It can be daunting to try and decipher what you can and cannot eat on the ketogenic diet. However, finding healthy ketogenic snacks is not hard once you know the basics. The best ketogenic snacks are high in healthy fats, have moderate protein, and of course, are low in carbs. Fiber is good, too!
Here are 10 healthy ketogenic snacks to get you started:
1. Pork Rinds
If you're new to the ketogenic diet, you may be surprised to learn that pork rinds are a perfectly acceptable snack. In fact, they are quite ideal. They are full of healthy fats, and they sport 0 carbs. Pair them with other ketogenic snacks, or dip them in some sour cream. Yum!
2. Cheese Crisps
Cheese crips are quick to make and super tasty. If you're craving a little crunch in the place of chips or crisps, these are the perfect snack. Making them involves putting rounds of shredded cheese on a baking sheet (on parchment paper) and baking until they are crispy and delicious. You can read more about how to make cheese crisps here.
3. Mixed Nuts
A handful of mixed nuts is low in carbs and high in healthy fats. Just don't overdo it, as there are some carbs in this delicious snack. Count your net carbs each day so that you know exactly how much you can have for each snack.
4. Veggies and Dip
Certain veggies are great on the ketogenic diet, and others are not such a good option. Vegetables that are fine on the ketogenic diet include those that are low in carbs and sugars and high in fiber, such as broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, turnips, and radishes. Pair your favorite keto vegetables with a keto-friendly dip, such as a sour cream dip, ranch dip, or blue cheese dip. Just make sure you know how many carbs are in the dip and vegetables you are consuming.
5. Cheese
Cheese in many forms makes a healthy and portable ketogenic snack. Keep cheese sticks and blocks of cheese on hand for whenever you need something filling and satisfying. Cheese varieties that are lowest in carbs include Brie, cheddar, blue cheese, and Parmesan, but most varieties are acceptable as long as you don't overdo it.
6. Pickles
Their strong taste and satisfying crunch make pickles a popular choice among keto dieters. Stay away from sweet varieties and check labels for carb count and you should be able to make the right choice. Try pairing your favorite pickles with your favorite cheeses!
7. Roast Chicken
Need a quick and filling snack on the run? Keep a roasted chicken (or just some roast chicken breast meat) on hand and you'll be prepared the next time you're on your way out the door and don't know what to eat. Of course, you don't have to stick with chicken. Ham, beef, turkey, and pork make great snacks as well. Just make sure you check the labels of whatever meat you buy, so that you're not consuming any extra carbs.
8. Tuna Salad
Packaged tuna is definitely something to keep on hand when you're on the ketogenic diet. Pair it with some mayonaise, dill pickle relish, and a little mustard (spicy mustard is my favorite), and you have a delicious snack that you can eat with pork rinds, on low-carb tortillas, with cheese crisps, or on it's own.
9. Hard-Boiled Egg
Hard boiled eggs make great ketogenic snacks. I like mine plain with a little sea salt on top, but you could also make them into an egg salad (just like the tuna salad mentioned above). Don't want to waste time boiling eggs? Most grocery stores sell pre-boiled eggs at a reasonable price. They're a great option when you're hungry and on-the-go.
10. Bacon
Salty and savory and oh-so-good, who doesn't love bacon? Thankfully, it's a perfectly acceptable snack on the ketogenic diet. Fry up some bacon early in the week and keep it in a container in the fridge for when you're feeling hungry between meals. Or, you have the option of grabbing pre-cooked bacon at the grocery store.
Oh wow I didn’t know bacon was one. I used to always keep a jar of pickles when I was going through university. they make for the best snack. Now I get the odd piece of bacon, and also find that cheese is a great snack to have. The way I eat hard boiled eggs is as deviled eggs. That’s really cool I’ve got a good number on this list as my snacking options. Roast chicken is a blast for getting your protein. Keeps you awake and energized during the day. Looking at the list again the only thing I really hate the most that I actually have are pork rinds. I still eat things that I shouldn’t though like cheese cake so I don’t know if that means I really get the benefits from ketogenic snacks. I have to look into it.
I like to snack a bit on my drive home from school… it’s just over an hour commute & part of it is I think it gives me something to do & to break up the time a bit. I had some raw mixed nuts and then a serving of black pepper Pork Clouds, which are pork rinds.