Adapting to a high-fat, low-carb ketogenic or keto diet can be daunting for some people. While you might manage to pack nutritious lunches to take to the office that tick all the right keto boxes, dining out can present many new challenges, although there are excellent keto restaurants in New York City.
You might not know which ingredients align with your dietary requirements, and not all restaurants will label their meals as keto-friendly. In the absence of labels and knowledge, you might like to stick with some of the following delicious keto-friendly meal options.
Cheese Dishes
Many people ask themselves, ‘is cottage cheese keto?’ before choosing a cheese dish at their local restaurant, and you’ll be pleased to learn the answer is yes. As long as the cottage cheese you’re being served is full-fat rather than low-fat, it will likely be keto-friendly.
A wide range of cheeses fit into the category of low-carb and high-fat, such as cheddar cheese, blue cheese, halloumi, and mascarpone. When you purchase a delicious entrée, main meal, or dessert featuring these cheeses, there’s a high chance that it will fit into your new keto diet regime.
Meat and Poultry
Restaurants with a wide range of meat and poultry dishes will likely be at the top of your must-visit list when you learn that these ingredients are keto diet staples. Most meats and poultry don’t contain carbs, are vitamin B-rich, and also have plenty of protein.
The majority of restaurants have at least a few different meat and poultry options, meaning you likely won’t have too many problems trying to find something on the menu that you’re able to consume.
Seafood
If you’ve been thinking about trying one of the tasty seafood restaurants in you NYC, but you’re worried about your new keto diet, you don’t have to be. Fish like salmon, sardines, and other fatty fish are keto-friendly, and several varieties are almost carb-free while containing nutrients like selenium, potassium, and B vitamins.
Shellfish are keto-friendly but to a lesser extent. Most crabs, shrimp, octopus, and oysters, contain carbs, so care must be taken to ensure they fit within your carb intake allowance when you dine out.
Eggs
Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, and many people love exploring their local café scene looking for a standout establishment to enjoy a hot coffee and cooked breakfast. Toast might be off the menu, but you can still have eggs.
The average egg contains around one gram of carbs and six grams of protein. Studies also show that they trigger hormones that make you feel full. Whether you eat them fried, poached, boiled, or scrambled, you’re bound to be satisfied with your keto-friendly meal choice.
Green Leafy Vegetables
Green leafy vegetables are important for any diet, including the ketogenic diet. They are low in carbohydrates but are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and valuable antioxidants.
Some of the best green leafy vegetables are cooking greens like kale, cabbage, and bok choy, salad greens like spinach and lettuce, and herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme. The next time you visit your favorite restaurant, see if you can find any predominantly leafy green vegetable dishes that grab your attention.
High-Fat Vegetables
Alongside delectable leafy greens, you might also like to indulge in high-fat vegetables like olives and avocados. While they’re technically fruits, they are often treated as vegetables in the restaurant industry and are frequently included in main meals.
Both olives and avocados are high in fat and fiber while being low in net carbs. Avocado is also a highly versatile ingredient that you might find prepared in many keto-friendly ways, such as served with turkey bacon wrapped in cheese and baked with mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and tomato.
Berries
Having a sweet tooth can sometimes make a keto diet a struggle. Many fruits are high in carbs, meaning they aren’t suitable to eat when you’re trying to teach your body to use ketones for fuel. However, berries are the exception to the rule. Raspberries and strawberries are fiber-rich but low-carb, meaning they can be an ideal snack and sweet treat option when you’re browsing the dessert menu.
Shirataki Noodles
Before going on the keto diet, you might have enjoyed trying new pasta dishes with delectable sauces made by some of the best chefs. However, this diet can restrict how much pasta you consume.
That’s not to say all pasta-like dishes are carb-loaded and off-limits for keto diet followers. Shirataki noodles, made from the viscous fiber glucomannan, have less than one gram of net carbs and just 15 calories per serve. They are available as fettuccine, linguine, and rice and can be substituted for regular pasta in nearly any recipe.
While many foods can be off-limits for keto diet followers, you might be surprised at how many restaurants have suitable meal options for you to enjoy. By sticking with some of these staples above, there’s no reason why you can’t be completely satisfied with your meal choices whenever you dine out.
