Top Keto Foods Questions
How low carb is keto?
Keto is a low-carb diet, not no carb. How many carbs can you eat in a day on keto? This can differ depending on you and what your health goals are, you may want to stay below 20 grams of net carbs per day. Learn about how many carbs can be appropriate for you
How much fat do you need to eat?
There is actually no amount of fat you need to eat, even on a keto diet. However, aim at adding enough fat for flavor and enjoyment and to keep calories from going too low. Guide: How much fat should you eat on keto?
Can I eat a vegetarian keto diet?
Yes. Especially if you eat eggs and dairy , its definitely doable. Vegan keto is more difficult Learn more and find inspiration here
Can I eat a dairy-free keto diet?
Sure. Its not necessary to eat dairy to successfully eat keto . A dairy-free keto diet can be very effective. Learn more and find recipes
Can I drink alcohol on a keto diet?
Yes. But make sure its an alcoholic drink that is low in carbs, like dry wine. Check out our full guide to keto alcoholic drinks
Can I eat fruit on a keto diet?
Sometimes if you choose low-sugar fruits and keep portions small. The best keto fruits are blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Enjoy about one-half cup of any of these, either alone or with a bit of cream. Delicious! Full guide to keto fruits
How The Keto Diet For Beginners Works
The keto diet is a so-called low-carb healthy-fat or low-carb high-fat diet.
Accordingly, it reduces carbohydrates and maximizes healthy fats while keeping protein consumption moderate.
However, few people are aware that this composition lowers insulin, setting the hormonal course in the body to lose weight.
On the other hand, when you feed your body carbohydrates, it converts them into glucose. Consequently, blood sugar and the level of the storage hormone insulin rise.
As the name suggests, insulin has the task of storing excess glucose in the form of glycogen and fat.
As long as stored carbohydrates are present, the body uses them preferentially for energy production.
When glycogen stores are empty, the body must break down stored fat and convert it into ketones.
As soon as these fat energy bodies predominantly feed the energy supply, the metabolic state of ketosis is reached.
In contrast, insulin blocks the enzyme that breaks down body fat .
In light of this, researchers can now predict up to 75% of gains and losses in overweight individuals based on insulin levels .
However, it is not only carbohydrates that increase insulin levels.
What Is The Keto Diet For Beginners
The ketogenic diet or keto diet aims to burn fat as the primary source of energy.
Because it is more readily available, the body prefers energy from carbohydrates. Only when there is no longer enough glucose does the body attack fat reserves.
After we are used to eating carbohydrates around the clock in Western society, many peoples bodies have unlearned to burn fat for energy.
Do you look forward most to side dishes like potatoes, pasta, or bread when you eat out and find it hard to say no to dessert?
Then youve come to the right place. This beginners guide explains step-by-step how your body regains the ability to burn fat through a ketogenic diet effectively.
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Different Types Of Ketogenic Diets
There are several versions of the ketogenic diet, including:
- Standard ketogenic diet : This is a very low carb, moderate protein and high fat diet. It typically contains 70% fat, 20% protein, and only 10% carbs .
- Cyclical ketogenic diet : This diet involves periods of higher carb refeeds, such as 5 ketogenic days followed by 2 high carb days.
- Targeted ketogenic diet : This diet allows you to add carbs around workouts.
- High protein ketogenic diet: This is similar to a standard ketogenic diet, but includes more protein. The ratio is often 60% fat, 35% protein, and 5% carbs.
However, only the standard and high protein ketogenic diets have been studied extensively. Cyclical or targeted ketogenic diets are more advanced methods and primarily used by bodybuilders or athletes.
The information in this article mostly applies to the standard ketogenic diet , although many of the same principles also apply to the other versions.
SUMMARY
There are several versions of the keto diet. The standard version is the most researched and most recommended.
What Is The Dukan Diet Here’s What A Dietitian Has To Say

The Dukan diet may not be as popular as the keto diet or the Prolon diet. But this meal pattern is gaining traction in the weight loss world, thanks to lofty promises to help people lose weight quickly, making it very appealing for people who need to drop some pounds ASAP. But although the Dukan diet might be linked to some appealing potential outcomes, it does have some aspects that raise red flags regarding how healthy following it actually is. To learn what the Dukan diet actually is and whether you should try it out, read on to find out.
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Foods To Avoid On A Keto Diet
Now that you know what keto diet foods are safe to eat, you should also know what not to eat on a keto diet. According to Hyman, you can make it easier to stay within the macronutrient framework of the keto diet by steering clear of these foods:
- Beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts
- Low-fat dairy products
- Sugary beverages, including juice and soda
- Traditional snack foods, such as potato chips, pretzels, and crackers
- Starchy vegetables, including corn, potatoes, and peas
- Trans fats, such as margarine or other hydrogentated fats
- Most alcohols, including wine, beer, and sweetened cocktails
How Much Meat Should You Eat On Keto
It is just not required to worry about anything else for folks who do not have unique dietary requirements. The short version is as follows: based on the statistics, its a good idea to consume between 1 and 3 meat-based meals each day, with additional protein sources at the meat-free meals.
