The Best Low-Carb Vegetables | U.S. News

There’s a meme going around online that says something to the effect of “if cauliflower can become pizza, then you can become anything you put your mind to.” Funny, sure, but also on-trend given that one of the biggest movements in nutrition and healthy eating right now is swapping out certain veggies for higher-carb and less nutritious foods without feeling like you’re missing out.

Carbohydrates are macronutrients – like protein and fat – that your body needs to function. Carbs are a form of sugar that the body breaks down to provide energy for cells and muscles to move. Starchy and sugary foods contain lots of carbohydrates, but so do fresh fruits and vegetables. Fiber is also a form of carbohydrate.

Many people consume too many simple carbs, like sugar and ultra-processed foods – think potato chips and other snack foods – and that can raise blood sugar levels. Over time, elevated blood sugar levels can develop into diabetes. And when you take in more energy than your body can use each day, the excess can become stored in the body as fat. That’s why many people say a low-carb diet can help you lose weight.

But your body still needs healthy carbohydrates, and there are some ways to substitute healthier sources of carbohydrates, which are sometimes called faux-carb veggies, for less healthy, higher carb foods.

Michele Smallidge, lecturer and director of the B.S. Exercise Science Program from the School of…