Top-Rated Keto-Friendly Products to Add to Your Shopping List
Top-Rated Keto-Friendly Products to Add to Your Shopping List
Somehow 2020 is only weeks away, and if there is one diet trend that totally dominated the past year (and the year before it), it’s keto. You tried it, three of your coworkers tried it, heck, even your dog tried it. (Jk...please don't put your dog on a high-fat diet.)
While on your keto-neato journey, you've probably searched high and low for the best keto products out there. After all, since the keto diet hit what Google calls “peak popularity” in January 2019, the market for packaged keto-friendly foods has totally exploded, making it difficult to spot the diff between a product that's good for you and one that's, well, not.
When you're trying to lose weight, you ultimately need to look beyond the keto label, says Alyssa Koens, lead registered dietitian with Profile Sanford (a company that, btw, sells its own line of clean keto-friendly frozen meals). That's because something that says it’s high in protein could also be high in unhealthy trans fats, while something that claims to be low-carb could secretly be loaded with tons of unnecessary sugar or sodium. (Bummer, I know.)
It's also worth noting that “the keto diet can vary pretty widely, with some people doing the traditional high-fat, no-carb version, and others doing the more popular, modified plan, where you can have some carbs,” Koens says. Either way, she says, you’re going to want to fill your shopping cart with three kinds of food: nutrient-dense fruits and veggies (think berries and non-starchy vegetables like kale, broccoli, or spinach); quality lean protein sources like fish, beef, and eggs; and healthy-fats, like the omega-3s found in nuts and olive oil.
Now, what to avoid when it comes to packaged foods? Hidden sugars, high sodium levels, and trans or saturated fats (and of course, artificial ingredients).
"I always tell clients not to just look at the front of the box, but to turn it around and check the nutrition facts panel,” Koens says. Any keto product you buy should contain mono- or polyunsaturated fats, less than 4 grams of sugar per serving, and equal less than 10 to 20 percent of your daily value of sodium.
So, now that you’re armed with all the info you need to make smart choices at the grocery (or your favorite online supermarket), here are the 15 best keto products to shop now:
Justin's Classic Peanut Butter Squeeze Packs
Justin's
amazon.com
$6.90
One of the most versatile foods for keto dieters is a good nut butter. Breakfast, lunch, snack, dessert, whatever...nut butter is there for you with a solid serving of healthy fat. Koens prefers the Justin’s brand for its simple ingredients and travel-friendly single-serving packets. (You can also shop their almond butter variety.)
“In general, it’s important not to fall into the trap of a product claiming to be keto just because it’s high in fat,” says Koens. “You have to look at where that fat is coming from, whether it’s healthy or not.” Nuts? Definitely, yes.
Chomps Grass Fed Beef Jerky Meat Snack Sticks
Chomps
amazon.com
$22.49
No matter how many carbs you’re allowing yourself on your personal version of keto, one thing’s for sure: You need protein, and lots of it. Beef jerky is a great way to score protein points on keto, says Koens, and the Chomps brand offers up a whopping 9 grams per serving alongside its clean ingredient list and 1,000+ positive Amazon reviews.
Just The Cheese Bars
Just The Cheese
amazon.com
$23.88
Koens says that cheese crisps are one of the most popular snacking options for keto dieters because they offer crunch without all the carbs. Amazon reviewers love these crisps from Just The Cheese, which are made with only cheese and come in four different flavors, including aged cheddar and jalape?o.
Miracle Noodle Angel Hair
Miracle Noodle
instacart.com
$7.00
Sick of being painfully aware that you’re not eating real pasta every time you chow down on a bowl of zoodles? Try shirataki noodles, a.k.a. those thin, translucent Asian noodles made from plant-based fiber (they’re sometimes called “Miracle Noodles” for what I think are obvious reasons).
“They’re a really great low-carb, low-cal pasta replacement,” says Koens, who recommends using Profile Sanford’s own brand of shirataki noodles in stir-fry or Italian dishes.
Hood 4% Cottage Cheese
Hood
instacart.com
$1.79
When it comes to eating dairy on keto, Koens says you need to focus on products with polyunsaturated fats, like Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. (You’ll also get a good boost of protein this way, FYI.)
