Well it’s that time- for another weekly addition of my favorite things… I don’t really think I can call it love this week. (I’ll let you know in a month). However, I have once again gone Keto; Ketogenic; placing myself in a state of Ketosis. “What is Keto?” you ask. Well according to dietdoctor.com, “A keto or ketogenic diet is a very low-carb diet, which turns the body into a fat-burning machine.” (Yeah baby!) Wikipedia tends to be a little wordier, “The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that… forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates…” If you haven’t heard of the trendy Ketogenic Diet, think of it like a variation of Atkins, that concentrates on more fats (healthy fats), than protein.
I do this to myself. Many of us do. It’s a let it go and reel it in. More poetically, it’s my ebb and flow. I stored up for winter, and now I need to burn some (stored) energy before summer gets here! Crunch time. So, for the next month or thereabouts (small attainable goals for a girl who loves her pastries), no carbs shall pass my lips. Ok, that’s an exaggeration. No net carbs exceeding 30g daily shall pass my lips. What are net carbs you ask? (I feel so academic!) Net carbs are basically the amount of carbohydrates in a specific food less the grams of fiber. Because fiber is our friend, we get to deduct those grams from our total! (I’m selling it to myself, not you.) So, for example, one avocado (according to verywellfit.com) has 17g of carbohydrates, but 13g of fiber so the net carbs are only 4g; and with a whopping total of 29g of fat… it is a perfect Keto food. Now that I am a fat burning machine I need no longer worry about grams of fat (as long as I don’t eat a piece of bread).
Enough diet talk. Let’s get to inspiring recipes! Pictured above is baked Halloumi (possibly my new favorite thing) with roasted garlic, zucchini, and summer squash. I also added a little crispy pancetta- because I could- but it really didn’t need it.
Generally speaking all vegetables that grow above ground (avoiding mostly tubers) are fair game on a low carb diet. They are the gravy boat, so to speak; the vessels on which to carry our delicious toppings (in lieu of mashed potatoes, rice or pasta). My cousin-in-law, Lisa, has had a lot of success with this lifestyle and has passed on a few of her favorite things to make. It’s actually a great plan for those of us who need to avoid sugar too. Diabetes runs in my family, thankfully most of my family members have been able to control it with their diet; which is awesome- and another reason this plan works for me.
These are Chicken Enchilada Zucchini Boats from Kim’s Healthy Eats.
Thankfully I like veggies, so I have no problem snacking on things like Brussels Sprout Chips from Delish.com. I’ve even seen recipes using them for nachos. Don’t be afraid to get crazy with your veg and dip.
To be honest, this Best Buffalo Chicken Casserole Recipe from Delish.com looks like something I’d eat when I’m not “dieting.” So that’s win-win. (And btw the picture does not do it justice… all that buffalo sauce-y, cheese-y chicken over roasted cauliflower.) I’m salivating.
For me the flavors have to be varied, otherwise I’d feel like I’m eating the same thing all of the time. And I need to incorporate the majority of my meals into whatever it is that I am feeding my family, or it gets too complicated. But something as simple as foregoing the taco shells on a “Taco Tuesday,” is an easy way for me to enjoy my salad.
Something I haven’t done in the past is venture into sweeteners. However there are “keto-approved” options like Swerve (erythritol and oligosaccharides), a unique blend of all natural (non-GMO) fruit and vegetable ingredients, that has 0 calories and very little carbohydrates. Mix that with a little almond flour and voilà! You can eat Donuts! (From wholesomeyum.com -which Lisa has made several times, so they are verified.)
Last, but not least, I have read a lot of positive things from my Low Carb forum peeps about “fat bombs,” which apparently are a nice treat or midday snack. So, I am actually excited about trying Cookie Dough Keto Fat Bombs from Delish.com, after my Swerve arrives.
Some people like to start on New Year’s Day… I usually wait until spring, and roll my eyes and drag my feet, and spit and kick (not really on the outside, just in my head)… But it’s nice when I don’t feel too deprived.
If you have had success with the Keto diet, and have any recipes or ideas to share, I’d love to hear about it!
Hope you’re having a great day and you are inspired to do something good for yourself!
Love, Sadie
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