Low Carb Grocery List
This low carb grocery list is by no means comprehensive, but should point you in the right direction. My best advice is to stick to eating mostly real foods such as fresh meat, wild caught seafood, fresh vegetables and natural fats like butter. Canned foods like tuna and salmon are helpful in a pinch, when you need something quick and low carb.
Meats and Poultry: a low carb grocery list includes any type or cut of meat, but for the best health, choose grass fed or organic meats to avoid antibiotic, pesticide and grain residues. Examples include:
- Chicken - whole or parts
- Beef steaks and tips
- Bacon, ham and sausage
- Pork loin, chops or steaks
- Pork or beef ribs
- Beef or pork roasts
- Ground beef
- Ground turkey
Deli Meats - good in a pinch, better than carby alternatives and so I’m including them in this low carb grocery list:
- Cold cuts such as turkey breast and pastrami (check for added sugars)
- Pepperoni sticks or slices
- Salami and bologna
- Proscuitto
Seafood: any type or kind, preferably wild caught as Omega 3 fat levels will be higher. Examples include:
- Fresh or frozen, easy-to-peel shrimp
- Fresh or frozen fish
- Tuna in oil or water
- Fresh or canned salmon
- Fresh or frozen scallops
- Crab
Dairy Products
- Eggs
- Heavy cream
- Sour cream
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Cheese: hard cheeses such as cheddar and parmesan
- Cheese: soft cheeses such an muenster and farmer
- Greek yogurt, plain, full fat. Carb count should be less than 7 per serving.
Low carb vegetables
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Cucumbers
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Lettuce: large leaves to act as the “bread” for sandwiches
- Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale
- Onions and garlic: for flavorful cooking
- Sprouts for salads
- Summer squash such as zucchini
Nuts and Seeds
- Nuts: almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, and especially macadamias. These last long if you keep them in the freezer
- Seeds: sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds
Fruits
- Avocados: great snack with lemon juice or balsamic, or make guacamole for dipping low-carb veggies
- Fruit: Optional once weight and health are stabilized. Some people can handle the sugar in fruit and still be healthy and slim, others can’t. If you indulge, pick fresh local fruit in season, and stick to berries which are lower in sugar.
- Eat fresh fruit with a fat (peanut butter, whipped cream, cheese). It slows the blood sugar spike.
Pantry
- Canned tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp, sardines, anchovies
- Vienna sausages, canned luncheon meat (Spam or Treet) (good in a pinch, but go light on processed meats, as real meat is healthier.)
- Tomato products: canned tomatoes and tomato paste (look for the brands with the lowest carb count)
- Sauces: Pasta sauce, pizza sauce and alfredo sauce with no added sugar or thickeners
- Low-carb veggies: green beans, greens, okra (check labels for no added sugar), sauerkraut
- Canned vegetables: green chiles, roasted red peppers, chipotle peppers, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes in oil (a little adds lots of flavor), hearts of palm
- Chicken and/or vegetable stock
- Nut butters (natural, unsweetened). These need refrigeration after opening.
Condiments
- Sugar-free dill pickles or relish: use for tuna or egg salad
- Mustard (except sweetened mustards, especially honey mustard)
- Cider and wine vinegars (use balsamic vinegar sparingly)
- Most bottled hot sauces (such as Tabasco)
- Most salsas
- Tamari soy sauce (avoid soy sauce if you are gluten sensitive)
- Mayonnaise – look for the brands with the lowest carbs
- Sugar-free salad dressings
- Capers
- Horseradish
- Olives
- Lemon or lime juice (1 gram of carb per tablespoon)
Cooking or Baking Ingredients
- Whey protein powder, plain, vanilla and chocolate flavors
- Splenda or other artificial sweeteners or
- Erythritol (I use Swerve), xylitol and other sugar alcohol sweeteners
- Herbs and spices (but watch for mixtures with added sugars)
- Extracts (vanilla, lemon, almond, etc.) – avoid the ones with sugar.
- Broth or bouillon
- Cocoa powder which is unsweetened
- Gelatin (plain)
- Xanthan gum for thickening and binding
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Peanut oil and coconut oil for cooking
- Sesame oil for salad dressings
- Almond flour or other nut flours: flour substitute; keep these in freezer
Miscellaneous
- Pork rinds (crushed, these are a good substitute for bread crumbs)
- Beef jerky or beef sticks
This low carb grocery list should get you started on creating a kitchen which will help you stay on course.
