A List of Good Carbs

All carbs are not bad for you. Carbohydrates are necessary in a healthy diet and provide the body with the necessary energy to function properly. Without the proper amount of carbohydrates in your diet, your body will be missing necessary vitamins, minerals and fiber. Some of the good carbs are fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The idea is not to exclude carbohydrates from your diet but to eat good carbohydrates.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are full of important vitamins and nutrients the body needs. They are also an excellent source of carbohydrates. You should include at least two cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables in your daily diet. Dark green, deep orange and yellow vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, squash, carrots and sweet potatoes are the highest in nutrient value. Contrary to popular belief, potatoes are not bad carbs. They are loaded with nutrient value. Eating fruits and vegetables with their skin intact also increases their nutrient value. Bananas, pear and oranges are excellent fruits choices containing important vitamins and minerals for the body. Bananas are an important source of potassium for the body. Fruit juices do not contain as much nutrition for the body as whole fruits.

Whole Grains

Hot cereals such as oats provide a good source of whole grain carbohydrates. Cold cereals containing oats and other whole grains are also good. They are an important source of fiber for the body. Make sandwiches with whole-grain breads. Pasta can also be purchased in the whole-grain variety. Optimize your nutrient intake by choosing bread with at least three grams of fiber and three grams of protein per slice. Check the labels of breads to make sure that whole wheat or whole grain is first on the list of ingredients.

Beans

Beans are an excellent source of good carbohydrates as well as protein for the body. There are many varieties of flavorful beans including kidney beans, navy beans, garbanzo beans, green beans, lima beans, great northern beans and black beans. A 1/2-cup serving of beans provides the body with 10 percent of the recommended daily allowance of protein, 25 percent of the recommended daily allowance of fiber and 11 percent of the recommended daily allowance of carbohydrates. Beans also contain important vitamins and minerals.