12 Best Low-Carb Spring Foods

Spring is a season of rejuvenation and new beginnings, a time when nature bursts into life and we feel motivated to refresh our daily routines. For those following a low-carb lifestyle, this is an excellent opportunity to revamp your meal plan and incorporate the season’s freshest and most delectable ingredients. We explore the best spring foods that not only align with your low-carb diet but also invigorate your taste buds and nourish your body with essential nutrients. Get ready to spring clean your low-carb meal plan and embrace the vibrant flavors and health benefits of the season’s finest proteins and produce.

Dana Carpender has put together her TOP 12 go-to foods for Spring!

Red or Purple Onions

¼ cup of diced red or purple onion will have a big 15 calories, with 3 grams of carb, 1 gram of it fiber; for a usable carb count of 2 grams. That’s a little high for a vegetable, but those two grams will bring an incomparably sweet and mild onion flavor to salads, burgers, dips—anywhere you need a little onion zing! They also look gorgeous. Best eaten raw.

Arugula and Spring Mix

The new salad greens are here! 2 cups of arugula have just 10 calories, with 1 gram of carb, all of which is fiber. Spring mix will vary a little depending on the blend, but figure 3 cups will have about 20 calories, with 3 grams of carb, 2 of them fiber, for a usable carb count of 1 tiny gram. You know what that means, right? You should eat piles and piles of fresh, delicious salad!

Lamb

6 ounces of roasted leg of lamb will have 412 calories. No carbs, of course. Lamb is practically synonymous with spring—and just about all of it is grass-fed, making it a super-nutritious choice. Tip: have the butcher slice a leg of lamb into 1/2” thick steaks for quick suppers.

Sugar Snap Peas

1 cup of sugar snap peas will have 26 calories, with 5 grams of carb, 2 grams of it fiber, for a usable carb count of 3 grams. You know they’re wonderful in stir-fries, but try them raw with dips, or snipped into 1” lengths in salads!

Lemons

A whole lemon will have just 20 calories, 6 grams of carb, with 1 gram of fiber, and that’s if you eat the whole thing! Squeeze the bright flavor of lemon freely over vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, lamb steaks—just about anything, really.

Rhubarb

1 cup of rhubarb—measured raw—will have 26 calories and 6 grams of carb, with 2 grams fiber, for a usable carb count of 4 grams. Stewed and sweetened with your favorite sugar-free sweetener, rhubarb is great swirled into yogurt. Or fold it into whipped cream for an old-fashioned Rhubarb Fool.

Asparagus

A quarter-pound of asparagus has just 14 calories and 3 grams of carbohydrate, 1 of which is fiber, for a usable carb count of 2 grams. With lemon butter, hollandaise, steamed, roasted, sautéed, or grilled, asparagus is always a delectable treat.

Spinach

3 cups of fresh spinach leaves have 20 calories, 3 grams of carb with 2 grams of fiber, for a usable carb count of just 1 gram. Great in salads, sautéed, in casseroles, soups, dips, you name it. Get your Popeye on!

Wild Salmon

6 ounces of salmon will have 197 calories, with no carbs. The superior nutritional profile, and especially the higher percentage of omega-6 fats, makes wild salmon worth the premium price.

Kiwi

1 medium kiwi fruit will have 46 calories with 11 grams of carb, 3 grams of fiber, for a usable carb count of 8 grams. Did you know that kiwis are a better source of vitamin C than oranges? Slice them up with strawberries for a colorful spring fruit salad.

Artichokes

1 large artichoke has 76 calories, 17 grams of carb, with 9 grams of fiber, for a usable carb count of 8 grams. So much fun to peel and dip the leaves!

Strawberries

A dozen whole strawberries will have 43 calories and 10 grams of carb, 3 of them fiber, for a usable carb count of 7 grams. For a elegantly casual dessert, serve strawberries and whipped cream in your chip-and-dip. Or you could stew some with that rhubarb!

Embracing a low-carb lifestyle can offer numerous benefits, including long-term weight loss and improved overall health. By incorporating the fresh and flavorful spring foods we’ve explored, you’ll not only enjoy delicious, satisfying meals but also provide your body with the essential nutrients it needs to thrive. By staying committed to this healthy way of eating and making mindful choices, you’ll be well on your way to achieving and maintaining your wellness goals.

More Low Carb Recipes & Articles by Dana Carpender