Sticking to any diet is difficult, and the keto diet is no exception. When making a transition into a new diet, it can help to have the whole family on board. That way, you don’t have to cook separate meals for yourself, and you don’t have the temptation of non-keto foods around the house.
The good news is there are plenty of keto-friendly meals the whole family will love. If you find the right meals with the right ingredients, the transition to a keto diet will be far easier to manage.
Keto Diet Essentials
The keto diet is a high-fat diet. By eliminating carbs, your body starts to burn fat for energy instead of using glucose. Avoiding carbohydrates and sugar are the two biggest concerns when starting the keto diet, and because avoiding these ingredients are the key to keto success, the following foods are off-limits when going keto:
- Bread, grains, cereal, rice, and pasta
- Starchy vegetables (potatoes, carrots, and corn)
- High-carb fruits (bananas, mangos, and dates)
- High-carb beans and legumes (chickpeas, pinto beans, and kidney beans)
- Most soda, juice, and beer
While the diet has limits, there are still plenty of great keto-friendly options. The most common keto-friendly foods and ingredients include:
- Natural fats (olive oil, coconut oil, and butter)
- Fish and seafood
- Cheese
- Meat
- Eggs
- Avocados
- Vegetables that grow above ground (spinach, broccoli, peppers, cabbage, zucchini, cauliflower, etc.)
Keto Cooking Tips and Tricks
When you start on your new diet path, the following tips will make the transition easier and give you ideas for keto-friendly snacks and meals:
- Embrace Meats and Eggs– Meat and eggs are high in fat and protein, making them perfect for the keto diet. To make a meal, use meat or eggs as the main course, and accompany the protein with a low-carb vegetable side.
- Replace Bread with Carb-free or Low-carb Alternatives– For many people, cutting out bread presents the biggest challenge when starting the keto diet. Instead of using bread as buns or wraps, try using lettuce instead.
- Choose Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Carefully– Not all fruits, vegetables, and nuts are low in carbs. It’s essential to research your choices when eating these ingredients to ensure you’re keeping your carb intake minimum.
- Add Coconut Oil or MCT Oil to Anything– The most critical part of a keto diet is eating plenty of healthy fats. When cooking vegetables, meat, and more, adding MCT oil or coconut oil is a great way to get the additional fat that your body needs to hit ketosis.
Recipes for the Entire Family
When aiming to please the entire family, there are more options available than you may think. Try some of these recipes for dinner this week, and watch how even the kids can love keto-friendly meals.
- Cauliflower Mini Pizzas- These mini pizzas are made using a cauliflower pizza crust base. They’re keto-friendly and make for an easy dinner that’s truly tasty and sure to keep the kids happy.
- Low-Carb Taco Bowls- By skipping the tortilla, you can make a tasty low-carb taco bowl. For extra flavor and texture, try adding natural cheese crisps. And for an extra dose of healthy fat, add guacamole or straight avocado. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to use lettuce as a filler rather than rice.
- Keto Chili- Delish offers a creative recipe for high-protein, low-carb, and high-fat chili packed with nutrients. This recipe uses bacon and beef, and when you add some cheese and avocado on top, it packs in even more healthy fats.
- Zoodle Alfredo With Bacon- This recipe uses zucchini noodles as the base, and the result is a delicious and creamy alfredo dish packed with protein and fat.
- Iceburgers- This recipe makes a classic burger, but with a keto twist. Loaded with fat, this bacon cheeseburger has it all but sits between iceberg lettuce instead of buns.
Making the Switch to a Keto Lifestyle
With so many creative and keto-friendly recipes out there, it’s easy to get the whole family to make the switch to the keto diet. Try some of the great ideas above, or do some more research, you’ll find that there are thousands of ways to eat keto without missing out on some of your old favourites.
The truth is, at the beginning of any new diet, it can seem complicated. But if you take the time to learn new cooking methods and how to work with the right ingredients, you’ll be living happy and healthy in no time. But before making any significant diet changes, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor or nutritionist.