before eating and it tastes like a cake ball.
Quest Peanut Butter Crunch – This is great for an afternoon snack if you are on the go or want something sweet.
Dang Bar– My favorite flavor is the almond cookie.
Atkins Snack Bar – This tastes like a Baby Ruth Bar. They are addicting!
ENLIGHTENED ICE CREAM
This is hard to find, but sometimes I get lucky and find it on Fresh or Whole Foods Delivery. I hate to admit that I’ve tried almost every flavor. But Austin and I agree that Cookies and Cream tastes the closest to real ice cream.
HIGHKEY MINI COOKIES
These mini cookies are pretty good for a low-carb cookie. They have a “fake sugar” taste to them, which is something I notice a lot with these low-carb baked goods, but they aren’t bad. Again, nothing is as good as the real deal, but when I’m craving something sweet, these are what I turn to.
Thank you for helping me find more low carb foods and snacks
You must have money to burn…. prices on this stuff is outrageous
Definitely don’t have money to burn, just choosing to spend our money in different areas. I agree though, the prices on these are high. At the end of the day, it’s what worked for us when we want something quick, easy and low-carb. xx AR
Those are all wonderful options. We’ve tried them all – most recently we’ve discovered ChocZero.
We, however, are living the Keto life and have found Quest bars to have far too much protein for our diet. Just an observation for those reading this who “do” Keto.
Isn’t Choc Zero great? Thanks for the tip for those doing Keto — xx AR
These are great items to keep around for KETO. I like the Costco brand low carb better than the Quest brand. They taste better in my opinion.
Oh, I’ve never tried those. I wonder if they would work for F-Factor? xx AR
Have you tried the Enlightened Keto ice cream bars? So So good! I personally think they are better than the pints of scoopable ice cream. Love the peanut butter chocolate chip and the dark chocolate outside with vanilla inside. I get mine at Sprouts. Thanks for sharing your snacks/treats!
Hi! No, but I will have to try. Thanks for sharing xx AR
I love the wraps you shared. I bought them last week when you posted and they are really great for carb counting. I’d love to hear more about F Factor!
I’m so glad you like those! xx AR
can you find any of these at the grocery store?
Yes! I believe Whole Foods carries a lot of these.
I’d love to see an article on keto choices that aren’t processed foods. For example, atm I’m loving just raw almonds with a little Himalayan salt. Or a can of sardines 🙂
I’d be happy to pull some resources. I’ve had a big request from my readers to put together a list of “grab and go” low-carb options. We aren’t following the Keto diet (although F-Factor has a lot of similarities) so I’m not sure if all of those would be approved for Keto. We eat high-fiber veggies at each meal, broccoli or asparagus. When we eat fruits, we tend to stick with Raspberries or blueberries because they are less sugar. When I have a sweet tooth, I will often eat Raspberries with Lily’s Chocolate Chips. It’s a great snack! xx AR
Cheese sticks, mozzarella sticks, and sausage sticks are all good low carb snack options. Check labels — espe . on the sausage to make sure there is no added sugars.
i too would like to see an article on low carb/high fiber choices that are not processed foods. Ashley’s blueberries and raspberries are a good place to start, ditto the veggies. carrots are hi carb for a veggie but as satisfying as the berries if you cut them nice and thin and munch.
Hi! For sure — I think I need to clarify, this post was created for my readers that requested quick, “grab and go” options. For example, a lot of new moms have asked for snacks they could throw in the diaper bag with little-to-no effort. I agree though, these certainly are not a replacement for fruits and veggies. Just a suggestion for those who wanted “grab and go” snack options. Thank you! xx AR
Thanks for this list. I have just undergone bariatric surgery and, even though I won’t be eating “real” food for awhile, I am trying to find as many resources as I can to establish a new way of healthy eating. Articles like yours make me optimistic that I won’t have to give up flavor in my new lifestyle. These products may be more expensive, but I won’t be spending a lot of money on fast food anymore. Seems like a wonderful trade-off to me!
I started F-Factor in January and have used a lot of these products. They are expensive but they do work, especially if I’m in a hurry and can’t cut of veggies or what not.
My favorite from your list is Choc zero. They are so yummy and taste delish. Thanks for sharing.
I love this list! The salt and vinegar almonds are delish! I’m ordering all of these for nursing snacks!
I am such a fan of F-Factor!!
Please try Good Food ice cream. Much better than all the others we’ve tried.
Thanks for the tip! Where do you buy it? xx AR
We try to eat less processed stuff…even low carb or keto processed food items…cuz they usually contain some biofilm disruptors like gums or additives like carrageenan. So many recipes out there for cheaper low carb but clean options…fat blasters, home roasted nuts with sweeteners and flavorings, almond crackers, etc.
Just a heads up. People’s blood sugars have spiked drastically after eating Smartsweets gummies. Some by over 150 points.
Hey Tracy! Thanks for the comment. I know that was true with the old formula. Is that the case with the new ones? Thanks! AR
This is one of the best articles I have seen in a long time! Thank you for sharing~