Low carb, high satisfaction
Best Low-Carb & Keto Foods
Naturally low-carbohydrate foods for keto and low-carb eating — built around protein, healthy fat and non-starchy vegetables.
Low-carb and ketogenic diets keep carbohydrate intake low so the body leans on fat for fuel. The foundation is simple: protein, healthy fats, and non-starchy vegetables, while limiting grains, sugar, starchy vegetables and most fruit.
The foods below are ranked by carbohydrate per 100 g, lowest first. Whole eggs, fish, meat and most leafy greens are essentially carb-free, while avocado, nuts and cheese add satisfying fat with very few carbs.
12 of the best low-carb foods
Ranked by carbohydrate per 100 g of the edible portion. Tap any food for its full nutrition label and a custom serving size.
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Chicken, breast, meat and skin, rawPure lean protein, no carbs.
-0.4 g
-0% DV
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Fish, salmon, pink, rawCarb-free, rich in protein and omega-3s.
0 g
0% DV
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Oil, olive, salad or cookingPure fat — zero carbs, heart-healthy.
0 g
0% DV
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Cheese, cheddarCarb-free, satisfying source of fat and protein.
2.4 g
1% DV
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Squash, zucchini, baby, rawSpiralize it as a low-carb pasta swap.
3.1 g
1% DV
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Egg, yolk, raw, freshVirtually zero carbs; protein and fat in one.
3.6 g
1% DV
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Spinach, rawLeafy greens with negligible net carbs.
3.6 g
1% DV
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Asparagus, rawLow-carb green rich in folate.
3.9 g
1% DV
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Cauliflower, rawRiced or mashed, a classic carb replacement.
4.7 g
2% DV
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Broccoli, rawLow-carb vegetable high in fiber and vitamin C.
6.3 g
2% DV
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Avocados, raw, all commercial varietiesHigh in fat and fiber, very low net carbs.
8.5 g
3% DV
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Nuts, almonds, whole, rawCrunchy fat and protein with few net carbs.
20 g
7% DV
Values are per 100 g, from USDA & FooDB. % DV is the share of an adult's Daily Value. Lists favor recognizable whole foods, not dried or powdered concentrates.
Frequently asked questions
What foods are lowest in carbs?
Meat, fish, eggs, hard cheeses and pure fats like olive oil have essentially zero carbohydrate. Leafy greens and many non-starchy vegetables are also very low.
How many carbs is "low-carb"?
It varies, but low-carb diets typically fall between 50 and 130 g of carbs a day, while a stricter ketogenic diet usually keeps net carbs under about 20–50 g.
What are net carbs?
Net carbs are total carbohydrate minus fiber (and sugar alcohols), since fiber isn't digested for energy. Low-carb eaters often track net carbs rather than total.