But if you think cottage cheese is boring, think again: Hood offers a variety of flavor profiles, from sweet with pineapple or strawberry to savory with chives or garden veggies. You can get even get the plain variety in a cute little snack cup, just waiting to be tucked into your lunchbox for work.
Planters NUTrition Wholesome Nut Mix
Planters
amazon.com
$4.69
Is there a more reliable diet snack staple than preportioned packets of nuts? Koens recommends finding ones with almonds in them, since they fall relatively low on the carb scale (at 9 grams of carbs per serving) and offer a hefty amount of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Try the Planters variety if you also love cashews and macadamia nuts.
HighKey Instant Hot Cereal
HighKey Snacks
amazon.com
I know your mornings are super busy and you don’t always have time to whip up a crustless sausage, egg, and cheese frittata (you slacker). This hot cereal from HighKey Snacks is a winning compromise: It’ll warm you up while filling you up—it’s got 9 grams of protein!—and only 1 gram of net carbs. It’s also one of the highest-rated keto breakfast options on Amazon, with more than 1,000 glowing reviews.
RX Nut Butter Vanilla Almond Butter
RXBAR
amazon.com
$17.99
Sadly, RXBar's OG protein bars have too many carbs to be considered keto-friendly. Their nut butters, luckily, are a different story. This almond butter has an extra dose of protein, courtesy one egg white, a touch of sweetness (thanks to half a date), and zero unwanted ingredients.
Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil 3-Pack Vinaigrette Dressing & Marinade
Primal Kitchen
amazon.com
$38.99
Let’s be honest, you’re tossing a lot of your favorite sandwich fillings on top of leafy greens since bread is off-limits, right? That’s cool, but it might also mean you’re accidentally loading up on hidden unhealthy ingredients in all those pre-made salad dressings.
Koens says to look for dressings that are low in sugar and oil-based (remember those polyunsaturated fats?), like this Greek/Ranch/Honey Mustard three-pack from keto go-to Primal Kitchen.
StarKist Tuna Creations Variety Pack
StarKist
amazon.com
$3.97
The keto diet requires quality lean protein, and a prepackaged serving of wild-caught tuna is a perfect way to fill up at lunch without the carbs. The StarKist brand will net you 15 whole grams of protein plus omega-3s, all in a variety of fun flavors, like lemon pepper and hickory-smoked.
Vital Proteins Original Collagen Peptides
Vital Proteins
amazon.com
$42.53
It wouldn't be a keto-product roundup without a keto-friendly protein powder, and there’s no shortage of options if smoothies, coffee shakes, or homemade baked goods are your thing. But the Vital Proteins brand of collagen peptides is a tireless favorite of keto dieters, blending easily into pretty much everything and offering 18 grams of protein per serving.
Cali'flour Foods Cauliflower Pizza Crusts
Cali'flour Foods
amazon.com
$38.85
Psst...Not all cauliflower crusts are created equal. Cali'flour Foods' tops the rest when it comes to keto products, thanks to only 4 grams of net carbs, 8 grams of protein per serving, and (very) minimal ingredients. Use it as a base for a cheesy, meat-covered, keto-tastic pizza.
Perfect Keto Pure C8 MCT Oil
Perfect Keto
amazon.com
MCT oil is full of fatty acids from coconuts, making it a classic keto product to help you stay in ketosis. Add this oil to coffee, salad dressings, smoothies, anything—with virtually no taste, you'll hardly notice it.
FattBar Coffee & Walnut Bars
FattBar
amazon.com
"Nutrition" bars can be tough to navigate—they tend to be packed with hidden sugars and other ingredients that can actually thwart your progress on the keto diet. The appropriately named Fattbar is about as clean as it gets, with 1 gram of net carbs and an ingredient list that includes chicory root, nuts, water, ground coffee (for this particular flavor), and inulin (a type of plant fiber).
Fishpeople Wild Alaskan Salmon Jerky
Fishpeople
amazon.com
Keto might mean eating lots of meat, but don't forget about fish! Salmon jerky is an easy way to get in those healthy fatty acids—and this brand uses significantly less sodium than you might find in other pouches. And tbh, it actually tastes good—not fishy at all.
Plus, 14 other nutritionist-approved keto products to shop rn.