Keto Recipes

The ketogenic diet was historically used as a medical nutrition therapy for intractable epilepsy. The diet was very high fat, moderate protein, and low carb to help keep the patient in ketosis, as part of a medically supervised program. Supplements are typically used to help prevent deficiencies with medical keto.

When used for weight loss rather than epilepsy, keto can look a bit different. Many people shift the macronutrient balance—keeping net carbs low while adjusting fat and protein to meet their individual needs. Typically, this means prioritizing adequate protein for satiety, with fat adjusted as needed to stay in a calorie deficit.

If you have diabetes, speak with your doctor before starting a keto diet, as your medications may need to be adjusted.

Here are the foods that need to be severely limited or completely restricted on a ketogenic diet:

• Grains (including items made with grains, i.e., breakfast cereals, bread, grain-based desserts, pasta)
• Most fruits aside from some berries and certain vegetables that are botanically fruits (e.g., zucchini and cucumber)
• Starchy vegetables (e.g., root vegetables, tubers, corn, peas)
• Foods with added sugars (including natural sugars like honey and maple syrup)

This list of foods may seem small at first glance. However, grain-based desserts and bread are the top two sources of calories in the American diet, with soda and energy drinks taking fourth place.

When you remove these foods with keto, your diet is going to look very different than the average American diet. (And that might be a good thing!)

If you’re ready to embark on your very low carb journey, here are some recipes to get you started: