Everything bagel roasted pecans {keto, paleo, Whole 30, low carb}

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If you have a container of "everything bagel seasoning" in your pantry, you will want to keep reading. This recipe for Everything Bagel Roasted Pecans takes just a few minutes and is the most addictive healthy snack I've ever made. And bonus: It's perfect for keto, paleo, Whole 30 and low carb diets.

"Everything" seasoning is just a combination of the seeds and toppings that typically grace an "everything" bagel: toasted sesame seeds, poppy seeds, nuggets of roasted garlic and toasted onion, and coarse salt. I always giggle at the name "everything bagel seasoning," since I grew up in New York and have been a fan of "everything" bagels for as long as I can remember.

Most spiced nuts contain sugar, both for flavor and to act as a binder to keep the spices attached to the nuts. I don't eat sugar, so I use lightly beaten egg white to coat the nuts and act as "glue" to bind the seasoning to the pecans. No sugar necessary at all. In fact, this recipe only includes three ingredients! Couldn't be easier. You could use this method with walnuts or almonds, but I like pecans because they get light and crunchy when they're toasted.

I can see these on your holiday buffet table, or packaged into little cellophane bags to give as gifts or stocking stuffers. If you make them, please let me know how you like them! They're disappearing fast in my house. (Scroll down for the recipe.)

keto, paleo, Whole 30, low carb

Yield: 8Author: Erika Penzer KerekesPin it

Everything Bagel Roasted Pecans

prep time: 5 minscook time: 20 minstotal time: 25 mins

Savory spiced pecans with "everything bagel" seasoning, a mixture of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, toasted onion, roasted garlic and coarse salt. Three ingredients, 30 minutes - keto, Whole 30, paleo, low carb.

ingredients:

• 4 cups pecans
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup "everything bagel" seasoning

instructions:

1. Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Crack the egg and separate the yolk from the white. Put the egg white in a large bowl. (Save the yolk for another recipe.)
3. With a fork, whip the egg white until frothy, about 30 seconds.
4. Pour in the pecans and toss them around with a large spoon until all the nuts are coated with the egg white.
5. Sprinkle on the "everything bagel" seasoning and toss to distribute evenly.
6. Spread the pecans evenly on the lined baking sheet. Try to get them into as close to one layer as you can. If a few overlap, it's fine.
7. Bake the pecans until they are dry and fragrant, about 20 minutes (but start checking after 15 minutes - you don't want them to burn).
8. Let cool on the baking sheet. Transfer to an airtight container. Try not to eat them all at once.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Low carb waffles with zucchini and cheese

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Have you ever tried making low carb waffles? After more than two years following a keto (ketogenic, or low carb) diet, I don't miss sweet waffles drenched in syrup. Instead, I have become a huge fan of savory waffles, with almond flour and eggs as the base, shredded vegetables and onions for flavor, and cheese holding the whole thing together in the most delicious way.

I use a mixture of almond flour and a little bit of coconut flour for these savory keto waffles, plus two or three kinds of cheese. Zucchini throws off a lot of liquid, so there's no need to add milk or water - the zucchini provides all the moisture you need.

I serve these low carb zucchini waffles as a side dish with roast chicken or steak, but I can tell you from experience that leftover zucchini and cheese waffles are extremely tasty for breakfast with a fried egg on top. Scroll down for the recipe....

More favorite low carb recipes:
Paleo fried chicken with an almond flour crust
Cheeseburger stuffed mushrooms
Low carb stuffed peppers

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Low carb waffles with zucchini and cheese

by Erika Kerekes February-11-2018

Serve these savory low carb waffles with shredded zucchini and cheddar cheese as a side dish with roast chicken or steak, or top them with a fried egg for breakfast. Perfect for keto diets!