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Can I Eat Chicken Everyday On Keto
The Healthiest Meats for Keto Diet If youve done the math, high-protein meat alternatives such as skinless chicken breasts or fish are items you should only consume in moderation, according to the recommendations. However, bear in mind that even these high-fat meats include a significant amount of protein, so they should not be consumed at every meal.
What Cant You Eat On Keto Meats To Avoid
Anything that has undergone smoking, curing, drying, salting, dehydration, etc. is considered processed and should be avoided for the most part. Processed meats include hotdogs, sausages, bacon, ham, pepperoni, pastrami, and luncheon meats.
Studies on processed meat also reveal common ingredients that are damaging to your health.
Carrageenan is one example. Its a substance extracted from red seaweeds and is used for its gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties. Although its approved by the FDA, there are concerns regarding its safety. Animal experiments show that carrageenan may be inflammatory and have cancer-promoting effects.
Vegetable oils like canola oil and soybean oil are also being used as substitutes or fat replacers for low-fat meat products. One reason for using these oils is that they improve product stability and another is that theyre believed to make processed meat healthier.
But, for the most part, these oils are highly refined and theyre rich in omega-6 fats. A high intake of omega-6 in your diet may contribute to inflammation and atherosclerosis.
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What If Im Looking For Options With No Antibiotics Ever
For some folks, theres more to healthy eating than nutrition. Like many Dietz & Watson products, our Originals line offers foods that are free from added hormones, nitrates or nitrites, artificial ingredients, and fillers. Another great thing about our Originals line? No antibiotics ever! Many of our Originals options also happen to be certified USDA organic and meet, if not exceed most organic standards. Win, win.
Cravings And Sugar Addiction
Most of the cravings that we get are caused by sugar. Sugar, at the end of the day, is an industry thats run on addiction. There have been numerous studies showing that sugar stimulates the reward centers of the brain.
When we constantly consume sugar, we release dopamine in our brain creating an addiction and an increased tolerance. Over time you will have to eat larger and larger amounts of sugar to continue the dopamine secretion. Once our body is dependent on a chemical reaction in the brain, we can find that were craving things even when were not hungry.
When trying to shift from a high carb diet to a ketogenic diet, cravings can definitely get strong. Its always best to try to clean house before you start so that you dont have food around you that can lead to cravings. We recommend that when switching to keto, you restrict using sweeteners completely for the first 30 days. It normally leads to breaking sugar addiction and ultimately not having cravings.
Besides sugar, sometimes our bodies crave food because of lack of nutrients. The craving usually goes away if you fulfill your nutrient intake in a different way. Below youll see a few ways to get rid of pesky cravings that hit.
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How Much Fat Do You Need On The Keto Diet
On the keto diet, youll be eating a small amount of protein and very few carbs.
That leaves the rest of your micronutrient consumption to fats anywhere between 60-75%.
There are four different types of keto diets you can follow. Each version is high fat and low carb but with different macronutrient ratios.
For example, the Standard Ketogenic Diet is the most popular version of the keto diet and the one were referring to throughout this article.
The SKD recommends:
The second type is the High Protein Keto Diet, which is geared mostly towards extremely active people or athletes.
This version of the keto diet recommends:
If your reason for following the keto diet is to lose weight, you typically wont eat more than 20-25 grams of carbs per day.
To put that into perspective, a medium-sized banana is around 23 grams of net carbs so even eating bananas in moderation would almost be enough to prevent the average person from entering ketosis.
People who are extremely active are the exception, as they require more fuel.
As you can see, the macronutrient ratios of your keto meals can vary depending on your personal needs.
However, your fat ratio must always be significantly higher than carbs and proteins.
The keto calculator can give you a general sense of how much fat you should be eating, although your individual nutrient requirements may vary.
Other Nutrients In Yogurt

Yogurt provides the bone-building minerals calcium and phosphorus, and dairy-based yogurts offer B vitamins such as riboflavin, according to Harvard Health. Riboflavin helps metabolize food into energy, and another B vitamin, B12, is necessary for maintaining energy, as the National Institutes of Health points out.
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Nonstarchy Veggies Should Be Staples For Anyone On A Keto Diet
If youre thinking about embarking on a ketogenic diet, you probably already know youre going to be avoiding sources of processed grains and sugar, like pizza and muffins. After all, its an extremely low-carb, high-fat diet, and those are two of the more obvious carbohydrate culprits. But many of the foods youll also avoid arent necessarily unhealthy. In fact, many no foods are packed with health-promoting vitamins, minerals, and fiber but offer a rich source of carbs that doesnt work on a really low-carb plan especially one as restrictive as the keto diet.
