59 Delicious Low-Carb Foods You Can Eat On A Ketogenic Diet

So where do you start? Right here, by consulting our keto-approved food list.

Pro tip: If a food you love isn't on this list, check out its nutritional information on the USDA Food Composition Database, which is where we got the numbers below.

The thing to remember with the keto diet is that you're looking specifically for low-carb high-fat foods. Certain nuts meet this criterion and should be included in your keto meal plan in moderation. Listed in order of lowest to highest carb content per 1-ounce serving, the best nuts for the keto diet include:

RELATED READ: Is Eating Nuts Keeping You Out Of Ketosis? Here's What To Know

Like nuts, seeds are great for a snack on the go. But they're also a fun, crunchy addition to a salad. In addition to being low-carb and high-fat, seeds also offer a good serving of protein, which will help keep you full throughout the day. Listed in order of lowest to highest carb content per 1-ounce serving, the best seeds for the keto diet include:

In general, seeds are also a great source of fiber. Some people have trouble staying regular as they adjust to the keto diet, so a healthy serving of seeds should keep things moving.

The keto diet doesn't discriminate against all you cheese lovers. While we're often told to avoid dairy because of its high fat content, this is precisely what makes it an ideal keto food group. As usual, stick to the low-carb options and avoid anything that adds unnecessary calories via flavorings or sugars. Listed in order of lowest to highest carb content per 1-ounce serving, the best dairy products for the keto diet include:

While vegetables are not particularly high in fat, many are quite low in carbs, and any healthy diet must include these vitamin- and mineral-rich staples. Roasted, steamed, or raw, you can't go wrong with low-carb veggies in a keto meal plan. Listed in order of lowest to highest carb content per raw 1-ounce serving, the best vegetables for the keto diet include:

Technically this one should be part of the fruits section, but we won't tell if you won't! Avocados are such a top-notch keto food, due to their low-carb, high-fiber, and high-fat content that we thought they deserved to be called out separately. Research2 has shown that people who eat avocados tend to be healthier in general, and they're practically a must in a balanced keto diet.

Listed in order of highest to lowest fat content per 4-ounce serving, the best meat and poultry for the keto diet include:

Like grass-fed meats, seafood is chock-full of omega-3 fatty acids. Both fish and shellfish can be a great addition to a ketogenic meal plan. Yes, there are plenty of fish in the sea, but some of the best, high-fat varieties of seafood include the following.

Listed in order of highest to lowest fat content per 3-ounce serving, the best fatty fish for the keto diet include:

*Canned tuna is high in mercury, so it’s important to eat it in moderation. Find out the daily recommended intake based on your body weight here.

Listed in order of lowest to highest carb content per 3-ounce serving, the best shellfish for the keto diet include:

Eggs are highly regarded as one of the perfect breakfast foods on the ketogenic diet. They are versatile and can be incorporated into many different dishes in many different forms. Beyond being low-carb and high-fat, eggs have powerful nutritional value. Eating eggs can increase your levels7 of high-density lipoprotein (or HDL) cholesterol, which is known to many as the "good" kind, which can result in a lowered risk of heart disease and stroke. We recommend that you scramble over to the egg aisle right away.

Oils can be a great source of healthy fats—if you choose the right ones. Certain oils, like olive oil and coconut oil, have been shown to lower blood pressure, aid in weight loss8, and even lessen symptoms of Alzheimer's (translation: Oils are good for your brain!). Whether you're cooking with them, adding them to salad dressing, or occasionally downing a spoonful, you can't really go wrong. Listed in order of highest to lowest fat content per tablespoon, the best oils for the keto diet include:

One assumption about the ketogenic diet is that you're strictly forbidden to eat any sources of sugar, including fruits. While keto meal plans limit fruit to an extent, there are plenty of low-sugar, and thus low-carb, fruits worth including to ensure a balanced diet. Berries, specifically, have the highest levels of antioxidants9 of all fruits and can even help stabilize blood sugar10 levels due to their high fiber content. Listed in order of lowest to highest carb content per 100 grams (typically, around a half-cup), keto-approved fruits include:

For an extra kick of fat without the carbs, you might try blending your coffee with coconut oil or MCT oil to your coffee. MCT, or medium-chain triglyceride, oil is a fatty acid usually derived from coconut oil. It's colorless, odorless, low in carbs, and high in fats that are thought to boost cognitive performance. It's also a liquid, making it easy to add to any beverage or salad dressing.

As with any diet, it's best to plan ahead and create a meal plan you can actually stick to. Try this one to get started (using any of the oils above for cooking), and then play around with combinations of any and all of the foods listed above.

Dinner: Meatballs (made without breadcrumbs) over zucchini noodles with pesto

Dinner: Pan-seared pork chop with cabbage slaw (dressed with olive oil and apple cider vinegar )

Dinner: Grilled or sautéed shrimp with broccoli

Dinner: Pan-seared salmon with sautéed spinach

Dinner: Roasted chicken with asparagus and mushrooms

Dinner: Grilled beef kabobs with sautéed broccoli

Dinner: Grass-fed steak with roasted Brussels sprouts

While the ketogenic diet can be helpful on a short-term basis, long-term effects have not been thoroughly studied. It is recommended that you take breaks about every six to 12 months11 and gradually transition back to a normal diet. Combining the keto diet with intermittent fasting (IF) may enhance the benefits of both.