Thinking of starting (or restarting) the keto diet? Wondering how you can make “going keto” easier?
Take it from someone who knows: going on a keto or low-carb diet is not easy, especially if pasta and chocolate chip muffins are currently your best friend.
If anyone tells you any part of the process is “easy” or “fun”, well, they are lying to you.
It takes work. It takes commitment. It takes learning a few new ingredients and working your way around the kitchen.
But guess what? As Marie Forleo would say, it’s very “figureoutable”. There are plenty of ways to make the keto diet easier to manage.
And in the long run, the rewards (increased energy, weight loss, etc.) will outweigh the tricky beginning stages, and let’s be honest, the meltdowns, of trying to figure it all out.
By the way, there ARE keto copycat recipes of any favorite comfort food you can think of – keep scrolling for my favorite keto-style everything bagels.
What is KETO exactly?
The most basic, simplified way of explaining the ketogenic diet is that it involves eating more fat and more protein and as little amount of carbohydrates as possible.
In order to get your body into the fat burning stage of “ketosis”, it’s also recommended you do some light tracking of your macros. Using a free macro calculator is a good way to start.
Once you’ve actually started the diet, it’s important to check to see if you’re in ketosis. All it takes is a simple ketone test strip and it will measure the level of ketone bodies in your urine.
If the level is high, good job, you’ve successfully entered ketosis!
Remember, we are all different. We all have a different chemical make up. What works for you might not work for me or another person. The best way to keep informed on what your body is doing and to measure what is and isn’t working is with these ketone strips.
You should always consult with your medical doctor for personal guidance.
If you’re looking for tips on how to make keto easy in your busy, everyday life, keep reading below!
How can I make keto easier?
1. Take it slow
The first way to make keto work for you is to take baby steps. Simple as that! Starting a new chapter in ANY area of life – career, diet, motherhood – can be overwhelming and stressful, so don’t feel bad about taking things one day at a time.
As an example, maybe start out first by cutting out all bread, carb-y salad dressings and spreads.
Once you’ve got that down, cut out grains and fruit, etc.
2. Make a keto on-the-go snack box
Plan ahead for your worst “hangry” times. You know, when hunger meets anger and you can no longer function as a delightful human being.
Whether that’s somewhere around 4pm at the office, during your kid’s school carpool line or even just running errands, make sure you’ve prepped something keto appropriate to snack on.
Ideas for your keto snack box include: cubes of your favorite cheese, olives, dark chocolate, pepperoni slices, almonds, a fat bomb or two, cherry tomatoes, a hard boiled egg, turkey slices…
I mean, the possibilities are really endless and it’s so smart to have a snack box on hand, so you’re never caught off guard and end up at the drive-thru ordering french fries.
3. Plan and prep your meals for the week
Start out with SIMPLE and easy to prep keto recipes that do NOT call for 16 different, expensive ingredients. Double up recipes for things like soups, chili, and grab and go breakfasts.
Just like creating snack boxes, batch cooking helps you stay on track all week so you don’t slip up when it’s time for lunch or dinner.
You MAY want to check out the Keto In Five cookbooks to guide you – there are 120 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert – ALL under 5 net carbs and all with only 5 ingredients each. I use their recipes and meal plans and give them a big thumbs up!
4. Get a meal plan delivered to your inbox
If the thought of meal planning overwhelms you, no problem, just get a keto meal plan delivered straight to your inbox every single week.
Tasteoholics offers a weekly meal plan with easy to read and delicious recipes, all under 5 net carbs and the macronutrients broken down for you. If you’re new to keto, this will make things so much easier for you.
Also includes grocery shopping lists and snack recommendations that you can print out or pull up on your computer or iPhone.
And the best part? They offer a 7-day trial to try out for FREE!
5. Keep yourself hydrated
Staying hydrated is important no matter what, but you can prepare ahead for the keto flu by drinking lots of water and keeping your electrolytes in check.
Although not caused by a virus, the keto “flu” is still a very real stage and the symptoms mimic what the real flu feels like: fatigue, body aches, nausea, irritability, etc.
Everyone is different, so you may have one or two symptoms, none of them or get hit like a ton of bricks by them all.
Here’s what you can do about it:
- Up your water intake.
- Take an electrolyte liquid supplement like this one – it contains potassium, zinc and magnesium, making it a perfectly balanced supplement for the keto flu.
- Sip on organic bone broth or use it in your soups.
- You can also add 1/2 teaspoon of Pink Himalayan salt to your water — so good for hydration because of the trace minerals it provides.
6. Invest in a food scale
Most people like to eyeball the amount of food they’re eating — don’t! This can result in overeating and kick you out of ketosis. If you’re aiming for keto success, weighing your food is a must, so invest in a proper food scale.
You will use this tool on a daily basis because accuracy is KEY. Just two extra tablespoons of almond butter comes out to an additional 200 calories and 6 grams of carbs. See what I mean?
A food scale like this one is perfect because it has a conversion button, meaning it can convert from grams to ounces easily.
It also offers a tare function, which is so useful. How it works: first, you put your plate on the scale and hit the tare button. Then when you go to weigh your food, it automatically subtracts the weight of the plate from the food.
7. Finding easy keto substitutes for your favorite carbs
Keyword: easy. Case in point, this super simple and delicious way to still enjoy a bagel, keto-style.
KETO EVERYTHING BAGELS
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Microwave 2.5 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese and 2 oz of cream cheese together in a bowl for 2 minutes. Mix well.
Combine 2 eggs and 2 cups of almond flour in a bowl. Mix well.
Combine the melted cheese and flour mixture. Mix well until dough forms.
With slightly damp hands, separate dough into 6 pieces and roll into a bagel shape on parchment lined baking tray. Sprinkle Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel seasoning on each bagel.
Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden. Slather with cream cheese!
Refrigerate leftovers. Use toaster to reheat. 8 net carbs.
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