Low Carb Dining Options at Cracker Barrel Restaurants

Exploring Low Carb Options at Cracker Barrel

For those following a low carb or keto diet, dining out can seem daunting. With bread, potatoes, and sugary desserts ubiquitous on most restaurant menus, finding low carb dishes requires some extra effort. However, many popular chain restaurants now offer lower carb choices to accommodate various dietary needs. One such restaurant is the homestyle favorite Cracker Barrel.

An Overview of Low Carb Diets

Low carb diets like the ketogenic, Atkins, and paleo diets have surged in popularity over the last decade. On these diets, followers aim to cut back on carbohydrates found in foods like bread, pasta, rice, baked goods, fruit, juice, milk, and starchy vegetables.

By reducing carbs, dieters prompt their bodies to go into a metabolic state called ketosis where stored fat becomes the primary fuel source. As a result, people often lose weight and report benefits like stabilized blood sugar, reduced inflammation, and more consistent energy levels.

Challenges of Low Carb Dining Out

For low carb eaters, navigating restaurant menus becomes tricky. After all, so many dishes start from a base of bread, potatoes, or pasta. Sugary sauces, dressings, and desserts also frequently turn up in dining out dishes.

Fortunately, consumer demand has led more and more restaurants to offer at least some low carb options. When sugar, grains, beans, nuts, fruits, and starchy vegetables get limited, dieters turn to high protein ingredients like meat, fish, eggs, full fat dairy, healthy fats like olive oil and avocado, and non-starchy vegetables.

What to Expect at Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel built its brand around hearty country cooking with menu items like buttermilk pancakes, chicken n dumplings, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, biscuits, fruit cobblers, and more.

At first glance, the menu looks completely incompatible with a low carb diet. However, with some customization and careful choices, dieters can enjoy crave-worthy meals without going overboard on carbohydrates.

Best Low Carb Breakfast Selections

Cracker Barrel offers breakfast all day, making it an excellent choice for the first meal of the day. Focus on dishes centered around eggs, sausage, bacon, ham for a low carb start.

Country Skillet Breakfast

For a satisfying hot and hearty breakfast, try ordering the Country Skillet Breakfast without the buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy. Whats left is fluffy scrambled eggs cooked with mushrooms, onion, peppers, bacon crumbles, and cheddar. Add a side of sugar-free bacon or sausage links to round it out.

Sunrise Sampler

Another smart option is the Sunrise Sampler. Again, request no gravy, biscuits or hashbrown casserole to cut the carbs. You'll get two eggs your way along with maple sausage links, bacon, and an adequate portion of fruit.

Farmhouse Scramble

The Farmhouse Scramble offers a third filling low carb breakfast choice. Made with plenty of eggs, ham, onions, sweet peppers, mushrooms, and cheddar, it provides ample nutrition and protein without all the starchy add-ons.

Country Ham and Red Eye Gravy

For a simpler meat-focused meal, try the salty sliced country ham served with red eye gravy over two eggs your way with no biscuits. Balance it with some fresh fruit on the side.

Best Low Carb Lunch and Dinner Options

Lunch and dinner at Cracker Barrel requires a bit more restraint when ordering, but dieters can still build satisfying meals. Focus on produce-based sides, lean proteins, and smart swaps to keep carbohydrates low at these meals.

Grilled Sirloin Steak

One great option is the Grilled Sirloin Steak with two vegetable sides instead of starchy offerings like potatoes, rice, mac and cheese, etc. The menu indicates the steak gets simply seasoned and grilled over an open flame for rich flavor.

Homestyle Chicken Tenders

Another protein-focused choice comes from the Homestyle Chicken Tenders. Avoid the biscuits and honey that come alongside. Instead, pair it with two low carb vegetable sides and potentially even a small side salad for extra greens.

Salmon

The menu also offers a 6-ounce Salmon filet grilled and brushed with a brown sugar glaze (request without!). Choose two low starch vegetable sides like green beans, broccoli, coleslaw, etc. to accompany the omega-3 rich protein.

Country Fried Steak

While the chicken fried coating adds some carbs, dieters can still work the Country Fried Steak into their daily limits, again avoiding biscuits and gravy. Opt for sides like spinach, kale, cabbage, green beans, etc. to balance it out.

Finding Low Carb Sides

Since traditional Southern sides usually include biscuits, corn, potatoes, beans, etc., low carbers need to be choosy and often alter the published sides. Focus on the vegetable-based offerings and request no added sugars.

Green Beans

Choose plain steamed green beans tossed lightly in butter as an easy low carb vegetable pick.

Broccoli

Additionally, request plain steamed broccoli as a nutritious compliment to your entree. Just skip any breadcrumbs, sugary sauce, etc.

Fried Okra

The menu shows lightly breaded and fried okra spears which make a tasty choice if you skip biscuits and enjoy okra.

Coleslaw

Finally, simple fresh coleslaw offers a crunchy, vinegary side option most dishes. Ask for it undressed and add your own oil and vinegar to limit added sugars.

Low Carb Salad Choices

Salads provide reliable lower carb options at most restaurants. At Cracker Barrel, focus on simple greens and proteins by customizing to suit your dietary preferences.

Garden Salad

The Garden Salad comes topped standard with shredded cheese, croutons, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, carrots and purple cabbage. Request no croutons and ask for oil and vinegar or another low carb dressing on the side to control carbs and calories.

Grilled Chicken Salad

Alternatively, try the Grilled Chicken Salad with grilled chicken on a bed of fresh greens. Again, skip high carb toppings and go light on dressings to keep this keto-friendly.

Tips for Ordering Low Carb at Cracker Barrel

Follow these tips to stay low carb yet satisfied when dining at Cracker Barrel:

• Avoid biscuits, cornbread, hashbrown casserole, dumplings, rice, pasta, etc.
• Focus on eggs, bacon, chicken, beef and fish entrees
• Prioritize non-starchy vegetable sides like greens, broccoli, kale, okra, tomatoes, etc.
• Ask for butter, oil and vinegar based dressings on the side
• Modify menu items by eliminating carb-heavy add-ons and substitutions
• Feel free to leave food behind if carb counts start adding up

Enjoy Your Meal!

Part of the fun of following a low carb or keto lifestyle involves figuring out how to make it work in new dining situations. Yes, you may need to avoid Cracker Barrel's famous pecan pancakes. However, with a little planning and restraint, you can enjoy tasty American classics adapted to your dietary needs.

Remember, don't stress about every gram of carbohydrates. Simply make the best selections you can from the options available. Before you know it, youll have a satisfying meal perfect for your low carb goals.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.