By Sofia Segounis, Nutritionist

You don’t have to feel deprived when following a low-carb diet. Low-carb eating can be as satisfying as a carb-packed meal, minus the side effects of weight gain and fatigue.

What exactly can you eat?
Let’s start by defining a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are foods that turn into sugar in your body. Some examples of carbohydrates are:

• Grains: bread, pasta, rice, cereal
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Sugar and sugar-containing products: candies, pop, juice

You don’t have to eliminate these foods when following a low-carb diet; you simply have to cut down on the amount of grains, sugar and white potatoes you eat. Fruits and vegetables are excellent choices and should be consumed at every meal. You should be avoiding sugary foods at all times, whether you are on a diet or not. For more information on sugar and some healthier sweet alternatives, visit A Healthier Sugar?

Cutting down on carbohydrates is easy: when you cut back on your grains, increase the serving of protein and include more vegetables.

Sample meals
Here are some examples of excellent low-carbohydrate meals from the Truestar Nutrition Plan:

Grilled salmon and broccoli
Chicken and vegetable medley
California chicken salad
Turkey spinach salad
Tofu and bean salad