For thousands of years, bread has been a staple food for humans. It is the central component of many diets around the world.
Refined wheat is the most common ingredient in modern bread and is relatively high in carbohydrates (carbs). Removing bread and reducing the number of carbs in your diet can help you lose weight, have freedom from food allergies, and even reduce the risk of particular disorders and illnesses.
Individuals who take part in a low-carb or keto diet, and those with gluten allergies such as celiacs, avoid bread because it makes their lives healthier. Still, it can be a challenge figuring out what to replace bread within our daily diets and routine.
The Market is Growing
There are now several innovative bread alternatives available on the market. Certain types are more challenging to prepare but have a more bread-like mouthfeel than others, and others are creative replacements who simply act like bread without tasting like bread. For those that are intolerant to gluten, there are also many gluten-free bread options.
Bread alternatives allow people to continue to enjoy some of their favorite foods, albeit, in a very modified way, that helps to make sticking to a specific diet more manageable.
Here’s an all-inclusive list of healthy bread alternatives you can experiment with and try out in your low-carb or gluten-free cooking.
1. Cloud Bread
Cloud bread is an incredibly easy bread substitute option for low-carb and keto dieters. Cloud bread is a protein-rich, do-it-yourself alternative to regular bread, and makes an excellent sandwich bread or bun situation.
2. Sliced Eggplant
You can cut an eggplant into 1-inch thick rounds, season them however you like, and then grill or bake the slices. Once they have cooled, these slices are great for burgers and savory sandwiches.
3. Portobello Mushroom Burger or Sandwich Buns
You can also use large grilled or baked portobello mushrooms in place of the buns on your burgers or BBQ sandwiches. When warmed and slightly grilled, portobellos have a tremendous bread-like density.
4. Lettuce Leaves
Iceberg, romaine, and butter lettuce are all excellent tortilla substitute when making wraps.
Try making a sandwich as a wrap or building a savory taco on two stacked leaves of lettuce.
5. Steamed Collard Greens
A gently steamed collard green leaf is more durable than lettuce for specific wrap applications. Collards are great for burritos or an egg roll type snack.
6. Nori or Seaweed Sheets
Nori sheets make fantastic wraps. They are flexible and savory. You can even make sushi with chopped cauliflower rice instead of traditional sushi rice wrapped in traditional nori sheets.
7. Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Speaking of cauliflower. Another fantastic and life-changing bread alternative is cauliflower crust pizza. Yes, you can have pizza again with this crust, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to available toppings that are low-carb and gluten-free!
8. Zoodles or Zucchini Lasagna Noodles
Making noodles out of zucchini is a super straightforward way to enjoy a low-carb alternative to pasta. You can make spaghetti, top zoodles with Alfredo sauce, and even assemble a lasagna.
Using a spiralizer is the easiest way to make noodles. These noodles can be sautéed or steamed and topped with sauces. To make lasagna noodles, all you have to do is cut the zucchini in thin strips lengthwise.
9. Chaffles
Chaffles are a bread made out of mostly egg and cheese, like almond flour and baking powder that you make by pouring a batter into a waffle maker and cooking it through. Chaffles can be used almost anywhere you’d use a piece of bread.
10. Keto Bread
Newer on the market are low carb breads that look, feel, smell, and toast up just like bread. These keto breads make excellent sandwiches and are perfect for toast. Avocado toast, anyone?
Healthy Bread Alternatives Make Low-Carb Eating Fun Again
Those on the keto or a gluten-free diet may miss their favorite bready meals sometimes. However, there is an incredible amount of healthy alternatives that can be used in place of bread. You just have to get creative and be adaptive!
Sometimes these bread alternatives can seem challenging to use, but after some time and some trial and error, you will be able to get used to and enjoy them just as you would bread.
Incorporating these healthy bread alternatives into your diet means you can once again enjoy the foods that you love.
