Surely you have heard of the keto diet by now. It seems like most people have either tried keto at least once or know someone who is on the diet. You might be wondering what the keto diet is exactly, though. It’s pretty simple, to be honest.
The keto diet, or ketogenic diet, is a low carb diet. No sugars, pasta, bread, etc. It’s quite beneficial to a lot of people, for many different reasons. It has health benefits, as well as a great diet to lose weight on as well.
How to Start Going Keto
Starting keto may seem a little terrifying at first. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, though. You do have to watch and track your carb intake, but that’s not as daunting as it sounds.
There are several apps that you can download, and just log what you eat throughout the day into. It tracks your carbs, protein, fat, and calories intake every day that you use the app. This is very beneficial with the keto diet. It calculates and keeps up with all of the information that you need to on this diet. It’s a lifesaver.
Foods to Avoid on Keto
With keto, you do have to avoid things such as bread, pasta, pizza, sugar, and potatoes. Yes, that might sound like a total deal breaker to you, but it’s so worth it in the end. There are keto, or low carb, versions of this kind of things out there, though. They are healthy and taste great but might take a little adjustment on your part to it.
As for potatoes, cutting them out might seem hard since they’re such a versatile vegetable. However, there are other vegetables that are lower in carbs and healthier for you that you can use in place of potatoes. They work well as a replacement as well, better than you would think or even imagine. It will have you looking at vegetables in a whole new light.
If you’re a soda drinker, they have diet drinks or even zero sugar sodas available now. They make zero sugar everything in drinks now. They’re just as great as regular drinks.
The 4 Best Seafood to Eat on a Ketogenic Diet
Going keto, your main focus needs to be on your protein intake, not really your fats. Yes, that is absolutely contrary to popular belief. The keto diet requires a high protein as your main source because you do not want to lose lean muscle mass.
While hitting your protein goal may seem hard sometimes without going over your fat or calories, your best way to get in protein that’s low in calories and fat is fish and seafood. It’s helps to keep you on the right track. These are the four best fish, seafood, to eat while on the keto diet:
- Salmon
- Mahi Mahi
- Flounder
- Bay Scallops
I’ll fill you in on what makes them the best choices.
1. Salmon
Salmon is amazing to eat even if you aren’t doing the keto diet, don’t get me wrong. However, eating salmon while keto is one of the best fish you can choose.
Salmon has many health benefits to offer, to begin with. It helps to lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. It also helps with your cholesterol levels by lowering your bad number and raising the good one. Salmon is just overall heart-healthy and great for you to eat.
Eating salmon while on the keto diet is great because you are getting in all of that protein that’s low in calories, which is keeping you on the right track. Salmon is full of Omega 3, potassium, as well as all your B vitamins.
There are so many ways you can prepare it. Salmon is basically carb-free. You can pan-fry it, bake it, broil it, and maybe even grill it if you know how to do so. Just brush some extra virgin olive oil over it, season it up, and cook it up however you want.
2. Mahi Mahi
Mahi mahi is a wonderful fish to eat in general. It’s great for the keto diet because you guessed it, essentially carb-free and low in calories. It is absolutely packed with protein though. Helps you hit your daily protein goal without going over your calorie limit.
Mahi mahi is full of iron, potassium, and the B vitamins as well. It’s also heart-healthy and can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. This is a given with most seafood and fish choices that you should choose to eat, though.
Mahi mahi is great for a grill. If you know how to grill fish without it sticking, that is. If not, you can cook it in so many various, delicious ways. Being fish and on the keto diet doesn’t mean you don’t have food full of delicious flavor.
3. Flounder
Flounder is another great choice to eat while on the keto diet, or not. It’s heart-healthy and has all the same amazing benefits as other fish and seafood. This means that it has health benefits and is full of vitamins and other important nutrients that your body needs and depends on.
Flounder is, of course, low in calories and fat, and jam-packed full of protein. This is a great choice of protein to get in because lean protein is healthier for the body. This helps keep you on the right path while doing the keto diet. Getting your daily protein in by delicious servings of fish and seafood is the way to go.
Flounder is able to be cooked however you would like to make it. You can make it all sorts of ways and not go wrong. There’s not really any wrong way to cook flounder. Just because you’re on the keto diet doesn’t mean you have to have boring food. Don’t let anyone tell you differently either. Season that baby up and make that flounder however you prefer to eat it.
4. Bay Scallops
Bay scallops isn’t a fish. They are seafood, though. They are absolutely delightful to eat, whether you’re on the keto diet or not. They’re so light and delicious.
Bay scallops are rich in protein, low in calories, and virtually carb-free, making them an excellent choice for those following a keto diet. They are packed with important nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and selenium, all of which contribute to overall health and well-being.
Bay scallops are also known for their heart-healthy properties, as they contain omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation and improve heart health. Adding bay scallops to your keto meal plan is a great way to keep your meals interesting and delicious while staying within your daily macros.
When it comes to cooking bay scallops, you have several options. You can pan-sear them, bake them, or even grill them if you like. Just be sure to use keto-friendly seasonings and oils, such as olive oil, butter, or avocado oil, to maintain the low-carb nature of your dish.
Conclusion
Now that you know about the best seafood options for your keto diet, you can enjoy delicious, healthy, and satisfying meals without feeling deprived. Salmon, mahi mahi, flounder, and bay scallops offer not only incredible taste and versatility in preparation but also an abundance of health benefits and essential nutrients.
By incorporating these low-carb, protein-rich seafood options into your meal plan, you’ll be able to stick to your keto diet more easily and see the results you desire. Don’t forget to explore different recipes and cooking methods to keep your meals exciting and enjoyable.
With the right seafood choices and a bit of creativity in the kitchen, you can make your keto journey a flavorful and satisfying experience!