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup almond flour
• 2 Tablespoons coconut flour
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cups raw zucchini, shredded or spiralized
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 cup cheddar cheese (or cheddar/jack combination)

Instructions

1. Heat your waffle iron.2. Crack the eggs into a medium-sized bowl and beat them with a fork. Add the almond flour, coconut flour, parmesan, salt, pepper and baking powder, and combine well. The mixture will be very thick.3. Add the zucchini and onions to the egg mixture and combine well. Let sit 10 minutes, then stir again. The salt will draw out some of the water from the zucchini, making the mixture looser. Add the cheddar cheese and mix again.4. Spray your waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Use about 1/3 cup mixture for each waffle, or adjust based on the size of your waffle iron. Let the waffles cook until medium-brown, about 5 minutes - these low carb waffles will take a bit longer than traditional waffles, so don't be impatient or they'll fall apart. You need the extra time for the eggs and cheese to do their bonding work.5. As you take the waffles out of the waffle iron, put them in a single layer on a rack set over a baking sheet. Keep warm in the oven until you finish the whole batch. Serve immediately.LEFTOVERS: Reheat in the oven or toaster oven for best results. The microwave will make them mushy.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 30 mins Yield: 12 waffles

Low carb stuffed peppers with Fruitchup

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Low carb stuffed peppers are one of my favorite meals. Bell peppers make such a tidy receptacle for a stuffing made of ground beef, vegetables, and cheese! I make these almost every week and often pack one in my lunchbox to take to the office. This is one of those easy, delicious low carb recipes that fits perfectly into my keto diet.

Use any vegetables you have around—I particularly like using spinach and cauliflower rice. My secret ingredient is prepared spinach artichoke dip, which is made with cream cheese and serves as a perfect base to hold everything together. And then, of course, I include some Fruitchup, my delicious fruit-sweetened tomato ketchup (the best Paleo ketchup you'll find!), which goes into the mixture and gets painted on top before the final shower of cheese.

More of my favorite low carb recipes:
Lemon chicken with fresh cranberries
Keto mushroom quiche with an almond flour crust
Pork belly "fries"

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Low carb stuffed peppers with Fruitchup

by Erika Kerekes January-28-2018

Low carb stuffed peppers are filled with ground beef, cauliflower rice and cheese, then topped with Fruitchup Paleo ketchup before baking. A delicious keto dinner recipe.

Ingredients

• 6 large bell peppers
• 1.5 pounds ground beef
• 2 cups cauliflower rice (raw)
• 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 cup prepared spinach artichoke dip or softened cream cheese
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup Fruitchup paleo ketchup
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cut the tops off the bell peppers, then scoop out the seeds and ribs. Set aside.Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking dish large enough to hold the peppers snugly (standing up).In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, cauliflower rice, spinach, onion, spinach artichoke dip or cream cheese, 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Fruitchup, and salt and pepper to taste. It's easiest to use your hands.Using a spoon or your hands, stuff each pepper with the meat mixture. Set the peppers in the baking dish. Spread the remaining 1/4 cup Fruitchup on top of the peppers, then sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.Bake the stuffed peppers about 1 hour, until the meat mixture is cooked through and the peppers are soft. Serve immediately.

Details

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 1 hour Total time: 1 hour 15 mins Yield: 6 servings

Meyer lemon chicken with fresh cranberries

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There's nothing I love more than a simple roast chicken recipe that fits into my low carb ketogenic diet and is also drop-dead gorgeous.

Meyer Lemon Chicken with Fresh Cranberries cooked in my cast iron skillet is just beautiful, isn't it? Golden chicken skin. Orange-yellow Meyer lemons from my backyard tree. Ruby-red cranberries. I love looking at it. Eating it is pretty heavenly, too.

I made this yesterday for our very small Thanksgiving lunch. We had a change of plans this year because my 15-year-old son got sick. We were supposed to travel to northern California to visit my in-laws, whom I adore. But we didn't want to bring them his germs, and he wasn't feeling up to making the trip. So my husband went to share the holiday with his parents, and the teen and I stayed home and spent the day in our pajamas. I made him hot honey lemonade and soup, and we both had roast chicken for lunch.

I bought a bag of fresh cranberries because they were so beautiful...but then, in my current mode of avoiding sugar, juice, and most natural and artificial sweeteners, I wasn't sure what to do with them. News flash: cranberries without sugar are like tiny red lemons. I love the tartness paired with savory chicken thighs and didn't miss the sugar at all.

Notes: Frozen cranberries would work fine, as would regular lemons instead of Meyer lemons. Don't skimp on the salt and pepper.

