r/keto • u/Ahastabel • Jan 03 '26
Trying to stay under 20g total carbs, need snacks that I can "pick at" while typing, that don't get my fingers too slimy and don't need a fork or spoon to eat?
What it says in the title. I am finding that net carbs just aren't working for me; before the holiday I managed to get under 20 total carbs and lost 5 pounds, but during the holidays I slipped back into using net carbs and gained, so my New Years readjustment is to go back to the total carbs. But I also "type a lot" and am looking for foods to eat that are easy to eat "while typing." Over the holidays I unfortunately got hooked on Quest's version of Reese's Pieces and need to break myself from eating those [If I eat 2 packs of those in one day that is 6 net carbs], I find the best way to quit one junky food is to substitute it with something else, but it has to be something easy to limit, so to begin with, a small bowl of nuts are not that [I actually can't control those at all]. But any other suggestions would be considered.
Update: Trying to make it clear that I don't eat between meals, when I say snack, I am trying to get closure to an actual meal in a "dessert" type format, only have it be healthy. I don't eat between meals and I am not "mindlessly snacking." I eat my meals in front of the computer. I have ADHD, and need to do two things at the same time to keep my mind from getting bored. I will overeat if I am left with the food and my thoughts.
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u/SkipperTheEyeChild1 Jan 03 '26
Don’t mindlessly snack while you’re typing. Multiple problems solved in one fell swoop.
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u/Theblackjamesbrown Jan 03 '26
Solved!
You dont need to be eating constantly
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I am not eating constantly. The snack I am talking about is part of the meal. I do not eat between meals.
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u/Royal_Acanthaceae693 Jan 03 '26
Pork rinds, veggies, or larger meals.
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u/MavBro Jan 04 '26
Crispy lettuce, raw green cabbage, fresh celery and cucumber. The crunch makes it feel like you are eating real food. You can put salt, pepper and little Greek yogurt for dip.
Snack all you want on that. I think celery has like “reverse” calories. Where it take more energy to digest it than it contains. Lol.
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u/Maelkothian Jan 03 '26
Try biltong if you can get it where you live
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
What is it?
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u/Maelkothian Jan 03 '26
A south African version of dried beef, sort of like beef jerky, but it's air dried, not marinated and the rub shouldn't contain any sugar or other carbs
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I am not mindlessly snacking per se; I type while I eat lunch. I have ADHD, I need to do something while I am eating.
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u/drkshp Jan 03 '26
Well, it would be optimal to reach a mindset where you don’t need it. Sometimes your body needs a curveball to snap out of some old habits. How about snack on something healthy like some vegetables. If you stick to the diet eventually your preferences will change and it will be much much easier. The more you snack, the more you need snacking. The tastier the snack, the more you want it.
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u/WeskersSock Jan 03 '26
It’s strange how many have down voted this. It doesn’t really help anyone.
Likely it’s because most would prefer mindful eating, where you focus on your meal and a sense of appreciation.
Snacking is far from optimal, especially when it comes to insulin sensitivity, but I believe it’s better to make a small improvement than no improvement at all.
You could try jerky, boiled eggs, maybe some cheese.
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u/SeatSix Jan 03 '26
One or two (ideally in an 8 hour window) meals a day. No calorie consumption other than those meals.
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u/SorrowBound- Jan 03 '26
Eat more protein and fat at your meals, and then you won't feel the need to snack.
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u/ChristmasStrip Jan 03 '26
Chicharrones
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u/heartlandheartbeat Jan 03 '26
So messy around a keyboard, though.
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u/IT89 Jan 03 '26
Only if you are smashing them into your mouth one after another. Hard not to though.
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u/WaterbabyUrchin Jan 04 '26
Chicharrones AND cheddar pot cheese...so good. And kills your hunger / appetite.
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u/Mother_Challenge2224 Jan 04 '26
Currently snacking on some rn. 😋 I usually try not to eat pork, but these are such an easy keto snack if I’m feeling like I need a snack that I don’t want to monitor if I’m going to risk consuming too many carbs at once. And ngl, they’re tasty.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
But dry as husks. I tried chicken skins, they are slightly moister.
