HEY SAM, I recently started your Zig Zag meal plan. Can you tell me the names of a few low-carb shakes, powders, or bars you recommend? How do you know if they qualify as “low carb?” Roger, Los Angeles

On the Zig Zag Meal Plan, a food qualifies as “low carb” if a serving contains less than 6 grams of net carbs* per serving. Here are some of my favorite low carb products that you can use as snacks and supplements.

BEST LOW-CARB BARS
Think Thin’s Chocolate Brownie bar “They’re tasty and inexpensive,” says my friend Bronson.
CLIF Builder’s bar (various flavors) $1.49
Power Crunch Bars  (various flavors)

BEST LOW-CARB SHAKES (pre-made)
Slim Fast, Low Carb shake (canned) $2.00
Myoplex Lite (any flavor) $2.20
Muscle Milk Light
Pure Protein Shake (pre-canned) $1.49

BEST LOW-CARB PUDDINGS
Instone Protein Pudding (chocolate) $5.99/4 pack. Created by Sylvester Stallone. “It tasted better than I expected it to,” says Bronson.
Muscle Milk Protein Pudding (vanilla) $4.99/4 pack. Features a rich, thick texture.

BEST LOW-CARB PROTEIN POWDER
Isopure Zero Carb Protein powder (chocolate) $42/3lbs

BEST LOW-CARB PROTEIN DRINK ALTERNATIVE
Isopure “Zero Carb” Apple Melon ($3.99 bottle).

BEST TASTING LOW CARB BEERS
Michelob Ultra (2.6 carbs, 95 calories). “I think it comes to mind because it was the best marketed,” says Bronson.
Amstel Light (5 carbs, 95 calories). Not marketed as a low-carb beer, but contains only a couple more grams per bottle.

My friend John saves money buying his supplements online from LuckyVitamin which carries many items at reduced prices. “My first shipment arrived on time,” John says. “The site is legit, products are exactly what they say they are. Go for it!”

*SOME CARBS CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS, while others don’t. Most diets like Atkins and South Beach consider certain carbs (i.e., fiber and sugar alcohol) “non-impact” carbs because the body can’t use them. Calculate net carbs by taking the total carb grams and subtracting the carb grams coming from either sugar alcohol or fiber. The result is the net carb count.