TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE KETO DIET
Before we delve into our master list of options, we want to give you some general guidelines for how we decided what should be on this list and where on the list it belongs. Even within the ketogenic diet, some snack options are more ideal than others. Whether it's because of their micronutrient profile or the macronutrient makeup, certain snacks will accomplish certain goals in your diet.
Here are some important considerations to make when choosing from our list:
- Don't lose sight of your nutrients! Some high-fat, zero-carb snacks are great in a pinch but not an ideal source of vitamins or minerals. It's fine to include snacks like this in your plan, but it's important not to rely too heavily on foods that don't provide much more than the macros. There are also quite a few foods that technically count as keto-friendly snacks as far as the macros go, but are otherwise not super awesome to be eating all the time (or every day)
- Eat organic when possible. While we aren't strict across the board on this, we do recommend sticking to organic, grass-fed, or pasture-raised meat, dairy, and eggs. That's because the keto diet is a high-fat diet, and fat is where toxins are stored, not only in us, but in the animals we eat. If you're eating full-fat cream, fatty cuts of meat, and whole eggs on this diet we want to make sure that you're avoiding things like antibiotics, growth hormones, glyphosate, and other harmful chemicals used by conventional farmers and ranchers.
- Nuts vary in their carb count. Nuts are great snacks on keto -- however, some nuts are better than others. We've got a guide on the best nuts and seeds for keto, and you'll note cashews and pistachios are not typically advised due to a higher net carb count - they can kick you out of ketosis and disrupt weight-loss goals.
Our guidelines are actually pretty simple and straight-forward. The best keto snacks are those that offer healthy fats, no added sugar, and very few net carbs. In an ideal world, those snacks will also be nutrient-dense, minimally processed, and, of course, delicious.