4 Tips for Dining Out on a Ketogenic Diet

Even though tracking your macros is responsible, overdoing it can take a toll on some people psychologically when it comes to sticking to it long term/creating a healthy lifestyle.  A recent Harvard study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shed some light on this topic. In the study, 811 overweight adults were assigned to one of four weight loss plans with varying macronutrient ratios and daily caloric intake.  Although short-term weight loss was assessed among those with caloric restriction, their diet plan was the main assessment. Long-term results were also found within these groups. The results demonstrated that participants had gained most of their weight back by the second year, irrespective of the diet plan. ^[1] Did this definitively conclude that diets don’t work?  Not necessarily. Subjects were also asked to stick to rigorous protocols with virtually no room for deviation. It is safe to assume that asking 811 people to adhere to strict calorie counting, macronutrient ratios, and flawless participant logs is a daunting task. This suggests that there may be diminishing returns with adherence in subjects when it comes to strict record keeping. The take-home message is that understanding the macronutrient ratios, glycemic value, glycemic load and energy balance from our meals is important, but too much precise data and measurements may not be sustainable and could potentially stunt adherence to the ketogenic lifestyle.

2. Avoid Grains, Starches, and Most Fruits

Now, let’s dive into dietary “do’s” and “don’ts” of dining out on a ketogenic diet. When eating out, you will notice that carbohydrates represent a large portion of what’s offered in the restaurant world, especially when it comes to side dishes. Remember, the goal here is keeping your carbs within anideal range. For example, let’s use the following ratios: Carbohydrates (5%), Protein (25%), and Fat (70%). Depending on your daily caloric intake, your Carbohydrate goal may be 20–30 grams/day, or even 50–60 grams/day on the high end. There are foods you can cut out of the equation right away. For starters, a serving of anything with a medium to high glycemic value, like grains (bread, oatmeal, grits, etc.), starchy vegetables (potatoes, yams, yucca, etc.), and sweeter fruits (bananas, cherries, melon, etc.), should be avoided, due to their ability to knock you out of ketosis. Instead, focus on incorporating leafy and cruciferous greens like spinach, kale, Brussel sprouts, and lettuce, as well as fatty meats. Although many fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals, the sugar content of most fruit is far too high for keto.  This doesn’t mean fruits are “bad” for you, many of them are just not the right fit for this strategy. Whether bread and starches are “processed,” “natural,” “organic,” or “gluten-free,” they, too, are too carbohydrate dense to eat on a ketogenic diet.

3. Fats, Proteins, and Fibers

Remember, fats are the crux of the ketogenic diet. The higher the fat content (with little to no carbs), the easier it is to become satiated and satisfied with your meal. There are essentially 4 major types of fats, these include saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fats. One focal point of ketogenic dieting is getting an ample amount of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) from your fat sources. If you don’t have access to MCT oil, take note that foods such as coconut oil, cheese, and butter yield high sources of MCTs as well. The fiber from the vegetables and protein will also help with satiation.  Fiber is key on a ketogenic diet and can have significant benefits for gut health.  In addition, foods like avocados fit nicely at the crossroads of high-fat (8g per serving), high fiber (3g per serving), and protein (1g per serving). Together, high-quality fats, proteins, and fibrous, low-sugar vegetables can provide sufficient energy and nutrients to keep you satiated and vitalized.

4. Get Creative with Your Order and Be Patient!

Be courageous and get creative with your order. At first, you may find yourself rummaging frantically through the menu scavenging for keto options. If the entreetypically comes fried with breading, ask if they can grill or sauté it. If it’s a sandwich, sub or burger, ask to switch the bun for a bed of lettuce. If you’re not sure about the sugar content in the sauces, ask for them on the side just to be safe. When in doubt, go extra on the green veggies.

Personal Experience with Dining Out on a Ketogenic Diet

When I first started the ketogenic diet, I made a list of not only the types of food I could eat, but which foods I liked the most. After much thought, I found that it was a lot easier to tell the server to add butter and bacon than to make sure the chef didn’t use oil and butter as I had to when I was following a low-fat approach years ago.  One of the biggest concerns people have when starting the ketogenic diet is that pesky “adaptation phase,” and the fear that they won’t be able to eat out with their friends and family.  They key is to do plenty of research in the beginning. You probably won’t remember every detail at first, but you will get a working knowledge of what foods you should and shouldn’t eat. After that, you will only have to look up the macros in food when you are not sure whether you can have it or not. This will result in a seamless keto experience, turning the “diet” into a lifestyle, which is the ultimate goal of any diet. When in doubt, burgers, steak, and fish, are options which tend to find themselves on the menu.