Keto Foods

Keto Food Principles

Minimize Carbs

Keep your carb-count to around 5g or less per meal to make sure you don’t exceed the recommended 25g of carbs per day. Check out our Carb Counter to make sure what you’re eating is keto-appropriate.

Use a Meal Plan

Putting together a tasty keto meal plan isn’t difficult if you plan ahead. Need help? Download our 7-Day Keto Meal Plan.

Or just make up your own meal following these simple steps.

Read the Ingredients

Keto is more popular than ever, which means there are more and more keto-friendly products on the market every day. Sadly, this also means the word “keto” has become misused as a marketing term for foods that no legitimate keto dieter would ever touch. Even the most keto-friendly looking cauliflower pizza crust can hide ingredients (like regular wheat flour), making it a carb hangover waiting to happen. This is why if it’s not on the Master Keto Food List, you must look for hidden carbs on the ingredients list.

Know Where to Shop

Knowing where to shop is going to make the keto lifestyle easier. We’ve had success at:

• Farmer’s markets
• Butchers
• Fishmongers
• International grocery stores, such as Polish delis and Asian grocers
• Online stores, especially for specialty or hard-to-find items

Now that you know what your meals should look like and where to buy the ingredients, all that’s left is to buy them. Enter our Master Keto Food List...

The Master Keto Foods List

Keto Vegetables

Despite the meat-and-cheese reputation, keto can include a ton of vegetables. These should be your main source of carbs, but you still need to be careful. The general rule of thumb is to stick to vegetables that are grown above the ground. Vegetables that grow below the ground, like carrots, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, tend to be high in carbs and should be avoided on keto. Your best bet is to aim for green veggies. 

• Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Broccolini
• Asparagus
• Cucumber
• Celery
• Green beans
• Radishes
• Lettuce (such as romaine and arugula)
• Asian greens (such as bok choy and napa cabbage)
• Dark leafy greens (such as kale, spinach, and collard greens)
• Zucchini
• Eggplant
• Tomatoes
• Mushrooms
• Peppers
• Kohlrabi
• Leek
• Garlic
• Jalapeños
• Onion
• Rutabaga
• Yellow squash
• Spaghetti squash
• Bean sprouts
• Celeriac
• Cabbage
• Brussels sprouts
• Jicama
• Artichokes
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi

Pro Tip: Try zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice to replace pasta. Ever tried jicama fries?

Keto Fruit

Try to limit fruit to one serving a day to manage carbs. Here are our top keto fruit choices:

• Avocados
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Kiwi fruit
• Olives
• Rhubarb
• Acai berries

Pro Tip: Enjoy keto fruits with a side of heavy cream or full-fat plain yogurt, put them in your smoothies, or just eat them plain.

Keto Protein

Protein is still important, even though keto is fat-centric. All meat is keto, but many high-fat enthusiasts go for fattier cuts like pork belly, chicken thighs, and high-fat ground beef. Watch out for hidden sugars and starches in processed meat. They can sneak in as marinades and fillers.

As far as food quality goes, buy the best you can afford. This means free-range, pasture-raised eggs and poultry, grass-fed beef, crate-free pork, sustainable and wild-caught fish, and organic everything if possible. Here are our top picks for meats, seafood, and vegan protein:

Keto Meats

• Pork
• Beef
• Lamb
• Goat
• Bison
• Quail
• Chicken
• Duck
• Moose
• Elk
• Venison
• Sausages
• Hotdogs
• Wurst
• Paté
• Bacon
• Prosciutto
• Pancetta
• Turkey
• Organ meats
• Jerky
• Biltong
• Pork rinds

Keto Seafood

• Anchovy
• Herring
• Tuna
• Mussels
• Oysters
• Shrimp
• Scallops
• Squid
• Clams
• Octopus
• Fish (especially trout, mackerel, and salmon)

Vegan and Vegetarian Keto Protein

• Eggs and egg whites (vegetarian only)
• Whey protein powder (vegetarian only)
• Egg white protein powder (vegetarian only)
• Low-carb vegan protein powder
• Protein bars
• Natto
• Tempeh

Pro Tip: Cook your meat differently to keep things fresh. Try keto soups, stews, salads, or roasts. Or browse KetoLogic’s recipes for some delicious ideas.

Dairy and Dairy Substitutes

Keto is your excuse to enjoy dairy with reckless abandon. No wonder people love keto so much. Dairy and keto are a match made in heaven. This delicious, high-fat food group makes the perfect garnish for just about any meal or snack. If you don’t eat dairy, “coconut dairy” is about to become your best friend.

Keto Dairy

• Hard cheeses (such as Parmesan, cheddar, and gouda)
• Soft cheeses (such as cream cheese, mascarpone, and brie)
• Heavy cream
• Quark
• Creme fraiche
• Greek yogurt
• Skyr
• Cottage cheese
• Sour cream
• Kefir

Keto Dairy Substitutes

• Coconut cream/milk
• Coconut yogurt
• Almond milk
• Almond yogurt
• Coconut kefir

Pro Tip: Add some heavy cream (dairy or coconut) to your morning coffee, prepare a beautiful charcuterie board with your favorite cheeses, or just enjoy a nice wedge of brie as a snack.

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are high in fat, protein and, most importantly, taste. They’re a great snack or addition to any keto meal, both savory and sweet. 

