Chances are, the reason you're reading this is because you would really, really like to chow down on a giant piece of cake or a party pack of potato chips all by yourself — right now.
But you're on the Atkins diet and you've discovered that while this low-carb diet is helpful with weight loss, you still have the urge for snacking.
From Cheez-Its and potato chips to Jell-O and candy bars, most of your favorite snack foods are either high in carbs or sugar (which are, you know, carbs). Not quite the solution for when you get the 3 o'clock munchies.
Thankfully, healthy snacks do exist — it might just take a little bit of searching to find one that's suitable for a high-protein, low-carb diet such as Atkins.
Don't have time to hunt and gather? No worries. We've done the homework for you with these tasty Atkins snacks.
Atkins Snacks for the Induction Phase
The first phase of the Atkins diet is all about jump-starting your weight loss, which means you'll need to stick to an average of 20 grams for your daily net carb intake to get your body to start burning fat.
This means your Atkins snacks need to be more protein-focused, with just a hint of (or no) carbs.
You can add a bit more carbs to your diet later, but at this Atkins phase, you'll want to stick to super-low-carb snacks such as:
- String cheese
- Celery with cream cheese
- Tuna salad
- Half an avocado
- Beef or turkey jerky (cured without sugar)
- One hard boiled egg
- Cheddar cheese
- Sliced ham with raw or cooked green beans
- Schoolyard Snacks
Atkins Snacks That Are High in Taste But Low in Carbs
Moved on to Atkins 40 or Atkins 100? Your range of Atkins snacks just got bigger. However, whichever Atkins plan you're on, it's still vitally important to watch your carb intake.
Pay close attention to the net carb figure of any snack: the total carbohydrate content of the food minus the fiber content and sugar alcohols. This is what impacts your blood sugar level.
OK, are you ready for your Atkins snacks?
1. Schoolyard Snacks
We're starting with a snack like no other: An Atkins-friendly cereal. While it’s mind-boggling how much sugar there is in an average bowl of most cereals, Schoolyard Snacks is different.
Perfected after what felt like a million recipe iterations, our cereal is a great snack you can enjoy morning, evening, or night because it not only tastes great, but it contains just one single gram of carbs per serving.
Crunchy and sweet (thanks, monk fruit), it's made from all-natural ingredients with no artificial sweeteners or colors. It's also grain-free and gluten-free, and a favorite for those on a keto diet.
We've also packed in 16 grams of protein to make sure when you snack, you’ll feel fuller longer. And because it’s conveniently packaged in a single-serving bag, you can easily take it on the go when you're in the mood for a snack.
2. Atkins Endulge
Image: Atkins.com
Of course, the Atkins guys were going to come up with their own line of snacks and snack bars. Ranging from one to three grams of net carbs, these chocolatey Atkins snack bars are perfect if you have a sweet tooth. Flavors include caramel nut, peanut butter, and chocolate.
3. Atkins Meal Bars
Image: Atkins.com
The Atkins meal replacement and protein bars are another option for a light snack or even a meal. Many of them are made without refined sugars, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
The net carbs for Atkins meal bars range from two to four grams, and flavors include chocolate peanut butter, vanilla pecan crisp, and almond coconut.
4. Quest Nutrition Protein Bars, Protein Cookies, and Protein Chips
Image: The Protein Pick & Mix
What's the big deal about protein, you ask? Protein is what helps you feel full longer and reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Whether in bar, cookie, or chip form, these Quest Nutrition products are packed full of protein (ranging from 15 to 21 grams) and low in carbs (four to six grams). The only tough decision you have to make is whether you prefer chocolate chip cookie dough or nacho cheese flavor.
5. Low-Carb Dark Chocolate Candy With Pecans and Sea Salt
Image: Lowcarbology
If you don't mind spending some time (15 minutes to be exact) in the kitchen, this is a fantastic low-carb recipe for a sweet and tasty snack. You won't find a single carb in this dark chocolate candy. What you will find is a little sea salt to give it a sweet-salty flavor.
It's so rich that you'll probably be satisfied with just one. But be sure to keep the rest in the freezer or fridge so they don't liquify. Enjoy straight from the freezer or leave them out for a few minutes to soften a little before gobbling.
6. Macadamia Nut Bread
Image: The Harvest Skillet
Missing the days when a quick and tasty snack meant a slice of bread with some peanut butter and jelly on top?
You'll need to meal plan for this snack (it needs to bake in the oven for about 40 minutes), but the results will be worth it. This macadamia nut bread is buttery, fluffy, and tastes just like the bread you used to know.
This bread is great not just for an Atkins lifestyle, but for a gluten-free, grain-free, ketogenic, paleo, or dairy-free one too.
7. Two-Ingredient Cheese Crisps
Image: Moscato Mom
Prefer your snacks savory? These tasty potato chips-like snacks only require cheese, egg whites, and 20 minutes of your time. Get adventurous with your herbs and seasonings — add cayenne pepper for extra spice, or crumble up some crispy bacon and call it breakfast.
Baked and not deep fried, these Atkins-friendly snacks contain just one carb per serving to help you stay on track with your healthy living goals.
8. Keto Soft Pretzels
Image: Peace, Love and Low Carb
Remember pretzels? Those bite-sized salty and crispy little knots of doughy goodness where one was just never enough? Here's a low-carb alternative that's gluten-free and oh-so cheesy.
These pretzels bake up soft but taste a whole lot like the high-carb versions you used to love. They also make a perfect combination dipped with some nacho cheese sauce or even sour cream.
9. Other Low-Carb Snack Ideas
Snacking doesn't have to be complicated. Consider some of these simple options:
- Dip (think hummus, aioli, guacamole, or baba ganoush) with veggies
- Unsweetened yogurt
- Fruit, such as blueberries (or any types of berries), cantaloupe, or peaches
- Homemade popcorn with butter, olive oil, or grated cheese
- Low-carb soy chips
Easy Atkins Snacks Are Within Your Reach
As you can see, being on the Atkins diet doesn't mean snacks need to be a distant memory. It also doesn’t mean you're destined to stick with only Atkins-branded products.
Whether they come in a cereal pack, the form of a bar, or as a bunch of ingredients you need to mix together in the kitchen, Atkins snacks are aplenty. All you need is a little creativity and a long, hard look at the nutritional labels to enjoy some snacks in your life.
