Starting the keto diet can be a little overwhelming—the high-fat, low-carb diet, known for its dramatic weight loss results, requires an overhaul of most people’s typical shopping lists. That means saying goodbye to some of the easy items you might keep on hand for lazy nights (we’re talking to you, quick-cooking rice and frozen french fries), and hello to some slightly more perishable foods that are higher in fat and protein like meat and full-fat dairy.
Jewelyn Butron
But before you go filling your grocery cart with bacon and cheese galore, know that you’ll want to opt for good-for-you sources of unsaturated fat and protein—like fish and avocado, instead, says Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, of the Nutrition Twins. “Since this diet is primarily coming from fat, choosing healthy sources of fat is important,” she says.
So, healthy fat = good; protein = good; but what about everything else? Don’t freak—while, yes, tons of stuff is off-limits on the keto diet, there are plenty of yummy things you can eat. To help, a few dietitians weighed in on what they’d put on their keto diet grocery shopping list—so all you really have to do is save it and go to the store.
Low-carb veggies
Not all vegetables are created equal for keto followers. High-carb veggies (think: potatoes) are a no-go. Instead, opt for low-carb options like cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, bell pepper, celery, cucumber, eggplant, and asparagus, says Pegah Jalali, RD, a nutritionist with Middleberg Nutrition.
Frozen veggies are cool, too. Sydney Greene, RD, also of Middleberg Nutrition, recommends frozen cauliflower in particular. “It’s very low carb yet high in fiber and vitamin C. Use cauliflower in place of bananas for a creamy smoothie without the extra carbohydrates,” Greene says.
Avocados
Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, of Nutrition Twins, describes avocados as one of the very best keto foods, jam-packed with both nutrients and healthy fats. “I like to have them with some hemp or flax seeds sprinkled on top and some parmesan cheese,” says Jalali.
Berries
Raspberries are a perfect sweet treat for people on the keto diet, since they’re the fruit with the fewest carbs, says Jalali—though blueberries and blackberries are great, too.
Salad greens
Pre-washed greens, like spinach, kale and arugula, are a huge timesaver. “Having greens on hand makes it super easy to throw together a quick salad or add some quick nutrients—folate, vitamin C, fiber, magnesium—to your proteins,” says Greene.
For a quick, keto-friendly breakfast, Greene suggests scrambling two whole eggs and a handful of spinach to get a good serving of healthy fat, protein, and fiber.
Grass-fed beef and organic chicken
Keep grass-fed beef and lamb, along with organic chicken, on hand, recommends Jalali. “Our clients particularly love Applegate’s Great Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dog,” says Shames—they’re non-GMO and made with grass-fed beef, sans nitrates and preservatives.
Bone broth
Another option? Sip your meat-based protein. Greene loves Bonafide Provisions Bone Broth, which uses bones from grass-fed cows. “The amino acids found in the broth support a healthy gut,” says Greene.
Tuna, salmon, or sardines (fresh or canned)
If you opt for fresh fish, grill, bake, or pan-fry it in a healthy oil (olive or avocado) and serve with a low-carb veggie like broccoli or cauliflower rice.
If you choose canned, mix it with mayo and serve over greens, suggests Jalali. For a simple keto lunch, Greene suggests combining a can of tuna with half an avocado in a collard green wrap.
Cheese
Go for grass-fed, organic, and full-fat options in the dairy aisle, recommends Jalali. For cheese, one easy-to-find option—readily available at groceries and convenience stores alike—is Organic Valley’s full fat cheese. “It fits in the keto diet perfectly,” says Lakatos.
Always read the nutrition info before purchasing pre-shredded cheeses, cautions Jalali, who says they sometimes contain a stabilizer that adds carbs—so just make sure your shredded cheese has zero grams of carbs.
Greek yogurt and sour cream
These can be used interchangeably on the keto diet, as they all have similar amounts of carbs—Greek yogurt has five grams per serving and sour cream has seven. Just make sure they’re plain options—added flavors also add carbs.
Quark
Quark is a German food that’s somewhere in between yogurt and cheese in flavor and consistency—you can add it to smoothies, or use it as a spread or topping. “It’s rich, creamy, and a favorite among our clients who are keto followers,” says Lakatos.
