20 and 50 grams of carbs – how much food is that? - Diet Doctor (2024)

FAQs

How much food is 20 grams of carbs? ›

Just one large potato contains 20 grams of net carbs, the daily limit on a keto low-carb diet. As does one half of a large hamburger bun. Or half a cup of rice or pasta. These foods practically can't be included at all on a keto low-carb diet, and only in small amounts – if at all – on a more liberal low-carb diet.

Bread: Around 2 to 3 slices of white or whole wheat bread typically contain around 50g of carbohydrates. Oats: Approximately 50g of dry oats (about 1/2 cup) provides around 50g of carbohydrates. Fruits: Consuming around 2 medium-sized bananas or 3 medium-sized apples can give you close to 50g of carbohydrates.

So what does 20 grams of carbs look like for potatoes, pasta, rice or bread? It is one potato, a small serving of pasta (about 1/2 cup), about 1/2 cup of white rice, and that half bun. It won't take much of any of these foods to exceed your daily carb limit and take you out of ketosis.

Most adults with diabetes aim for 45-60 grams of carbs per meal and 15-20 grams per snack. That number may go up or down, depending on how active you are and the medicines you take, so check with your doctor or a registered dietitian. Look at labels.

Snacks with About 10-20 Grams of Carbohydrates:

1 cup chicken noodle soup, tomato soup (made with water), or vegetable soup\ 1 small apple or orange. 3 cups light popcorn. 1/3 cup hummus + 1 cup raw fresh cut veggies (green peppers, carrots, broccoli, cucumber, celery, cauliflower or a combination of these)

Atkins 20^®, the original Atkins diet and original keto diet, has helped millions of people achieve their weight loss goals. Not only is it a low carb keto diet, but it's simple too! When you control your carb intake to 20 grams a day, you burn fat, known as ketosis.

You may lose weight faster on 50 g of carbs a day or less, but it depends on what else you're eating, how many calories you're consuming, how active you are, and many other factors. In addition, eating slightly more carbs may lead to lower but more sustainable weight loss.

Food and drinks allowed on a no-carb diet include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, oils, water, and plain coffee or tea. If you're less stringent, you can also eat nuts, seeds, non-starchy vegetables, and high fat fruits like avocado and coconut since these foods are low in net carbs.

To stay under 20 grams of carbs a day, fill yourself up with lots of vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats.

The ketogenic (keto) diet limits carbohydrates and replaces them with fats, putting the body into a state of ketosis. To stay in ketosis, a person requires up to 50 grams (g) of carbs per day.

How many carbs should I eat a day to lose weight? ›

As far as how many carbohydrates to eat, Pratt says 100 to 150 grams of carbohydrates is safe for most people who are trying to lose weight. It may be better for some people to eat carbs consistently throughout the day. “You can also break it up evenly with 40 to 50 grams of carbs per meal,” she says.

You limit dairy products, red meat, sweets, added sugars, sodium (salt), and highly processed foods. Some additional guidelines include focusing on seasonal produce and reading food labels to help you avoid added sodium and sugar.

Carrots. These are considered non-starchy (as are string beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower) and good in a diabetes diet. High-fiber grains. Farro, quinoa and barley keep sugars more stable than white rice or pasta.

For instance, in a small 3-month study, people consumed either a low carb diet containing up to 50 grams of carbs per day or a calorie-restricted low fat diet. The low carb group averaged a 0.6% decrease in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and lost more than twice as much weight as the low fat group.