Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Can You Drink Alcohol On Keto?
  • Can Alcohol Throw You Out Of Ketosis?
  • Why Does Keto Lower Alcohol Tolerance?
  • What Alcohol Can You Drink On Keto?
  • What Alcohol To Avoid On Keto?
  • Calories & Carb Counts In Low Carb Drinks
  • Is Wine Ok On Keto?
  • Can I Drink Beer On Keto?
  • Formula For The Lowest Carb Cocktail
  • Reasons To Limit Alcohol On Keto
  • So, How Can You Still Have Keto Alcohol?
  • 12 Low Carb Keto Cocktail Recipes
  • Conclusion: Low Carb Alcoholic Drinks On Keto
  • Low Carb Alcoholic Drinks Guide Recipe card
  • Recipe Reviews

Are you wondering about alcohol on a keto diet? Whether it will stop ketosis or affect your progress? If keto friendly alcohol exists? What low carb keto cocktails, beer, and wine work best for this lifestyle? You’ve come to the right spot. I’m sharing this complete guide to answer all of these questions and more. I’ll dive into how your body processes alcohol while in ketosis, what your options are for keto low carb alcoholic drinks , and the right keto alcohol you should choose.

There are many times when you’re looking for keto drinks besides water. Maybe it’s a celebration, maybe it’s a work happy hour, or maybe you just want to enjoy some keto cocktails! Whatever your reason, drinking alcohol on keto is just fine — so long as you know what to drink and you keep it in moderation.

In this guide you’ll find ideas for keto friendly alcohol drinks (of course!), but also more about how alcohol can affect you if you’re following a ketogenic diet, the best low carb alcohol to enjoy, what to look for in low carb mixed drinks, and the counts of carbs in beer (various varieties!).

Get Wholesome Yum Simple Syrup!

Meet Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Simple Syrup - it’s sugar-free & naturally sweetened with Besti (a blend of monk fruit and allulose). NO aftertaste & 0 net carbs!

Can You Drink Alcohol On Keto?

Yes, you can drink alcohol on keto. But, you need to choose the right low carb alcoholic drinks and enjoy them in moderation.

Can Alcohol Throw You Out Of Ketosis?

No, alcohol itself will not kick you out of ketosis. (Alcohol is not sugar and does not spike blood sugar or insulin, which is what kicks you out of ketosis.) However, alcohol de-prioritizes utilization of fat to make ketones.

Here is the difference in metabolism on “normal keto” versus when you drink alcoholic beverages on keto:

  • When you follow a keto diet , your body burns fat (from your food and your body) for fuel and produces ketones.
  • When you drink alcohol on keto , your body sees the alcohol as poison and its first priority is to get rid of it (by metabolizing it). So, your body stops breaking down both sugar and fat in order to break down the alcohol instead. That means that any excess sugar or fat is more prone to get stored, in the form of glycogen in the liver (for any trace amounts of sugar) and primarily body fat.

Why Does Keto Lower Alcohol Tolerance?

To understand why you get drunk faster on keto, you need to understand how your liver works (to some extent). Your liver has many functions, but the ones important for the keto and alcohol consumption include:

  • Storage of extra glucose (in the form of glycogen) and its release when necessary
  • Blood detoxification and purification , including the processing of alcohol

When you eat a diet high in carbohydrates, the liver stores plenty of glycogen. The storage and release of glycogen in the liver slows down alcohol metabolism. This is one of the reasons that eating carbs can help you feel less drunk.

BOTTOM LINE: When you are in ketosis, the liver stores very little glycogen, and this causes alcohol to be metabolized a lot faster. Therefore, the alcohol will enter your bloodstream more quickly and your alcohol tolerance will be lower.

What Alcohol Can You Drink On Keto?

Maya in the kitchen. - 1

So, what drinks are ok on keto? There are a few different categories of low carb alcoholic drinks and keto friendly alcohol drinks:

  • Hard Liquor – Vodka, rum, tequila, gin, brandy, whiskey, etc. Most of these have zero carbs, which is great, but you need to be careful with what you mix them with.
  • Dry Wine – Dry red wine, dry white wine, dry rose wine, dry sparkling wine, etc.
  • Light Beer – Most light beers are fine, but you can look up the carb counts of your favorite brands.
  • Light Seltzers – These are basically spiked flavored seltzer water, with no sugar added.
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What Alcohol To Avoid On Keto?

