This post may contain affiliate links for products and services. Please see my full Affliate Disclaimer for details 

Not sure what to eat on a ketogenic diet? Here’s a quick food list for you to reference.

The Best Ketogenic Food List Ever! Everything You Need To Know. Keto Diet is a great way to lose weight fast while gaining a ton of energy and feeling your best. So, you’ve decided to give it a shot. Awesome! Now what? Going on a diet is stressful enough; you constantly worry about “what to eat,” “how to eat,” and “where to buy it”? Am I in your head? Maybe. Like you, I, too have asked those same questions. Confused, perplexed, and downright overwhelmed by the thought of it all. I went looking for information. Furthermore, came out on the other side with success. Fortunately for you, I went through that process and you do not have too. No more scratching your head unsure of what to eat on a keto diet? No more constantly wondering if you are dieting right in the first place. This ketogenic diet food list includes everything you can eat for ketogenic diet success. Related Reading:

What Exactly is the Ketogenic Diet

The simple explanation- it is a low carb, high-fat diet. Reducing your carb intake and increasing the number of healthy fats that you eat results in your body going into ketosis. I know, it sounds awfully complex, but it really isn’t. Here’s what it means: ketosis happens when you have a decreased amount of glucose in your body (which is a result of your low carb intake). Instead of using glucose as fuel, your body needs to find another source of fuel. This is where the fat comes in. Your body starts to attack the fat and use that as fuel instead. When it does this, it also produces something called ketones (which are made from the breakdown of fats in the liver). When these ketones are produced in your bloodstream and start circulating through your body, your body accepts these as fuel and turns your body into a lean, mean, fat-destroying machine. During this process, you still need to eat some carbs, but how do you know how many carbs your body needs? I’ve done a bit of research, and when you are beginning the keto diet, it is recommended that you consume 30-50 grams of carbs each day. Once your body gets used to this decrease in carb intake, you can cut back to 20-25 grams of carbs per day. We suggest you eat under 20-25 grams of net carbohydrates per day if you’re trying keto for weight loss.

Suggested Macronutrient Ratios

Before we jump into the list. I wanted to share the exact amounts of fat, carbs, and protein (also known as ‘macros’) you need to eat in order to get into ketosis will vary from person to person. But to help you get into the general ballpark, here are some recommendations. Just remember that the bulk of your calories need to come from healthy, high-fat foods, and very few of your calories should come from carbs.

What To Make

Shopping Lists And Meal Plans

If planning your own meals sounds too time-consuming, we can help you avoid it. For maximum simplicity check out Keto In Five for their weekly keto meal plans.

4 Important Things To Remember On A Keto Diet

A keto diet is pretty simple, and most people see results fairly quickly. But there are a few things to remember that can help make sure you get the most out of your keto diet. (These tips will also help you avoid ‘keto flu’ – the lack of energy that some people experience in the first 3-5 days of a keto diet.)

Drink Plenty of Water.
Get Plenty of Sodium.
Eat Enough.
Eat Enough Fat.

Hi-Lyte electrolyte concentrate is an all-natural, trace mineral supplement that provides the perfect balance of fast-acting electrolytes for rapid rehydration – with no calories or sugar. It’s natural mineral and electrolyte formula includes Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, and Sulfates that buffer water ions, increasing PH and reducing acidity for increased natural alkalinity. This one has ZERO CALORIES & ZERO CARBS! You can get a bottle here.

Liquid I.V.’s Hydration Multiplier is a great-tasting, daily electrolyte drink mix that utilizes the breakthrough science of Cellular Transport Technology (CTT) to deliver hydration to your bloodstream faster and more efficiently than water alone. 1 Liquid I.V. can provide the same hydration as drinking 2-3 bottles of water

You can get yours here.

With all of that in mind, here is the complete ketogenic diet food list…

Keto Grocery List

Ketogenic Diet Food List: Fats

In moderation, nuts and seeds can be used to create some fantastic textures. Try to use fattier nuts like macadamias and almonds. Try to get your fat from natural sources like meat and nuts. Supplement with saturated and monounsaturated fats like coconut oil, butter, and olive oil.

Butter or ghee
Avocados
Macadamia nuts
Coconut butter
Cocoa butter
Egg yolks (go with pasture-raised for the extra few bucks) #TreatYoself
Coconut oil, olive oil, MCT oil, or avocado oil
Nuts and seeds or nut butter (choose fattier nuts like macadamia nuts or almonds)
Fatty fish

Ketogenic Diet Food List: Proteins

Try to stick with organic, pasture-raised, and grass-fed meat where possible. Most meats don’t have added sugar in them, so they can be consumed in moderate quantities. Remember that too much protein on a ketogenic diet in relation to fat can cause the body to break down protein for fuel instead, decreasing or stopping ketosis.

- Beef
- Poultry
- Pork
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Organ meats
- Eggs
- Lamb
- Goat

Beware of meats that contained processed ingredients, sauces, or cured meats with added sugars. These can easily increase your carb and sugar intake.

Ketogenic Food List: Carbohydrates

We suggest you eat under 20-25 grams of net carbohydrates per day if you’re trying keto for weight loss. VEGETABLES Fresh or frozen doesn’t matter. Stick with above-ground vegetables, leaning toward leafy/green items. Think low-carb and non-starchy. Choose leafy greens first, including:

Kale
Spinach
Swiss chard
Bok choy
Lettuce
Radicchio
Brussels sprouts
Broccoli

Other options include:

Onions
Bell peppers
Asparagus
Kohlrabi
Celery
Cucumber
Zucchini
Cauliflower

FRUITS Fruits must be limited and eaten in VERY small amounts, as they have a high sugar content.

Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Cherries
Cranberries
Mulberries

For fruits and vegetables, fresh or frozen is fine, and organic is best but not required. Take a deep dive in the Source Matter Series: A Guide to Buying Healthy Produce

Ketogenic Food List: Supplements

Okay so we hit all three macronutrients, but there’s so much we haven’t talked about! Here’s the guide to everything else you might consume on your ketogenic diet, it didn’t quite fit the macro mold.

Exogenous Ketones

Exogenous ketones help you get back into ketosis at any time, instead of having to wait for at least a couple days. They can be taken in between meals to provide a quick punch of ketones or before a workout for additional energy.

MCT Oils and Powders

MCT is short for medium chain triglyceride. MCTs are a type of fat that can be readily used for energy by your body and do not have to be shuttled around your digestive system before use. They are precursors to ketones and help your body burn fat instead of burning carbs. Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder adds an unflavored creaminess that is incredible in coffee, tea, and any smoothie you can think of.

Collagen Protein Supplements

Collagen is a type of protein – 1 of over 10,000 in your body. Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, accounting for 25-35% of all protein. It can be considered the glue that holds your body together.

Micronutrient Supplements

One of the toughest parts of keto is that it cuts out lots of starchy fruits and vegetables that are high in carbohydrates. However, they are also packed with nutrients. Keto Micro Greens is the solution to getting enough nutrition from produce while eating a low carb ketogenic diet. Perfect Keto Micro Greens Powder is 14 servings of 22 different fruits and vegetables, plus MCT fats for absorption.

Ketogenic Pre-Workout Supplements

Pre-workout powders are for people who are on a ketogenic or otherwise low-carb diet and want a healthy, ketogenic pre-workout energy drink without all the crap in other pre-workout drink mixes. They can be used any time of day for a quick, clean and healthy energy boost for physical and cognitive performance without the caffeine crash.

Keto Food List Extras: (Condiments, Spices, Sweeteners)

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS

Yellow mustard
Ketchup without added sugars (or sugar alcohols)
Mayonnaise (preferably made from cage-free eggs)
Horseradish
Hot sauces
Worcestershire sauce
Sauerkraut without added sugars
High-fat salad dressings with low or no added sugars

HERBS AND SPICES

Basil
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Thyme
Cilantro
Cayenne pepper
Chili powder
Cumin
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Lemon or lime juices
Salt and pepper

SWEETENERS

Stevia (preferably liquid form, as the powder, can sometimes have dextrose or maltodextrin added as binders
Erythritol (it’s not digested by the body, so it contributes no carbs or glycemic load)
Monk fruit
Xylitol

Ketogenic Diet Food List: Dairy

Most dairy is fine, but make sure to buy full-fat dairy items. Harder cheeses typically have fewer carbs.

Full-fat yogurts
Mayonnaise
Heavy cream
Sour cream
Cottage cheese
Cream cheese
Hard cheeses like parmesan, swiss, feta, and cheddar
Soft cheese like brie, Monterrey jack, mozzarella, and bleu cheese

FOODS TO AVOID WHILE ON A KETO DIET

Avoid these high-carb foods

By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what to eat on a ketogenic diet. Make sure that you read and re-read through the list of acceptable foods to build a mental image around what type of meals you will want to eat. If you’re still unsure about any products or food items that might not be keto-friendly, don’t worry too much. Below, you’ll find a list of things that you should always be on the lookout for.

Sugar. It’s typically found in soda, juice, sports drinks, candy, chocolate, and ice cream. Anything that’s processed and sweet you can think of most likely contains sugar. Avoid sugar at all costs.
Grains. Any wheat products (bread or buns), pasta, cereal, cakes, pastries, rice, corn, and beer should be avoided. This includes whole grains like wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, and quinoa.
Starch. Avoid vegetables (like potatoes and yams) and other things like oats, muesli, etc. Some root vegetables are okay in moderation – be sure to read the section on vegetables.
Trans Fats. Margarine or any other spreadable replacement butter should be avoided as they contain hydrogenated fats (bad for us).
Fruit. Avoid any large fruits (apples, oranges, bananas) as they’re extremely high in sugar. Some berries can be consumed in moderation – be sure to read the section on fruits.

Watch out

Low-fat foods. These tend to be much higher in carbs and sugar than full-fat versions. Make sure you read the package to make sure a mistake isn’t made.

In general, the more “real” the food, the better it is for you. While some processed foods are acceptable, many are not. Make sure that you read through the ingredients and nutrition information to make sure that it can fit into your diet. Have you tried the ketogenic diet? If so, I’d love to know if it worked for you! Feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email @ trueandpretty@gmail.com!

CHECK OUT THSE AWESOME RECIPES FROM US

Easy Delicious Keto Recipes You Can Make Scrumptious Keto Dessert Recipes

7 Tips to get a flat tummy fast

10 Steps to Transform Yourself into a New Person

Simple Exercise to Tone and Lose Weight

8 Diet Mistakes That Makes You Gain Weight

Easy Delicious Keto Recipes You Can Make

Scrumptious Keto Dessert Recipes

Diet Plan To Lose 7 Pounds In One Week

8 Ways to Support your Mental Health