What To Eat When Craving Carbs
Carbs are one of the three main macronutrients, along with protein and fats.
They’re an excellent source of energy, so when consumed in moderation they can definitely be a great addition to your diet.
However, eating too many carbs often leads to weight gain. Since carb cravings are one of the most common food cravings people have (and they can be caused by a variety of things), it’s important to learn how to curb those cravings in a healthy way, as it is definitely possible.
That’s why in this post, I’m going to share a round-up of healthy foods you can eat when you find yourself craving carbs, without ruining your diet or compromising your health.
Some of these foods will be healthy sources of carbs (yes, healthy carbs definitely exist), and some will be carb alternatives that can satisfy a specific craving you’re having.
No matter if you have health issues so you want to watch what you eat (for example if you have a spike in blood sugar levels), or you don’t know what to eat with a low carb diet, or if you simply want to eat healthy, nourishing food, you’ll love these ideas. Depending on your situation, don’t forget that some of these foods aren’t low-carb, they are simply healthy sources of carbs, while some are carb alternatives and are low in carbs.
What To Eat When Craving Carbs
Sweet Potatoes
If you’re looking for a healthy carb option, sweet potato is a great food to grab! It will satisfy your carbohydrate craving, while giving you lots of nutrients and energy. Overall, starchy veggies are great sources of healthy carbs, as they also have lots of vitamins and minerals.
Spaghetti squash
When you’re craving spaghetti, but you don’t want the extra carbs, making spaghetti squash is the way to go! It has a similar feel as spaghetti, so it will definitely satisfy your craving, while giving you lots more vitamins and minerals. It’s one of my favorite healthy alternatives to regular pasta.
Here’s a delicious spaghetti squash recipe you can try out!
Feta Tomato Pasta with Spaghetti Squash
498 calories
Ingredients:
3 oz Feta, block - 225 calories
2 cups Tomatoes, grape - 64 calories
1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) - 119 calories
¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories
¼ tsp Pepper - 0 calories
1 tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) - 0 calories
2 cups Squash, spaghetti - 90 calories
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 deg F.
Spray a small casserole dish with an oil spray.
Add in tomatoes. Top with olive oil, garlic, and spices, mix so everything is coated.
Add in feta cheese in the center of the casserole dish.
Slice spaghetti squash if you haven’t already (be careful!).
Line a baking sheet with tin foil or parchment paper & spray it with an oil spray. Put spaghetti squash on top of baking sheet, cut side down.
Bake casserole dish with tomatoes & feta, and spaghetti squash for 40 minutes.
Mix tomato & feta mixture until creamy.
Shred spaghetti squash with a fork, add spaghetti squash to casserole dish & mix in.
Note: 2 cups cooked spaghetti squash = about 1/2 a spaghetti squash
No dairy? Dice up 4 oz raw chicken to cook in place of the feta, & add another 1 tsp oil.
Beans
Next up on our list of healthy carb sources are beans! Black beans, white beans, whichever ones you like, they’re not only a great source of healthy carbs, so they’ll satisfy your carb craving, but they’re also full of protein and other nutrients your body needs.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is my go-to healthy alternative for carbs. Why? Because it can substitute so many of them, and it works so well in traditionally carb-heavy dishes. Craving pizza? Use a cauliflower crust. Your comfort food is mac & cheese, but you want a healthier version? Use cauliflower instead of macaroni. The options are endless, and there are so many great recipes for you to try out. If one of your favorite comfort foods is mac and cheese, here’s a cauli mac & cheese for you to try out (substituting pasta for cauliflower adds nutrients to the dish and makes it healthier, while still satisfying your carb craving).
Single Serving Cauli Mac & Cheese
581 calories
Ingredients:
3 cups Cauliflower rice, raw (already riced) - 114 calories
¾ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar - 342 calories
½ cup Milk, whole (cups) - 74.5 calories
2 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) - 50 calories
⅛ tsp Garlic salt - 0 calories
¼ tsp Pepper - 0 calories
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Spray an oven-safe pan with an oil spray
Stir fry cauli rice from fresh or frozen until cooked through, about 10 minutes on medium heat
Add in cheddar cheese, seasonings (use as much as you want!), then milk and mix to combine
Top with parmesan
Bake for 10 minutes, then set your oven to broil and bake for another 2 minutes
No dairy? Swap out this meal for another
Zucchini
Another nutritious alternative for pasta, is zucchini! Instead of noodles, you can make zucchini noodles, aka zoodles. That will satisfy your noodle craving, while being a healthy alternative with lots of nutrients.
Here’s one of my fave zoodle recipes you can try out.
Zoodles with Hearty Sauce
350 calories
Ingredients
2 cups Zoodles (zucchini noodles), raw or frozen - 42 calories
½ cup Canned, diced tomatoes - 25 calories
4 oz Ground turkey, 93% lean, raw - 172 calories
1 oz Cheese, Parmesan, shaved (oz) - 111 calories
¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories
¼ tsp Oregano - 0 calories
¼ tsp Basil, dried - 0 calories
Instructions
Spray pan with an oil spray.
Stir-fry zoodles on medium heat (breaking up zoodles with tongs if cooking zoodles from frozen). Once cooked through, drain away any excess liquid with a sieve.
While zoodles are cooking, spray another pan with an oil spray & stir-fry turkey on medium heat until cooked through, ~5 minutes. Add in tomatoes ~2 minutes.
Add zoodles into pan with meat sauce and top with cheese and seasonings when ready to eat.
Dairy free? Use a dairy free cheese, or oil instead of an oil spray. Vegetarian? Use tofu or beans.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are not only a healthy source of carbs, but they’re also full of protein! So, when you’re craving carbs, instead of grabbing something unhealthy, make a chickpea dish. That can be a chickpea curry, a chickpea salad, and so on.
Oats
Another great source of healthy carbs that can satisfy your carb craving, while being healthy for you, are oats. Oats are a great ingredient, and they’re especially good for breakfast. However, if your goal is to eat healthy, try to make oatmeal yourself instead of getting pre-made oatmeal, as pre-made ones usually have lots of added sugars, which isn’t great.
Veggie Chips
If you’re craving potato chips, but you want a healthy version lower in carbs, veggie chips, such as zucchini chips, are the way to go.
If you bake them instead of frying them, you’ll get an even healthier snack that will satisfy your potato chip cravings.