8 Keto Weeknight Recipes to Start a Ketogenic Diet (2024)

FAQs

What is the best first meal for keto? ›

KEEP YOUR MEALS SIMPLE

When you're just starting out, the most important tip is to keep things simple. The best way to start keto* for beginners is to think simple with macro nutrients (protein, carbs and fats). Cook up your favorite quality protein, whip up some lower carb veggies and add good-for-you fats.

Go super low carb for the first week (no more than 10g of net carbs per day). By doing this, you will force your body to use up your glycogen stores and get into ketosis much more quickly. Start your diet off with an intermittent fast.

- Grains: Rice, wheat, oats, barley, rye, quinoa, buckwheat, etc. - Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, cassava, artichoke, etc. - Refined Carbs: Bread, pasta, pastries, tortilla, sandwich, etc. Due to the high-carb content of these food items, they are not keto-friendly.

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

1.The First 10 Days May Be The Toughest

Before starting, you should be aware that if you drop carbs cold-turkey, the first few days you will most likely experience symptoms of your body adjusting to lack of glucose. Many people starting off keto will go through this and it's often referred to as the “Keto Flu”.

The first week of doing keto is the hardest, especially if you've been on a high-carb diet for years. Initially, you may experience flu-like symptoms known as the keto flu.

We'll also share some great low-carb egg-based keto recipes. Eggs are keto-friendly and safe to eat when you're on the ketogenic diet. Eggs are low in carbs while containing high amounts of protein and healthy fats. You can have 6 to 7 eggs every day while on the keto diet.

You can eat a variety of salads on keto, as long as they contain healthy fats and proteins and are low in carbs. Egg salad, grilled chicken salad, shrimp salad, cauliflower salad, arugula salad, cucumber salad, antipasto salad, Greek salad, Caprese salad, and spinach salad are just a few keto-friendly salads to enjoy.

What is the 80 20 rule for keto diet? ›

I apply the Pareto Principle to make My 80/20 Rule work with a keto and fasting lifestyle. I flip that principle to assess my diet and healthy lifestyle choices. When I eat or do healthy things 80% of the time I get great results. Then 20% of the time the foods are less healthy and I rest a little more than I should.

Anecdotally, people report losses within the first week of anywhere from 1 pound (0.5 kg) to 10 or more pounds (5 kg). The larger you are, the more water weight you're likely to lose after starting keto. Although, it's unlikely that much of this initial weight loss is fat loss.

Keto Dinners

The meal can center around a hearty protein, like fish, poultry, steak or eggs. Pair with a delicious vegetable-forward side dish and a serving of healthy fat, and viola, the perfect keto dinner. Keto soups, salads, sheet-pan meals and zoodle pasta dishes all work beautifully too.

To maximize weight loss on a ketogenic diet, get adequate sleep, reduce stress, be more active and consume whole, nutritious, low-carb foods whenever possible.

It can take 2-4 days or longer to start losing weight in ketosis, although the rate of weight loss depends on various factors such as your metabolism, carb-protein-fat intake, fitness level, and how strictly you follow the diet.