7 Best Low-Carb Breads on Grocery Store Shelves

There's no need to banish bread from your life if you follow a carb-controlled diet or are trying to limit carby foods to peel off pounds. Try one of these best low-carb bread options to enjoy everything you love about bread (PB&J, avocado toast, or grilled cheese, anyone?) —minus some of the carbs and calories.

Bread aisles are overflowing with "gluten-free," "grain-free," and "keto" slices, buns, bagels, pitas, and pockets. However, many are pumped with fat, calories, and lots of suspect ingredients. The result is often a bread alternative that lacks the taste and texture of a regular loaf. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to find a lower-carb bread that isn't made with protein or wheat isolates, nut flours, or loads of fat and added sugars.

When it comes to worrying about carbs and weight loss, it's important to remember that bread alone isn't what contributes to weight gain. Your weight woes stem from eating more calories than you burn—not carbohydrates, per se. If your goal is to reduce the carbs in your diet to manage blood sugar or other reasons, the best low-carb breads are great options to enjoy instead of a traditional slice.  To start, here are some smart nutritional criteria to help you choose the best, low-carb breads:

• Look for "Whole Grain" or "100% Whole Grain" on the ingredient list: Bread labels may have a lot of healthful sounding terms like "seven grain," "multi-grain," "cracked wheat," "unbleached flour," "made with whole wheat" or "all-natural." But these descriptors don't ensure that your bread is made with whole-grain flour instead of enriched white flour. Look for Whole Grain or 100% Whole Grain on the ingredient list. "Whenever possible, choose breads with 100% whole grains or sprouted grains for more nutrition, says Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN, author of From Burnout to Balance. "Whole grain products include the endosperm, germ, and bran, which provides fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals."
• Count carbs: A traditional slice of a hearty, whole grain bread will have at least 20 grams of carbs and about 110 calories. For a lower carb bread, stick with a whole grain, but look for a bread with less than 15 grams of carbohydrates.
• Focus on fiber: "Choose a bread with at least 2 grams of fiber per slice, and ideally more, says Bannan. "Fiber is important for gut health, and it helps keep you feeling fuller, longer. It's recommended that the average adult gets 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day."

Now that you have some tips for shopping for the best low-carb breads, here are a few of my favorite brands to try.

1. Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Bread

© Provided by Eat This, Not That! Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Bread

This bread is packed with nutritional all-stars, including wheat, barley, millet, spelt, legumes, and beans. Together, they bake up into a delicious and wholesome high-fiber, high-protein loaf.

• Carbs: 15 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Calories: 80

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2. Dave's Killer Bread Thin-Sliced Organic Powerseed

© Provided by Eat This, Not That! daves killer bread powerseed thin sliced

One of the easiest ways to enjoy bread while keeping carbs in check is to look for thin-sliced options. This bread is a great option because the first ingredient is organic whole wheat, and it is made with five different seeds.

• Carbs: 12 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Calories: 60

3. Oroweat Organic Thin-Sliced 100% Whole Wheat

© Provided by Eat This, Not That! Oroweat 100% whole wheat

This organic bread is made with whole wheat flour, wheat gluten, and wheat bran. What's more, the bread maker uses a solar-powered bakery for environmental benefits.

• Carbs: 13 g
• Fiber: 2 G
• Protein: 3 g
• Calories: 70

4. Mestemacher Walnut Protein Bread

© Provided by Eat This, Not That! Mestemacher walnut protien bread

If you want healthy, low-carb bread, look for the European breads in your supermarket. This German whole-grain bread is dense and filling, thanks to the whole grain rye, walnut, and soy protein. It has more than twice as much protein and significantly fewer carbohydrates than a traditional US-baked breads.

• Carbs: 14 g
• Fiber: 8 G
• Protein: 9 g
• Calories: 130

RELATED: 6 Breads That Use the Highest Quality Ingredients

5. Aunt Millie's Live Carb Smart 5 Seed Bread

© Provided by Eat This, Not That! Aunt Millie's carb smart bread

This bread keeps carbs and calories lower than most because the main ingredients are resistant starch and wheat gluten. We liked that it's made with seeds to increase the protein and fiber for a filling slice.

• Carbs: 11 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Calories: 50

6. WASA Multi Grain Crispbread

© Provided by Eat This, Not That! wasa multigrain crisp bread

Choosing a traditional Nordic-style crispbread that is a staple in Sweden and Finland is a great alternative to bread. Crispbreads are like a cross between bread and a cracker. WASA is a Swedish style crispbread and the carbs and calories in a slice is about half of what you'll find in a slice of regular wheat bread. I enjoy healthy open-faced sandwiches with crispbreads all the time.

• Carbs: 8 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Calories: 35

RELATED: 29 Low-Carb Breakfast Ideas That Will Keep You Full All Morning

7. Finn Crisp Original Sourdough Rye Thins

© Provided by Eat This, Not That! Finn Crisp low-carb bread

This is the Finnish cousin to WASA crispbreads. These crispbreads have just five ingredients—whole grain rye, flour, water, salt, and yeast—making them one of the more naturally delicious and wholesome low-carb bread alternatives.

• Carbs: 10 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Calories: 40

Read the original article at Eat This, Not That!