Keto alcohol to avoid includes mixed drinks, anything with soda, tonic water, or juice, sweet wines, liqueurs, hard ciders, wine coolers, and sangrias. Basically, the goal is to avoid sugar. Below you’ll find more details on each of these NOT keto friendly alcohol drinks.

  • Most mixed drinks – Anything with simple syrup, agave, margarita mix, sweet & sour mix, vermouth, bitters, ginger beer, etc. Most mixed drinks will fall into this category.
  • Drinks with soda, tonic water, or juice – Including regular cola or lemon-lime soda, tonic water, ginger ale, orange juice, cranberry juice, etc.
  • Sweet wines – Such as riesling, moscato, port, sherry, dessert wines, etc.
  • Liqueurs – Including triple sec, amaretto, cointreau, kahlua, and others. These are loaded with sugar and typically made with some kind of syrup.
  • Hard ciders or wine coolers – These are essentially spiked fruit juice.
  • Sangrias – The wine in them is usually fine, but the added fruit, sugar, and/or juice is not.
TIP: If you want to make a keto drink with simple syrup, you need a sugar-free version! - 3

TIP: If you want to make a keto drink with simple syrup, you need a sugar-free version!

Instead of regular syrup with sugar, use this keto simple syrup recipe , OR get my premade Wholesome Yum Keto Simple Syrup here . The premade version is thicker like real simple syrup and works the same way in any drink!

Alcohol on Keto infographic - 4 Alcohol on Keto infographic - 5

Calories & Carb Counts In Low Carb Drinks

The table below shows the carb counts in the best drinks for keto, including hard liquor and seltzers. Charts for beer and wine are further below.

TypeDrinkServing SizeNet CarbsCalories
Hard liquorVodka1.5 fl oz0g97
Hard liquorRum (unflavored)1.5 fl oz0g97
Hard liquorTequila1.5 fl oz0g97
Hard liquorGin1.5 fl oz0g110
Hard liquorBrandy & cognac1.5 fl oz0g – 3g96
Hard liquorWhiskey1.5 fl oz0g105
Spiked seltzerSpiked seltzer12 fl oz2g – 5g100-140

Is Wine Ok On Keto?

Yes, you can drink wine on keto in moderation. Choose dry wines over sweet.

I personally love natural Dry Farm Wines . They have no sugar and low carbs (less than 1 gram per liter!), low sulfites, no artificial additives, and must pass incredibly strict standards for taste. If you want to try them out, they’re offering my readers (YOU!) a bottle of wine for a penny here .

Refer to the table below for wine carb counts based on type.

TypeDrinkServing SizeNet CarbsCalories
Red wineCabernet sauvignon5 fl oz3.8g123
Red wineMalbec5 fl oz4g122
Red wineMerlot5 fl oz3.7g123
Red winePinot noir5 fl oz3.4g122
Red wineSyrah5 fl oz3.8g123
Red wineZinfandel5 fl oz4g130
White wineChardonnay5 fl oz3.4g122
White winePinot grigio (pinot gris)5 fl oz3g123
White wineRiesling5 fl oz5.5g120
White wineSauvignon blanc5 fl oz3g120
Sparkling wineCava5 fl oz2.5g128
Sparkling wineChampagne5 fl oz4g125
Sparkling wineDry sparkling wine5 fl oz4g125

Can I Drink Beer On Keto?

Yes, you can drink light beer on keto in moderation. There are carbs in beer, but as you can see in the list below, they range from about 2 grams to 7 grams, so choose carefully. The chart below shows some common low carb beer options, perfect for keto.

