If you’re like me, you’ve started pursuing low-carb foods because of:
- Health.
- Certain conditions.
- Disease.
- Heart issues.
- Skin issues.
Or something similar. And that’s a sensible thing to do if you’re serious about putting these things into remission, or reversing them completely.
It might just be a case of wanting to have:
- More energy.
- More stamina.
- Wanting to feel less tired.
And things of that nature which are associated with lowering your carbs, and using fat as your fuel source.
Whatever your situation, let’s talk about some ideal foods that are filling.
Best low-carb foods that are satiating:
1. REAL Chicken
I say “real” chicken because a lot of people eat chicken from mc donalds, the “ready meal” aisle at the supermarket, or they eat breaded chicken (which is the point).
Anything breaded is carbohydrates and is no longer a pure food like it was supposed to be.
You want real chicken, whether frozen or unfrozen, for it to qualify as low carb and to be truly filling from the natural fat that chicken has.
2. Mackerel
I’ve been eating mackerel for years and years. Usually tinned mackerel, but any variation is good as long as it’s wild-caught or legitimate overall.
Both the fat and the protein in Mackerel are abundant, In fact, it’s almost equal and strikes a good balance.
Make sure the mackerel you buy doesn’t have anything added to it that would result in “extra” carbs being added that shouldn’t be there.
3. Avocado
This shouldn’t surprise anyone. It’s the only fatty fruit you can get with so many good fats and so much “satiating” elements added to it.
Compared to other fruits, you’ll feel full for a while with an avocado or two. Best to eat it with some other fatty food as well though.
4. Mussels
Apparently, there’s no food I can’t eat as far as allergies go (only intolerances). Mussels are a food I see some can’t eat, but if you can it should be high on your list of low-carb filling foods.
It even has Omega 3, and you can add butter to make up for the lack of fat it has to make your meal even better.
“Fat” isn’t the reason Mussels are a filling food, to begin with though, so keep that in mind.
5. Lard
Not something you eat out of your hands or gobble up on your spoon, but it’s something you add to food to make it fattier and more filling.
Lard is basically the fat taken from meat (pork) which works the same way butter does with cooking.
6. Olives
Another fruit that’s rare just like Avocado. It’s fatty, has essential fats, tastes good, and lasts you a lot longer throughout the day than regular fruit could hope to do.
Of course, the carb count is low enough that you can start and continue to burn fat and go longer from meal to meal on a daily basis.
7. Eggs
Can’t beat eggs. Whether it’s scrambled, boiled, or however else you make it – it has protein, fats, all the vitamins you’d need and more.
After all, it’s a whole protein just like meats, fish, seafood and dairy in general.
8. Tofu
Depends on the Tofu you could say, but I’m operating under the assumption you know to get “good” food, regardless of what the food is.
Good Tofu is low enough in carbs to eat when living a low-carb lifestyle, and it has some fat and solid protein (a result of soy).
As long as you’re compatible with it, it’s good to go.
9. Butter or ghee
I was surprised to find out not everyone adds butter to their meals (even on carb diets with rice, etc). But you should add it because it’s easy and you benefit from it.
There are no downsides to adding butter. And if lactose is an issue, then GHEE is the best thing you can buy. But it does cost double or triple the price of butter.
10. Edamame
Edamame is immature soybeans. For this reason that may be easier to deal with if you have soy issues.
You can treat it like a vegetable. You can add butter to the pot when boiling it, salt, turmeric, or anything you’d add to vegetables when boiling.
Make sure you boil it through properly since they’ll be tough otherwise. Also, it’s high in protein and has a moderate amount of fat as well, which is rare among vegetables.
In fact, it’s the highest in protein when compared to veg, even more than green peas which aren’t ideal for a low-carb lifestyle.
The carb count may depend on which one you buy and where from.
11. Grenade Protein Shakes
Whenever I’m travelling and won’t be home, I buy grenade protein shakes. There are others, but these are the ones I’m familiar with so I’d only recommend these for that reason.
They have sweeteners like sucralose, and the main ingredients (depending on the flavour) are milk and whey protein.
Whey protein is known to spike insulin on some level, but you’ll have to test it on yourself since everyone is a bit different.
If all checks out this are one of the best, most filling low-carb drinks you can have.
Only 7.9g of carbs in an entire 330ml bottle! But don’t overdo it.
12. Fermented Cheese
Cheddar, brie, parmesan, Gouda, Edam, Gloucester cheese, and anything semi-hard or hard is a fermented cheese product. That means it has “good” bacteria.
These types of cheeses are no good or are best tested for those with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Candida, or other yeast-related autoimmune diseases.
If that’s not you then you’re good to go. It’ll fill you right up, even by itself.
13. Seaweed
Seaweed is different to regular vegetables for a lot of reasons. One being it’s not modified or recreated in the way things like Broccoli and Cauliflower have.
Seaweed is loaded with Iodine, zinc, even some vitamin c, fibre, protein, iron, and a ton more. As well as being filling when mixed with other foods especially.
