5 Low Carb Diet Tips to Keep Your Keto Journey Healthy & Easy

I’m writing this blog only a few days into 2021, a time for resolutions and looking forward to a new better year. If you’re thinking of going keto this year (or maybe you’ve already started), you might be feeling a little overwhelmed with all of the delicious foods you’ll need to cut in order to succeed. No pasta? No bread? No dessert? It sounds awful, but surprisingly there are a ton of delicious, totally keto approved foods (including specialty breads and desserts) to make sure that your keto journey is a pleasant one. So let’s dive in! Here are ChipMonk Baking’s 5 Tips to make your Keto diet journey easy as pie.

1. Keep It Simple

Going keto often means doing a whole lot of in-home cooking, and if you aren’t a chef this can feel a little daunting. But don’t worry, here’s a simple formula to start any keto meal.

1. Pick your protein - Chicken, beef, turkey, fish, pork, eggs? They're all keto baby!
2. Pick a (low carb) veggie - Broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers, and a bunch of other veggies are totally low carb and keto approved. 
3. Add your fat - Butter it up! Oil, lard, cheese, ghee, bacon, avocado, nuts, and even mayo have their place in the keto diet. Just be sure to check those Macros!

2. Stock up your fridge!

It’s Keto o’clock, which means its time to remove all those tempting carbohydrates from the fridge and replace them with delicious, keto friendly ingredients and snacks. Here are a few to help you get started:

• Healthy fats - like butter, avocado, and coconut oil
• Low carb vegetables like zucchini, asparagus, and cauliflower
• Delicious meats like beef, chicken, & pork
• Full-fat dairy like cheese & heavy cream
• Eggs!
• Low carb fruit - be careful here with moderation, but blueberries & raspberries are a great place to start

3. Don’t forget your pantry!

Your pantry will most likely need a similar purge of sugary high carb snacks and ingredients, so be sure to check the labels and get rid of anything high in carbs or sugar (and be sure to donate unwanted non-perishables to your local food bank!). Once you’ve ditched the carbs, here are a few tasty treats to make sure you pantry is well stocked:

• low carb condiments - like mayo, hot sauce, and sugar free ketchup & mustard
• low carb and keto approved snacks, like ChipMonk Keto Bites. Be sure to always check the label for net carbs!
• Nuts and seeds - almonds, macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds? Yes please!
• A sugar free sweetener. There are tons of options available, but we recommend our special blend of Allulose and Monk fruit, which doesn’t have any weird aftertaste, is easy on the stomach, and is perfect for baking and many other things
• Sugar free beverages - sparkling water, coffee, & tea are your new best friends

4. Know your Keto rules!

The recipe for keto success: Limit Carbs, Go for Protein, and use Fat as a Leveler

The key to ketosis is restricting carbohydrates, but you’ll also need to consider your protein and fat intake to get the most out of the keto diet:

• Limit Carbs - Most people set their daily maximum around 20-30 grams per day. Fortunately there are tons of low carb snacks to allow you to indulge mindfully and stay within your carb limits
• Indulge in Protein - The best way to stay keto is with a healthy daily dose of protein, so you'll always want to meat your daily protein goal. This will provide you with the energy you need to stay strong on your keto journey!
• Fat is a leveler - After your carb limit and protein goal, the remaining calories you’ll need will come from high energy fats. These will keep you feeling satisfied and provide your body with the fuel it needs. 

5. Stay hydrated & eat only when hungry

The best way to make the keto diet (or any diet) most effective is to ensure that you are always well hydrated. This will help keep your hunger levels down and in better relation to your body’s actual needs. Learn to listen to what your stomach is telling you. You’ll know when you’re ready for some food, and it will taste amazing because you are truly hungry. Ever go to bed at night so full you know you won’t sleep well? Ever snack yourself sick out of boredom? It’s important to break these bad habits and replace them with mindfulness of what your body needs. Listen closely and you’ll know when it’s time for a tasty treat. 

6. Enjoy yourself!

Going keto doesn't necessarily mean giving up all the foods you love. Sometimes there are healthy and delicious substitutes (like our cookies 😉) and there are some absolutely delicious foods that are surprisingly low carb!

Thanks for dropping by to read ChipMonk Baking’s 5 Tips to make your Keto diet journey easy as pie. We know one of the most difficult aspects of the keto diet is letting go of dessert, so please check out our low carb cookies and keto bites on your way out. With only 1-4 net carbs per serving, our cookies are an excellent way to enjoy dessert but also limit sugar & carbohydrate intake and keep your body in ketosis.

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