If you’re going low carb, The Ultimate Guide To Carbs In Vegetables will guide you in choosing which vegetables are best to incorporate in your diet. Each value is the net carbs per 100g using cronomter.com Net carbs is the total carb value, minus the fibre.

Vegetables are definitely healthier (and better choice) when preparing meals. However, it must be noted that different types of vegetables have different nutritional values.

Take a look at the graphic below to see the carbs in vegetables, using the easy photo grid … or print it out and keep it on your fridge.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CARBS IN VEGETABLES

When you decided to begin the low-carb lifestyle, the first thing that probably came to your mind is that you’re going to eat a lot of vegetables to bulk up your meals. You might even have thought that you can eat as much as you want!

That’s not really the case with the low-carb lifestyle. Although vegetables are healthier and much better options for bulking up meals rather than bread, pasta or rice, you also need to be aware of the carbs in vegetables. Some vegetables such as starchy root vegetables should be avoided in large quantities.

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Take a look at the entire series of Ultimate Guides

• Ultimate Guide To Carbs In Food 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 lists
• Ultimate Guide To Carbs In Fruit
• Ultimate Guide To Healthy Fats
• Ultimate Guide To Low Carb Sweeteners
• Ultimate Guide To Low Carb Flours
• Ultimate Guide To Carbs In Alcohol
• Ultimate Guide To Carbs In Beige Food
• Ultimate Guide To Coconut Flour vs Almond Flour
• Ultimate Guide To Carbs In Nuts And Seeds
• Ultimate Guide To Carbs In Sauces

What About High Carbs In Vegetables?

Personally, no vegetables are off-limits, but I am aware of the carbs in vegetables and account for them in my daily allowance. I also allow my children to eat whatever vegetables they like, but starchy root vegetables do make much less of an appearance for them than they used to. My family prefer to bulk up our meals with lower-carb vegetables.

LOOK! The 'Ultimate guide to carbs in vegetables'. Which to enjoy or avoid in an easy photo grid.Click to Tweet

If however strict blood sugar control is required, or you still have weight to lose, then knowing the carbs in vegetables is a must.

There are ways you can still enjoy some higher-carb vegetables (see below for recipes) with some tricks to make them lower carb. For example, enjoy an occasional parsnip, but use a vegetable peeler to create thin ribbons then fry them gently in coconut oil. The coconut oil will make you fuller faster and for longer, and one parsnip will go a long way.

If you really want to enjoy a higher carb vegetable, especially with friends and family so you don’t feel left out or to please your host, just have a small piece, truly enjoy and savour it, and don’t go back for seconds.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CARBS IN VEGETABLES

Vegetables are packed with fibre, micronutrients and phytonutrients. They provide us with vitamins and minerals that processed and fortified food just cannot come close to.

One argument when we give up whole grains is that we will become deficient in nutrients and fibre. My counter-argument is that any loss of fibre of fortified nutrients is more than made up with our increased intake for vegetables. Additionally, we eat our vegetables with healthy fats which help make them more palatable (especially for children) and enhances the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

When you eat low carb, sandwiches and pasta dishes are long gone, but the volume of vegetable increases. Many vegetarians I know who have made the swap to LCHF have commented that their vegetable intake has skyrocketed once they stopped basing their meals on pasta, rice and whole grains.

Knowing the carbs in vegetables, just allows you to make an informed choice. Eating real, unprocessed food is the backbone of LCHF.

 

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Carbs in vegetables – top recipes

Click on any of the pictures to take you straight to each recipe. I have given vegetarian options for those recipes that contain meat.

Spinach 1g net carbs per 100g

Spinach carbonara can be made with spinach, silverbeet or any leafy green vegetable. It is flavoured with bacon, garlic and cream cheese to make for an incredibly tasty and satisfying side dish or even a main meal.

To make it vegetarian, simply omit the bacon.

Lettuce 2g net carbs per 100g

For me, this is the ultimate LCHF meal. Chicken Caesar salad. It is low carb. moderate protein and high healthy fat from the homemade mayonnaise.

To make it vegetarian, simply omit the chicken and anchovies. Replace with smoked salmon (if pescatarian) or various cheeses.

Asparagus 2g net carbs per 100g

Asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, then covered in parmesan are amazing. They can be cooked in the oven or on the bbq. It can be served as a side dish, appetiser or a small main meal.

To make this vegetarian, simply omit the prosciutto and cover in any cheese you prefer.

Avocado 2g net carbs per 100g

There are so many recipes to use avocado, simply on it’s own, stuffed with tuna mayonnaise or as my favourite, guacamole. But before you start any of them, watch my video “how to cut avocados the easy way”. I never knew I cut them completely different to anyone I know.

Cauliflower 4g net carbs per 100g

An absolute staple in low-carb cooking is cauliflower rice. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s bland, they just haven’t found the right recipe yet. I like to flavour mine intensely. For a curry, I will cook it in coconut cream and add some spices, for stir fries, I might add some herbs or stir fry liquid that comes out as vegetables cook.

Zucchini 3g net carbs per 100g

Have you made zoodles yet? They are the perfect replacement for pasta. Packed with nutrition and fibre make these ribbons so delightful in low-carb spaghetti bolognese. Another low-carb must try recipe.

Kale 4g net carbs per 100g

Kale pesto is a super way to use abundant basil and kale from the garden. Versatile as a dip or stirred through zoodles.

Brussels Sprouts 5g net carbs per 100g

Who doesn’t love the sound of buttery bacon Brussels sprouts? There is a hint of orange and walnut in there (both are optional) but this has changed many Brussels sprouts hater, into a Brussels sprouts convert.

To make this vegetarian, omit the bacon and add garlic instead.

Pumpkin 6g net carbs per 100g

Slow cooker bacon and pumpkin soup is a great winter warmer. Just throw it all in the slow cooker, and dinner is ready when you come home. The coconut cream makes this soup especially filling.

To make a vegetarian version, don’t add bacon but use extra vegetable stock, garlic and nutmeg to flavour.

Beetroot 7g net carbs per 100g

Although beetroot is a root vegetable and considered too high for many, I like to use it to bring amazing colours to my salads. Add plenty of cheese and walnuts and this could easily be a main meal.

Leeks 12g net carbs per 100g 

Leeks are high in carbs, but if you serve them as a small side dish, covered in cream and garlic, then you won’t be able to overindulge. This is my absolute favourite way to enjoy leeks.

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