Many people following keto aim for 20 to 50 grams of net carbohydrates per day. The idea is to switch your body into ketosis, a state where it burns fat for fuel rather than carbohydrates . As such, some of your favorites, including many fruits, whole grains, and some vegetables, now must be drastically limited.
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After youve gotten the all clear, planning your keto diet can go a long way in your success on it. Because of the low-carb requirements, it often helps to think about what foods are off-limits and if this doesnt seem realistic, you may want to rethink going keto.
Here are 15 foods some healthy, others not so much that you should try to avoid on keto and what to choose instead.
What Meats Can I Eat On Keto
Keto is not only about eating meat but also about how we eat it. It is important to know what types of meat are keto friendly and which ones arent. For instance, lean beef, pork, lamb, veal, bison, buffalo, venison, goat, rabbit, and ostrich are all great options for keto diet. However, fatty cuts such as bacon, sausage, ham, steak, and organ meats are not recommended because they contain a lot of saturated fat.
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Why Follow A Keto Diet
The ketogenic diet is a high fat.
Low carb diet thats become increasingly popular for weight and fat loss.
As we explain extensively in our keto diet mastery, the principleof the keto diet is to:
Eat fat to burn fat.
By heavily restricting carbs your bodys primary fuel source your body begins to burn your fat stores for fuel instead, which produces ketones.
This state of elevated ketones in the bloodstream is called ketosis, hence ketogenic diet .
In addition to weight loss and energy, the keto diet has been shown to support skin health, cognitive function, memory, and hormonal balance .
Now, lets dive into the keto diet nutrient ratios and the keto food list.
Tips For The Best Philly Cheesesteak:
- Select the best Steak You want to select meat that has reasonable amount of fat on it. You also want it thinly sliced. I always check with my butcher at the meat market for assistance.
- Optional Peppers We used green and red bell peppers but you can also use yellow or orange. I usually get the ones with the best price.
- Carb Loving Family When I prepare a meal, I usually try and give my carb loving family options to choose from. Even though I am eating this with a some extra vegetables, I will make sure I have some hoagies or rice for my family.
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Are Deli Meats Bad
The easy answer to this question is thatthere is no line in the sand that must be drawn. What this means is that yes,there are some deli meats that are less than desirable, and ones which mightdefinitely knock you out of keto, but then there also exists healthier optionsthat will not have much of an adverse effect on you staying in ketosis.
But- much of this will depend on howvigilant you read labels and make choices. But all in all, deli meats dont haveto be bad for you or your diet.
But if youre not careful, deli meats canhave a real detrimental effect- not only on the keto diet but your health as awhole. For instance, daily consumption of just 50g of processed meats can havea significant increase of 18% on your coloncancer risk.
Then theres also the fact that they aregenerally higher in cholesterol than leaner cuts of meat and may be high in other carcinogenic compounds.
Wondering where specific deli meats stand?Lets check them out now.
What Are Organ Meats
Organ meats are the organs of animals prepared and consumed as food. Organ meats are sometimes called offal. The most commonly consumed organ meats come from pigs, lambs, goats, chickens, and ducks.
Our hunter-gatherer ancestors didnt just eat muscle meat and waste the valuable nutritious organs! They also ate the brains, intestines, and other parts of the animal in a more nose-to-tail approach. Today, organ meats are left behind, and most people focus on eating the muscle meats as steaks, drumsticks, breasts, or ground into mince.
Liver is the most popular type of organ meat. Liver is a nutritious superfood and a detox organ. The other most commonly consumed types of organ meat are heart, kidneys, sweet bread, tongue, and tripe. Sweetbreads dont taste sweet instead this is a name for the pancreas and thymus glands. Tripe refers to the lining of animal stomach. Most tripe is from cattle.
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Use This To Figure Out How Much Protein You Need On Keto
The easiest way is to use our Keto macros calculator here to figure out how much protein you need on Keto.
Or, if you want to do the math yourselfheres how you can calculate your Keto protein macros.
What does that amount of protein look like in meat?
For most of us, when you do these calculations, we should eat around 90-120 g of protein per day.
So this is 1.5 chicken breasts or two 6-8-oz steaks per day.
Items like chicken or duck skin are ideal on Keto, so try to watch out for skin-on cuts when shopping for meat at the grocery store or butcher. Fatty cuts of beef are also great options, like filet mignon, porterhouse, or even a T-bone steak.
For pork, we recommend pork belly, ham hock, or baby back ribs, all options naturally high in fat. Fattier cuts of meat also contain more nutrients as much of the vitamins are stored in the fat.
Carefully selected meat can be a great way to get the fat you need in your keto diet.
According to Nutrition and Health Coach Christina Oman:
My advice to someone starting keto is always to eat lots of dietary fat. As much as possible. Then after your body is used to burning fat for fuel you can dial back your dietary fat intake and body fat can become your primary fuel source.