Going Keto? Your Guide of What To Eat, What To Avoid on a Keto Diet

October 10, 2023

Looking for an easy to read and remember keto diet foods list? We know how confusing it can be figuring out what to eat and what foods to avoid on a keto diet. Here we provide a comprehensive ketogenic diet foods list to make it easier for you to start and stick with the keto diet. Use this guide to help with your ketogenic diet plan; we’ve even included some easy keto-friendly recipes that are easy to make!

What is the Ketogenic Diet?

In a ketogenic diet, you are on a high-fat, low-carb, and moderate-protein diet. By doing this, you are forcing your body to enter a state of ketosis, which is when you run on energy from fat instead of energy from carbohydrates, or glucose. This leads to ketosis, in which your liver breaks down fats in order to produce ketones. Ketones allow you to use fat directly for energy.!

The ketogenic diet has been growing in popularity, because of its proven benefits in helping people achieve their long term weight loss goals and even in treating illness. But if you want to reap the benefits of the ketogenic diet – from weight loss to better skin to improved cholesterol and insulin levels – you need to follow the diet quite strictly. Eating the right foods, and avoiding certain foods is essential in order to truly transition into ketosis and remain in ketosis. This could take weeks to months, depending on your body and how effectively you’ve been eating.

Don’t worry, though! The ketogenic diet does not mean you need to starve yourself. We always stress that you are not starving your body, you’re only “starving” yourself from carbs. You still have quite the variety of tasty foods to eat! But we understand that figuring out exactly what you can and can’t eat, however, can be very difficult – especially when first starting this new way of eating. So to help, we are providing you with a thorough list of foods you can happily partake in while on the high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet. Eating this way can help you say goodbye to all those fats that your body has been storing due to excess glucose intake!

To make this an easier browse, we list the foods you can and cannot eat by group. Note that sugary foods are NOT on this list, as they contribute to your glucose levels, the opposite of what you want. Remember the aim of the keto diet is to keep sugar and carbs to a minimum.

Keto Diet Foods to Enjoy

As we said before, foods that are great for the ketogenic diet are foods that will contribute to your high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb diet. Plenty of these foods are ones you may have already guessed to be approved, as they tend to be healthy anyway. Some, however, may surprise you! Remember also to make sure you check the source of your food: organic, grass-fed, non-GMO foods are always more ideal and better for you.

Fats and Oils

The majority of what you will be eating on the ketogenic diet will be fat. It’s common to associate fats in a negative manner, but on this diet, fat is your best friends!

Now it is important to know that there are indeed different types of fats: saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fat.

Saturated fats are simply fats that have molecules with no double bonds between themselves and carbon.They also tend to be solid at room temperature.
Monounsaturated fats have a single double bond in their fatty acid chain, just one more than saturated. Because of this, these fats tend to be liquid at room temperature, but once they are chilled or refrigerated they start solidifying. Both can be quite beneficial to the body, and are key to the diet.
The next type of fat is polyunsaturated. When it comes to this kind of fat, natural is good, processed is bad. While this type of fat, which has at least two double bonds. is also healthy and great for the diet, know that there is omega-3 and omega-6 fats included. These are essential fatty acids and key to the function of your brain and cell growth, so be sure to keep a good balance of your Omegas when eating.
Trans fat is the type of fat to avoid at all costs, or at least as much as possible. These fats raise what is commonly considered “bad” cholesterol: low-density lipoproteins, or LDL. This may put you at a higher risk of developing heart disease. Therefore, this is the specific fat that we stress you stay away from. Read labels and know where your food is coming from – that’s our most valuable advice!

So what foods are perfect for increasing your fat intake, yet are also low in carb? Let’s take a look!

For Cooking Purposes

Coconut Oil
Coconut Butter
Avocado Oil
Sesame Oil
Mayonnaise
Butter
Ghee
Lard
Tallow
Macadamia Oil

Olive Oil
Cocoa Butter
Egg Yolk
Walnut Oil
Non-Hydrogenated Animal Fat
Avocado
MCT Oil (Medium-Chain Triglycerides) or MCT Powder
Flaxseed Oil
Almond Meal or Almond Flour

For Meals or Snacking

Macadamias
Walnuts
Tahini
Pumpkin Seeds
Pecans
Almonds
Hazelnuts
Brazil Nuts

Pine Nuts
Sesame Seeds
Cashews
Coconut
Pili Nuts
Butter Spreads: Cashew Butter, Almond Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter

For frying or sauteing food, we suggest you use ghee, coconut oil, or non-hydrogenated lards instead of other oils. This is because these ingredients oxidize less than the oils itself, meaning they have a higher smoke point. You will be getting much more of those important essential fatty acids.

