Low Carb Grocery List

This low carb grocery list is by no means comprehensive, but should point you in the right direction. My best advice is to stick to eating mostly real foods such as fresh meat, wild caught seafood, fresh vegetables and natural fats like butter. Canned foods like tuna and salmon are helpful in a pinch, when you need something quick and low carb.



Meats, Poultry, and Seafood: Staples on a Low Carb Grocery List

A low carb grocery list includes any type or cut of fresh animal products, but for the best health, choose grass fed or organic meats and poultry to avoid antibiotic, pesticide and grain residues. Examples include:

  • Beef, all cuts such as roasts, ribs, steaks and tips
  • Bacon, ham and sausage; check carb counts on these meats. Should be 1 carb or less per serving.
  • Pork, all cuts including roasts, ribs, loin, chops or steaks
  • Lamb, mutton
  • Venison and other wild game
  • Buffalo

Poultry which has been pasture raised is a better choice:

  • Chicken - whole or parts
  • Turkey- whole or parts
  • Duck- whole or parts
  • Other birds such as Quail, Cornish hens, goose, ostrich

Deli Meats - good in a pinch and better than high carb alternatives on a  low carb grocery list (check for added sugars):

  • Cold cuts such as turkey breast and pastrami 
  • Pepperoni sticks or slices
  • Salami and bologna
  • Proscuitto

Seafood: any type or kind. Examples include:

  • Fresh or frozen fish of any kind, including cod, trout, salmon, swai, tilapia or tuna
  • Canned fish such as sardines, tuna and salmon, water or oil packed
  • Fresh or frozen shellfish such as shrimp, scallops or crab


Dairy Products

  • Eggs
  • Heavy cream
  • Sour cream
  • Cream cheese
  • Butter
  • Cheese: hard cheeses such as cheddar and parmesan
  • Cheese: soft cheeses such an muenster and farmer
  • Greek yogurt, plain, full fat. Carb count should be less than 10 per serving.

Low Carb Vegetables

  • Bell peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Cucumbers
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Lettuce: large leaves to act as the "bread" for sandwiches
  • Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale
  • Onions and garlic: for flavorful cooking
  • Sprouts for salads
  • Summer squash such as zucchini

Nuts and Seeds

  • Nuts: coconut, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, and especially macadamias.  Nut flours are good to have on hand for baking. These can last a long time if you keep them in the freezer.
  • Seeds: sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds.  
  • Be aware both nuts and seeds are high in inflammatory Omega 6 fatty acids, so don't go crazy with these.

Fruit

  • Avocados: great snack with lemon juice or balsamic, or make guacamole for dipping low-carb veggies
  • Fruit: Optional once weight and health are stabilized. Some people can handle the sugar in fruit and still be healthy and slim, others can’t. 
  • If you indulge, pick fresh local fruit in season, and stick to berries such as strawberries, raspberries and blueberries which are lower in sugar.
  • Eat fresh fruit with a fat (peanut butter, whipped cream, cheese). It slows the blood sugar spike.


Pantry and Condiments

  • Canned tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp, sardines, anchovies
  • Vienna sausages, canned luncheon meat (Spam or Treet) (good in a pinch, but go light on processed meats, as real meat is healthier.)
  • Tomato products: canned tomatoes and tomato paste (look for the brands with the lowest carb count)
  • Sauces: Pasta sauce, pizza sauce and alfredo sauce with no added sugar or thickeners
  • Low-carb veggies: green beans, greens, okra (check labels for no added sugar), sauerkraut
  • Canned vegetables: green chiles, roasted red peppers, chipotle peppers, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes in oil (a little adds lots of flavor), hearts of palm
  • Chicken and/or vegetable stock
  • Nut butters (natural, unsweetened). These need refrigeration after opening.
  • Sugar-free dill pickles or relish: use for tuna or egg salad
  • Mustard (except sweetened mustards, especially honey mustard)
  • Cider and wine vinegars (use balsamic vinegar sparingly)
  • Most bottled hot sauces (such as Tabasco)
  • Most salsas
  • Tamari soy sauce (avoid soy sauce if you are gluten sensitive)
  • Mayonnaise – look for the brands with the lowest carbs
  • Sugar-free salad dressings
  • Capers
  • Horseradish
  • Olives
  • Lemon or lime juice (1 gram of carb per tablespoon)
  • Pork rinds (crushed, these are a good substitute for bread crumbs)
  • Beef jerky or beef sticks

Cooking and Baking Ingredients

  • Whey protein powder, plain, vanilla and chocolate flavors
  • Splenda or other artificial sweeteners or
  • Erythritol, xylitol and other sugar alcohol sweeteners
  • Herbs and spices (but watch for mixtures with added sugars)
  • Extracts (vanilla, lemon, almond, etc.) – avoid the ones with sugar.
  • Broth or bouillon
  • Cocoa powder which is unsweetened
  • Gelatin (plain)
  • Xanthan gum for thickening and binding
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Peanut oil and coconut oil for cooking
  • Sesame oil for salad dressings
  • Almond flour or other nut flours: flour substitute; keep these in freezer

The low carb grocery list above should get you started on creating a pantry stocked to help you stay on course. There's another great list with some tips on the Virta blog as well.

Below are some of my favorite low-carb cookbooks.

Favorite Low Carb Cookbooks



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Done with Low Carb Grocery List, back to Ketogenic Diet Plan