7 Keto Tips for Beginners

Starting the keto diet can be overwhelming. We totally get it! There's so much to learn and so many choices to make. The good news is that once you get into the swing of things, it's a fabulous diet for improving your overall health. 

It's important that before diving headfirst into keto, you do some research. Everyone is different, so you need to know what's going to work best for you. You'll also need to know what kind of delicious snacks you can have on keto! 

If you're just starting out, don't worry, we've put together 7 keto tips for beginners. Let's get into it! 

1: Understand What Keto Is

This should be a no-brainer, but it's important to know what you're getting into. Having a full understanding of what exactly the ketogenic diet is will help you map out your plan. Simply put, theketogenic diet is a diet high in fat and low in carbs. Essentially, you deprive your body of sugars, so it's forced to burn other resources (ketones) into energy. The keto diet helps your body keep this up with specific foods. 

2: Find Your Specific Macros

When you're starting with keto, it's recommended to eat 20 grams of carbs a day. Remember, everyone is different! As you begin the keto diet, you should figure out your specificmacronutrients, which are the nutrients we need to produce energy. Think vitamins and minerals. 

You can figure out your macros pretty easily by using a calculatorlike this one. A macros calculator will help you determine how much fat, protein and carbs you can eat. 

3: Create an Easy Meal Framework

One of the hardest parts about starting keto is figuring out what you're going to eat. We recommend that you create a simple meal map to help guide you. Let's think back to the macros calculator. To create a framework for each meal, choose a protein, a low-carb vegetable and a fat. When you're starting, keep track of your macros to see what recipes work best for you. 

4: Keep Your Fridge and Pantry Stocked 

Once you start keto, it's a great idea to do a grocery haul full of keto-friendly foods to keep you full and on track. If you have recipes you like, great! It's also good to have staples to throw together meals on hand such as:

• Healthy fats such as coconut oil, butter and olive oil
• Lettuce, spinach and kale
• Unprocessed meats like chicken, beef or pork 
• Eggs
• Full-fat cheeses and heavy cream 
• Low-carb fruit such as berries

Having keto staples on hand will allow you to throw together meals easily once you get the hang of it. Another thing we need lots of on keto is SNACKS! The easiest way to cave is when you're feeling snacky and don't have anything keto-friendly in the house! 

One way to make sure you always have snacks on hand is with theB. Fine Granola Variety Pack. Take advantage of our subscribe & save feature for effortless keto snacking! Other keto snacks we like include:

• Cheese
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Deli-meat
• Fat-bombs 

5: Remember It's Not a Race 

Essentially, you'll be depriving your body of things it's used to. So take it slow in the beginning! Pacing yourself will allow you to not only transition into keto comfortably but have a thorough understanding of what it's doing to your body. 

Keeping a journal to track your energy levels and progress might be a good idea. If you rush into keto, you may experience what's called the 'keto flu.' After about a week of being on keto, some people say they experience flu-like symptoms such as:

• Brain fog
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Increase in thirst
• Trouble sleeping 

If you do experience these symptoms, try slowing down your transition into keto and bring back some old foods. 

6: Stay Hydrated

As your body enters ketosis, you are going to burn through stored glucose. That means you're going to be urinating more and losing fluids. So, it's important to make sure you're hydrated and replacing electrolytes. 

Make sure you're drinking water throughout the day during keto. Hydration packets that contain sodium are also great to throw in your bag to keep hydration up. 

7: Only Eat When You're Hungry

It should be no surprise that when you start keto, you'll feel hungrier than usual. This is due to the fact that your body realizes that you're taking things away that it's used to. Remember that your body is going through a huge change when you start keto and enter ketosis. 

Things like carb deprivation, dehydration, stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and lack of exercise tend to show up as hunger. When you're feelinghungry on keto, try drinking plenty of water first and see if the craving goes away. 

If not, take a closer look at your macros to make sure that you're making the right food choices. The rule of thumb with keto is to only eat when you're actually hungry. So, if you are, grab something keto-friendly to beat the hunger (...we have a snack for that). 

Ready to Give the Keto Diet a Try?

If you're ready to get started with the keto diet, we're here to help! We know getting started can be a pain, which is why it's so important to have keto-friendly snacks stocked up to help you curb cravings and stay on track!

At B.Fine Foods, we have plenty of delicious keto-friendly snacks for you,right here!