Helpful Tips:

Take caution when eating nuts and seeds. They do indeed contain carbs, some higher than others. It’s quite easy to over indulge on your nutty snack, so just because they are high in fat does not mean they’re perfect for the keto diet. Be wary of cashews and pistachios. As tasty as they are, they’re much higher in carb count than other nuts. It’s just as important to avoid carbs as it is to consume fats. Always pay attention and read labels. Aim for the fattier treats!

High Fat Dairy

Dairy isn’t for everyone, but if you are someone who loves dairy, you may love the keto diet! In fact, most dairy products are appropriate for this particular diet because they offer both fat and protein. To get the most out of your dairy consumption, look for high or full fat products, and aim for those that are organic and raw. That means you should try and purchase cheeses that come from whole milk.

Helpful Tip: Don’t get tempted by advertisements that draw you in because a dairy product is low-fat (especially low-fat yogurt – being low-fat does not mean it’s healthy!). Eat those fats! Read the labels to take into account the amount of sugar and protein, as it should be accounted for in your diet. You only need a moderate amount of protein.

Stock up on these cheese, creams, yogurts, and milk-based products.

Cheese

Gouda
Mozzarella
Feta
Cream Cheese
Cottage Cheese
Swiss
Parmesan
Goat Cheese
Brie
Blue Cheese
Cheddar
Colby
Mascarpone

Creams and Other

Heavy Cream
Greek Yogurt
Half-and-Half
Sour Cream
Mayonnaise

Protein

Just because you are eating high fat on the keto diet, this does not mean you should be eating high protein. Eat protein in moderation.

Helpful Tips:

Darker meats tend to be higher in fat than white meat, so pork may be a better substitute than chicken. Check labels when choosing between different meats – aim for fattier ratios in your ground beef.
If you prefer eating less fatty meats, be sure to pair them in your meal with fatty sauces or side dishes.
As always, grass-fed and pasture-raised or wild-caught is the way to go. Watch out for sugar and fillers

Meat

Pork
- Ground Pork
- Tenderloin
- Ham
- Chops
- Loin
Poultry
- Chicken
- Quail
- Turkey
- Pheasant
- Duck
Beef
- Steak
- Ground Beef
- Roast
- Brisket
- Stews
- Veal
Goat
Lamb
Wild Game
Organ Meats (liver, tongue, kidney, offal, heart)

Fish, Shellfish, Seafood

Catfish
Salmon
Trout
Tuna
Cod
Mackerel
Halibut
Snapper
Mahi-Mahi
Flounder
Oyster
Crab
Lobster
Clam
Mussels
Squid
Scallops

Other Protein Sources

Whole Eggs
Nut Butter
Bacon
Sausage

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Vegetables

It’s not a surprise vegetables would be on this list, but this category of food isn’t so simple. Some vegetables are actually pretty high in carbohydrates and should be avoided. For what little carbohydrates you’ll be consuming, most of it should be coming from your vegetables. Don’t worry. There are tons of vegetables that are appropriate for the diet! Let’s take a look:

Veggies

Celery
Cabbage
- Chinese
- Green
- Red
Broccoli
Mixed Greens
Daikon Radish
Cauliflower
Arugula
Alfalfa Sprouts
Cucumber
Chayote
Bok Choy
Artichoke Hearts
Green Beans
Chives
Mushrooms
- Baby Bella
- White
Parsley
Onion
- Scallion
- Yellow Onion
Bell Peppers
Radishes
Shallots
Scallion
Kale
Sauerkraut
Collard Greens
Mustard Greens
Spinach
Jicama
Pumpkin
Squash
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Squash

Fennel
Zucchini
Palm Hearts
Olives
- Green
- Black
Radicchio
Garlic

Lettuce
- Iceberg
- Romaine
- Loose-Leaf
Tomato (scientifically a fruit, though considered a vegetables by many nutritionists!)
- Small
- Medium
- Cherry
Watercress
Mung Bean Sprouts
Chicory Greens
Jicama
Asparagus
Okra
Swiss Chard
Snow peas
Dandelions
Bamboo Shoots
Beet Greens
Cardoon
Eggplant

Take note that many of the vegetable listed are cruciferous, meaning they are a part of the cabbage family. These tend to be low-carb and highly nutritious (Vitamin C, E, K, and more). You can’t go wrong with those!