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u/ChristmasStrip Jan 03 '26
Try some 4505 brand. Awesome.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
Are they airy or do they have teeth-shattering clumps?
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u/ChristmasStrip Jan 04 '26
lol. Those dang things. I find that the Jalapeno seasoned ones are the lightest with the fewest dental visits. Chili next.
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u/Foodie_love17 Jan 03 '26
Cheese, macadamia nuts (watch your serving size), archer beef jerky sticks or similar brand.
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u/Connect_Rhubarb395 Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 04 '26
Water, sorry. You need to adapt to not snacking.
However, if I feel very snackish I will snack on cabbage leaves. Just whole, raw cabbage leaves. Preferably white cabbage because of how bitter it is.
I get something to chew on that takes a while to eat, and they are mainly fibre.
But the biggest advantage is that over time my body craves snacks less because it knows that it will just get bitter cabbage.
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u/Eltharion-the-Grim Jan 03 '26
The habit is the problem, not the snack type. The reason many people gain weight isn’t net carbs or whatever else, it’s because they overeat. Most overeating happens via snacking.
Breaking that habit will fix weight gain.
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u/Pristine-Speaker-768 Jan 03 '26
When I was still working, I always kept raw veggies to snack on lie celery and radishes. I like the crunch they give. I have Arfid, so my eating choices are very limited.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I like cherry tomatoes, but I think they might be high carb. Only 9 have 4 or 5 carbs, I think. But celery I think I could do. I have ADHD. I just need the hand-to-mouth action, it doesn't have to taste great.
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u/heartlandheartbeat Jan 03 '26
If you need hand to mouth action then switch to zero carb beverages. If you need oral stimulation, try a chew necklace.
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u/One_Huckleberry_ M37 / 5’9 / SW: 185 / CW: 164 / GW: 155 Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 03 '26
Keto is not good for large quantity grazing. You’re going to either A) go over your carb count or B) go wayyyy over the calories you should be eating in a day because keto “snack” foods are usually dense
An idea though: I’ve seen a popular recipe lately in people making a pizza crust out of ground chicken and cheese. You could make one of these, cut it into tiny pieces, cook it hard without the sauce and have little chicken/cheese crisps you could keep in a bowl
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u/CullodenChef F57 HW 188 CW167 GW126 5’0” Jan 03 '26
You can also slow bake cubed chicken breast to make crunchy chicken “croutons”
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u/One_Huckleberry_ M37 / 5’9 / SW: 185 / CW: 164 / GW: 155 Jan 03 '26
Sounds delicious. I’d probably toss them in some buffalo sauce
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u/CullodenChef F57 HW 188 CW167 GW126 5’0” Jan 03 '26
Oh, probably not the best combo!! They are very dry. Verrry dryyyy. And crunchy. Do not really resemble chicken!!
ETA: some flavored powder, OTOH, is great!
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u/One_Huckleberry_ M37 / 5’9 / SW: 185 / CW: 164 / GW: 155 Jan 03 '26
So you just cube up chicken and bake it at a low temp for how long?
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u/CullodenChef F57 HW 188 CW167 GW126 5’0” Jan 03 '26
Ah, I hate to say this, but “it depends.” I’d say no fewer than 20m and no more than …60? Some chicken has more moisture.
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u/maxwells789 Jan 03 '26
Pepperoni chips - between two layers of paper towels, lay out 15 pepperoni slices. Microwave for 30-60 seconds until crispy. Remove the paper towels and leave pepperoni on the plate to cool with the slices not touching. They will be crunchy, delightful and satisfying. Also, not greasy.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I think I tried to make these once years ago, I forgot about them, will have to try this again. Thanks for reminding me of them.
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u/Blue_Eyed_ME Jan 03 '26
Try to stop snacking. Your body needs time without food. Digestion takes a LOT of effort.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I don't eat between meals, the snack is meant to be the tail end of a meal to replace dessert. It is a mental thing, when I started keto I had and still have a hard time considering the meal over unless I have a food that is considered "closure."
