Fruit Desserts for Low Carb or Slow Carb Diets

Although fruit can be too high in sugar for a strict keto diet, some fruits CAN fit into a low carb or slow carb lifestyle. This low carb cherry dessert (a Clafoutis) is made with almond flour, eggs, a bit of sugar (or sugar substitute), and of course cherries.  It is easy, delicious and an example of a dessert that can fit into a low carb lifestyle.

Jump to: How to Eat Fruit on Low Carb Diets | Best to Worst Fruits | Cherry Clafoutis Recipe

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Why No Fruit on Low Carb Diets?

A lot of people have trouble with the idea that fruit is to be avoided on a low carb, slow carb or ketogenic diet. 

There are a lot of variables to consider before excluding all fruit entirely however (i.e., if your goal is weight loss or maintenance, if you partake in cheat days, and what kind of fruit we are talking about). 

The main reason fruit is not considered compliant with low carb lifestyles is the amount of sugar that is found in most fruit (in the form of fructose) and how it can impact weight loss.

While fruit and sugar may both impact weight loss, there is a big difference however between whole fruit and processed sugar in terms of “health”.  Fruit definitely has some antioxidants and nutritional benefits that are healthy in a diet.

My recommendations on incorporating fruit into a low carb diet are as follows:

• when you are trying to lose weight include fruit on your cheat day ( or once a week) but exclude it during the other 6 days;
• berries are the least problematic with respect to weight gain;
• learn the hierarchy of which fruits are best and worst in terms of fructose and glucose responses. 
• Here is a very simple list of fruits and their “relative” amounts of sugar compared to each other:

Fruits Lowest in Sugar:

• Lemons or limes
• Rhubarb
• Blackberries
• Cranberries

Fruits Low to Medium in Sugar

• Strawberries
• Casaba Melon
• Papaya
• Watermelon
• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupes
• Honeydew
• Apples
• Guavas
• Apricots
• Grapefruit

Fruits Fairly High in Sugar

• Plums
• Oranges
• Kiwifruit
• Pears
• Pineapple

Fruits Very High in Sugar:

• Tangerines
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Pomegranates
• Mangos
• Figs
• Bananas
• Dried Fruit

The cherry clafoutis below is a dessert made with cherries, but if you want a low carb salad that doesn’t even require any cooking try this Spicy Mexican Fruit Salad.

Low(er) Carb Cherry Clafoutis