Low Carb Grocery List – How to Shop for a Low Carb Diet and Lifestyle

Confused about which foods are safe to buy for your low carb diet plan? What you need is a detailed low carb grocery list that can guide you through the do’s and don’t’s of the low carb lifestyle.


A low carb grocery list can help keep you from spending a lot of money on a commercial low carb diet. If you have the right grocery list, you can go to the grocery and find ideal low carb food choices there easily. More and more people have discovered the benefits of a low carb diet, and are pretty much interested. The problem is that they do not know what to eat and which food items to buy at the grocery. Due to this problem, a lot of low carb dieters join readymade diet programs such as South Beach and Atkins, both of which are low carb diets.

However, low carb programs like these two can be quite expensive. If you’re on a budget, just throw your old grocery list and replace it with a low carb grocery list.

What It Should Contain

You can search for a readymade low carb grocery list on the Internet if you don’t know how to prepare your own. Here are some examples of food that should appear on your list:

  1. Bread and grains (bagels, pitas, and tortillas)
  2. Meat
    • Deli meat
    • Fish
    • Chicken
    • Ground beef
    • Sausage
    • Shrimp
    • Turkey
    • Shellfish
    • Steak
  3. Canned goods
    • Jam
    • Peanut butter
    • Salsa
    • Tuna
  4. Dairy
    • Cheese
    • Butter
    • Cottage cheese
    • Cream cheese
    • Yogurt
    • Sour cream
    • Eggs
  5. Fruits and vegetables
    • Asparagus
    • Artichoke
    • Beans
    • Cauliflower
    • Broccoli
    • Celery
    • Garlic
    • Cucumber
    • Squash
    • Sprouts
    • Tomato
    • Peas
    • Onions
    • Mushrooms
    • Lettuce
  6. Beverages (decaf coffee and tea)
  7. Condiments
    • Mayonnaise
    • Mustard
    • Hot pepper
    • Olive oil
    • Salad dressing
    • Spices

Low Carb Grocery Shopping Minus the Temptation

Once you have your low carb grocery list, you won’t feel tempted to buy food products that may ruin your entire diet and put all your efforts in vain. Now that you know what to buy, you also know exactly where to go. You won’t have to face the temptation when you walk through each and every supermarket aisle wondering what to buy. Since your list is ready, you can just keep to the low carb areas, which include:

  • The meat section
  • The fruits section
  • The vegetables section
  • The cheese and dairy area

If you have these go-to areas, you should also remember which areas to avoid. Your low carb grocery list should not include:

  • Crackers and chips
  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Bread
  • Pasta
  • Cookies and cookie mixes
  • Oatmeal
  • Pancake mixes

Overcoming the Challenges of Low Carb Grocery Shopping

There’s no doubt about it; shopping for a low carb diet really changes the way you shop in more ways than one. Aside from restricting you, it can make grocery shopping a puzzling instead of an indulgent activity. After all, the grocery store is bombarded with all things sugar and starch. And since you have to spend time thinking and re-thinking your food choices, you tend to spend more time at the market. All these, however, are for your benefit.

However, there are some other challenges, one of which is the expense. Some people find it expensive to shop for a low carb diet plan. Most special low carb food products come at higher prices because they are especially modified and prepared. There are also a lot of starch and sugar rich snacks that can help make you feel full, but now you have to avoid them and replace them with pricier low carb options.

To be able to save money on a low carb grocery shopping spree, better to buy meats and vegetables in bulk. Some experts also suggest buying the fattier parts of meat; there are two reasons – they are more affordable, and they also provide fats, an essential nutrient in a low carb diet.

Summary

Despite all the challenges of low carb grocery shopping, you shouldn’t worry about the costs or limitations; just think of all the savings and benefits you will enjoy now that you won’t need health supplements or hospital fees. And with the right low carb grocery list, you won’t have to spend too much time at the grocery. You can just tick off the items in your list and enjoy a healthy, tasty, and fun low carb lifestyle.