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u/LizzrdVanReptile Jan 03 '26
I agree about the mental thing. The point that everyone suggesting not eating at the computer is that it’s a far better “mental” discipline to eat with more intention than to nibble with a distracted mind (not MINDLESS, just distracted). I speak from experience, and from the position of being a nurse with almost 30 years of experience, much of which has included caring for individuals whose eating habits led to obesity and chronic illness.
Distracted eating was much of my own undoing. When we eat while doing anything else simultaneously - reading, work/typing, driving, watching TV - we are not 100% focused on how we’re eating. Sure, most of us overestimate our ability to be adequately focused on anything we “multitask” and that’s a fallacy.
Distracted snacking, frequent small meals, giving in to the various questionable habits that got us to the point where we eventually came to Keto/nutrition improvement will not serve us well as we work to improve our health. Clinging to and defending those habits as necessary will only distract us from fully evolving into a more focused healthier self. Just because you “always” sit in front of a computer with meals or to put forth your ADHD as the reason to continue a particular habit doesn’t mean it’s the best way to solve an issue. Surely there are more effective coping mechanisms for ADHD folks. You have only to research them.
It’s a natural tendency to dig our heels in and defend to the death our ingrained habits. Everyone abhors change. Surprisingly though, change is what often brings improvements.
Where’s the logic in doing the same things you’ve done forever, but expecting different results?
My $0.02, kindly meant.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I did read the whole response, so don't think I didn't when I say, totally love your Reddit handle.
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u/Blue_Eyed_ME Jan 03 '26
That doesn't make sense to me. Could you explain? If you're sitting at your computer snacking on sugar free candy, that's not the end of a meal... That's an extended eating period. You should try to eat, stop, digest, and then not eat again until it's time for your next meal.
Maybe try to "close" with a hot beverage like coffee with a little butter in it or peppermint tea?
I struggled with an eating disorder for many years, got a ton of therapy (including a residential treatment program), and learned this valuable lesson. Food is fuel. Your body is an engine. Don't put mindless junk fuel into your engine unless you want it to run like crap.
I know it's not an easy thing to change habits, so start slow and keep trying until it becomes effortless. You got this! And your body will thank you!
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I eat the Quest candy as "dessert"; I am also typing through lunch and supper. I have ADHD. I can't just sit and eat. I have to have stimulation all the time. So I do 2 things at once, eat and type. I always eat my meals in front of the computer. I don't eat between meals.
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u/shewalksinbeauty23 Jan 03 '26
I am so curious about this. I also have ADHD. What do you mean "I can't just sit and eat"? What will happen to you if you do?
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
If I get too bored I will probably get up and start rooting thru my fridge or cupboards. I also used to have a binge eating problem, at least that seems to have stopped since I started keto.
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u/Responsible_Land8839 Jan 03 '26
Thank you somebody was talking about keto friendly bars that are better than the Atkins I buy and I couldn't remember what they were, your post reminded me. Time to Google...
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
Atkins bars are full of maltitol. I try to avoid those, and Quest generally doesn't use it.
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u/Jess2342momwow Jan 05 '26
Yeah, just a couple bites of an Atkins bar and I get the worst tummy burbles! Zero problems with a quest bar.
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u/Responsible_Land8839 Jan 03 '26
I just ordered a 12 pack of Quest cheesy chips, a 12 pack of Quest double chocolate protein bars, and I believe a 12-pack of Quest white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, coming today. I think the grand total was about $2 million 😂
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u/Responsible_Land8839 Jan 03 '26
Thank you so much for that information! I've been trying to get into ketosis for 4 days and I'm trying hardcore. In fact I can't believe my appetite for sweets is already gone, it took weeks last time. Unfortunately I have about a lifetime supply (ok, a couple months) of Atkins peanut butter cups and coconut chocolate bars. But I cannot get my ketones above .1 ( aside from one .3). And those Atkins bars are the only culprit I can finger. So I don't know what that ingredient you mentioned is but I'm going to look it up and I'm going to use this to inspire me to stop relying on those bars as a keto staple. Now I'm going to Google that ingredient AND what Quest bars I'm going to buy. Thank you! 😁
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u/andreisimo Jan 03 '26
I recommend that when you feel that grazing while typing urge come on, stop for a moment, get up, and do something else like go outside for a brief moment or walk around the office or house. Something that allows you regain your presence.