Beer BrandServing SizeNet CarbsCalories
Amstel Light12 fl oz5g95
Beck’s Premier Light12 fl oz3.2g64
Budweiser Select 5512 fl oz1.9g55
Budweiser Select12 fl oz3.1g99
Bud Light12 fl oz6.6g110
Coors Light12 fl oz5g102
Corona Light12 fl oz4.8g99
Heineken Light12 fl oz6.8g90
Michelob Ultra12 fl oz2.6g95
Miller 6412 fl oz2.4g64
Miller Chill12 fl oz6.5g110
Miller Lite12 fl oz3.2g96
Formula For The Lowest Carb Cocktail - 6

Formula For The Lowest Carb Cocktail

The lowest carb cocktail is one that does not have any sugar added. There are several options, but the formula for all keto cocktails is the same. If you are looking for keto friendly cocktails to order at a bar, your best bet is to ask for the following…

Choose a hard liquor:

  • Vodka
  • Rum
  • Tequila
  • Gin
  • Brandy
  • Whiskey

Add a sugar-free mixer:

  • Soda water – Also called seltzer water, sparkling water, or club soda.
  • Unsweetened iced tea – Flavors are fine too, as long as they are unsweetened.
  • Lemon or lime juice – Specify “no sugar or simple syrup” to make it clear that you only want the citrus juice. Typically you’ll also want to add some water (still or sparkling) to dilute the sour citrus.
  • Diet soda – These will not kick you out of ketosis, but typically use artificial sweeteners. Use in moderation.
  • Sugar-free energy drinks – Same warning as diet soda above.
How to enjoy alcohol on keto - 7

You can also make your own keto friendly alcohol drinks at home. I’ll share some low carb cocktails for you to make below.

But first, I want to cover the not-so-fun part: why we shouldn’t go crazy with the alcohol on a keto diet…

Reasons To Limit Alcohol On Keto

There are many reasons to limit alcohol on keto, and if you’ve ever had a few too many drinks, you probably are familiar with the reasons:

Alcohol reduces self-control.

Alcohol actually changes your brain chemistry, which can impact your mood, your behavior, your memory, and more. Higher levels of norepinephrine can result in an increase in impulsivity, which can lead us to make decisions we wouldn’t normally make. Such as eating things you normally wouldn’t.

Alcohol can stall weight loss even if you stay in ketosis.

Let me explain how a few low carb vodka drinks can stall weight loss. In a nutshell, your body will prioritize getting rid of the alcohol before it burns any sugar or fat (from your food or your body). This means both sugar and fat are more likely to get stored as body fat when you drink alcohol. For more detail, see the “Can Alcohol Throw You Out Of Ketosis?” section above.

Alcohol has a lot of calories.

Alcohol has 7 calories per gram (compared to 9 calories per gram of fat, 4 calories per gram of protein, and 4 calories per gram of carbs), which is relatively high. While calories may not be our #1 focus on the keto diet, they do still count! And calories from alcohol are not providing any sort of nutrition, so there is no benefit from these calories.

Alcohol can increase hunger or cravings.

Urban dictionary defines this as “drunchies” aka drunk munchies, but there is actually some science behind it. Essentially, your brain goes into starvation mode because certain neurons that deal with hunger are activated when you are intoxicated. In addition to alcohol reducing self-control, alcohol make it difficult to stick on your diet.

Alcohol on keto may amplify hangovers.

As mentioned above, alcoholic drinks on keto are metabolized much faster and can lead you to feeling drunk quicker. If you don’t keep your keto drinks to a moderate level, you’ll feel even worse the next day.

Alcohol can dehydrate you.

Alcohol causes your body to release more fluid, leaving you dehydrated, which will leave you feeling terrible. Re-hydrate with water if you’re drinking alcohol on keto.

So, How Can You Still Have Keto Alcohol?

Despite the warnings above, you can still enjoy alcohol on a low carb diet. As cliche as it sounds, the key is to do drink responsibly. 🙂

Here is how to drink alcohol on keto:

  • Drink in moderation. There’s no reason to miss out on an occasional drink when you are out, but limit it to one or two. This will not only keep carbs and calories in check, it will also decrease the chance of stalling weight loss or a hangover the next day.
  • Drink plenty of water. Aim for a glass of water for every drink you have, and an extra one before bed. This will reduce dehydration and you’ll be less likely to get a hangover.
  • Choose low carb drink options. I covered low carb alcohol choices at a bar above, but if you miss classic sugar-laden mixed drinks, check out the list below for low carb drink recipes to make at home.
Keto friendly alcoholic drink recipes - 8 Keto friendly alcoholic drink recipes - 9

12 Low Carb Keto Cocktail Recipes

Now that you know everything you need to know about keto alcohol, I’m excited to share some low carb alcoholic drinks that you can make at home!

