Seven Ways To Cut Carbs (And Still Feel Full)

No Carbs before Marbs. We all know the drill that if you want to drop a few pounds before a big event, reducing your carb intake can really help beat the bloat. While some carbs can aid weight loss (we’re looking at you sweet potatoes and brown rice), it can be hard to cut down the food group without leaving yourself peckish for more snacks. Here’s seven top tips to ditch those carbs for a trimmer you… Swap out some of that fresh fruit… We all know fruit is good for you, but packed with natural sugars, you might want to look at how many pieces of fruit you’re eating in your day. While it’s important to capture the nutrients, vitamins and minerals from your fruit bowl, eating too many bananas or grapes could be leading to spikes in blood sugar. Try sticking to two pieces of fruit, and swap extra snacks with slices of cucumber, celery or carrot sticks. Fill up your dinner plate… … with fresh vegetables in a variety of colours. When polled on the most successful way to encourage healthy eating, dieters said filling their plates with a range of coloured vegetables stopped them feeling ‘bored’ with their salad options. Make sure to shop around for seasonal vegetables on special offers, and chop into bite sized portions. Buying in bulk on discount? Freeze portions in small zip-lock bags and pull out from the freezer at a later date to save yourself extra prep time after a long day in work. Make smart swaps... This is where we need to say carbs are not the devil. Eating good carbs can lead to feeling fuller, getting your daily dose of fibre and help regulates your bowel movements. If you do decide to include some carbs in your diet (and we don’t recommend cutting any food group completely), opt for whole grains. Swap your white pasta for brown, ditch regular potatoes for sweet potatoes or use quinoa to bulk up salads instead of a side of bread. Prepare snack bags… Avoid going long spells between meals. When blood sugars drop, your body will crave quick sugar fixes and carbs. Prepare snack packs of chopped raw peppers, carrots or nuts to snack on in between meals. This will help keep you satisfied for longer and keep energy levels balanced. Mind Your Condiments… It might seem like harmless added flavour on your plate, but just one tbsp. of ketchup has 4g of sugar – and how regularly do you measure what you squirt from the bottle? Ketchup, salad dressings and barbecue sauces are all sources of added carbs thanks to their sugar content. Try using fresh slices of lemon to flavour fish, or spices and herbs to flavour meat. Alternatively marinade your meat for added flavour that won’t wreak havoc on your carb count. Drinks anyone? Beer, wine or any other yeast based drinks can be a giant pitfull for dieters. Don’t waste your weekly carbs on your weekly date in the pub. Stick to spirits and measures, and keep count on the number of glasses you have.   Non-alcohol beers do not contain less carbohydrates than regular-brewed beers. In fact, they are all higher in carbs than a typical beer, some almost double in carbohydrate content. And that’s a wrap… Lunchtime doesn’t mean you have to eat a sandwich. Small changes like using a head of lettuce to make carb free wraps is one quick swap that will help you easily adjust your diet. Alternatively try these paleo cauliflower wraps. Image via Empowered Sustenance