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Meyer Lemon Chicken with Fresh Cranberries

by Erika Kerekes November-24-2017

Roast chicken thighs with fragrant Meyer lemons and fresh cranberries for this drop-dead stunning skillet dinner. The cranberries are very tart, but that's what makes the dish work. Resist the urge to add sugar - you don't need it.

Ingredients

• 4 large chicken thighs, skin on, bone-in
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 Meyer lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 cup fresh cranberries

Instructions

Heat the oven to 325 degrees F.Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken thighs liberally with salt and pepper on both sides.Lay the chicken skin side down into the hot skillet. Cook without moving for 5-7 minutes, until the skin is golden brown and crisp.Turn the chicken thighs over and turn off the heat. Lay one beautiful slice of Meyer lemon on top of each piece of chicken. Scatter the remaining lemon slices and the fresh cranberries around the skillet. Slide the skillet into the oven. Roast the chicken for 50 minutes, until it is cooked through and the lemon slices on top have begun to caramelize.Remove the skillet from the oven. Serve immediately.

Details

Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 55 mins Total time: 1 hour Yield: 4 servings

Keto mushroom quiche with zucchini blossoms {low carb}

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When I decided to switch to a ketogenic, low carb diet to control my type 2 diabetes, one of the things I thought I would never be able to eat again was quiche. "Crustless" didn't appeal to me as a genre. How to make a keto quiche without that traditional flaky crust? Could it be done?

After a year of experimenting, I'm here to tell you that low carb quiche made with this almond flour crust is really, really good.

The crust is so easy: You mix almond flour, grated parmesan cheese, an egg, salt and pepper, and some olive oil with a fork until it comes together. Then you press it into your pie pan or tart pan, fill it, and bake.

For quiche, I look for leftovers. Any chopped cooked vegetables will do. This quiche includes sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions and zucchini flowers. Delicate yellow zucchini blossoms are readily available at the farmers market during the summer; farmers pick the male flowers (the ones that don't turn into zucchini) to keep the plants productive.

Most restaurants serve zucchini blossoms stuffed, battered and deep-fried, but I like to chop them and use them in zucchini flower quesadillas, pasta or scrambled eggs. In the quiche they have a very faint zucchini flavor with a tiny peppery bite. And they're gorgeous!

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Keto low carb mushroom quiche with zucchini blossoms

by Erika Kerekes August-8-2017

In this ketogenic quiche, a low carb crust made with almond flour cradles a rich savory custard dotted with mushrooms, caramelized onions and zucchini blossoms. Serve for breakfast, lunch or a light supper.

Ingredients

• 2 cups almond flour (fine)
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 7 eggs, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced or chopped
• 1 cup onions, chopped
• 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 10 zucchini blossoms, stems removed, roughly chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

Make the crust: Using a fork, mix together the almond flour, grated parmesan cheese, 1 egg, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 cup olive oil in a large bowl. When the mixture comes together, turn it into a large pie plate or square baking dish, making sure the dough covers the bottom of the baking dish evenly and goes up the sides at least an inch. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.Cook the vegetables: Put remaining 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and onions and cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms have released all their liquid and both the mushrooms and onions are softened and starting to turn brown around the edges. Remove from the heat and let cool 5 minutes.Scatter the grated cheddar cheese over the bottom of the crust. Top with the cooked mushrooms and onions, then the chopped zucchini blossoms.In a bowl, whisk together the remaining 6 eggs, heavy cream, remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and mustard until smooth. Pour the cream mixture over the vegetables.Place the baking dish on top of a baking sheet lined with foil (just in case anything bubbles over). Slide the baking sheet into the oven. Bake about 45 minutes, until the center is just set - you'll be able to tell when you shake the pan and the center no longer wiggles - and the quiche is starting to brown around the edges.Remove the quiche from the oven and let cool. Do not cut into the quiche until it has reached room temperature - you want the custard to set fully.Serve at room temperature for best flavor.

Details

Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 45 mins Total time: 1 hour 5 mins Yield: 8-10 servings

Pork belly fries with Not Ketchup {paleo, keto, low carb}

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Pork belly fries. Three of my favorite words in the English language in one sentence.

