My current diet obsession is Keto. Yes, I know diet is a dirty word, but I do it for weight loss, so it is what it is. Before our last vacation, I wanted to try something different to kind of ‘jump start’ my weight loss. I have some friends who do a keto diet – whether it’s for weight loss or health reasons – and because the keto diet seemed so complicated to me, I figured they were a great resource to help me start!

In this guide I won’t be telling you about Keto itself, there’s far better resources out there than me that talk about the actual science behind it. I am solely telling you about my experience and what works for me as a lazy girl trying to stay on keto. This is for those that know about keto, but need a starting point of what to eat!

The first time, I experienced a minor ‘keto flu’, but when I remembered to take my vitamins and drink enough water, I felt really great. And I also lost a bit of weight before going on vacation, so that was nice. This year, I got on a scale. And let’s just say 2020 Stephanie was not kind to herself when it came to overeating and putting bad crap in her body (quarantine life, ya know?).

Anyways, I have noticed that while I was searching for pre-made meal plans and foods to eat online, there’s not a lot of ‘easy’ or free out there. So, I’m here to give you a free list of what to eat and an easy sample meal plan for you! Like the title says, this is for us Lazy Girls.

As of writing this, I have been on a keto diet for three months. And I haven’t been strict the whole time, but I’ve been feeling a LOT better. My biggest piece of advice (for this and lots of other things in life) is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. If you have the energy to do complex meals, by all means go for it! But for the every day, it’s so much easier to stay on track when you have some simple go-tos.

Best Keto Foods:

If you find yourself questioning if a food is keto friendly, then it’s probably not. HA! But seriously, read your nutritional facts because not all foods are made the same (e.g. beef jerky is super varied).

Sample Meal Plan:

Notes for the meal plan: Based on foods I actually eat! It is open for alterations & substitutions if you want to up the proteins & lower the fats (it’s kinda high on them). And many thanks to my friend Elyse for her ‘Satan Sauce’ recipe to snazz up my hard-boiled egg snack!

Elyse’s Satan Sauce Recipe from Day 3: Take 1 Tbsp mayo, preferably Duke’s, and mix with 1/2 Tbsp dill relish, and 1 tsp seasoned salt.

Other Keto Tidbits:

• Get some LiteSalt to add potassium to your food – some people put it in their drinks as well – to help ward off the ‘keto flu’.
• Get magnesium supplements for the same reason.
• DRINK ALL THE WATER. Seriously. Drink lots of water. Get a refillable bottle to help.
• Use an app to look up foods & keep track of your micros! (Protein, Carbs, Fat)
• Have a need for carbs? Try these for guilt-free alternatives: Wraps, Bread, Noodles

The keto diet doesn’t have to be complicated, it just takes a little planning ahead to make it easier to stay on. I hope that this information helps you feel less intimidated to get started! And as always, refer to your physician’s advice before starting a new diet or exercise plan.

See other Lazy Girl’s Guides here.