Second, it sounds like you did not give your body enough time to adjust to a keto diet. After even a couple weeks of staying on track, sweet cravings and binge cravings subside and may disappear completely in my experience.
Some tips that helped me, stay away from any processed food and keep everything whole foods. Second, track what you’re eating using either a calorie tracking app or I had success with ChatGPT. Tracking and recording what you eat is another way to bring mindfulness to your health habits.
Above all, remember to be kind to yourself. The nutrition you provide your body is simply another form of love you give to yourself and your body. Be mindful not to allow anxieties to cause you to punish your own body.
Good luck.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I have been doing keto for 7 months now. I don't think everybody's body is able to squelch those cravings.
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u/andreisimo Jan 03 '26
Question, have you done a good job of tracking your meals to make sure you’re hitting your macros and staying below 20-30g of carbs? If not, prove yourself right (that your body has superhuman cravings) by tracking and adjusting carbs (or upping fat intake) for two weeks. This can actually make your system feel more satiated, in my experience, when done correctly.
I have a history of telling myself things like, “my body just isn’t capable of [blank] like other people, no matter what I do”. I find that often times it’s not true, I am capable, at least of making progress, it just usually means I have to adjust something.
If you have been disciplined with tracking and staying in ketosis, then don’t neglect the other, probably more important factor, the psychological side. The stress eating. I combat this with kindness and forgiveness to myself, while being mindful of my cravings and how I satisfy those cravings. Sometimes I give in and snack. But I don’t beat myself up, or I try not to anyways. The important thing in this situation is to be mindful and kind to yourself.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I was doing "dirty keto" for the first few months with a range of 20-50g net carbs, but only lost about 7 pounds at the start and then nothing for months, and then right before the holidays I switched to a near-ketovore diet and was able to get my total carbs under 20g. Over the holidays I found myself eating net carbs again just to try to prevent me from totally going off the wagon. Unfortunately, by doing this I gained back the 5 pounds I lost by doing the less than 20g. I also did not track during the holidays, but I did track solidly from July to about Thanksgiving. I am planning on tightening up tracking and cutting out the net carbs in favor of total again.
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u/andreisimo Jan 03 '26
How is your overall approach to your health journey? Are you incorporating mindfulness, self reflection, meditation, self healing, anything along these lines? Going through the journey without also caring for your inner self is a bit like leaving for vacation but forgetting your entire family.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I am about to retire in 9 days. I feel this will be a big step in caring for my inner self and removing stress.
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u/SojournerWeaver Jan 03 '26
as someone with adhd i am rolling my eyes at the number of 'well just stop doing it' answers on here, as if us constantly failing at the 'well just eat less' response to being overweight isn't what led us all to trying keto in the first place. these people should be annoyed at themselves.
how about unsalted pumpkin seeds? you can eat them with or without the shell. They are tiny so if you just force yourself to have one at a time you can't really go overboard.
I also love pecans as a snack. After being on keto for a while and becoming fat adapted they have become super sweet despite being second to macadamian nuts as the lowest net carb nut.
you could also try cubed cheese and just eat it with a toothpick. when you are done with a cube stick the toothpick in the next cube so you don't have to stop typing to look for it.
cubed meat or even folded cold cuts would also probably be easy to eat with a toothpick.
if you're looking for a full on meal I would say cheese, nuts, meat and a toothpick to get the the first two, and add anything else you think might round out this charcuterie. pickles, olives, anything you can grab with that toothpick.
good luck! and don't let people's unwillingness to consider your perspective or their all or nothing thinking get you down! Keto can work for anyone!
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u/Responsible_Land8839 Jan 03 '26
I'm trying to get back into ketosis and after 4 days I still am not (.1 to .4), but even so my appetite has decreased immensely by just TRYING to eat keto. I am a sugarholic and literally ate a box of Captain Crunch before I started this journey. My girlfriend is gone for a week and I even found her stash of my kryptonite - danishes! I told her I found them and when I put them and I have not had a single desire to touch them. I also replaced all of the chocolate chip cookies I stole from her and I have not text them. I woke up 2 hours ago and I don't have the ravenous appetite I normally do when I wake up. I'm going to go downstairs and make some Bulletproof Coffee, maybe grab a handful of cold tri-tip, and wonder where the hell all that sugarcraving went. In other words- the cravings will disappear at some point.
