Whether you're starting a keto diet to help your body burn fat reserves more efficiently or are preparing meals for someone in your household who's on a keto diet, it is important to know which foods will help and which ones won't. Keto diets try to keep the intake of carbohydrates down while replacing them with protein. Consequently, a keto food list for beginners should highlight protein-rich ingredients while banning those that contain too many carbs.
A keto food list that makes practical sense
You can get a meal kit delivery with foods suited to a keto diet. The basics for novices are reasonably easy to pick up — simply stick to protein-based foods while avoiding starchy ones. Once you know the essentials, making use of more advanced keto ingredients, such as vital wheat gluten, will become second nature.
A keto diet for beginners food list
If you want to follow a keto diet, then review this food list, as it contains all the ingredients you need to prioritise when preparing dishes:
- Eggs: Common hen's eggs contain virtually no carbs while being high in protein. They are a mainstay of keto diets and feature on all keto food lists for beginners.
- Butter: Made from pure fat, butter has no carbs and is an essential cooking ingredient in many dishes. It's especially tasty when combined with scrambled eggs.
- Chicken thighs: Many chicken dishes taste superb when cooked with thighs, which are low in carbohydrates — just don't cook breaded ones. Try pairing them with chicken & chimichurri sauce for a delicious keto-friendly meal.
- Tuna: Available as steaks or in conveniently sized tins, tuna has no carbohydrate content. It's a healthy option with many essential fatty acids.
- Bacon: As long as you can resist the temptation to make a bacon sandwich, this meat is ideal for a keto food list for beginners. Aussie consumers can easily add bacon to their keto diet since it's so widely available.
- Salmon: Another great ingredient for many healthy recipes, salmon contains omega 3. It's also rich in protein and low in carbohydrates.
A meat-free keto food list for beginners
Eggs, butter, and cheese are key ingredients in a keto food list for beginners, as outlined above. They are suited to people on vegetarian diets but not vegans. In addition to these foods, consider the following ingredients, all of which are suited to keto diets without any animal-derived products:
- Coconut oil: If you can't use butter, then coconut oil is a protein-rich, low-carb alternative.
- Tofu: A mainstay of many vegan dishes, this ingredient is suited to keto diets.
- Almonds: Whether eaten on their own or ground down into a wheat flour substitute, almonds are great for anyone wanting to burn more body fat.
- Avocados: Tasty and highly versatile in many different dishes, avocados have high protein content and, more importantly, are delicious. Try incorporating them into a pan-fried beef and quinoa salad.
- Olives: Adding bulk to sauces or salads, olives are a go-to option for followers of keto diets.
- Chia seeds: These seeds are high in fibre and healthy fats, so they're useful in many different ways.
Why make use of a keto food list for beginners?
As mentioned, basic keto ingredients aren't hard to find. Some food lists are much more complex than they need to be — just stick to foods high in protein and low in carbohydrates. A good, comprehensive keto food list for beginners, like the one in this article, will not leave anything important out. In other words, you don't have to pay for a specialist nutritionist's list to begin a healthy keto diet. Simply stick to the basic theory involved in all keto diets.
Which recipes are good for a keto diet?
Many tasty recipes, such as this chimichurri chicken breast recipe, can be made from ingredients on a keto food list for beginners. If you want something of a winter warmer to help you attain ketosis, consider a dish like peppered pork steak in stroganoff, which will help you stick to your keto diet. Surprisingly, many popular meat recipes can be adapted to suit a keto diet, often by simply substituting potatoes with turnips, cauliflower, or another low-carb vegetable, such as radishes.
For a spiced option, try harissa beef with spiced carrot, a dish packed with flavour that’s perfect for keto enthusiasts. Additionally, explore more carb smart meals or check out Middle Eastern recipes for more inspiration and new ideas to diversify your diet.
Keto Food List FAQ
What are keto recipes?
Keto recipes are low, often very low, in carbohydrates but high in healthy fats. The idea is to support a focused diet, whereby the body begins to burn fat reserves rather than relying on carbohydrate intake, a state known as ketosis.
What is the best first meal for a keto diet?
Eggs, avocado, and baby leaf spinach served together make a great keto diet breakfast. This dish is ideal if you're a complete novice to this way of cooking. Don't serve it on toast, though, since you'll want to avoid the carbohydrates in the bread.
How should you use vital wheat gluten in keto recipes?
Vital wheat gluten is basically used to replace wheat flour and other starches, giving you something protein-based, not carb-based. Use it in baked recipes, such as flans or bread. It can also feature in seitan, which is a high-protein meat substitute for vegetarians.
What is the most basic food to eat on a keto diet?
Probably the most basic ingredient you will find on keto food lists for beginners is eggs. Eggs are also one of the best since they're so versatile. Of course, avocados are also popular but much less basic compared to common hen's eggs.
Can you eat bananas on a keto diet?
Very few keto food lists for beginners will contain bananas. Although many types of fruit appear on keto diet lists, bananas tend to contain the most carbohydrates.