You Shouldn’t Be Eating Meat at Every Meal on Keto — Here’s Why (2024)

The ketogenic diet has never been more popular, with celebrities jumping on board and even Trader Joe’s catering to the keto crowd. Unfortunately, though, the low-carb, high-fat diet has drawn criticism from some who claim that it’s just not healthy to eat “that much meat.” But wait — is the keto diet actually very meat-heavy? Not really!

If you’re embarking on a ketogenic lifestyle, you should know that you actually can’t eat a ton of meat on the keto diet. In fact, eating too much protein can kick you out of ketosis, so while meats are definitely okay in moderation on a keto diet, they shouldn’t be its number one staple. Here’s the scoop.

You Shouldn’t Be Eating Meat at Every Meal on Keto — Here’s Why (1)

Protein and Keto

Meat — especially the cuts of meat that people eat most often, like chicken breasts and steaks — are high in protein content. That’s no mystery, but when it comes to achieving ketosis (a state where your body burns through its stores of glucose, and turns to burning fat instead), it’s important not to consume too much protein.

That’s because your body has the ability to make glucose out of protein through a process called gluconeogenesis. When this happens, your body reverts to burning glucose (rather than fat) for energy, taking you out of ketosis. A 2011 study confirmed that “[Low-carbohydrate/high-fat diets] must be high in fat, but also low in protein contents to be clearly ketogenic. ”

The Best Meats for Keto

Though everyone is different, the standard ratio of macronutrients for a ketogenic diet is 75 percent fat, 20 percent protein, and five percent carbohydrate. This means that the majority of each meal — in fact, a WIDE majority — should be non-meat sources of fat. Only about one-fifth of your meal should be protein.

If you’ve done that math, that makes high-protein meat choices, like skinless chicken breasts or fish, things you should only eat sparingly. Here are some of the meats with the best fat-to-protein ratio. But keep in mind: Even these high-fat meats have plenty of protein, so they shouldn’t be eaten at every meal.

The Best Non-Meat Fats for Keto

With meat playing a supporting, not starring, role in the keto diet, you’re probably wondering what *should* comprise the majority of your meals.

Low-carb and non-starchy veggies like spinach and kale are great for keto and are ideal carriers for non-meat fats. While some keto fans opt for dairy, others take a more purist approach, sourcing their fats from less processed sources. These are the fats you should be using to reach your keto goals:

  • Animal fats such as lard, duck fat, and bacon grease

  • Ghee or organic butter

  • Olive oil

  • Coconut oil

  • Avocados

  • Olives

  • Eggs

Have you tried the keto diet? What are some of your favorite sources of healthy fats? Tweet us at @BritandCo and let us know.

(Photo via Getty)

You Shouldn’t Be Eating Meat at Every Meal on Keto — Here’s Why (2024)

FAQs

You Shouldn’t Be Eating Meat at Every Meal on Keto — Here’s Why? ›

That's no mystery, but when it comes to achieving ketosis (a state where your body burns through its stores of glucose, and turns to burning fat instead), it's important not to consume too much protein. That's because your body has the ability to make glucose out of protein through a process called gluconeogenesis.

What happens if you eat too much meat on keto? ›

Meat and poultry are popular with people on the keto diet because they're high in fat and very low in carbs. However, scientists have found links between eating too much meat on a regular basis and health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight.

Can meat kick you out of ketosis? ›

Sausages, bacon with sugar, and glazed ham are just a few examples of processed meats that can knock you out of ketosis. While many dairy products are high in healthy fats and protein, others are high in carbohydrates. Animal milk, in particular, is high in carbs and should be avoided entirely on a ketogenic diet.

Can you go into ketosis only eating meat? ›

Because the carnivore diet is zero-carb, it is by definition a type of keto diet. If you just eat meat, you'll almost certainly end up in ketosis. So while you can say that carnivore is keto, you can't say that keto is carnivore. Simply put, carnivore is a more extreme keto diet.

