I love a great donut or pizza roll. Such morsels give me an instant energy boost and a quick ‘happiness’ hit. Unfortunately, about 10 minutes after my little carb indulgence I am left feeling somewhat comatose and I have a lower mood than when I started. For this reason, I have a love-hate relationship with carbs.

If you are like my husband, who works physically all day or you are a runner for example – carbs are important for maintaining energy levels.

There are a lot of theories out there about carbs versus low or no-carb diets.

Here are a few of the pros and cons of eating carbs that are floating around:

Benefits of carbs and low-carb diets

Benefits of including carbs in your diet

Boost your mood
Prevent weight gain
They’re good for your heart
Can keep your memory sharp
Can help blast fat

Benefits of a low carb diet

Increases weight loss
Improves blood sugar levels
Decreases high blood pressure
Lowers triglycerides – risk of obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol
Lowers cholesterol
Reduces insulin levels and resistance
Reduces muscle loss

Why I like a low carb diet

I feel lighter and more energetic
I don’t get tired in the afternoons
I feel less bloated
Helps maintain my goal weight
Allows me to enjoy carbs on special occasions
I feel more energetic after waking up
The meals feel healthier and more delicious
I eat more nutrient rich foods (namely fruit & veg) when I don’t eat carbs

I wanted a quick list of delicious and lovely-to-eat low carb lunches I could use as a reference when buying groceries for the week. The result is the following great collection and Pinterest Board, which is packed with beautiful, indulgent yet low carb and low calorie lunch ideas you can try! Follow my other boards on Pinterest to start living a happier and healthier life in 2015.