This meaty snack is as good as it gets, perfect for a Paleo, Whole30 or low carb diet. And it couldn't be easier. Pork belly fries start with uncured pork belly, which my local Costco now carries. You have never seen teenage boys celebrate like mine did on the day they learned pork belly was readily available at Costco.

Then, you cut the pork belly into thin strips and pan-fry them over a low-ish heat in a heavy skillet. When they're golden brown and crisp, you drain them on a plate lined with paper towels, sprinkle with salt, and enjoy.

Not Ketchup Paleo fruit "ketchups," sweetened with real fruit and made without any added sugar, are the perfect dip for these pork belly fries. Use your favorite flavor! I prefer these pork belly fries with Blueberry White Pepper Not Ketchup, but Cherry Chipotle and Spiced Fig were also a hit with my family.

A lot of fat will render out of the pork belly during the cooking process. You should absolutely, positively strain and save it; refrigerated, I've kept it as long as a few months. It's great for pan-frying onions, browning pork chops or even scrambling eggs. The flavor you get from cooking in pork fat is unbelievably delicious.

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Pork belly fries with Not Ketchup {Paleo, keto, low carb}

by Erika Kerekes July-23-2017

Pan-fried nuggets of pork belly make a gloriously meaty, savory snack. Serve with Not Ketchup paleo BBQ sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 pound uncured pork belly
• Salt, to taste
• 1/2 cup Not Ketchup Paleo BBQ sauce, any flavor

Instructions

Slice the pork belly into thin batons, about 1 inch wide. Use a paper towel to blot them, making sure the pork belly pieces are dry.Put the pork belly pieces into a large, heavy skillet (do not preheat the skillet). Over a medium-low flame, cook the pork belly fries, turning frequently, until crisp and golden, about 15-20 minutes.Remove the pork belly fries to a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt. Serve hot with Not Ketchup for dipping.

Details

Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 25 mins Yield: 4 servings

Food as medicine: The Migraine Relief Plan by Stephanie Weaver

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Food as medicine: That's what my life has been about for the past year and a half, since my diabetes diagnosis. Changing the way I eat has helped me kick diabetes to the curb and start my second half-century in the best health of my adult life. Food, indeed, has been my medicine.

When I heard about Stephanie Weaver's new book The Migraine Relief Plan, I was excited to read it. Because migraines have been part of my life for nearly three decades.

I started getting migraines after I finished college, when I was living in New York City and working in magazine publishing. I'm not talking about little, annoying headaches. I'm talking about crippling, blinding pain that came on suddenly and lasted for hours, sometimes days. The headaches were always in the same place, above my right eye, near my hairline. Pounding. Pulsing. I had several migraines a week for years.

I was young and otherwise healthy, so I pushed through them. Biofeedback therapy helped; I practiced guided relaxation and learned how to raise the temperature of my fingertips five degrees in five minutes using just my brain. (That was pretty cool and, as a side benefit, helped a lot during labor and childbirth.) I experimented with folk remedies and over-the-counter painkillers and finally came up with a method that worked for me, involving ibuprofen, caffeine (which I don't normally have at all), and strategically placed ice packs. Eventually, because of age, hormonal changes, and who knows what else, the headaches came more rarely. Now I get a few a year, if that.

But I suffered for years. And other than avoiding red wine, which I didn't drink much anyway and didn't seem to trigger my headaches, no one ever suggested to me that I might be able to control or lessen the frequency of my migraines by changing what I ate.

Creamy Not-ella Carob Butter from The Migraine Relief Plan

I am truly sorry that Stephanie had to suffer with her migraines as much as she did (her full story is at the beginning of the book). But I'm grateful for the result, and I think other migraine sufferers will be as well. The Migraine Relief Plan offers a sensible eight-week transition plan to help migraine sufferers ease into a diet that is sugar-free, gluten-free and low in sodium. As it happens, I've already made most of these changes myself to tackle my diabetes. They may sound drastic, but when your health is at stake, it's worth it.

And even with these restrictions, it's possible to eat delicious food every single day. The book includes more than 75 recipes that look delicious and follow the guidelines above to help migraine sufferers avoid attacks. In addition to being a certified health and wellness coach, Stephanie is a food blogger and professional recipe developer (that's how we met). I can't wait to try Stephanie's Creamy Not-ella Carob Butter, Seedy Carrot Crackers, Firehouse Turkey Chili, Maple Sesame Glazed Chicken, Peachy Pulled Pork, and Pear Upside-Down Cake.