These keto friendly, low carb alcoholic drink recipes are all naturally low in sugars and super easy to make:

  1. Keto Skinny Margarita – This 5 ingredient skinny margarita is low carb, easy to make and naturally sweetened.
  2. Skinny Pina Colada – Loaded with tropical flavor, and sugar free too.
  3. Keto Mudslide – You won’t believe that this dessert drink is keto-friendly!
  4. Skinny Raspberry Lime Rickey – This beautiful cocktail has just 16 calories and 4 grams of carbs per serving.
  5. Low Carb Strawberry Daiquiri – Refreshing, light, and sweet.
  6. Low Carb Raspberry Sangria – No need for extra sugars or juice in this low carb sangria recipe.
  7. Tequila Lemonade – Best enjoyed outside on a hot day. It’s
  8. Low Carb Margarita Sorbet – The perfect summer dessert for a Mexican meal.
  9. Copycat Bailey’s Irish Cream – You’ll want to pour this decadent drink in just about everything.
  10. Barbados Rum Punch – This one will have you feeling like you’re on the beach.
  11. Tequila Sunset – This infused tequila gives great flavor to this drink, and looks pretty, too!
  12. Wild Berry Mimosa – Perfect for parties, this bright drink is super festive.
  13. Skinny Mojito – This is currently my favorite keto alcoholic drink recipe! My husband actually came up with it by modifying a mojito at a restaurant and asking them to leave out the simple syrup. You can order it at virtually any bar (just ask for a mojito with no simple syrup or sweetener of any kind), but it’s easy to make at home as well. Find the skinny mojito recipe on the recipe card below!

Conclusion: Low Carb Alcoholic Drinks On Keto

So there you have it: The Ultimate Guide to Keto Cocktails! As you’ve learned, there are many keto friendly alcohol drinks out there, and there’s no reason you can’t enjoy some low carb cocktails, beer, and wine in moderation while watching your carb intake. Cheers to that!

Get Wholesome Yum Simple Syrup For Keto Cocktails!

Meet Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Simple Syrup - it’s sugar-free & naturally sweetened with Besti (a blend of monk fruit and allulose). NO aftertaste & 0 net carbs!

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

  • 6 tbsp Lime juice ▢
  • 16 leaves Fresh mint ▢
  • 2 cups Ice cubes ▢
  • 3 oz White rum (or tequila) ▢
  • 1 cup Sparkling water (or enough to fill the glass) ▢
  • Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Simple Syrup (optional, to taste) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. Divide the lime juice and mint leaves among 2 glasses. Mash the mint leaves using a muddler or spoon.
  2. Fill the glasses almost to the top with ice.
  3. Add 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) tequila or rum to each glass. Fill the glasses to the top with carbonated water. Use a straw or muddler to stir.
  4. If you want a sweet skinny mojito, add Wholesome Yum Sugar-Free Simple Syrup to taste.
  5. Serve with a lime wedge or slice, and additional mint for garnish, if desired.

Did You Like It?

Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size : 1 glass, or 1/2 the recipe

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Skinny Mojito Recipe

Skinny mojito recipe pin. - 10

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • The Basic Keto Meal Formula
  • Understanding Macros
  • Keto Food Swaps
  • Keto Food List
  • Electrolyte Basics
  • Keto Diet Types
  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 11

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Pick A ProteinPick A VeggieAdd Fat
Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder VenisonCauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama CeleryButter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Instead Of This…Eat This
PancakesAlmond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes
OatmealKeto oatmeal with hemp seeds
Cinnamon rollsFathead cinnamon rolls
CerealKeto nut granola
MuffinsAlmond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins
DonutsAlmond flour donuts
SconesAlmond flour scones
High-sugar smoothiesSmoothie with berries or avocado
Hash brownsCauliflower hash browns
Breakfast casseroleBreakfast casserole with no potatoes
Egg whitesWhole eggs
Turkey baconBacon
WafflesChaffles
Keto food swaps - breakfast - 12

