Carbs are the backbone of this nation. They are the glue that binds us together. They are the foundation of love, happiness, and a full belly. After all, every pizza is a personal pizza if you just believe, right? Well, no matter how much self-satisfaction this food group brings, it can also tends to bring us a belly ache and a bloated stomach. Cue the high-waisted pants.
Ready to make a change and rock that crop-top and extra skinny skinny jeans? These are five low carb hacks that will have your stomach thanking me later.
1. Cauliflower
Shoutout to the trendiest vegetable on the market. Cauliflower is so versatile that it can be used as a rice replacement, pizza crust, and even as a tortilla for all of your #TacoTuesdays. The process behind the pizza crust is just as simple, if not easier, than making dough. Finely ground some cauliflower and add eggs oil, and cheese so that a crust-like texture can form. For a pizza crust, simply bake in the oven and add your fave pizza toppings. When making a tortilla, cook in the oven as you would with the pizza crust. Then, while cooling, let it hang in from the center while pulling up the sides so it properly molds.
This veggie gets more press and publicity than some of the hottest stars on the red carpet (Blake Lively – I’m looking at you). After using this low carb hack, I completely understand the hype. It’s also a great alternative for all my gluten-free peeps out there too. Cauliflower power.
2. Egg Whites
Pancakes on the weekends are the best, and that’s not just my opinion. That’s just a cold hard fact of life. At this point, you’re probably familiar with the two ingredient pancake hack. It makes use of all your overripe bananas by making pancakes from just two eggs and a banana. Well here’s a new hack…trust me when I encourage you to try JUST egg whites for your pancakes.
All you need to do is cook pure egg whites in the microwave on high for 2 minutes. The texture will closely resemble a pancake due to the egg whites becoming light and fluffy. Top them off with a tiny bit of maple syrup and sprinkle some cinnamon on top. Just like that, you’ve got yourself a pancake that isn’t just low carb, but low cal as well. These protein-packed egg whites are so underrated and taste surprisingly better than they sound.
3. Ezekiel Bread
This sprouted grain low carb hack is the best thing since sliced bread. This sprouted grain bread is full of legumes, whole grains, and fiber. Not only will you cut the carbs, but you’re also treating your body right. Sprouted grains have larger amounts of protein which will even help keep you fuller longer. They’re naturally lower in carbs than regular grains and has a low glycemic index. So what all does this mean? The bottom line is it’s lower in sugar. Lower in sugar means less processed carbs which means less bloating. The problem with conventional bread is it often times contains high levels of sugar or high fructose syrup which spikes the glycemic levels and grams of carbs per slice.
You can find it at your local grocery store in the freezer section. You should definitely try the cinnamon raisin. I know, I know, the source of all your trust issues is from all those times you picked up an oatmeal raisin cookie thinking it was chocolate chip. But trust me on this one, the cinnamon raisin is so slept-on.
4. Tofu Noodles
Holy Shiitake are these low carb noodles just as good as the real deal. The low carb is due to the fact that they’re made from tofu. They’re just as versatile as pasta and the entire bag is only 20 calories. It’s time to re-think your choices the next time you go to grab a box of spaghetti. They’re just as cheap as pasta, making them an essential for broke college students. If you think they’ll never taste as good as the real thing, you’ve got another thing coming. Hold the carbs, but don’t hold the Asian-inspired pad Thai or good ol’ fashioned meatball Mariana.
5. Chia Seed Pudding
Cha cha chia – shout out to all the 90’s babies who remember that commercial. The same thing comes to mind for me when I hear this new craze of a food. Chia seed pudding is another low carb hack that is the perfect replacement for oatmeal. Chia seeds are lower in carbs, provide a good amount of fiber, but also come with the added benefit of Omega-3-fatty acids. You will love this pudding and all the different varieties you can create with it. You can do the same thing with this pudding as you normally would with overnight oats. Simply measure out 1/4 cup of chia seeds, add 1/2 cup of any milk you please, and let soak overnight. Wake up the next morning and add whatever toppings that your carb-loving heart desires.
Carbs are everyone’s favorite food group, but no one loves struggling to zip up their favorite pair of jeans. Beat the bloat with low carb hacks and be prepared to change your Facebook relationship status with carbs to “it’s complicated.”