27 Ridiculously Delicious Carb-On-Carb Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the number 1 worst carb? ›

1. Sugary Foods. Most people already think of many of the foods in this category as unhealthy treats. Candy, soft drinks, and sweet desserts such as cake, chocolate, and ice cream are all expected entries on a list of carbs to avoid to lose weight.

The Healthy Eating Plate recommends filling most of your plate with healthy carbohydrates – with vegetables (except potatoes) and fruits taking up about half of your plate, and whole grains filling up about one fourth of your plate.

Both men and women in this age range should make sure 45-65% of their daily calories are coming from carbohydrates. For example: A sedentary man should plan to eat 225-325 grams/day. A sedentary woman should plan to eat 180-260 grams/day.

"Eating refined carbs like bread, rice, pasta and cookies [in excess] will increase our belly fat. If we want to lose it, we should focus on eating nutrient- and fiber-rich carbs such as vegetables and low-glycemic fruits," says Djordjevic.

What are some of the best sources of healthy carbs? Romito suggests these foods: Whole grains: Farro, quinoa, whole-grain breads and pastas, bulgar wheat, and brown or wild rice. Starchy vegetables: Potatoes (preferably with the skin), green peas, corn and winter squash like butternut or spaghetti squash.

A medium (12-inch) thin-crust pizza without any cheese and toppings has 17 grams of carbs per slice. A regular-crust pizza averages 30 grams of carbs per slice. Tip: Thin-crust pizza has 5-10 fewer grams of carbs per slice than regular-crust or pan pizza.

Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite carbohydrate sources to eat with chicken; these honey mustard-glazed roasted sweet potatoes are no exception. Sweet potatoes are full of fiber, which helps to keep blood sugar levels stable. They're also rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese.

THE WORST: Refined or processed carbohydrates

These are carbohydrates like white bread, white sugar, white flour pasta, and white rice that have been stripped of their blood-sugar-buffering fiber, as well as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, things both your body and hair are big fans of.

Are potatoes bad carbs? ›

They're also chock full of starch, which is a carbohydrate. But even though a potato is considered a complex “healthy” carb, your body digests these carbs faster than other kinds of complex carbs. These broken-down carbs flood your blood with sugar. This makes your blood sugar spike quickly.

Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are considered good carbs because they contain vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. In contrast, refined — or processed — carbs like white pasta, sugary drinks, and pastries have little or no nutritional value. They should be consumed in moderation or not at all.

Simple carbs, which are the so-called “bad” carbs, consist of short chains of sugar molecules. They include sugar, honey and other sweeteners, and are also found in dairy products, fruit and fruit juices, and in highly processed foods.

Carbs are naturally in many foods, such as fruits, veggies, and grains. These are often called “good" carbs. They're also added as sugars or starch to processed foods, such as sodas, chips, and candy. These are called “bad" carbs.

Nutrition experts divide carbohydrates into “good” and “bad.” Good carbs, like whole grains, brown rice and legumes, don't raise blood glucose quickly. Bad carbs, like white bread, cookies and sugary sodas, cause blood glucose to rise quickly.

Answer: Whole grains, says Susie. Yes, that is an entire food category, but foods like brown rice, oatmeal and quinoa are too good to choose just one. Whole grains are grains that contain the entire grain: bran, germ and endosperm.