Top 10 Foods Highest in Carbohydrates (To Limit or Avoid)

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Top 10 Foods Highest in Carbohydrates (To Limit or Avoid)

Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients required by the body for proper functioning and good health. The main function of carbohydrates is to provide energy to the body including the brain, which also runs on glucose.

Healthy high carb foods like whole grains, plus fruits and vegetables (which are also classed as carbohydrates) are an essential part of a balanced diet, and eating plenty of these foods reduces the risk of many diseases, including heart disease, type II diabetes, obesity, and some cancers. On the other hand, excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates like sugar or corn syrup, can increase our risk of the same diseases.

Unhealthy high carbohydrate foods include pancakes, soft pretzels, bread products, ready-to-eat cereals, milkshakes, ice-cream, cereal bars, cake, pies, muffins, sweetened canned fruits, sugary drinks, fruit juices, corn chips, potato chips, and candies. Healthy high carbohydrate foods include whole grains, beans, vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds. The daily value (DV) for carbohydrates is 275 grams. For more healthy high carbohydrate choices see the list of healthy high carb foods.

Below is a list of foods highest in carbohydrates, for more see the extended list of carb rich restaurant foods.

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A printable list of the top 10 foods highest in carbs to avoid.

Restaurant Foods High in Carbs

FoodServingCarbs
1. Sweet and Sour Chicken per order 61% DV
(168.5g)
2. Vegetable Lo Mein per order 54% DV
(149.4g)
3. Fast Foods (Applebees Onion Rings) per order 51% DV
(140.6g)
4. Fast Foods (Hot Cakes with Syrup) per 3 pancakes 37% DV
(101.8g)
5. Carrabbas Italian Grill Spaghetti With Pomodoro Sauce per order 33% DV
(91.1g)
6. Olive Garden Spaghetti With Meat Sauce per order 33% DV
(90.2g)
7. McDonalds McFlurry With Oreo Cookies per 12oz shake 31% DV
(86.1g)
8. Taco Bell Taco Salad per order 29% DV
(80.5g)
9. TGI Fridays French Fries per order 25% DV
(67.9g)
10. Dennys Mozzarella Cheese Sticks per order 23% DV
(62.1g)

The daily value (%DV) for carbohydrates is 275g and is a general target intended for most people. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) shows specific targets by age and gender. The RDA for carbohydrates is between 60g - 130g for most people.

Life StageRDA
Infants
0-6 months old*60g
7-12 months old*95g
Children
1-3 years old130g
4-8 years old130g
Males
9+ years old130g
Females
9+ years old130g
Pregnancy
14-50 years old175g
Lactation
14-50 years old210g
* Adequate Intake (AI)
Source: National Library of Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, and amino acids.

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Data Sources and References

  1. U.S. Agricultural Research Service Food Data Central
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