Navigating Away From Processed Foods And Embracing The Three Pillars Of The Keto Diet

"Keto is not a punishment; it's a celebration of real, whole foods."

Discovering Mindful Food Selection For A Blissful Healthy Lifestyle 

It takes time and careful consideration as you plan and prepare your Keto dietary foods. The Keto Diet is not the typical American diet. The Keto diet is explicit in improving health, losing weight, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There are no shortcuts when it comes to the Keto Diet. The Keto Diet requires you to cook your meals at home to ensure you know what is in your meals and foods. It may seem inconvenient, but Keto foods are simple, easy meals. 

Your Keto Diet must have a solid and firm foundation to build on because your health depends on it. It is surprising to learn that foods you take for granted and have probably been in your diet for most of your life are not part of the Keto Diet. These foods seemingly are harmless until you read the ingredients label and discover you must have mindful food selections for a blissful, healthy lifestyle. Most processed foods have added sugar, corn syrup, and trans fats. You must identify these unhealthy foods to avoid them at your local grocer. Who knows what lurks on the grocery aisle to ruin your health and ketogenic diet on ketosis?

In previous articles, I covered foods that are part of the Keto Diet and those that are not. In this article, we will discuss navigating away from processed foods and embracing the three pillars of the Keto Diet. 

Below are convenient foods that are not part of the Keto Diet:

Processed cheese foods on the shelf that do not require refrigeration when they usually would require refrigeration are filled with additives, fillers, starches, and preservatives to last longer on the shelf. This includes Velveeta cheese or cheese in a can. Instead, choose natural, processed, full-fat cheeses from the refrigerated section at your local grocers. 

Almond and coconut milk on the shelf do not require refrigeration when they usually would be refrigerated. These non-dairy milk alternatives are on the shelf because they have additives, preservatives, and fillers added to last longer on the shelf. Let's not mention the added sugar and thickeners to create carbs in the milk alternative that generally would not be in the milk. Choose unsweetened almond or coconut milk from the refrigerated section. The refrigerated section will have almond milk and coconut milk with sugar added to them, but read the labels to make sure what you buy is not sweetened to ruin ketosis and your health.

Condiments like ketchup, barbeque sauce, and sweet chili sauce have added sugar and carbs.

Chips and crackers like Doritos, potatoes, tortillas, and any cracker are high in starches, making a high-carb food. Tortilla chips are made from corn, which is a starch food, and potato chips are made from potatoes, which is a starch food.

Pre-packaged season mixes contain added sugars, starches, and fillers. This can be taco seasoning, salad seasoning, or gravy mixes.

Processed foods like frozen dinners such as lasagna, packaged snacks, or other processed foods such as shelf meals that ordinarily would be in the refrigerated section have added sugar, additives, and preservatives. 

Grains in bread, pasta, rice, and cereals are high-carb foods and are not Keto-friendly.

Legumes such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas are high in carbs and disrupt ketosis.

Sugary sweets such as candy, cakes, pies, and pastries are not keto-friendly and are high in sugar and carbs. 

Sugary beverages such as soda, energy drinks, fruit juice, and sweetened beverages are not on the Keto Diet. They are high-carb and high-sugar drinks that ruin ketosis and your health. 

Alcoholic drinks such as beer, cocktails, and sugar mixes are not Keto-friendly due to their high sugar content.

High car snacks such as pretzels and popcorn are high-carb and not on the Keto Diet.

High-carb baking ingredients such as wheat flour, sugar, cake mixes, cookie mixes, and bread mixes are high-carb and high-sugar foods that are not on the Keto Diet. 

Corn syrup and pancake syrups are very high in sugar and carbs and are not part of the Keto diet. Look for alternative healthy syrups such as stevia or coconut syrups for Keto pancakes.  

Always read the label of anything and everything before you purchase to ensure the food is low-carb and low-sugar. If you take the Keto Diet seriously, keeping sugary and carbohydrate foods out of your diet is essential to maintain ketosis and health. The Keto Diet will enable you to lose weight and keep it off, provided you make the Keto Diet a lifetime commitment. 

The Three Pillars Of The Keto Diet

The Keto Diet is based on three components. The Keto Diet is low-carb vegetables, healthy fats, and healthy meat and protein sources. Focusing on these three components, the ketogenic diet shifts the body into ketosis, which uses fats instead of carbs for energy. This metabolic shift leads to weight loss, improved overall health, improved blood sugar control, increased energy, and enhanced mental clarity.

It's important to choose nutrient-dense foods to balance these three components. Monitoring your daily carb intake ensures you stay in your desired carbohydrate intake to remain in ketosis. Individual needs and preferences vary, and it is a good idea to consult your physician or nutritionist before making significant changes to your diet with health issues. 

Sincerely yours,

Blissfully Keto