Helping You Live a Happier, Healthier Life
One of the first questions we find people asking right after they make the decision to start the ketogenic diet is, “What should I eat?” We covered the basic macros in our “Ketogenic Diet 101” post that went over the foods you should eat. In this post we will dive into our suggested grocery list for your first time to the store shopping keto.
Our grocery list below will serve as a guide for your trips to the store. We will list out a variety of different options that you can use to properly outline your macros. We organize everything by food group making it easier for you while you’re in the store. As you read over this list feel free to mark anything off you don’t plan on buying. From our experience, we definitely suggest not buying more food than you or your family can consume in a week. This allows you to buy more fresh foods without the worry they will spoil and be thrown out. Although all the food on this list is “keto-friendly” it’s important to note that all foods are not created equal. Even though foods are keto it doesn’t mean you can indulge everyday.
When picking out meats for the keto lifestyle it’s important to emphasize quality over quantity. Personally, I like to suggest people stay towards high quality white meats more often than red meats. Since the goal is to keep your fat content high and your proteins moderate you need to ensure all your meats are high-quality, healthy, and full of nutrients. The best choices would be grass-fed or pasture raised beef, bison, and lamb. When looking at fish I always recommend wild caught instead of farmed. Properly raised pork and chicken are harder to find for a good price, so you might end up limiting these more unless your budget allows more frequency.
For most people learning about healthy oils can be one of the best tools in the keto arsenal. They are absolutely great for baking and cooking but it’s important to keep an eye on amounts you are using at first, since both the fat content and carb count can add up quickly with small serving sizes.
Ultimately, on the keto diet, the majority of your carb intake should come from vegetables. You will want to get creative with different recipes, as items in this section should be eaten regularly to ensure your body is getting the proper nutrition and fiber.
Low-carb veggies should be eaten at almost every meal. Fruits need to be more of a treat for the most part. The only exception to this would be avocados, which technically are a fruit and are one of the best sources for “good fat.”
It goes without saying that you should pick low carb flours and sweetners vs the normal versions. However, you’ll want to limit this in general since they don’t contain as much nutrition as whole food keto options.
Beef (fattier cuts)
Organ meats
Other
Seafood
Poultry
Deli meats
Pork
Cheeses
Oils
Nuts/seeds
Other fats
Making sure to have an outlined list is crucial in saving yourself time and money. It’s important to have a plan for the meals that you will make each week. With the right groceries in the pantry, you will be more apt to stay on track and be successful.