4 low carb recipes to reduce belly fat
Low carb recipes to help you ditch the stubborn belly fat.
Low-carb foods can offer several health and lifestyle benefits, depending on your goals and health needs.
You can find hundreds of low carb and high protein recipes on the Zing Wellbeing App.
Here are a few reasons below why you should consider following a low carb diet.
Order your low carb cookbook here
Why Low Carb is Good for you
1. Better Blood Sugar Control
Reducing carbohydrates, especially refined carbs and sugars, helps stabilize blood glucose levels.
Can be particularly beneficial for people with insulin resistance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes.
2. Supports Weight Management
Lower carb intake often reduces insulin spikes, which can help your body use stored fat for energy.
Can naturally lead to reduced appetite and calorie intake, supporting weight loss or maintenance.
3. Improved Energy and Focus
Avoiding blood sugar highs and crashes leads to more stable energy levels.
Some people report better mental clarity on moderate or low-carb diets.
4. Supports Heart Health
Many low-carb recipes emphasize whole foods, lean proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables.
This balance can improve HDL (good) cholesterol and lower triglycerides.
5. Reduces Cravings for Sugary Foods
Lowering sugar intake can help reset taste buds and reduce dependency on sweets or processed foods.
6. May Enhance Fat Burning
When carb intake is low, the body shifts toward burning fat for fuel, sometimes leading to mild ketosis, depending on carb levels.
4 low carb recipes to reduce belly fat
Chicken & Egg Tortilla Sandwich (45g protein & 17g carbs)
Serving: 1
Ingredients
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 2 tbsp low fat cottage cheese
- 20g Mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 avocado, mashed
- Red onion slices
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup chopped lettuce
- 100g Cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 wholemeal tortilla
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Method
- Heat a large pan over medium low heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil.
- Whisk the eggs in a bowl and pour all over the pan and then top with a tortilla. Once it sets, flip and transfer to a plate.
- Cut from the outside at six o’clock to the centre.
- There are 4 quarters, and we fill three quarters with cheese, mashed avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, chicken and mozzarella. Keep one down the left empty.
- Flip the empty quarter over and keep folding until finished.
- Transfer to a pan and cook both sides until the cheese has melted.
Health Benefits
Eggs - 12g complete protein, rich in choline and vitamin D. Supports brain function and satiety.
Cottage Cheese - Adds 5g casein protein and calcium. Enhances creaminess and fullness.
Cooked Chicken - Lean protein (25g), rich in B vitamins and selenium. Supports muscle repair and energy metabolism.
Mozzarella Cheese - Adds calcium, protein, and savory richness. Can be swapped for part-skim or dairy-free options.
Avocado - 7g fibre and heart-healthy fats. Supports hormone balance and digestion.
Red Onion, Cherry Tomatoes, Lettuce - Provide vitamin C, antioxidants, and prebiotic fibre.
Macros per serve
Calories 465
Protein 45
Carbs 17
Fat 20
Fibre 6
Smoked Salmon & Dill Cheats Quiche (38g protein & 20g carbs)
Serving: 1
Ingredients
- 1 wholemeal tortilla wrap
- 80g smoked salmon (or preferred protein ie chicken or tofu)
- ¼ small red capsicum, diced
- ½ cup broccoli
- ¼ small red onion, diced
- A bunch of chopped dill
- 3 eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 30-50g mozzarella cheese
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C.
Place the tortilla in a cake tray, add all the ingredients except cheese. Combine.
Top with mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 180C for 15 minutes.
Health Benefits
Eggs - 18g complete protein, rich in choline and vitamin D. Supports brain function and satiety.
Smoked Salmon - 18g protein, rich in omega-3s and selenium. Supports heart health and anti-inflammatory pathways.
Mozzarella Cheese - Adds calcium, protein, and savory richness. Can be swapped for part-skim or dairy-free options.
Broccoli - High in fibre, vitamin C, and sulforaphane. Supports detoxification and gut health.
Red Capsicum + Red Onion - Provide antioxidants, vitamin C, and prebiotic fibre. Add crunch and flavour balance.
Dill - Rich in flavonoids and digestive enzymes. Adds brightness and micronutrients.
Tortilla Wrap - Base carb source; opt for high-fibre or low-carb wraps to improve net carbs.
Macros per serve
Calories 470
Protein 38
Carbs 20
Fat 27
Fibre 4
20-Minute Honey Chilli Chicken (29g protein & 22g carbs)
Serving: 4
Ingredients:
- 500 grams boneless skinless chicken breast, diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tbsp corn flour
- 1 ½ tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Red capsicum, diced
- Onions, diced
Sauce:
- 1/2 cup dark soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2-3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce (depending on how hot/spicy you like it)
- 1-2 tbsp sriracha sauce or less (depending on how hot/spicy you like it)
- 1 tbsp Chinese five spice
- 1 tsp cornstarch (mixed with 1/4 cup water)
Garnish: Spring onions and fresh chilli slices
Method:
1. Place the chicken in a bowl and season with salt, pepper, 2 garlic cloves, olive oil and cornflour.
2. Air fry for 20 minutes at 200c °C. Shake every 5-7 mins.
3. In the meantime prepare the sauce by combining all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside.
4. Heat a large pan over medium heat, add capsicum, onion, and garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables soften. Then add the sauce and cook for 2-3 more minutes until the sauce thickens.
5. Add crispy chicken to the sauce, toss to combine.
6. Garnish with chilli and spring onions. Serve over rice or quinoa.
Macros per serve
Calories: 293
Protein: 29g
Carbs: 22g
Fat: 7g
Fibre: 2g
Carrot and beef burger buns (22g protein & 18g carbs)
Serving: 4
Ingredients
- 3 carrots, shredded
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 spring onions, chopped
- 1 egg
- 100g shredded mozzarella
Beef patties:
- 200g beef mince
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Others
- Lettuce, chopped
- 100g Cherry tomato, halved
- Burger sauce
Healthy Burger Sauce Recipe
Ingredients (makes ½ cup, 4 servings):
- ½ cup plain Greek yoghurt
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Pinch of salt & black pepper
Combine all sauce ingredients and chill for at least one hour to allow flavours to develop.
Method
-
In a mixing bowl, combine carrot, garlic powder, spring onion, egg, cheese salt and pepper,
-
Form into rounds and bake at 180C for 20 minutes. Once done, set aside.
-
In a medium bowl, combine beef mince, salt, pepper and olive oil. Form into patties and fry over medium high heat. 3-5 minutes per side depending on how thick it is. Top each patty with a cheese slice. Cover with a lid until the cheese has melted.
-
To assemble a burger: place a carrot patty on a plate, top with chopped lettuce, halved cherry tomato, burger sauce and then a beef patty. Add more burger sauce if desired. Top with another carrot patty. Enjoy!
Health Benefits
Carrots - Adds 3g fibre per serve, rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants. Supports eye health and digestion.
Spring Onion + Garlic Powder + Egg + Mozzarella - Adds flavour, protein (8g per serve), and binding texture. Mozzarella contributes calcium and savory richness.
Beef Mince -12g complete protein per serve, rich in iron and zinc. Supports muscle repair and energy metabolism.
Lettuce + Cherry Tomatoes - Adds hydration, vitamin C, and 1g fibre per serve. Supports gut health and micronutrient diversity.
Burger Sauce - Adds creaminess and flavour contrast. Can be swapped for Greek yoghurt + mustard for lower fat and sugar.
Macros per serve
Calories 390
Protein 22
Carbs 18
Fat 24
Fibre 4
Find these and over a thousand more healthy and nutritious recipes on the Zing Wellbeing App.