17 Low Carb Recipes That Are Fresh, Light And Positively Delicious

Low carb doesn't necessarily mean healthy, but as today's snack aisles get stuffed with chips, cookies and sweetened drinks, it becomes all too easy to overdo it in the carbohydrate and sugar departments.

Because the body processes refined carbohydrates quickly, eating a high balance of this type of carb could lead to a cycle of quick spikes in blood sugar (read: energy) followed by insulin-induced crashes. This isn't just bad for your pep levels, it's also potentially damaging to your body: quickly cycling through blood sugar and insulin secretion can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and being overweight, according to research from the Harvard School of Public Health.

The recipes below focus more on vegetables and meats than pastas and grains. Although pastas and grains can have their place in a balanced diet, there's no worry of overdoing it with balanced meals that use complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats -- we think you'll discover they're positively delicious.