Use the microwave to make low-carb treats

“Sometimes it’s tough to find glutenfree bread or buns without a lot of extraneous stuff and preservatives, so why not make your own?” asks Rocco. With some experimentation, he found that he could make convincing bread in the microwave in minutes with just five ingredients. The best part: “This bread has 90 percent less empty carb calories and 500 percent more protein than wheat breads and it toasts nicely,” promises Rocco. To make: In a bowl, whisk cup of buckwheat flour or almond meal, tsp. of baking powder, 1 egg, 2 Tbs. of almond or coconut milk and a pinch of salt. Pour mixture into a coffee cup coated with cooking spray and microwave for 90 seconds. Turn out and cut into four slices.

The bonus: This low-calorie, gluten-free bread is low on the glycemic index—a measure of how quickly blood sugar and insulin levels rise after eating. Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that sticking with low-glycemic foods helps optimize metabolism and keeps blood sugar steady to ward off cravings.