Disclaimer: I am not a nutrition expert or a doctor. If you have any concerns or medical questions about this lifestyle or ingredients, please consult your doctor first. This is only about what worked for me, which may be different for you. This site uses affiliate links that allow me to make a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you for your support!
When I started my new keto lifestyle, one of the first things I asked myself is: where do I start? It was tough with little to no knowledge about it. One of the first things I did was get rid of everything high in carbs I had in my house. I gave away snack cakes, cookies, chips, cereal, pasta, soda, bread, regular flour, frozen waffles, muffin mixes, and even some condiments. The list could go on and on. I knew if I didn’t get rid of it ALL, it would make my life even more difficult. Once all of that “bad” stuff was gone it was time to restock with “good” stuff.
Since it’s easier to tell you what you CAN eat versus what you can’t…below is a list of food items I almost always have on hand that are keto friendly. I will use a lot of these ingredients in future recipes. Keep in mind that you will need to pay attention to the serving size and carbs since all brands are not the same. Mix and match these foods (cooked of course for the raw items) for easy meals and snacks. The other great thing about having plenty on hand is that it trains you to not eat out as much. I used to be terrible about eating out, but now I don’t have a need to (unless it’s a cheat weekend). That means saving money! I hope this is a good starting point if you are at the beginning or even later stages of this lifestyle.
Raw Meats:
- Frozen Ground Sirloin Burgers
- Frozen Chicken
- Frozen Salmon
- Bacon (if you can’t find pre-cooked)
- Raw chicken, beef, pork, and seafood/fish
Pre-Cooked Meats:
- Canned or Prepackaged Tuna (check the carbs on flavored packages-some tend to be a little high)
- Canned Cooked Chicken
- Pre-cooked Marinated Grilled Skewered Chicken (this can be hard to find, and is sometimes seasonal-if you can find it, buy it and freeze it in meal size portions)
- Bacon (the big pre-cooked packages from bulk warehouse-style stores are wonderful)
- Pepperoni
- Sliced Black Forest Ham
- Sliced Oven Roasted Turkey
- Low Carb Hot Dogs
Bread/Pasta:
- Low Carb Wraps or Lavash Bread (these will be the MOST versatile thing you have in your pantry- DO NOT RUN OUT!)
- Low Carb Pita Bread
- Low Carb Pasta
- Low(er) Carb Bread (Natures Own Life 40 calorie bread)
- Zero Carb bread from Aldi
Dairy:
- Eggs
- Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
- Half n’ Half
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- String Cheese
- Cheddar Slices
- Swiss Slices
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Butter (both salted and unsalted)
- Blocks of cheese are great too, and usually cheaper.
Drinks:
- Diet Soda
- Unsweetened Flavored Sparkling Water
- Bottled Water
- Uncarbonated Flavored Water (sweetened with low carb sweetener)
- Carbonated Flavored Water (sweetened with low carb sweetener)
- Sugar-Free Water Enhancers (in the little squeeze bottle or powder packs)
- Ground Coffee
- Tea Bags (can sweeten with low carb sweetener if you make a full gallon at once)
- Red Rose Tea (this is like dessert in a cup-add a little heavy cream for a real treat!)
- Sugar-Free Sweet Tea (yes that really exists! Check near the other jugged teas at your local store)
- Sugar-free coffee sweetener syrups
Condiments:
- Hot Sauce
- Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce
- Sugar-Free Ketchup
- Sugar-Free Terriyaki Sauce
- Mustard (the zero carb type)
- Mayonnaise (the zero carb type)
- Full Fat Ranch Dressing
- Full Fat Creamy Italian Dressing
- Taco Sauce (the zero carb type)
- Vinegar (red wine or apple cider)
- Sugar-Free Maple Syrup
Baking Items:
Fruits & Veggies:
- Zucchini
- Frozen Chopped Spinach
- Frozen Vegetable Mix (usually has broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots)
- Frozen Cauliflower Rice
- Little Cups of Sugar-Free Peaches
- Unsweetened Frozen Wild Blueberries
- Green Grapes (I freeze them for a nice cool treat-these are not low carb, but I consider them a healthy alternative to other sugary choices)
- Plain Canned Tomatoes (fresh can work too, but it’s harder to manage the carbs due to having to weigh them)
- Lettuce, spinach, kale, and any other leafy greens
Must Have Snack Items:
- Cheese and Beef Jerky Combo Sticks
- Peanut Butter (I’m partial to this brand, even though it’s higher in carbs-some things I just do because that’s how my momma did it!)
- Salted Dry Roasted Peanuts
- Almonds (check seasoned nuts as they have more carbs-the best flavors I’ve found are wasabi, salt and vinegar, sweet Thai chile, habanero, and sriracha)
- Pecans
- Low Carb Candy Bars and Treats by Atkins
- Sugar-free chocolate candy
- Popcorn (the kind you have to pop is best, but I know it’s easier to just get that bag that’s already popped too-do what works for you, and check the carbs)
- Low Carb Ice Cream such as my favorite Rebel, the peanut butter fudge flavor!
- Protein Shakes (any of the ones that are around 2g-4g of carbs each are ok)
- Keto Protein Powder like this cake batter or brownie batter flavor
Seasonings:
- Italian Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- All Spice
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Old Bay
- Greek Seasoning
- Zero Carb Popcorn Seasoning (Nacho cheese, White Cheddar, and Garlic Parmesan-stay away from the sweetened ones with carbs)
- Dried Minced Onion
- Oregano
- Salmon Seasoning