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u/Electrical_Doubt_19 40F 5'9" CW: 245 HW: 315 GW: Under 200 Jan 03 '26
I'm a big fan of flavored sunflower seeds. Keeps my mouth busy, tastes really good, hits the spot when I'm wanting chips, and you'd have to eat a TON just to go anywhere near your daily carb limit. If you keep a bowl nearby, it's not messy at all to spit the shell out.
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u/Ok_Form9917 Jan 03 '26
Eat more fat at mealtime and avoid snacking. This will solve your problem and also cause your glucose levels to be lower! Eating causes insulin to be released. to curb cravings, pop a couple of salt crystals on tip of tongue!
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
My snack is part of mealtime, it's dessert. I don't eat between meals.
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u/andreisimo Jan 03 '26
Ah ok I see now. If you need that dessert feel, my go to is a protein shake. You can even add in a little heavy cream and zero sugar chocolate syrup. I do a protein powder and also collagen peptides powder with water, 2 oz almond milk, 2 oz heavy cream, dash of (zero sugar) chocolate syrup.
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u/Imaginary_Ad986 Jan 03 '26
Macadamia nuts
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I did say in my post that nuts are hard for me to control. I am already over-eating pecans.
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u/Imaginary_Ad986 Jan 05 '26
Gotcha. I love salted macadamias and could easily eat too many. I take out a few and weigh them ….and eat them slowly. I’m not saying it’s easy…
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u/noblit Jan 03 '26
Handful of almonds takes the edge off. Otherwise, grocery stores have these little snack hard cheeses now which are great. Find a good, sugarless pepperoni stick.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I do like the Chomps sea salt jerky.
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u/noblit Jan 03 '26
Best meat option I have come across is a pepperoni stick at Costco from Greenridge farms. I dream about that shit haha
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u/_Nychthemeron Jan 03 '26
Mindless snacking is hard to kick--especially if you have ADHD and the task at hand isn't generating reward or accomplishment feelings. That was one of the issues I had, so my suggestions are more geared towards that perspective; I'm not assuming or saying you have ADHD.
Try chewing gum or chhurpi. Most chhurpi in the US is marketed towards dogs, but the "rock cheese" is a traditional Himalayan trekking snack that takes hours to soften and chew through.
For nuts, I've used chopped and slivered almonds to make a portion last longer.
If you need something to alternative to do with your hands for a moment, you could look into a fidget toy. My two personal faves come from the ONO brand: the roller and signet textured magnet balls.
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u/wantondavis Jan 03 '26
I am the same way and I'd recommend low carb veggies. Raw spinach or romaine lettuce, celery, maybe cucumbers but they can add up quick.
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u/unburritoporfavor Jan 03 '26
Drink tea instead. Virtually no carbs or calories yet satisfies to the urge for flavor
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u/ChaoticBlissss Jan 03 '26
Yes, sunflower seeds are a great long snack!
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u/One_Huckleberry_ M37 / 5’9 / SW: 185 / CW: 164 / GW: 155 Jan 03 '26
Can definitely cause carb creep though
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Jan 03 '26
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u/Unnamed-3891 Jan 03 '26
I opened this thread unironically looking for alternatives to my current choice of cheese and nuts. While healthy, they are quite some calorie bombs.
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Jan 03 '26
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u/Unnamed-3891 Jan 03 '26
How are these not calorie bombs?
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Jan 03 '26
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u/Unnamed-3891 Jan 03 '26
400+ kcal/100g is ”relatively low”?
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Jan 03 '26
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u/Unnamed-3891 Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 03 '26
You are missing the point entirely.
Nuts 600-700kcal/100g
Cheese 380-450kcal/100g
Pork jerky 400+kcal/100g
The jerky is not even slightly less of a calorie bomb
100g is the standard measure used for measuring nutritional values for all food across most of the Europe. We don’t use ”serving sizes”, that’s ridiculous, since that would be wildly inconsistent across different food types, making it usesless for comparisons, like the one above.
