One dietary trend that is here to stay is the low-carb craze. Saying goodbye to tortillas, pasta, bread and rice in favour of keto- and paleo-approved alternatives doesn’t have to be so hard thanks to the myriad of delicious and versatile vegetables that stand-in for these tasty, carby classics!
Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Cauliflower is that wonder veggie that can literally be anything, from rice to mac and cheese noodles to this keto-friendly pizza crust. Pulse it together with a few key ingredients, and voila, you have a gluten- and grain-free crust ready to be topped with all your favourites.
Collard Wraps
Ditch the classic corn or wheat wrap and roll your filling into a vibrant, green collard wrap instead. This cruciferous leafy green helps detoxify the body, supplies key antioxidants and is the perfect portable way to eat a healthy lunch.
Cauliflower Fried Rice
Fried rice is an incredibly easy and flavourful dish to whip up. What makes it even healthier and low-carb is substituting cauliflower for rice. Simply pulse it in the food processor, or shave it with a box grater to get the desired consistency.
Portobello Buns
Mushrooms are known for being nutrition powerhouses. Once grilled, they easily transform into low-carb burger buns. Portobellos are already a common topping on your burger, so why not skip the bun altogether and use these instead?
Eggplant Casserole Noodles
Craving a cheesy noodle dish to get you through the winter? Sliced eggplant is a great gluten-free (and equally appetizing!) alternative to befriend in place of pasta.
Sweet Potato Buns
Want a burger but also want to go bun-less? Here’s the solution: sweet potato buns. Cut the sweet potato into thick rounds, lightly grill them until they’re soft, and sandwich your veggie patty or meat burger in between.
Broccoli Stalk Noodles
Many people tend to discard broccoli stalks, but once peeled, they have a wonderful crunchy texture and a nice mild flavour. Simply spiralize them like you would zucchini or sweet potato for a hardy gluten-free noodle.
Zucchini Nacho Chips
Nacho chips are delicious and all, but crunchy zucchini “chips” are where it’s at. Crispy zucchini discs loaded with pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream and cilantro provides the ultimate healthy nacho experience.
Lettuce Wraps
This classic salad has a carb-free twist: the filling is wrapped inside delicate, yet crisp bibb lettuce leaves. Bibb, butterhead and boston lettuce are all perfectly suited to substitute tortilla wraps because of how tender and crisp they are.