Keto Swaps For Bread

Instead Of This…Eat This
BagelsFathead bagels
English muffinAlmond flour English muffin
White breadKeto white bread
Multigrain breadCoconut flour bread with seeds
Tortillas for wrapsCoconut flour tortillas
Corn taco shellsCheddar cheese taco shells
Burger bunsOopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps
BreadsticksCauliflower breadsticks
BiscuitsAlmond flour biscuits
CornbreadAlmond flour cornbread
CroutonsParmesan crisps
RiceCauliflower rice , konjac rice
Keto food swaps - bread and grains - 13

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Instead Of This…Eat This
Breaded wingsCrispy air fryer wings (unbreaded)
Low-fat meat & poultryHigh-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat
Mashed potatoesMashed cauliflower
Roasted potatoesRoasted or fried radishes
TacosTaco salad
PizzaFathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza
LasagnaEggplant lasagna
Potato saladCauliflower “potato” salad
French friesJicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries
Tater totsCauliflower tots
WrapsLettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas
SushiNaruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi
Breaded chicken or fishBreaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds
SpaghettiZoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles
Keto food swaps - meals and sides - 14

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Instead Of This…Eat This
NachosCheese crisps
High-sugar fruitBerries & other keto fruits
CrackersAlmond flour crackers
HummusCauliflower hummus
Soft pretzelsFathead pretzels
PopcornPuffed cheese
Granola barsGrain-free granola bars
JamSugar-free berry chia jam
Sweet fruity yogurtFull-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries
Sweet salad dressingRanch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette
KetchupMustard and/or sugar-free ketchup
BBQ sauceSugar-free BBQ sauce
Sweetened peanut butterNatural, sugar-free nut butters
Light mayoAvocado oil mayo
Maple syrupSugar-free, maple flavored syrup
Potato chipsZucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds
Keto food swaps - snacks and sauces - 15

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Instead Of This…Eat This
SugarMonk fruit or allulose
Powdered sugarPowdered monk fruit or allulose
White flourAlmond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes)
Making baked goods soft/chewyXanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder
BreadcrumbsPork rinds or almond flour
MargarineButter, coconut oil, or ghee
Vegetable oilOlive or avocado oil
BananasBanana extract
Chocolate chipsSugar-free chocolate chips
Cornstarch or flour rouxXanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end)
Simple syrupDissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat
Keto food swaps - baking and cooking - 16

Keto Swaps For Drinks

Instead Of This…Eat This
LemonadeWater with lemon
SodaFlavored sparkling water
MilkAlmond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream
LatteButter coffee
Coffee creamerHeavy cream
Sweet wineDry wine
BeerUltra light beer
Mixed drinksHard liquor with soda + lemon

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto food swaps - drinks - 17

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Keto foods to eat and avoid summary - 18

Foods To Eat On Keto

  • Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
  • Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
  • Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
  • Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
  • Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
  • Avocados
  • Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
  • Almond flour and coconut flour
  • Eggs
  • Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

  • White flour & sugar
  • Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
  • Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
  • Cereal
  • Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
  • Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
  • Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
  • Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
  • Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
  • Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 19

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

SodiumMagnesiumPotassium
Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts PicklesSeaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greensPotassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

  • Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
  • Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
  • Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
  • Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 20

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Low Carb Alcoholic Drinks Guide

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This sugar-free low carb skinny mojito recipe has just 3 grams carbs and is incredibly refreshing.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/alcohol-on-keto/

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Ingredients

  • 6 tbsp Lime juice
  • 16 leaves Fresh mint
  • 2 cups Ice cubes
  • 3 oz White rum (or tequila)
  • 1 cup Sparkling water (or enough to fill the glass)
  • Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Simple Syrup (optional, to taste)

Instructions

  1. Divide the lime juice and mint leaves among 2 glasses. Mash the mint leaves using a muddler or spoon.
  2. Fill the glasses almost to the top with ice.
  3. Add 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) tequila or rum to each glass. Fill the glasses to the top with carbonated water. Use a straw or muddler to stir.
  4. If you want a sweet skinny mojito, add Wholesome Yum Sugar-Free Simple Syrup to taste.
  5. Serve with a lime wedge or slice, and additional mint for garnish, if desired.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size : 1 glass, or 1/2 the recipe

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)