Just because it’s called a "breading" doesn’t mean it must contain bread. Wrapping savory foods in a crunchy exterior protects delicate meats and fish from the heat of the skillet and provides a delicious contrast to the tender food inside. If you’re on a low-carbohydrate diet, coat meats and croquettes with other foods that will give you the same crunch without the carbs.

Crushed Nuts

Nuts are rich in protein and flavor, but contain no carbohydrates. Crushing them into a fine meal lets you use them as you might a breading on fish or chicken cutlets. Dip meats, poultry or fish in a mixture of eggs and milk, then press them into the crushed nuts. The nuts you choose impart different flavors to the meat; try pecans for a mild sweetness or peanuts for a more savory taste. Because nuts may burn quickly in a hot skillet, pound thick chicken pieces thin before you coat them with the mixture so the meat will cook thoroughly before the coating turns too dark.

Flax Meal

Flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and protein. They have a light, nutty flavor that complements pan-seared and roasted foods. When they’re ground into meal, you can use them as you would a cornmeal-based fish fry mixture or breading. Whole flax seeds are wrapped in an indigestible coating, so use the seeds in pre-ground meal form or grind them yourself. If you grind your own flax meal, you control whether you prefer a crunchy, grainy coating or a finer flour-like exterior on your fish or meat.

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Although it’s a cheese, grated Parmesan behaves more like a breading, browning and keeping its shape instead of melting in the heat of a skillet. Mixing equal portions of grated Parmesan and beaten eggs or egg whites results in a richly flavorful batter for dipping fish fillets or chops before cooking them. Parmesan cheese is high in sodium, so use it sparingly; this shouldn’t present a problem, as its lively taste comes through even in small amounts.

Coconut

Coconut contains some carbohydrates, but many of those carb grams come in the form of indigestible fiber, lowering its net carbs somewhat. Fiber is vital to digestion, so using coconut as a breading pays dividends in both taste and overall health. Mix unsweetened coconut flakes with almond meal or flax seed meal and spices. Use this mixture to coat shrimp or fish after you’ve dipped the seafood into an egg wash that will hold the coconut in place as the food cooks.