Veggies to Limit or Avoid

Be cautious of sweet vegetables like carrots, winter squash, and pumpkin. These vegetables tend to have a higher carb count, so be sure to enjoy but in moderation.

Starchy vegetables should also be a concern. Avoid veggies like potatoes, parsnips, yams, and corn.
Beans and legumes should be avoided as well. They are quite high in starch and low in fat. Eating foods like lentils, chickpeas, and black beans won’t be very helpful in your stride towards ketosis.

Low Carb Fruit

Fruits, as natural as they can be, are typically loaded with sugar. Sugar is a huge no in the ketogenic diet because you want to avoid having glucose readily available for energy. Therefore, the fruits that you are more free to eat are low-carb berries. Large fruits have a strong tendency to be loaded with sugar, and so it can be easy to surpass your advised consumption of sugar when snacking on fruit. Take a look at this list of low-carb fruits you can eat in moderation.

Fruit

Blueberries
Cranberries
Blackberries
Cherries
Cranberries
Loganberries

Raspberries
Strawberries
Gooseberries
Avocado
Melon
Cantaloupe
Honeydew

Helpful tips:

For a bit of a treat, trying freezing your berries. They’re delicious that way! You can still make your daily smoothie, but go for low-carb fruits instead of ones like bananas and apples.

Just because the fruits listed above made the list does not mean you are completely free to indulge. The carbs can easily add up as you snack on these little treats, so always be mindful of your serving size. Even in its natural form, sugar is still sugar.

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Keto Diet Foods To Avoid

Although we’ve already mentioned a few foods to limit or avoid above, here is a more exhaustive list for you to refer to. These foods should not be eaten on a keto diet as they will prevent you from achieving your desired goal of going into ketosis and burning stored glucose.

Sugar

This is listed first because no matter what diet you are on, sugar is a major thing to avoid. Sugar is not something to be eaten in moderation in the ketogenic diet. In fact, it should be avoided as much as possible.

Sugar can be found in many, many foods, so it’s important to educate yourself on what to look for. Sweet processed foods, large fruits, and cold beverages tend to have a large amount of sugar. Some sugary foods to avoid on the keto diet include:

Fruit Smoothies
Fruit Juices
Apples
Bananas
Lychees
Figs
Mango
Grapes
Pears

Syrup
Candy
Soda (though carb-free, this does include diet soda)
Honey
Artificial Sweeteners
Cookies
Ice Cream
Pastries

Starches and Grains

As tasty as bread and pasta is, they will need to be given up if you want to fully embrace the keto diet and get to that state of ketosis. Starches and grains are totally loaded with carbohydrates. While some of these foods like french fries and pastries might not surprise you, other “natural” grains like beans and corn still need to be eliminated. Some examples to avoid include:

Oats
Potatoes
Beans
- Black Beans
- Pinto
- Lima
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
Carrots
Yams
Corn
Flour
Rice
Pasta

Bread
Pastries
- Danish
- Pie
Pizza Crust
Bagels
Waffles
Pancakes
French Fries
Cereal
Muffins
Crackers
Chips

Luckily, these days, you can easily find recipes using innovative substitutes for starches, including cauliflower rice, spaghetti squash, and zoodles (zucchini noodles). This is a great opportunity to be creative during meal time!

Alcohol

This is no surprise: alcohol has made the list of what to avoid on a keto diet. Alcohol in general is not advised, but in particular to the keto diet, we have to specify that alcohol tends to contain carbohydrates.

While alcohol should be avoided during the initial stages of a keto diet, just keep in mind that hard liquor has the least amount of carbs. And since most of us consume spirits in smaller quantities than say beer, this means less carb intake overall. If you prefer having a mixer with some bubbles, try soda water and some lime.

Helpful Tip: Be cautious and watch out for the munchies when drinking alcohol! Don’t break your keto diet and give in to those carb cravings!

Keto-Friendly Recipes

So after looking at a tremendously long list of keto diet foods, you may be interested in some fun, delicious recipes to get you started. Luckily we have some easy keto friendly recipes just for you! We’ve listed the total carbohydrates and total fat for your convenience!

MINI BACON WRAPPED MEATLOAF