Keto-Friendly Meal Hacks

No matter when you start a new way of eating—New Year’s resolution or half-way to Summer—one of the biggest challenges to sticking with it is avoiding those pesky little temptations that trip you up. If you’re on the ketogenic diet, that means removing those sweet or starchy carbohydrates from sight so that your body can start to burn fat.

Organizing your kitchen is almost effortless if you've just moved into your new home. But if you' been in your kitchen for a while, you'll need to remove a few items before you stock up on the right ones.

Old habits, novel hacks

For a decade or two, kitchen décor included adorable jars of brightly-colored pasta, beans, and lentils; containers of rice, multi-hued dried corn husks, and ancient grains; and, bowls of fresh fruit. When you go keto, none of those things is on the plan, so if you're ready to redecorate, toss them out (or give them away). If you love the look, however, remove them from enticing you by pouring clear resin in the jars.

Stock the new staples

Fill your fridge and freezer with the keto-friendly foods on your list.

• Proteins: Beef, poultry, lamb, fish, pork, and bacon, bacon, and more bacon. Keep a good supply of eggs on hand. If you’re doing meatless keto, then tofu and plant proteins, in all varieties should fill your space.
• Dairy: Heavy cream is your friend. Use it in your coffee or tea, to thicken your sauces and soups, and as a base for dressings. Add cream cheese and hard cheeses to complement your proteins and stock a good supply of butter or ghee.
• Vegetables: Above-the-ground veggies, such as broccoli and cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, greens, asparagus, and those growing on vines (bell peppers, cucumber) should occupy your refrigerator drawers, and those former fruit bowls are perfect for ripening tomatoes and avocados.
• Good fats: If your keto plan includes rendered meat fats, set aside a jar for beef tallow and bacon grease. Adding one of these fats to a sauté or to flavor those spouts is a no-brainer, and it’s just what your grandmother would have done. Conversely, if you’re less inclined to use meat fats, mayonnaise or a jar of coconut oil is a perfect choice, along with extra virgin olive oil, and avocado oil.
• Condiments: Mustards and pepper sauces stay on the list, as do olives and pickles (but not sweet or bread-and-butter pickles).

And don’t forget your pantry. Stock those shelves with mayonnaise, keto-approved dressings, bottles of vinegar, coconut oil, pork rinds (your chip replacement), nuts, canned fish—such as tuna, salmon, and sardines—and jerky.

If you're looking for a fabulous new kitchen to start your new thinner, healthier life, reach out to your local real estate professional who might know a neighborhood with walkable keto-friendly restaurants to keep you sticking to the straight and narrow.