If you've started a keto diet, this is one of the first questions you'll probably ask: What do I buy when shopping for the keto diet?

First of all, your grocery list will be full of high-quality fats. But it’s important that you have other keto-friendly foods to support your overall nutrition and meal planning.

Before you head to the market, here are a few tips for a more efficient, enjoyable shopping experience:

• Make a Meal Plan: To help you buy what you want in the right amount without overbuying, plan what you want to eat for the week. Choose meals that have similar ingredients to make buying and cooking easier.
• Stick to the Necessities: If this is your first time trying a keto diet, it may seem like you need to buy all the keto foods—but keep it simple. Stick to your meal plan and a few favorite snacks to help stay on budget and ease the stress of what to cook and eat.
• Don’t Forget Your Supplements: As you transition to a keto diet, your body may need some extra support to help support your body's efforts*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.. Adding supplements, such as the KetoLiving line from NaturesPlus, can do just that and should definitely make your keto shopping list.

Meat and Seafood

Meat and seafood are an important part of a keto diet since they provide good fats and protein necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whenever possible, choose meat and seafood that is organic and:

• Grass-fed or grass-finished (animals lived 100 percent of the time on open pasture)
• Wild-caught seafood (not farmed)
• Pasture or heritage raised pork (heritage pork are breeds that have more fat)

Red Meat

Your local butcher can be a great resource for quality red meat. Some local farms have programs that offer fresh meat in bulk quantities and even delivery. Beef cuts that are perfect for your keto food list are:

• Ground beef
• Prime rib
• Rib-eye steak
• Stew meats; chuck, chuck-shoulder, chuck roast, chuck-eye roast

Pork

What’s one of the first things you think of when you hear pork? Bacon! While that’s certainly a delicious pork option, there are other cuts that you should include on your keto shopping list.

• Ground pork
• Ham, unglazed
• Tenderloin

Poultry

Poultry is a great budget-friendly protein source to include on your keto diet shopping list. Here are a few to consider:

• Chicken
• Duck
• Turkey
• Quail

Seafood

There is an abundance of delicious seafood available making this a great option for meal planning. Some fish, like tuna and salmon, are available canned. If you choose this option, make sure they are packed in olive oil instead of water to increase fat content. Here are some of our favorite foods to add to your keto grocery list:

• Anchovies
• Lobster
• Salmon
• Sardines
• Scallops
• Shrimp
• Trout
• Tuna

Vegetables

Whether you’re buying fresh or frozen, vegetables are a nutritious addition to your keto meals that have minimal carbs. When making your keto shopping list, be mindful of shelf life for different veggies to make sure you get the most from your budget. Additionally, focus on leafy green vegetables that have the lowest carbs, and avoid starchy vegetables like potatoes and certain varieties of squash.

• Arugula
• Asparagus
• Bean sprouts
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Zucchini
• Fruits

Think of fruit as a treat to enjoy once a day. Due to their higher sugar content, they should be consumed in moderation while on the keto diet. Avoid dried fruits, which have a high sugar content. When making your keto shopping list, purchase the following fruits:

• Avocados (yes, it’s a fruit)
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Lemon
• Raspberries

Dairy

One of the great things about keto is that you can enjoy dairy. Of course, treats like ice cream are off-limits, but there are plenty of delicious dairy products to include on your keto grocery list. When possible, choose raw milk and cream over pasteurized to get the most nutrients. Here are our favorite dairy items:

• Butter
• Cheese
• Cream cheese
• Eggs
• Ghee
• Greek yogurt; full-fat, plain
• Half and half
• Heavy cream
• Sour cream

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are great sources of fat and protein, but they can contribute significantly to your daily carb count. When buying nut- and seed-based products, like milk, be sure to check the nutrition label for carbs per serving. Check out these nuts and seeds for your keto diet shopping list:

• Brazil nuts
• Chia seeds
• Flax seeds
• Hazelnuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Pecans
• Sesame seeds
• Sunflower seeds

Fats and Oils

Oils are an important part of a keto diet and thankfully, there are several great oils available. Avoid vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut oil, corn oil and other seed oils. Choose these types of quality oils instead:

• Avocado oil
• Coconut oil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oil
• Other sources of fat include:
• Bacon fat
• Coconut butter
• Duck fat

Beverages

What beverages can you add to your keto shopping list? It may seem like you’re restricted to water, but there are a number of great keto-friendly options to choose from. When you head to the store, check out these drinks (just make sure they’re not loaded with hidden sugar):

• Black coffee
• Bone broth
• Nut milks
• Sparkling water
• Tea

Keto Shopping List Staples

Even though vegetables, dairy, and meat will take up a lot of your keto grocery list, there are several staples that are great to have on hand to sweeten, flavor, and enhance your food.

Sweeteners

As you know, sugar isn’t a part of the keto diet, so sweeteners are quite limited, but here are a few alternatives to keep in your kitchen:

• Mannitol
• Monk fruit
• Stevia
• Xylitol

Spices and Herbs

Spices and herbs are a great way to flavor your food without added carbs but be mindful: sugars can hide in spice blends and often contain excessive sodium. Like any packaged food, check nutrition labels on spice blends. When possible, buy fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, mint, and rosemary. Here are some staple items to put on your keto shopping list:

• Basil
• Chili powder
• Cilantro
• Cinnamon
• Cumin
• Curry powder
• Fennel
• Mint
• Nutmeg
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Pepper
• Rosemary
• Salt
• Thyme
• Turmeric

Condiments

Carbs love to hide in condiments. Added sugars or other sweeteners are common additives to condiments because they add flavor and satisfy those sugar cravings–but they don’t work on a keto diet. Add some of these condiments to your keto grocery list to enhance your meals, but always read labels before purchasing to make sure there are no sneaky sweeteners:

• Coconut aminos
• Hot sauce
• Low-sugar dressings
• Mayonnaise
• Soy sauce