If you're plagued with migraines, I am so sorry. But there's hope. I strongly suggest taking a look at The Migraine Relief Plan to see if Stephanie's dietary and lifestyle suggestions can help you.

BONUS: Stephanie is hosting a pre-order giveaway if you order The Migraine Relief Plan by February 13, 2017. Click here to enter the giveaway.

*Recipe photography copyright 2016 by Laura Bashar

Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I get a few cents if you click them and buy Stephanie's book. We both thank you in advance.

Low-carb eggplant parmesan casserole

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I've adopted a low-carb diet over the past year to improve my health.

Once I decided that it was time to change what I eat and how I think about food, I found it relatively easy to stick with it. This health transformation has been much more about my head than my body.

But that doesn't mean I never have cravings. I do. Of course I do.

Once I eliminated most carbohydrates from my diet, I was surprised to find that pizza was the thing I craved most often. So I started thinking about pizza substitutes.

(For the record, I tried five different cauliflower crust recipes. Didn't do it for me.)

I started making this low-carb eggplant parmesan casserole a few weeks into my new lifestyle. I call it my "I Really Want Pizza Casserole."

It's got all the flavor of pizza, with my favorite (no added sugar) tomato sauce and stretchy mozzarella cheese. Eggplant stands in for the starch. And instead of breadcrumbs, I use almond flour to absorb some of the liquid.

The secret to getting the texture right is to bake the eggplant slices to dry them out a bit before assembling the casserole. That way the eggplant has some chewy heft to it and doesn't dissolve into mush.

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Low-Carb Eggplant Parmesan Casserole

by Erika Kerekes July-27-2016

This low-carb eggplant parmesan casserole has all the flavor of pizza without sabotaging your low-carbohydrate diet. The secret to getting the right texture: drying the eggplant slices in the oven before assembling the casserole.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds eggplant (look for thinner ones if possible)
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Instructions

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or foil, then spray with nonstick cooking spray.Slice the eggplants into 1/2-inch rounds (don't peel them). Lay the eggplant slices on the prepared baking sheets.Bake the eggplant slices for 30 minutes, until they are somewhat dried out and starting to look leathery. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let cool 30 minutes. Leave the oven on.While the eggplant is baking, mix together the almond flour, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.Assemble the casserole: Spray a medium-sized casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour a few spoonfuls of tomato sauce in the bottom and spread it around. Lay down a layer of eggplant slices. Sprinkle over about 1/4 of the almond flour mixture, then some mozzarella. Drizzle some more of the sauce on top. Continue to layer the ingredients until all are used, ending with mozzarella and a drizzle of tomato sauce.Bake the casserole about 45 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted and golden brown in places on top. Serve hot.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 1 hour 15 mins Total time: 1 hour 25 mins Yield: 6 servings

Meyer lemon chicken thighs

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Meyer lemon chicken thighs. This is one of the easiest chicken dishes I have ever made, and I love it beyond all others.

It uses four ingredients, and that's counting salt and pepper. 

It's made in one pan (a heavy, ovenproof skillet).

It's fancy enough for company. 

It's paleo, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, whole 30, low-carb, and probably ticks a few more boxes as well.

Oh. And it's delicious.

If you can't get your hands on Meyer lemons, any old lemon will do. I like Meyer lemons because they have an almost floral aroma and are less acidic than standard lemons. Also because they grow in my backyard. But seriously, use whatever lemons you have.

Ready? Time to cook.

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Meyer Lemon Chicken Thighs

by Erika Kerekes May-6-2016

A simple, delicious, stunningly beautiful chicken dish you will serve again and again. You need four ingredients, one hour, and a hearty appetite.