Can I eat unlimited chicken in a keto diet? ›

Can you eat as much chicken as you want on keto? If you've decided to get started on a ketogenic lifestyle, you should be aware that you can't eat an unlimited quantity of meat on the keto diet.

What happens if I eat more protein than fat on keto? ›

If you eat too much protein while following a low carb diet, your body can actually start to produce glucose from the excess amino acids through a process called gluconeogenesis. Because your body prefers to use carbohydrates as its source of energy, it will do anything it can to get enough glucose.

What foods ruin ketosis? ›

One of the initial food categories to steer clear of on the keto diet is grains and starchy foods. Examples include wheat, rice, corn, and oats, which are rich in carbohydrates. These goods can have a notable impact on blood sugar levels and impede the body's ability to enter ketosis.

Why avoid blueberries on keto? ›

Take note that blueberries have about 12g of net carb due to higher amounts of sugar and a lower amount of fiber, so they are not considered a keto-friendly fruit. You can add some berries to your favorite flavor of SlimFast Keto meal shake, throw them in a salad or even top some on full-fat plain Greek yogurt.

Can toothpaste kick you out of ketosis? ›

The diet is also very restrictive that even the sugar in mouthwash and toothpaste can throw your body out of ketosis and affect your results. The bottom line is, health experts advise talking with your doctor if you want to give the ketogenic diet a try.

What is the best meat for keto diet? ›

Nearly all minimally processed meats are good sources of keto-friendly protein, including beef, chicken, fish, shellfish, pork, turkey, bison, and lamb. A 100-gram serving of these meats typically contains 17-21 grams of protein. Fattier cuts, like bacon and sausage, are lower in protein than leaner cuts.

Do you lose weight faster on keto or carnivore? ›

The Keto diet is better for gut health, brain health, and overall mood. The Carnivore diet, on the other hand, is not good for gut health, brain health, and mood. The one area where the Carnivore diet outperforms the Keto diet is weight loss. The Carnivore diet is very effective in terms of weight loss.

What fruit is keto-friendly? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Is peanut butter keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

Is rotisserie chicken keto? ›

Yes, rotisserie chicken is keto-friendly. It's a carb-free option and a great source of protein (20-25 grams of protein per portion size). But you need to be careful about the part of the whole chicken you eat since some options have a high-fat content (mostly from saturated fats).

Can you eat unlimited eggs on keto? ›

You should ideally not eat more than 6 to 7 eggs a day to be on the safe side, if we consider the following ratio, associated with the keto diet, i.e. the consumption of about 60% fat, 30% protein and 10% carbs. However, the number of eggs that one can consume on a daily basis will be different for each person.

Is KFC chicken good for a keto diet? ›

Though other chicken options at KFC may not be keto-friendly, the grilled chicken is. KFC Fried Chicken is not a healthy choice at all as it contains about 8-11 grams of carbs per medium-size piece whereas KFC Grilled Chicken is the healthiest option to consider when you are following a low-carb diet.

How much meat can you eat per day on keto? ›

If eating a high amount of protein is one of your keto goals, then eat meat everydeay on keto is not hard at all. In fact, you can aim to be eating around 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight. For example, if you weigh 80 kilograms, you should be consuming 80 grams of protein each day.

How much meat should I eat per meal on keto? ›

In other words, the goal isn't to pile your plate with steak or chicken. So, what should you be filling up on instead? At each meal, aim for 3 to 4 ounces of protein, like lean beef, fish, or pork, depending on your macronutrient needs.

Is 100 grams of protein too much on keto? ›

If possible stay between 1.2-2.0 grams of protein per day, per kg of body weight (about 0.7 grams per pound). So about 85-140 grams of protein per day if you weigh 70 kilos (154 pounds). The most common mistake that stops people from reaching ketosis is not too much protein. It is too many carbs.

Can too much protein on keto cause weight gain? ›

If you have a lot of excess protein, your body will undergo glucogenesis to transform it into glycogen. But as you may remember, glycogen is exactly what you're trying to avoid to keep your body in ketosis — so anything that reintroduces it into your metabolic cycle is counterintuitive to weight loss.

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