Low Carb Spring Recipes
Best Low Carb Recipes for Spring
Spring is here, and so are the spring fruits and vegetables! There are several low carb chicken recipes and other low carb meals that you can enjoy this spring using in season produce and your favorite protein sources.
About Low Carb Recipes
As a general rule of thumb, a low carb diet limits carbohydrate intake to 20 to 57 grams of carbs a day. Many low carb diets greatly limit carbohydrates during the early stages of the diet to promote quick weight loss. A low carb diet focuses on protein and some non-starchy vegetables, while limiting grains, fruits, breads, legumes, pastas, sweets, and starchy vegetables.
Eating a low carb diet has many health benefits, such as weight loss, lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, better blood sugar control, lowered blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels, reduced hunger, and more.
Low Carb Recipes to Enjoy this Spring
Mighty Health has you covered with these quick and easy low carb meal ideas you can enjoy this spring.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Asparagus
When you think of spring vegetables, asparagus probably comes to mind. Those green sprigs really pop with flavor, especially when combined with garlic butter.
Asparagus has a low carbohydrate count, which makes it perfect for any keto or low carb diets. This spring vegetable is also low on the glycemic index (GI), which means it will not cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Asparagus is low in calories and contains many important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Chicken is a common ingredient in low carb dinner recipes, and for a number of good reasons: chicken is high in protein, low in carbohydrates, easy to cook, inexpensive, and delicious.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Asparagus is a low carb chicken recipe that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. Stir-frying in butter and olive oil brings the chicken in this healthy recipe to a delightful golden brown; adding asparagus simmered in butter makes this simple dish unforgettable.
Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi
Pasta usually takes shrimp scampi off the menu for people who are cutting carbs. Fortunately, spaghetti squash is a low carb alternative to pasta.
While spaghetti squash is technically a winter vegetable, it has an extraordinarily long shelf life that keeps it fresh well into spring. Its nutty flavor and striking resemblance to noodles makes spaghetti squash great replacement for this light and springy pasta.
A 1-cup serving of spaghetti squash only has 10 grams of carbs and 42 skinny calories, but is packed full of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, and niacin. The vitamin C in spaghetti squash doubles as an antioxidant that can control free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage body cells.
Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi is just one of many low carb recipes that combines low-carb squash with lemony shrimp to create a delectable dish your entire family will love. Shrimp are deceptively nutritious and contain some nutrients, such as iodine, that are hard to get in other foods.
Asparagus Noodles with Pesto
Once again, we’ll replace carbohydrate-heavy pasta with a low carb alternative – asparagus noodles. Simply use a vegetable peeler to shave the asparagus into long, thin ribbons to create healthy noodles that are full of flavor and nutrition.
Asparagus Noodles with Pesto is a pretty dish that is as nutritious as it is tasty, and will likely become one of your favorite low carb recipes. In addition to the amazing benefits of asparagus, pesto brings its own nutritional benefits to the recipe. Pesto is part of the Mediterranean diet, which is linked with lower risks of a number of chronic health issues, such as:
Heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
Some types of cancer, such as breast, pancreatic, stomach, and liver
Diabetes
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
The individual ingredients of pesto are also low carb and provide nutritional benefits of their own. Olive oil and pine nuts contain healthy fats, antioxidants, and other compounds that fight inflammation, for example, and the antioxidants and essential oils in basil may help you keep your blood sugar under control.
Asparagus Noodles with Pesto is also a quick dish: you’ll be out of the kitchen and enjoying this low carb recipe in about a half hour.
Beef and Broccoli
With about 6 grams of carbs per serving, beef and broccoli is a staple on a low carb diet. Because broccoli plants love cool weather, beef and broccoli is also a great springtime meal.
A big plate of beef and broccoli is also a featherweight powerhouse when it comes to nutrition. A cup of chopped raw broccoli contains just 5.6 grams of carbs and a measly 35 calories, for example, but it also provides 77 percent of your daily vitamin K and a whopping 91 percent of your vitamin C.
This recipe uses a flat iron steak, which is a lean source of protein and other nutrients. Thinly sliced against the grain, a flat iron steak melts in your mouth – especially when made with a homemade marinade that doubles as a stir fry sauce.
Like many spring recipes, beef and broccoli requires very little cooking time, although it does require some prep time and the beef will need to marinate for about an hour in your fridge.
Easy Green Beans
Green beans are inexpensive, low in carbohydrates, and rich in both vitamin C and the antioxidant, beta-carotene. Green beans are also good sources of fiber to lower your cholesterol levels and support gut health.
Easy Green Beans are a low carb, vegetarian, and gluten free side dish that add a little pizazz to your standard green beans.
Chicken and Avocado Salad with Lime and Cilantro
Avocados are a great source of “good fat,” fiber, B vitamins, vitamin C, and many more nutrients.
Chicken and Avocado Salad with Lime and Cilantro has a fresh, light flavor that makes it perfect for a spring meal. You can enjoy this low carb, keto-friendly meal for lunch, dinner, or as a salad. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, and will keep fairly well in the refrigerator overnight.
More Personalized Nutrition Guidance with Mighty
When it comes to low carb spring recipes, we have you covered. Mighty Health offers easy to follow, personalized exercise and nutrition guidance for your unique health goals. Each exercise, lesson, and nutrition plan is designed specifically for those over 50, so you can thrive in these years of your life. Try it out today for more energy, weight loss, improved balance, better mobility, reduced joint pain, and the strength and stamina to spend time with those you love.