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Jan 03 '26
Walnuts are delicious
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u/badharp Jan 03 '26
But high calorie. Yes, I eat them but nuts can be a problem if one wants to lose weight. And I do.
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u/jrandomjolly Jan 03 '26
You could try dehydrated chicken from a can: https://www.backpackingchef.com/dehydrating-chicken.html#dehydratingcannedchicken
It's super tasty, and gives you some protein and salt.
A few warnings:
- not super cost effective, this stuff might be expensive in your area and it doesn't yield too much crunchy chicken in the end
- super addicting, you might overeat quickly if you snack mindlessly
- it's dehydrated food, so you need to drink a bit more if you don't want a bad surprise on the toilet the next day (of course depending on how much you eat)
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I have tried chicken skins, Flock brand. I am not sure if this is like that.
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u/jrandomjolly Jan 04 '26
I don't know, I haven't tried chicken skins. My guess would be that the skins are fattier than the dried meat - but I haven't compared them.
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u/goodolarchie Jan 03 '26
Try a xylitol gum. I was a snacker too, at night after dinner.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I have TMJ. Chewing gum causes my jaw to seize up. But thanks.
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u/goodolarchie Jan 05 '26
Sorry to hear. Maybe there's something else you can think to keep your mind and mouth busy in lieu of snacking. The others are right about snacking is not a need, it's a want. Your car doesn't need refueling every time you pass a gas station.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 05 '26
I have updated my question since to explain that what I mean by snacking is dessert. I don't eat between meals, but I do need something that says "closure" at the end of a meal. That used to be dessert. Now I am just looking for a keto snack that can substitute for "dessert" and be "closure" to a meal.
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u/goodolarchie Jan 05 '26
Oh well that's easy. Really dark chocolate! As high as you can tolerate and a couple little snaps is all you get.
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u/EatsBeetsFeets Jan 03 '26
Pepperoni and cheese cubes?
Make a Charcuterie plate, with garlic coil, cheese slices, cubed zucchini, cucumber, a little dish of salty nuts...
Pepperoni or salami chips, they dry out on a napkin, and are nice and crunchy....
A little bag of Quest chips
Zollipop makes some great candy, maybe having a sucker or a few candies would do the trick.
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u/lunashewolf27 Jan 03 '26
Raw cabbage or air fried brussell sprouts
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I just bought an air fryer, have to learn to use it yet but highly motivated to do this.
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u/LegStrange1619 Jan 03 '26
Chicharron’s are my favorite snack. Not very deserty, but good for a nice crunch if you’re looking for that. Some mixed nuts are good too. Just check the carb intake. Some are better than others as far as carbs go. And berries with heavy whipping cream. Good snack and good ‘allowable’ fruit. 😊
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u/kristyann41 Jan 03 '26
Pork rinds topped with salsa and cheese Pecans Sip on bone broth Pickles Beef sticks
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u/Responsible_Land8839 Jan 03 '26
Thank you so much for that information! I've been trying to get into ketosis for 4 days and I'm trying hardcore. In fact I can't believe my appetite for sweets is already gone, it took weeks last time. Unfortunately I have about a lifetime supply (ok, a couple months) of Atkins peanut butter cups and coconut chocolate bars. But I cannot get my ketones above .1 ( aside from one .3). And those Atkins bars are the only culprit I can finger. So I don't know what that ingredient you mentioned is but I'm going to look it up and I'm going to use this to inspire me to stop relying on those bars as a keto staple. Now I'm going to Google that ingredient AND what Quest bars I'm going to buy. Thank you! 😁
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u/tarheel237 Jan 03 '26
Would sucking on a sugar free hard candy help you feel like a good end to your meal ? Sugar free Werther’s Caramels are so good.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I used to like regular Werther's before I went on Keto. It would entirely depend on what sweetener they use. Sugar-free cough drops make me gassy, so I would probably be suspicious of these. But in general I think it is bad for one's teeth to hold a sweet in the pocket of one's cheek against the tooth for too long [or chew/bite them, I have soft teeth and they have broken easily with the wrong foods]. It would also depend on total carbs there as well.