Keto Nuts

• Brazil nuts
• Pecans
• Almonds
• Macadamias
• Walnuts (these nuts might make you smarter!)
• Pili nuts
• Pine nuts
• Tiger nuts
• Coconut (not technically a nut)

Keto Seeds

• Hemp seeds
• Flax seeds
• Poppy seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sesame seeds
• Tahini (sesame seed paste)

Sauces, Fats, and Oils

Sauces and oils are a great way to increase the fat content on your plate (not to mention add some serious flavor). Avoid inflammatory oils such as sunflower and soy.

Keto Oils and Fats

• Olive oil
• Coconut oil
• Avocado oil
• Butter (grass-fed butter is best)
• Garlic butter
• Ghee
• Flax seed oil (not for cooking)
• Hemp oil (not for cooking)
• Lard
• Tallow
• Duck fat
• Bacon fat
• MCT oil

Keto Sauces

• Vinegar
• Hot sauce
• Coconut aminos
• Pesto
• Mayonnaise
• Guacamole
• Creamy dressings
• Low-sugar ketchup
• Mustard
• Béarnaise sauce
• Hollandaise sauce
• Homemade gravy
• Sesame oil
• Chimichurri
• Chipotle sauce
• Jalapeño sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• Creamy salad dressings
• Lemon or lime juice
• Vinegar-based dressings
• Sugar-free tomato-based sauces (such as marinara and salsa)

Pro Tip: Put butter in your morning coffee or over your vegetables, add a creamy dressing to your salads, or be liberal with the cooking oil while making dinner.

Beverages

Juice and soda are off the table, but there are plenty of other delicious low-carb options.

Keto Beverages

• Low-sugar probiotic drinks
• Bone broth
• Miso soup
• Nut milk
• Sugar-free syrups
• Herbal tea
• Iced tea
• Soda water
• Sparkling water
• Coffee
• Dry red wine
• Dry white wine
• Vodka
• Gin
• Whiskey
• Rum
• Scotch
• Tequila

Pro Tip: Drinking on keto? Yes, it’s allowed...

Cooking and Baking Ingredients

If you enjoy cooking or baking, you’ve bought yourself a world of keto-possibilities. Here are some of our top ingredients. Okay, we’ll share our top recipes, too.

Keto Cooking and Baking Ingredients

• Spices
• Herbs
• Cacao
• Gelatin
• Collagen
• Coconut flour
• Almond flour
• Peanut flour
• Tigernut flour
• Cacao butter
• Stevia
• Xylitol
• Erythritol
• Monkfruit
• Psyllium husk
• Celtic or Himalayan pink salt
• Flax meal
• Vanilla extract
• Xanthan gum
• 85% or higher dark chocolate

Pro Tip: You can make delicious keto pancakes and waffles using simple keto ingredients.

Budget-Friendly Options

Fancy keto items like avocado oil and almond flour are great. But they’re also a little expensive and unnecessary if you’re on a budget. Here are some of the best value keto foods to help you stay in ketosis without going broke.

• Local produce. Hit up your local market to get a deal on produce. Try haggling over prices. You’ll be amazed at the deals you can walk away with, especially if you go near closing time.
• Frozen fruit and vegetables. You can sometimes snag a deal on frozen items, especially if the store is trying to clear them out.
• Strawberries and kiwi fruit. These are your cheapest fruit options, although this depends on the season.
• Eggs. The holy grail of keto protein options and usually very affordable.
• Ground meat. Probably your most economical meat option, especially for making your own burger patties and meatballs.
• Canned goods. Yes, they even make canned chicken. Just add mayo.
• Butter. One of the most versatile and, thankfully, cheap keto foods you can get. Grass-fed is better, but more expensive.
• Coconut cream. A perfect dairy replacement, especially if cheese is outside your budget. You can even mix it with avocado, cacao, and sweetener for a delicious pudding-like dessert.
• Spices. You can’t go wrong with smoked paprika. Plus, nearly all are low-carb.
• Tahini. This sesame paste is surprisingly affordable and makes a great garnish or salad dressing.
• Soda water. Grab a few bottles and add your own flavoring for DIY keto soda.
  • Pro tip: Soda water plus KetoLogic BHB is amazing!

Specialty Items

Keto can get boring if you eat the same things day in and day out. So here’s a list of unusual keto foods if you're feeling adventurous:

• Thickening agents. Experiment with xanthan gum, psyllium husk, and gelatin to create puddings, thickened beverages, and even keto gummy bears.
• Konjac noodles. Also called shirataki or miracle noodles, these are low-carb, high-fiber "noodles" that are a bit slimy and have a texture that might take a few tries to get used to. Not a fan? Try kelp noodles instead.
• Acai berries. Going keto doesn’t mean acai bowls are off the menu. Pure acai berries (either frozen or powdered) are relatively low-carb and can be enjoyed on the keto diet. Just avoid acai bowls from juice and smoothie shops, as these are often loaded with sugar and high-carb toppings.
• Fancy cheese. Visit specialty delicatessens and ask to sample everything. You might just find a new favorite. Expand your charcuterie knowledge with an ash brie, a creamy manchego, or a sharp Old Amsterdam aged gouda.
• Kombucha. Some brands of this fermented tea drink are low-carb. Go for unflavoured varieties and always read the nutrition label to be safe.
• Sambal oelek. Unlike most sugar-loaded chili sauces, this paste is made from nothing but chili and is amazing on eggs.
• Coconut butter / coconut manna. This describes coconut oil and coconut meat mixed together. It’s slightly sweet, so you can eat it straight from the jar or make it into fat bombs.
• Bugs. Bug protein, especially cricket, has been gaining popularity in recent years. Don't knock it until you try it.