Sometimes people are concerned about what they can no longer eat when they start eating a Keto diet. And there are certainly some foods that will no longer be good choices for your long term success. But it’s also important to understand all the good foods you CAN eat. So we’re going to give an overview of good choices when eating Keto.
Seafood
Fish is an extremely keto-friendly food and protein source. Salmon and other fish like it are rich in potassium, selenium, and B vitamins, but are still virtually carb-free. Some fish contain a lot of carbs, like several types of shellfish, but some contain no carbs at all like shrimp and crabs. What’s important when determining what to eat is keeping track of your carb count with these items to ensure that you don’t go over your allotment.
Vegetables
Low-carb vegetables are a crucial part of any healthy keto diet. Vegetables that aren’t starchy are low in carbs and calories, but high in nutrients including lots of minerals and vitamin C. When choosing your vegetables, you want to look at their net (or digestible) carb counts, which is the total amount of carbs minus the fiber present. Not only can you consume these veggies cooked or raw, but you can also use them to replace some of your favorite higher-carb foods like pastas.
Cheese
Cheese is nutritious and delicious; there are hundreds upon hundreds of different types of cheeses available on the market and all of them are high in fat and very low in carbs, making them perfect for the keto diet. Cheese also has a decent protein source and conjugated linoleic acid which is a fat linked to improve body composition and increase fat loss, making it further perfect for the keto diet.
Avocados
Avocados are a keto dieter’s best friend. There are only two grams of net carbs present in avocados. They’re also extremely high in several great vitamins and minerals, including potassium, which could help make your keto transition easier.
Meat
A variety of fresh meat and poultry is essential to a healthy keto diet. They contain no carbs and are rich in several minerals, including potassium, selenium, and zinc, and are rich in B vitamins. They’re a great source of high-quality protein, which is important to preserve your muscle mass while on a very low-carb diet.
Eggs
In addition to being one of the healthiest and most versatile of foods on the planet, eggs also contain less than one gram of carbs and fewer than six grams of protein. This makes them ideal for those on the keto diet. As an added bonus, eggs have been known to trigger hormones that are responsible for increasing the feeling of fullness and help to keep your blood sugar levels stable, reducing your calorie intake for up to 24 hours.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are a great healthy, high-fat, low-carb snack. They’re also high in fiber which helps you to feel fuller while absorbing fewer calories overall. While all nuts enjoy low carb counts, they all differ and the range can actually be quite substantial. Do your research and take note of how many you’re eating; it’s way too easy to go overboard with these things.
Butter and Cream
Cream and butter are both excellent fats to include in your ketogenic diet. These products are high in fat and low in carbs, making them perfect for keto. They are also rich in conjugated linoleic acid which is a fatty acid we mentioned earlier that has the power to promote and encourage weight loss.
If you’ve been thinking about starting the keto diet, you’ve picked the right time. Thanks to the increased popularity in this diet, you can find more recipes for keto-friendly food than you could shake a stick at. We hope these suggestions have helped to guide your journey.