Here’s a low carb food list and the buying techniques I use which will help you buy ketogenic foods that are clean, whole and offer the best nutrition.


Fats and Oils:

Since the majority of calories on a ketogenic diet will come from dietary fats, choices should be made with digestive tolerance in mind. Most people cannot tolerate eating a large amount of vegetable oil, mayonnaise or even olive oil over time. And this is a good thing, since vegetable oils are high in polyunsaturated Omega-6 fatty acids.
The Omega-6 fatty acids (found in nut oils, margarines, soybean oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, corn oil, and canola oil) should be limited due to the inflammatory effect they trigger within the body. Most nuts (with the exceptions of macadamias and walnuts) are high in Omega 6 fatty acids as well, so go easy on them). Your intake of polyunsaturated fats should be balanced between Omega 6 and Omega 3 types. Eating wild salmon, tuna and shellfish will provide balancing Omega 3 fatty acids and are important part of a low carb food list. If you don't like seafood, then consider taking small amounts of a fish or krill oil supplement.
Saturated and monounsaturated fats such as butter, macadamia nuts, coconut oil, avocado and egg yolks are tolerated more easily by most people, and since they are chemically stable, they are less inflammatory. Fats and oils can be combined in sauces, dressings, and other additions to basic meals. Over time, it will become a habit to add a source of fat to each meal.
Avoid hydrogenated fats such as margarine to minimize trans fats intake. If you use vegetable oils (olive, canola, sunflower, safflower, soybean, flaxseed and sesame oils) choose "cold pressed." Keep cold pressed oils like almond and flaxseed refrigerated to avoid rancidity. Avoid heating vegetable oils. Use clean non-hydrogenated lard, beef tallow, coconut oil, ghee and olive oil for frying, since they have high smoke points.

Avocado (very high in fat, so I’m including it here)

Avocado oil

Almond oil

Beef tallow, preferably from grass fed cattle

Butter: try to find organic sources

Chicken fat, organic

Duck fat, organic

Ghee (butter with milk solids removed)

Lard such as organic leaf lard (make sure it is NOT hydrogenated)

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia oil

Mayonnaise (most have carbs, so count them. Duke’s brand is sugar free.)

Olives

Olive oil, organic

Organic coconut oil, coconut butter and coconut cream concentrate

Organic Red Palm oil

Peanut Butter: make sure to use unsweetened products, and limit due to Omega 6 content.

Seed and most nut oils: Sesame oil, Flaxseed oil, etc. These are higher in inflammatory Omega 6 fats, so limit amounts, and don’t heat them.

85-90% dark chocolate can be used in small amounts.

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Sources of Protein


Fattier cuts of meat are better because they contain less protein and well, more fat. Choose organic or grass fed animal foods and organic eggs if possible to minimize bacteria, antibiotic and steroid hormone intake. Websites such as www.eatwild.com or www.localharvest.org can point you to local sources of clean, grass fed meats and poultry. These clean proteins are the best choices for a low carb food list.

Fish or seafood of any kind, preferably wild caught: anchovies, calamari, catfish, cod, flounder, halibut, herring, mackerel, mahi-mahi, salmon, sardines, scrod, sole, snapper, trout, and tuna. Canned tuna and salmon are acceptable but check the labels for added sugars or fillers. (Exception: Avoid breaded and fried seafood.)

Shellfish: clams, crab, lobster, scallops, shrimp, squid, mussels, and oysters. (Exception: imitation crab meat. It contains sugar, gluten and other additives.)

Whole eggs: These can be prepared in various ways: deviled, fried, hard-boiled, omelets, poached, scrambled, and soft-boiled.

Meat: beef, lamb, veal, goat and wild game. Grass fed meat is preferred, as it has a better fatty acid profile.

Pork: pork loin, Boston butt, pork chops, ham.  Look out for added sugar in hams.

Poultry: chicken, turkey, quail, Cornish hen, duck, goose, pheasant.  Free range is better if it’s available.

Bacon and sausage: check labels and avoid those cured with sugar or which contain fillers such as soy or wheat.  Specialty health food stores carry most brands of sugar-free bacon.

Peanut butter and soy products such as tempeh, tofu and edamame are good sources of protein, but they are higher in carbohydrate, so track them carefully.

Whey protein powders, plus rice, pea, hemp or other vegetable protein powders.

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Fresh Vegetables
Most non-starchy vegetables are low in carbs. Choose organic vegetables or grow your own to avoid pesticide residues. Avoid the starchy vegetables such as corn, peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and most winter squash as they are much higher in carbs. Limit sweeter vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, peppers, and summer squashes.

Alfalfa Sprouts

Any leafy green vegetable

Asparagus

Bamboo Shoots

Bean Sprouts

Beet Greens

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Celery

Celery Root

Chard

Chives

Collard Greens

Cucumbers

Dandelion Greens

Dill Pickles

Garlic

Kale

Leeks

Lettuces and salad greens (Arugula, Bok Choy, Boston lettuce, Chicory, Endive, Escarole, Fennel, Mache, Radicchio, Romaine, Sorrel.)

Mushrooms

Olives

Onions (limited amounts, as they are higher in sugar)

Radishes

Sauerkraut

Scallions

Shallots

Snow Peas

Spinach

Swiss Chard

Turnips

Water Chestnuts

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Dairy Products
Raw milk products are preferable; choose organic if raw products are not available.

Heavy whipping cream

Full fat sour cream (check labels for additives and fillers. Look for brands such as Daisy which are pure cream with no added milk; carbs and protein will be low.)

Full fat cottage cheese

All hard and soft cheeses: (count each 1 ounce portion as 1 carb generally)

Cream cheese (count each 1 ounce portion as 1 carb generally)

Unsweetened whole milk yogurt (limit amounts as it is a little higher in carb) (Fage full fat Greek yogurt is divine)

Mascarpone cheese

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Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are best soaked and roasted to remove anti-nutrients. Avoid peanuts as they are actually legumes.

Nuts: macadamias, pecans, almonds and walnuts are the lowest in net carbs and can be eaten in small amounts. Cashews, pistachios and chestnuts are higher in carb, so track carefully to avoid going over carb limits. Nuts are also higher in Omega 6 fats, which are inflammatory so don't rely on nuts as your main protein source.

Nut flours, such as almond flour. I include this because a low carb food list shouldn't completely exclude baking. Almond flour is a great flour substitute. See my recipe page for ideas on how to use it with the foods on this low carb food list.

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Beverages

Clear broth or bouillon

Decaf coffee

Decaf Tea (unsweetened)

Herbal tea (unsweetened)

Water

Flavored seltzer water (unsweetened)

Lemon and lime juice in small amounts.

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Sweeteners

Avoiding sweetened foods in general will help “reset” the taste buds. However, if there is a desire for something sweet, these are the recommended choices for sweeteners. Note that the powdered forms of most artificial sweeteners usually have maltodextrin, dextrose or some other sugar added, so liquid products are preferred.

Stevia, liquid preferred as the powdered usually has maltodextrin in it.

Erythritol

Xylitol (keep any food with this sweetener in it away from dogs)

Splenda*, liquid preferred as the powdered usually has maltodextrin in it.

Lo Han Guo

Monk Fruit

Inulin and Chicory Root (Just Like Sugar brand)

*Some readers have objected to my recommending Splenda. If you have concerns about this, please note that I have done research in the medical literature and I have looked at the studies which have been offered on sucralose (Splenda).