Eggs
If you’re ona keto diet, opt for Eggland’s Best Eggs, says Lakatos. “They have double the omega-3s and six times the vitamin D of other eggs, thanks to their all-vegetarian hen feed which provides high-quality, keto-friendly nutrients.”
Nut milks
Milk can actually have a good amount of carbs, so nut milk is a good alternative on the keto diet, says Lakatos. Unsweetened coconut, hemp, and almond milks in particular are good options, as they contain no carbs and more than four grams of fat—a perfect combo for keto dieters.
Avocado, olive, hazelnut, and coconut oil
The keto diet is all about fat, so clearly all healthy oils are welcome on this keto grocery list. Cooking food in the oils is one thing—but you can also amp up your fat intake by drizzling some oil on your cooked meal, as well.
Grass-fed ghee
Ghee, like the oils above, is a pure fat, which means its free from carbs or protein, says Jalali. “Ketogenic diets are more than 60 percent fat so having pure fats for all meals helps keep you on track,” she says. If you can’t find ghee, you can also use butter.
Seaweed
This low-carb snack has just one gram of carbs, and is full of iodine, which supports a healthy thyroid, says Greene. Some even come in individual grab-and-go packets so you can store them in your desk at work or in your purse.
Olives
You can add olives to salad or have them as an on-the-go snack. “We find these to be a lifesaver for our keto clients,” says Shames. Olives offer a healthy monounsaturated source of fat; some even come in different flavors (like taco or sriracha).
Pistachios
Shames recommends single-serving packages of pistachios, too. “Ninety percent of the fats found in pistachios are the better-for-you mono- and polyunsaturated type,” says Shames. “Plus, pistachios provide a good source of plant protein and fiber for a trio that can help to keep you fuller longer.”
Nutritional yeast
Nutritional yeast provides B12, a nutrient that many of us—especially vegans and vegetarians—just don’t get enough of. It’s also a source of protein without many carbs at all, says Lakatos.
“Keto followers can sprinkle it on their meals for a cheesy flavor and they often use it to make keto-friendly breads and tortillas,” says Lakatos.
Chia seeds and flax seeds
You can use these seeds to coat meats, include them in bake goods, or make keto-friendly oatmeal and pudding, says Jalali. These pantry items are high in fiber, but low in carbs.
Healthy frozen foods
Added items like frozen cauliflower pizza and frozen frittatas can make eating keo simple on mornings and nights when you’re strapped for time. Nora Minno, an RD in New York City, loves this pizza, which contains only 16 grams of carbs for the whole pie.
Tofu
“Tofu is a great way to add plant-based protein into a diet that is typically heavy in animal protein and fat,” says Minno. “A 3-oz serving contains 80 calories, 4 grams of fat, 9 grams of protein and only 3 grams of carbs. You’ll also be getting important micronutrients like calcium, iron, and potassium.”
Low-carb pasta alternatives
“Shiratake noodles are a great low-carb pasta alternative with only 2 grams of carbs and 0 calories per bag,” says Minno.
Nut butter
A high-quality nut butter is a great keto snack, topping for flax crackers, and ingredient for keto fat bombs and desserts. Lara Clevenger, RD and founder of The Keto Queens, recommends this brand.
Grass-fed beef tallow
Beef tallow is rich in omega 3 and CLA and is a “high quality saturated fat which has a high smoke point and is great for cooking,” says Clevenger.
Chocolate
Yes, you can totally add chocolate to your shopping cart on the keto diet! Clevenger recommends Choc Zero. “It’s sugar-free chocolate, non-gmo, and contains no sugar alcohols or soy lecithin. It’s not super bitter like some chocolate bars and tastes great and has a very good texture,” she says.
Keto-approved condiments
One of the trickiest things to shop for while keto? Dressings and condiments. Clevenger recommends low-sugar ketchup and BBQ sauce from Alterna Sweets. “These sauces taste amazing and they all contain only 1 gram net carb per tablespoon,” she says. As for salad dressing? Clevenger reaches for Primal Kitchen brand. “These are sugar-free and keto-certified.”
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