Despite the stringent guidelines the keto diet entails, it remains one of the most popular specialty diets in the United States. It puts a huge emphasis on high-fat and protein-rich foods paired with low carbs to help your body burn useful fats rather than carbs. When considering foods or recipes to buy, there are certain “building block” foods to keep in mind as you shop for groceries. Here are a few high-fat, low-carb foods to consider when following a keto diet:
Seafood
Seafood is known for having a combination of healthy fats and lower carbs. Being rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients such as protein and selenium, it is a prime example of a keto building block food. What’s also fantastic is the assortment of keto seafood to choose from, such as shrimp, crab, tuna, cod, mussels, salmon and others that you can incorporate into your recipes or diet plan. Play around with recipes from different cuisines, including Mediterranean, Caribbean and East Asian.
Meat and poultry
Foods such as beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and lamb are also great sources of healthy fat and protein for keto diets. Meat makes up a good portion of keto, and like most keto foods, it’s versatile so there are many ways to serve it. It is important, however, to purchase organic and grass-fed meat and poultry. Since you are consuming these foods frequently, you want to sustain your body with the highest quality available.
Dairy
Adding dairy keto foods such as cheese, Greek yogurt, and assortments of cream and butter are also beneficial. Cheeses are amazing as they tend to have high protein and low carbs. In general, dairy foods are a great source of protein, calcium, and even healthy fats!
Dr. Barbara Edwards, a Princeton MD is the Academic Director for the Ambulatory Residency Program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, providing quality care to uninsured and under-insured New Jersey residents in Mercer and Middlesex counties.