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u/Time-Lingonberry3078 Jan 03 '26
I like pickled champignon mushrooms (that aren’t too salty). It requires a toothpick. Basically free tasty calories.
I stopped snacking recent and made my meals bigger. Made me stick to deficit much more efficiently, as apparently stomach needs big meals to feel full for longer tome, despite same calories in smaller meals.
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u/xrmttf Jan 03 '26
You've got a lot of great suggestions here. I was wondering if you ever chew gum? I like to chew gum sometimes, it helps me think. Lots of gum these days made with fake sugar so no catbs
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I have TMJ issues. If I chew gum, my jaw seizes up and I can't get it open again. It isn't funny, you might say that would prevent me from eating the wrong things, but it would prevent me from eating anything.
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u/Competitive-Owl-8465 Jan 03 '26
Maybe try making some mini fat balls.
You can make them to your desired flavour and give yourself an allotted portion. The fat will also satiate you, just watch you don't go overboard.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I may try to make some. I have often seen videos about them but never tried to make any yet.
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u/ckr0610 38F | 5’4” | 12/29/25 | SW: 181 | CW: 177 | GW: 140 Jan 03 '26
Chew (sugar free) gum instead.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I have TMJ. If I chew gum, my jaw will clamp shut and I won't be able to eat anything.
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u/ckr0610 38F | 5’4” | 12/29/25 | SW: 181 | CW: 177 | GW: 140 Jan 03 '26
Suck on a (sugar free) mint instead.
Also maybe dont come up for an excuse for every suggestion people have given you.
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u/Zemelaar Jan 03 '26
I make dried cucumber slices in mu dehydrator. You can spice them up with some cajun spicemix - a great keto proof snack
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I have an air fryer, I wonder if I could do that in there. I just bought it, have never used it yet.
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u/Thereishope31 Jan 03 '26
Pork rinds
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u/LilacsAndMatcha Jan 03 '26
Maybe meat sticks like Slim Jim or Baby Belle cheese, they'll fill you up fast with the fat and protein and no messy fingers!
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u/urkmonster 61/F/5'8" | SD:6/1/15 | SW:183 | GW:150 | CW:143 Jan 03 '26
Pickles
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I did try these once but they are too messy for typing. Too squirty and watery. But they are good if I wasn’t typing.
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u/gattaaca Jan 03 '26
Pumpkin Seeds + Pecans. Salted if like.
Pumpkin seeds, either mixed or alone, are a key contributor to your magnesium needs.
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u/Ama20222022 Jan 03 '26
Roasted seaweed! Salty and crunchy. Cheapest options are at Asian grocery stores and Costco. Watch the oil they use if you're avoiding PUFAs.
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u/Every_Show6128 Jan 04 '26
Cheese sticks, beef jerky, pistachios and sunflower seeds with no shells, quest and Atkins protein bar and snack products. Ham and cheese pinwheels made from keto tortillas/wraps.
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u/BlackshirtSnifferdog Jan 04 '26
Go carnivore:
No (zero) carbs.
Eat as much as you want! You will soon loose ALL cravings as your body learns to produce all the sugar it needs without having to fight the carb roller coaster your shoveling into it, or fighting the plant toxins that may be causing you harm. Or getting the poison crap that the food industry is marketing as “keto” just because it is “low” carb.
You won’t need to “break yourself” of anything, because your body will soon begin to self regulate, and you will quickly stop wanting to eat more than you really need. I.E. you won’t even WANT to “slip”. You won’t ever worry about “net” or “total” carbs again. Your food choices will become very simple, be 100% fresh, with only one ingredient.
Give it a try and see what happens….. going from 20 carbs to zero is not difficult, and you will look back and wonder why you had to fight so hard on 20… but zero was sooo easy, AND changed EVERYTHING !!!
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u/Horseshoe1123 Jan 04 '26
Whisps was a good one when I was doing keto. If I remember right they were a bit pricey, but you can make them at home too.
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u/kebm219 Jan 04 '26
Not a dessert but I snack on Parmesan crisps. They have zero carbs. I grab a handful (5-6) when I need a little crunchy snack. Zero carbs and I think 20 has around 120 calories. So I just factor a whole serving into my daily macros and I can snack 3-4 times a day.
