How to Pick Whole Grains for a Low Carb Diet

Stock up on whole grains

Low carb diets stress eating foods that are low in carbohydrates, which are often found in bread and other bread products. However, one can still enjoy bread and its associated products on a low carb diet by choosing the right whole grains. Although whole wheat bread is what is widely known as the best choice for whole grain, there are many whole grains options available for a low carb diet.

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the different types of whole grains. Some excellent examples of whole grain products that can be balanced into a low carb diet are quinoa, barley, brown rice, bulgar, cous cous, millet, oats, corn and rye. These products are excellent whole grain choices for a low carb diet.

2. Eat in moderation. Although a piece of quinoa bread may have lower grams of carbohydrates than a piece of white bread, make sure to limit your consumption accordingly. Different low carb diets allow for different amounts of carbohydrates. Make sure you follow the guidelines to the low carb diet of your choice.

3. Look for packaging when shopping for whole grain items. Some whole grain items are specifically altered to have lower grams of carbohydrates per serving. Due to the popularization of the Atkins diet, many products on the market have altered their bread products to contain whole grains; such as whole wheat, with fewer grams of carbohydrates per serving.

4. Shop for cereals that are high in fiber and made of whole grain. The nutritional information on the back of the cereal product will help you choose the whole grain product that is right for you. Pasta, pizza dough and tortillas manufactureres modify these products specially for those consumers watching their carbohydrate intake. Remember that the higher the fiber the better! Also, make sure that there is no mention of enriched flour as one of the main ingredients of your packaged item. Enriched flour is not a whole grain product.

Tips & Warnings

• -read the nutritional information and look for the word "whole grain" if it is not included, it is not a whole grain product