If you've been tempted to follow the "Low Carb" trend - I get it! It's all the rage, and some people have even found some success with cutting carbs, but the question is, is it good for our health, and is it sustainable long term?

Contrary to current beliefs, may I suggest carbohydrates aren’t the enemy! In fact, carbohydrates are your brain’s primary source of energy! Instead of avoiding carbohydrates all together, it can be beneficial to cut out processed carbs such as white bread, white flour, white pasta and sugar.

But don’t look at white pasta and bread as something you have to give up; You can simply swap them out with a whole food source! Whole food carbohydrates come from whole, grains, vegetables, and fruits, and they provide our bodies with energy and nutrients.

If you are looking to cut processed carbohydrates out of your diet, here are five of my favorite swaps to make meals lower in carbohydrates.

1. Cauliflower Rice is essentially just cauliflower that has been grated into small pieces that resemble rice. It can be steamed or sautéed, and it makes a wonderful replacement for white rice because it soaks up the flavors of the dish similar to rice.

2. Spaghetti Squash is a wonderful swap for pasta, and can even be used in place of lasagna noodles! All you need to do is cook the squash in the oven or microwave, remove the strands, and it’s ready to use in any pasta dish!

3. Iceberg lettuce leaves make a wonderful swap for burger buns or bread when wrapped around a burger or sandwich fillings so they can easily be picked up and enjoyed!

4. Almond Flour is a favorite swap of mine when it comes to replacing white flour in baking. It adds a moist nutty flavor to baked goods, and is rich in nutrients and healthy fats!

5. Lentil or Brown Rice Pasta is a high fiber alternative to white pasta and grains. It cooks up very similar to regular pasta, and is higher in protein to keep you satisfied!

I'm certainly not against cutting the processed sugars and carbohydrates out of our diet, but I do think it is important to swap them out with a real-food carbohydrate such as a whole grains, vegetables, or fruit!

I'd love to hear, what's your favorite "healthier" carb swap out!?