All those nutrients make a difference.
14. Crab
Crab, other than organ meats, is the only other source of vitamin c when talking about meat products of any kind. Making it special (as if it weren’t already).
Like all seafood, Crab is filling, satiating, is stacked with protein and will keep you going for a long time.
Perfect low-carb filling food.
15. Fresh Cheese
Fresh Cheese is anything white, like:
- Feta Cheese.
- Mozarella (the real one).
- Ricotta.
- Cottage cheese.
And things of that nature. Anything where it’s not aged and naturally doesn’t last as long as regular cheese like cheddar will qualify as fresh.
16. Cream
The type of cream you add to your:
- Coffee.
- Desserts.
- Fruits.
Is the type of cream I’m talking about. But you won’t be eating fruits if you’re trying to pursue a low-carb lifestyle.
Unless you’re extremely disciplined and you can eat 5 strawberries instead of the whole pack, then it’s no good. Otherwise adding cream will make the meal more satisfying.
17. Salmon
Salmon is one of the most popular fish out there and not the cheapest. I’d say it’s the middle ground (price-wise) if not above it depending on where you shop and where you live.
Loaded with B vitamins, more so than even Mackerel, and more omega 3 as well, Salmon is a fatty fish with tons of satiety.
You can’t go wrong with it.
18. Yoghurt
As is the case with some foods, it depends on which one you get and how you make it if you make your own.
Yoghurt can either be relatively too high in sugar when measured in grams and how much of it you eat, or it can be low.
For example, a 500g yoghurt with 4g of carbs or sugar per 100 means eating the whole thing will be 5X the carb count (20g).
You’ll have to experiment or find a worthy yoghurt that fits the bill (greek yoghurt, and so on).
19. Sea Bass
A lean type of fish that’s not as famous as Mackerel or Salmon. But it still counts at the end of the day.
You can buy these fresh or frozen but frozen seems harder to get (depending on your country). Either way, you could eat this by itself and be full for hours.
20. Sardines
Not everyone is a fan of Sardines but they are satiating, and high in Vitamin D, on top of all the other good stuff these types of fish are loaded with.
If you don’t mind the taste these are good to add to your plate and mix things up every now and then.
21. Prawns
Prawns (or shrimp if you’re American) are another source of Iodine, protein, and more importantly, filling low-carb foods you can chew on.
Assuming you don’t have an intolerance of some kind, there’s an endless amount of ways to serve prawns. Just make sure it’s not breaded since that would exclude it from this list.
22. Tempeh
Made from fermented soybeans. Soy is naturally high in protein and has a good amount of fat, so Tempeh reflects that.
If it’s something that’s plant-based you want, this is the one to get. It’s filling, low carb, and a whole protein as well.
23. Grenade Protein Bars
Grenade protein bars do have SOY in them, so keep this in mind and test to see the effect it may or may not have on your body.
For me it’s perfect, It doesn’t break me out of ketosis, and I can lose weight even after eating 4 of them in a day (if I was travelling).
Flavours are:
- Lemon cheesecake.
- Salted caramel.
- White chocolate.
- Fudge.
- Birthday cake.
- Cookies and cream.
Certain flavours have gluten, so read the labels before buying.
24. Beef
This goes without saying but it has to be added to the list out of obligation. It’s no surprise this is enjoyed by many worldwide, especially in the west.
Whether people realize it or not, it’s filling, full of good nutrients, and can be part of a healthy diet while eating low-carb foods.
25. Turkey
Turkey is a standard when talking about low-carb foods like all the other meats. It’s a matter of taste and choosing the ones you like most as part of the low-carb lifestyle.
Turkey being filling shouldn’t surprise anyone.
26. Basa
It sounds a lot like sea bass, but they’re not the same fish. Basa has a lot of omega-3 and is a good source of fatty foods to eat on a low-carb diet.
You’ll like the taste of this a lot better than let’s say, anchovies or sardines if those foods aren’t up your alley.
27. COD
Cod is a standard white fish, a lean fish. Little fat if any, but a lot of protein and other minerals and nutrients. Still, it’s filling and that’s what matters most.
Like other protein foods with little fat, you can add butter and other extras to make the meal more fatty.
28. Haddock
Another white fish like Cod. It’s also a lean protein with less fat than other fish like Mackerel.
A lot easier to eat as far as taste. This is typical of white fish when compared to fatty fish to a degree.
29. Soy Milk/Almond Milk (unsweetened)
Soy is portrayed as evil by many, but again, it depends on your body and how you take it. And how often you decide to have it for personal reasons.
It also depends on WHERE you buy it, and what the ingredients are based on the manufacturer.
Almond’s reputation is different.
Soy Milk or almond milk (unsweetened) is a good drink compared to water. And even though it does have only a little fat, it has more protein so it helps as far as balance.
Plus it’s not something you have in isolation if your aim is to have filling foods as part of the low-carb lifestyle.
Did I miss anything?
I’ll update this with more overtime.