Ingredients

• 1 Meyer lemon (or regular lemon)
• 4 large chicken thighs, bone in and skin on
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.Using a sharp knife, slice the lemon into very thin rounds. Set aside. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken thighs with the salt and pepper.Heat a large, heavy, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Lay the chicken thighs in the skillet, skin side down. Cook without moving for about 6 minutes, until some of the fat has rendered and the skin is golden brown and crisp.Turn over the chicken thighs so the skin side is up. Lay a thin lemon slice on top of each chicken thigh. Tuck the remaining lemon pieces into the skillet, around the chicken pieces. Put the skillet into the oven. Roast about 45 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. If the lemon slices haven't started to caramelize (turn brown around the edges), turn on the broiler for no more than 1-2 minutes, watching the chicken carefully so it doesn't burn.Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Details

Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 55 mins Total time: 1 hour Yield: 4 servings

Best low-carb products at Natural Products Expo West 2016

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Visiting with Nikki Frezza of Nikki's Coconut Butter

Disclosure: I tried all the products listed below at the Natural Products Expo West trade show. Some of the companies below also sent me home with small free samples.

Last month I walked the exhibition halls at Natural Products Expo West, the largest trade show for health-conscious food and beauty products. I was specifically looking for low-sugar and low-carb foods to fit in with my new eating habits. Here are my favorites, in no particular order:

1. Lily's Sweets stevia-sweetened chocolate. I have tried just about every non-sugar-sweetened chocolate on the market, and Lily's is my favorite without question. It's smooth and creamy, melts evenly, and there's absolutely no bitter aftertaste, which you can sometimes get with stevia. The Lily's team gave me some samples at the show (the Blood Orange flavor is fantastic), but I can assure you that I spend plenty of my own money on Lily's chocolate bars every week. Look for the small snack-size bars at Whole Foods.

2. Nikki's Cashew Cookie Coconut Butter. Nikki and I belong to a small group of women food entrepreneurs on Facebook and have been sharing our journey building our companies for several years. She has taught me so much about branding, balancing health and work and aspirations, and overcoming manufacturing challenges. This was the first time we actually got to meet in person and I could have hugged her for an hour. I love all of Nikki's flavored coconut butters (they're like peanut butter but made of coconut), but her brand-new Cashew Cookie Butter is the first with no added sugar, which means it fits perfectly into my current eating habits. It's smooth, rich and absolutely delicious.

3. Ginger's Healthy Habits Veggie Trail Mix. One of the things I've missed most since reducing the carbohydrates in my diet is the salty crunchy category. I love chips! These veggie trail mixes totally hit the spot. I loved the Garlic/Herb and Pepperoni Pizza flavors. With zucchini, kale, tomatoes, olives, nuts and seeds, these two flavors really felt like a decadent savory snack. All thumbs up.

4. Terra celery root chips. Terra makes chips out of several exotic root vegetables, and these celery root chips are so new they're not even on the Terra website as I'm writing. They're not zero-carb, but they're lower than potato or sweet potato chips, and they had a very interesting flavor. Look for them in stores soon.

5. Mikey's Muffins. These Paleo English muffins made from almond and coconut flours come in three flavors (Original, Toasted Onion, and Cinnamon Raisin) and definitely satisfy my bread cravings. Like all English muffins, they're best toasted to golden brown.

6. Mr. Cheese O's cheese snacks. Made of real cheese and available in Original, Cheddar, Tuscan Herb, Sweet Chili, Zesty BBQ and French Onion flavors, these little rings offered all the crunch of a typical junk food cheese puff with very few carbs and truly delicious taste.

7. La Onda Almond Dip. I wish I'd gotten more information about these products because their website is lacking. But they were delicious, like hummus but made from almonds. I'll update this if I find out more.

8. Siete Foods grain-free tortillas. I have cut just about all grains out of my diet, but I still need a bread-like vehicle, especially in the morning. These almond flour and cassava-coconut tortillas were very good. I liked the slight chewiness and can see wrapping up a veggie omelette in these for breakfast on the go. They're definitely at their best when they're warmed.

9. Wild Zora Original Meat and Veggie Bars. There were bars galore at the Expo, but it was extremely hard to find bars without a lot of sugar or carbs. (Even the ones that were sweetened only with fruit had enough fruit to make each bar high in total sugar.) The Wild Zora bars are made with beef, lamb and turkey mixed with fruits, vegetables and spices. I know it sounds weird, but I thought these were delicious. My favorite: the Mediterranean Lamb Bars with Spinach and Turmeric, although the other flavors are also excellent.