How to Stay on Track with Your Carb Conscious Meal Plan
Whether you are watching your carb intake to keep diabetes in check or just feel better following a low carbohydrate diet, you can stick to your carb conscious meal plan without sacrificing flavor.
This post was created in partnership with Dannon Light & Fit. I have been compensated for my time commitment. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.
I work with a number of clients who are mindful of their carbohydrate intake for one reason or another. But regardless of their reason for watching their carbs, they all face a similar obstacle: their meal plan becomes boring over time. That’s why I’ve partnered with Dannon Light & Fit to highlight how you can eat what you love even when being conscious about your carbohydrate intake- and it doesn’t have to be time consuming either!
Healthy on-the-go meal options for the carb conscious meal plan
Let’s face it- many of the easiest grab-and-go meal items are high in carbs. A slice of pizza, a wrap you can eat on the run, or even granola bar can all be tempting options when you are pressed for time. But if you have to keep your carbohydrate intake to a minimum, these options can use up most of your day’s allowance. I find many of my clients feel that in order to be mindful of their carbohydrate intake during the day they need to spend hours prepping and preparing meals. Of course planning and prepping in advance is one of the best ways to stay on track with your meal plan goals, but it doesn’t have to be time consuming. For those who are conscious of their carbohydrate intake, I always recommend having yogurt on hand. That’s because eating one yogurt daily can be the first step in creating a more balanced diet and a healthier lifestyle. Why? Because it’s so versatile! You can use yogurt as on on-the-go snack option, to round out a meal, or even as an ingredient swap in your favorite recipe. For instance, the Dannon Light & Fit Original Greek Vanilla Nonfat Yogurt contains 80 calories and 9 grams of carbohydrates with a filling 12 grams of protein per 5.3 oz serving. I love adding this as a side to my favorite garden salad as a great way to round out my lunch without adding more time to my meal prep efforts.
Eating what you love to prevent meal plan boredom
When you think about reducing your carbohydrate intake, what comes to mind first? For many of the clients I work with they automatically think low carb means giving up the foods they love the most. But I have good news- you can still enjoy the flavors you love while meeting your daily carbohydrate goals with just a little creativity. For instance, I have a major sweet tooth, so I am always trying to find creative ways to enjoy sweet flavors in a healthier way. Sure, I can make new recipes from scratch, but let’s be honest- I don’t always have time for that. So for me, I love enjoying the delicious, decadent flavors of Dannon Light & Fit Greek Nonfat Yogurt as my night time treat. When I am craving something sweet and chocolatey, I reach for the Raspberry Chocolate flavor with 80 calories and 8 grams of carbohydrate. It satisfies my sweet tooth, fills me up, and saves me over 33 grams carbs and 200 calories when compared to eating a slice of chocolate raspberry cake. I consider that a major win!
If you are being conscious about your carbohydrate intake, consider keeping yogurt on hand. It’s one of the easiest ways to add variety to your meal plan while providing you with a good source of protein, and calcium.
What’s your favorite way to add variety to your carb conscious meal plan? Let me know by tagging @erinpalinskiwade @LightandFit on Instagram with the hashtag #LightandFitRD