Top Keto Friendly Foods
One of the things that people frequently ask when starting their keto diet is "What things can I eat?" While the diet might sound obvious, there are some foods that are tricky and others that seem harmless, but really aren't.
For example, let's look at barbeque sauce. BBQ; one immediately thinks of tomato paste, spices, and vinegar. All of those sound keto friendly, but one look at the label of almost any bottled BBQ sauce and you will find tons of, you guessed it, sugar. Always read labels for hidden sugars and their list of carbs so you aren’t surprised later on.
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In a nutshell, think REAL food. This means eggs, full fat dairy, nuts, meat, plenty of vegetables and some fruit.
You will find an in-depth list of keto friendly foods, beverages, and condiments here or click here for our top pick Keto Snacks.
Keto-friendly Proteins
These could contain dairy and/or gluten, so be sure to read the labels on everything!
- Almonds
- Bacon (uncured or sliced)
- Pork belly
- Beef
- Brazil Nuts
- Chicken Thighs, with skin
- Chicken Wings, with skin
- Duck
- Eggs
- Fatty fish (sardines, salmon, cod)
- Frog legs
- Goose
- Ground Beef, regular
- Ground Pork, regular
- Hemp Seeds
- Hemp Protein
- Lamb Chops
- Lobster
- Mussels
- Oysters
- Pate
- Pepperoni
- Pheasant
- Pork
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Steaks
- Pork or Beef Sausage
- Pork Rinds
- Pork Shoulder
- Pork Spareribs
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Scallops
- Tuna
- Turkey
- Veal
- Venison
Keto-friendly Carbohydrates
Some of the foods below will have more carbs than others. Always check to see how many carbs are in each serving if you want to avoid going over your carb intake for the day.
- Artichoke Hearts
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Bean Sprouts
- Bell Pepper
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cacao Powder
- Cauliflower
- Chia Seed
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Flax Seed
- Garlic
- Kale
- Leafy Greens (Swiss chard, bok Choy spinach, lettuce, mustard greens)
- Celery
- Sugar snap peas
- Lemon
- Lime
- Mushrooms
- Nutritional Yeast
- Okra
- Onions
- Pickles (sweet or dill)
- Pumpkin
- Radishes
- Romaine Lettuce
- Spaghetti Squash
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Water Chestnuts
- Zucchini
Keto-friendly Fats
You will find yourself eating plenty of the following, so you might want to print this out. We have also compiled the Top 10 Healthiest Fats on the planet list.
- Almond Milk
- Unsweetened
- Almond Flour
- Almond Oil
- Anchovies
- Avocado Oil
- Avocados
- Cacao Oil/Butter
- Coconut Butter
- Coconut Cream
- Coconut Oil
- Cold-pressed Extra-Virgin
- Olive Oil (cold)
- Egg Yolks
- Fish Oil
- Flax Seed Oil
- Hazelnuts
- Hemp Seed Oil
- Macadamia Nut Oil
- Macadamia Nuts
- MCT Oil
- Nut or Seed Butters
- Olives
- Pecans
- Pistachio
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Tallow, Suet, Lard Shortening
- Sesame Seeds
- Shredded Coconut
- Walnuts
Keto-Friendly Fruits
Most people think that fruit and keto are two items that don't mix, but this isn’t really true. You can still enjoy fruit and stay in ketosis; you simply need to monitor how much you consume each day. The best keto-friendly fruits are:
- Berries (all berries)
- Rhubarb
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Plums
- Coconut (fresh)
- Watermelon
- Cranberries
- Lemons
- Limes
- Apricots (fresh)
- Grapefruit
- Nectarines
- Papaya
- Cherries
Keto Friendly Sweeteners
The decision to use Splenda or saccharin or aspartame is a personal one. While most studies show that there is no harm in these sweeteners, others show that they can lead to health problems. They will not affect your diet in any way, but for those who do not wish to use them, there are other sweeteners including:
- Chicory Root
- Erythritol
- Inulin
- Lo Han Guo
- Monk Fruit
- Stevia
- Xylitol
Keto-friendly Beverages
Again, if you choose to drink diet sodas, it will certainly NOT affect your diet at all. Keep in mind that caffeine might spike blood sugar levels, so use caution.
- Chicory Root
- Erythritol
- Inulin
- Lo Han Guo
- Monk Fruit
- Sodas or drinks containing Stevia
- Xylitol
- Black Tea
- Coffee
- Decaf Coffee
- Green Tea
- Herbal Tea, unsweetened
- Homemade Stock
- Keto lemonade
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
- Sparkling Water
- Water
- Bone Broth
Keto-Friendly Condiments and Spices
As we mentioned above, some condiments and innocent looking sauces can contain hidden sugars and other unwanted ingredients. Make your own at home and always read labels!
- Fresh or Dried Herbs: Parsley, mint, dill, basil, onion
- Garlic
- Vinegars: Apple cider, white wine, red wine, balsamic
- Mustard
- Real egg mayonnaise
- Pesto
- Lemon and lime zest (as well as the juice)
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Ketchup (homemade)
- Horseradish
- Worcestershire sauce
- Hot chili sauces (including Sriracha)
- Alfredo sauce
- Butter
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Cream cheese and flavored cream cheese spreads
- Olives and olive oil
Foods To Avoid
- Grain
- Refined Sugar
- Alcohol
- Soda
- Low Fat Dairy (higher in carbs)
The list of delicious foods you can eat on a keto diet is long and this list might have left out a few items, but as long as it does not contain sugar, flour, or a great deal of fruit, you can probably eat it!
The keto diet means never having to sacrifice REAL food and never being hungry!