Ten Easy Keto Recipes to Start a New You (2024)

FAQs

What is the best first meal for keto? ›

Following a ketogenic diet is the most effective way to enter ketosis. Generally, this involves limiting carb consumption to around 20 to 50 grams per day and filling up on fats, such as meat, fish, eggs, nuts, and healthy oils ( 6 ). It's also important to moderate your protein consumption.

Cutting your carb intake is the best way to get into ketosis. Other actions, such as consuming MCT oil and exercising in a fasted state, may also help. Quick and easy methods, such as using special urine strips, can let you know whether you're maintaining ketosis or you need to make some adjustments to your diet.

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

Go super low carb for the first week (no more than 10g of net carbs per day). By doing this, you will force your body to use up your glycogen stores and get into ketosis much more quickly. Start your diet off with an intermittent fast.

Moving ahead, there are a lot of things that can be tried in lunch, on the first day. Omega 3 fatty fish is a great source of fats, protein and has no carbs at all. Fish like Salmon, Tuna, and Catfish are very high in omega 3 content and also lead to the formation of saturated fat which helps the body in ketosis.

Eggs are an incredibly affordable, keto-friendly food that you can use in a variety of meals to cut back on food costs. You can also save money by buying cooked whole chickens and using or freezing all parts, and getting cheaper cuts of meat like pork, beef sirloin, ground chuck, and chicken thighs.

Some good cheap keto foods include eggs, canned tuna or salmon, chicken thighs, ground beef, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, zucchini, cheese, and nuts.

What is a cheap low carb food? ›

Eggs: An affordable powerhouse of nutrition. Leafy Greens: Spinach, kale, and lettuce are low in carbs and great for the wallet. Nuts and Seeds: Perfect for snacking or adding crunch to salads. Legumes: In moderation, certain beans and lentils can fit into a low-carb plan.

Fasting for 12 hours is the fastest way to get into ketosis. 3 When you're initiating a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet, the fewer carbs you eat in the first 24 hours and the next few days, the more quickly your glycogen reserves will get depleted and the faster you'll get into ketosis.

If you are struggling to get into ketosis even though you've restricted your carbohydrate intake and are eating lots of healthy fat, it may be time to look at some other factors. Try to reduce your stress levels, get enough sleep, and take a look at how much protein you are consuming.

Less Fat-burning

Eat too many carbs and you'll kick yourself out of ketosis. (Carbs raise blood sugar and insulin levels, spelling an end to fat-burning and ketone production). [*]Unfortunately, this could interfere with your weight loss, fat loss, and other Keto-related goals.

For example, instead of having a macronutrient distribution that is 50% carbohydrates, 20% protein and 30% fat, consider shifting that closer to a 20% carbohydrates, 20% protein and 60% fat during the days leading up to your fast. These are pretty close to the ratios suggested for a typical ketogenic diet.

- Grains: Rice, wheat, oats, barley, rye, quinoa, buckwheat, etc. - Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, cassava, artichoke, etc. - Refined Carbs: Bread, pasta, pastries, tortilla, sandwich, etc. Due to the high-carb content of these food items, they are not keto-friendly.