When you take up a new dietary lifestyle, especially one as restrictive and strict as keto is, it’s natural that you’ll have to give up a lot of the foods you usually love to enjoy. And what’s even more natural is the cravings you’ll get for those foods and how overwhelming they might feel.
The cravings can get uncomfortable, especially in the beginning when you’re still getting used to your new lifestyle. Indulgences such as pizza, pasta, burgers, fried rice, sandwiches and french fries become a thing of the past, and depending on the diet you’re on, you look to the few liberties you have to soothe the void in your palate. In keto’s case, this would be nuts, cheese, meats – whatever you can enjoy to keep you going.
But where there’s a will, there’s a way for you to enjoy all your old favorites while staying true to your diet! Let us assess.
Pizza
This tends to be the first big craving that hits, and it hits hard. Ask anybody who’s ever dieted in their life, what’s the biggest seduction they think of that makes them go weak at the knees? The Neopolitan masterpiece known as pizza with its cheesy goodness and carb-filled delight.
Luckily, on keto, you have your options. You could opt for an omelet style, a cauliflower crust, a meat crust, or a cheese crust – yes, a cheese crust. Literally mixing shredded cheeses bound with egg and olive oil, baking it and turning it into a base.
Or, for the more inclined (and less eggy), a dough made purely of flaxseed and boiling water can be formed into a malleable crust or flatbread mimicking actual bread.
So, Is Pizza Possible?
Yes, it is – there’s a way for it to taste just as good, depending on your tastebuds. Personally, I think the flax is a fibrous winner. Besides, all the other ingredients are keto-friendly!
Pasta
When low-carb dieting, pasta substitutions come purely in vegetable form, the most popular being zucchini or “zoodles” as many call it. Lasagna layers are also constructed using thin slices of eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes and other low-carb vegetables to create an acceptable and innovative imitation of the dish. So, is pasta possible? Sadly, no. While these substitutions taste pretty good, some better than others, it’s just never going to be the same.
Burgers
Burgers are 100% keto-friendly when you’re talking about the burger itself. Buns, as you know, are traditionally made from bread. However, there are ways to replace the bread bun and still have a satisfying meal. Lettuce wraps are popular, as are portobello mushrooms sandwiching the protein, or some people prefer to cut out the mess and go au-naturel caveman style when enjoying their burger.
So, Are Burgers Possible?
Yes. Just try the portobello option with gruyere cheese and you will not be sorry.
French Fries
We know what you’re thinking. There’s no way this can be mimicked! Potatoes are carb-heavy; sweet potatoes – sure, they’re a better option, but they aren’t necessarily extremely innocent, ditto to butternut squash – how much lower would you like to go on the high-vitamin food chain when it comes to this deep-fried favorite? Jicama. This turnip-like root vegetable is obscure and unknown, but when cooked properly can deliver a similar texture and aesthetic to french fries.
So, Are French Fries Possible?
Kind of. Jicama is OKAY, but it requires some skill to cook and is more of a trial and error type of food that takes a while to master. But just keep going with it and we’re sure you’ll be serving up some of the tastiest jicama “fries” in your town!