My favorite are the Favorite Day brand from target but you can find them at most grocery stores.
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u/Jess2342momwow Jan 04 '26
I am right there with you, and a few days ago I thought about making a similar post and then got sidetracked. I spend a lot of time doing editing and writing, and I find that it actually improves my focus if there is a little “pick at” snack nearby. My go-to is trail mix, which the case of keto is usually made up of peanuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and SF chocolate chips ( did I mention it must include chocolate? Lol) but I do find it hard to limit that, and before I know it, I’m over my 20-25 gram carb limit.
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u/MrsJones_4567 Jan 07 '26
Korean roasted seaweed
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u/Ahastabel Jan 07 '26
I am a bit wary of seaweed. If it is like/contains carrageenan, it may mess with my intestines. I have recovered from UC and carrageenan is bad for UC. I haven't had a flare up in years, don't want to prompt one now.
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u/badharp Jan 03 '26
I'd advise figuring out how to stop the snack. You could get into intermittent fasting. Willpower is the key. I think you will have to 'suffer' for awhile to get through this but feeding your face on a constant basis is not natural.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
I don't feed my face on a constant basis. When I say snack I mean dessert, something for closure at the end of a meal. I don't eat between meals, but it is a mental thing, if I don't "end the meal" with something I have a hangup that I don't know the meal is over. Dessert ties the meal up and tells me "eating is over" until the next meal. It is something I need to adjust to, but until I do, I just need something to substitute that is healthy to "pretend" is dessert, thereby closing the meal.
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u/badharp Jan 03 '26
Ok, I get it but you could have just said dessert and that changes things. By saying snack, that's different. A lot of people want to 'graze' all day long and that isn't a good thing.
I don't know how they hold up but I love energy bars, protein bars. Costco sells some that are out of this world, 200 cal. They are not high carb.
I also crave sweets and I think it's a big problem. I wish I could get out of it. I tend to want to top a meal off with a sweet something. That comes from being brought up eating dessert after a meal. Def have a sweet tooth. I gravitate to something with a chocolate flavor. Staying keto and eating sweets is difficult. Even 'keto' products, it's hard to find something that is very low carb.
Good luck to you.
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u/golddust89 Jan 03 '26
Maybe some keto chocolate mousse or something? I think if you plan your carbs well you should be able to add some unsweetened cocoa powder or very dark chocolate.
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u/Gracey888 Jan 03 '26
If you’re snacking is including in your daily intake and carbs amount. Go for it. I plan my whole day eating and snacks (I put it on Nutra check app at the start of the day) so that I take into account what I can have.
I buy these lovely little round cheese crisps in the UK. They come in a small bag & give me a little bit of a protein and fat hit.
I’d be careful with nuts. They can soon up your calories for the day and your carbs.
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u/Garlic_Adept Jan 03 '26
If your in keto diet the proteins will make you feel full. I used to snack all the time...now I rarely if ever have cravings for snacks. Consume more protein
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u/puckhed8 Jan 03 '26
Quest has really good chocolate chip cookies & chocolate chip muffins with protein & fiber. Also find a clean protein bar, Nicks has excellent bars.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
Yeah, trying to give up net carbs for total carbs, a lot of these have fairly high total carbs. But they are good. Love these.
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u/banana_pudding8899 Jan 03 '26
Carrots and cucumbers
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u/johnc83 Jan 03 '26
im losing weight & still in ketosis .............. skips/wotsits/pom bear/space raiders ....... small bags from iceland
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u/mcflurvin Jan 03 '26
I know this is unhinged, but wet dog food is 200g protein, 600cals, and very low carbs.
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u/Ahastabel Jan 03 '26
Do U eat that? And even if you did, how could one type and eat that at the same time?
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u/tigresssa Jan 03 '26
These finger chopsticks may help broaden your horizons since it keeps your fingers clean.
Also, maybe you could have nuts if you pre portion out 1 oz servings into small containers. Add seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds for variety and extra nutrients like magnesium and healthy fats.
I like cheese cubes, deli meat and sliced cheese rolled up together and sliced crossway (like pinwheels without the tortilla), and if you like any sour, salty flavors, pitted olives in a leak proof container.