The Mariel Diet: Snacks

As much as I'd like to think so sometimes...having 5 kids doesn't give me a free pass to "let myself go", be unhealthy because "I don't have time", or think "eh, I could look worse." With all my heart, I want to be healthy, feel attractive, and be attractive to my husband!

Enter living la vida low carb-ISH.

I've studied up and tried many of the different types of diets and I always go back to the low-carb. It is the only diet that gives me the energy I need, make me eat the healthiest, and helps me lose weight the quickest. Because I've done a few of them, I have kind of meshed a few of them together and created my own diet version. So, it's not strictly low carb, but mostly...with a few variations. I still lose weight and feel awesome. It's The Mariel Diet. After I have a kid, Mariel Diet. After the holidays, Mariel Diet. I wanna be healthier, Mariel Diet. You get the drift....I like my diet and I'm arrogant enough to name it after myself.

Anyway, thought I would share the love with you and start with snacks. Because aren't snacks the biggest buggers??

Net carbs are what matter. Look at any nutrition label. Take the carbs and minus any fiber from that. The answer is the net carbs (what matters when counting carbs). Fiber is good! Try to find products with lots of fiber.

This is what you will find in my fridge and pantry for snacks (All or mostly low carb):

Cheese, ladies. ZERO carbs. I love these Tillamook snack size ones!  If you like cheese, buy lots of different kinds and flavors. ZERO carbs.

Smokehouse almonds are so good! I also love cashews.  I buy a few cans at a time. I always keep one in the car to prevent me from pulling into the drive-thru! Nuts are high in fiber, protein, the good fat, good for your heart and really low in carbs. Eat 'em up.

Nuts are how I get my "salty" fix. Well, there is something else too...

Pork rinds. All right, all together now..."ewww!" Well, if they're good enough for Ricky Bobby, they're good enough for me. Mind you, I was raised by a mostly reformed southern red-neck so you have to expect some things to rub off! These babies are what?? Zero carbs. They replace chips and I like 'em, so get over it!

Back to nuts and "salty" fixes. Sunflower seeds are so yummers. I like to buy snack size ziploc bags and pour some in and mix in some craisins. I keep the bags in my purse in the car and in the pantry. Easy, quick, yummy grab.

Craisins (see above "Sunflower Seeds"). Mix them together...keep in snack size ziploc bags. These aren't low in carbs and have added sugar. But just add small handfuls to your nuts to jazz them up.

Fruit isn't always low in carbs but is totally good for you. They have the "good" sugar and help you satisfy sweet cravings. Since this is "my" diet, I eat all the fruit I want. These particular apple slices are my favorite! I have only been able to find these ones at Wal-Mart grocery stores. I like buying them like this (all sliced up) because I am more likely to eat them. Yes, I'm too lazy to cut my own apples. They are already cut and easy to grab. Berries are the lowest in carbs fruit. But, I say eat them all!

Again, yogurt is not really a low-carb food. But, remember the fiber lowers the carb count. This Fiber One yogurt is fairly low in carbs. And, yogurt is really good for you! It has lots of the good bacteria that your body needs to stay healthy! I love Fiber One's lime yogurt to dip my apples in!

Low-carbing is about no sugar. That's why things like sugar-free Jell-O help me make it through. An easy, sweet snack.

Baby carrots and ranch dressing. Oh, baby. Remember with low-carbing you DO NOT want "low fat" or "light"...that equals higher carbohydrates. Bad. But, good! Yay! Light and low fat sucks.

I don't know why this is the only picture of "Wild Coyote" ranch on the internet. But, this is the best ranch! It's a little more pricey, but worth it. It's in a glass bottle in the produce section.

Beef jerky, zero carbs.

Peanut butter on celery. Low carb.

Target's brand, Archer Farms makes my most favorite fruit leather! It's soooo good! I buy like 8 boxes at a time! Organic, pure fruit.

I think that pretty much sums up my kitchen, as far as snacks go. Stay tuned, next we'll do Drinks & Treats!

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