Here's Everything You Can Eat on a Low-Carb Diet, According to a Dietitian

When buying fish and meat, be sure to always choose fresh, lean cuts. Johnston recommends keeping red meat to one to two servings per week (at most) to protect your heart.

If you're vegetarian or vegan, or simply trying to follow a more plant-based diet, reach for the following proteins:

Aim to fill at least half your plate at every meal with nonstarchy vegetables.

"As a general rule, I recommend not more than one serving of grains at each meal," Johnston said. "For example, keep rice to one half-cup serving and bread to one slice, and when these items are eaten, choose a whole grain." Naturally, this means you should stay away from cakes, cookies, pretzels, chips, and other snack foods that are heavily processed.

When choosing healthy fats, liquid fats are ideal. "Limit your intake of solid fats, such as butter, lard, and shortening, as these have high amounts of saturated fat," Johnston noted. She also suggests keeping coconut oil to a minimum for the same reason.

Starchy vegetables, such as those listed below, aren't off limits as long as you eat them in small amounts. Johnston suggests no more than half a serving per day.

Fruit is OK in moderation, but make sure you're aware of just how many carbs and sugars are in the fruits you choose. "Keep fruit to two whole pieces or half-cup servings per day," Johnston told POPSUGAR. Here are some suggestions.

Although you can have dairy, always check the label to see how many carbs it contains per serving. "All dairy has naturally occurring milk sugars, so these foods will have some carbohydrates in them," Johnston told POPSUGAR. "For this reason, I would limit yourself to one serving per day of a low-carb dairy option, such as plain Greek yogurt. Also try to avoid chocolate and other flavored milks, sugar-sweetened yogurts, and ice cream," she said.