Maya’s Kitchen Favorites

FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

Moving across the country has been no joke ( so much planning!), but something really great also came out of it: I got to pare down my kitchen to what I truly love and pick up some new items! Here is my collection of kitchen favorites that made the cut — a combination of my best items I’ve used for years and new items that I picked up after hours of research (an average of 2-3 hours per item). Plus, I tested them all out for 2 months before publishing this post.

Spice Organizer

If you have the drawer space, this spice organizer has been a game changer for me! I love seeing all my spices at a glance.

If you don’t have enough room in drawers, I had these organizers at my last house and loved them as well. And if you’re just starting your spice collection, this spice set is a good value compared to buying them individually.

Cutlery Trays

These bamboo organizers let you maximize drawer space for cutlery, because the width is adjustable to fit your kitchen drawers.

The bamboo material is really nice, feels high quality and wipes clean. They also come in different colors — the gray is my fave for my kitchen!

I actually got three of these, ha! This one has smaller sections that are perfect for silverware. Then I got two of these larger ones , one for various cooking and baking items (pictured), and one for serving utensils (not pictured).

Air Fryer

This is the air fryer you’ll find me using for all my air fryer recipes ! The basket is roomy, it doesn’t take up too much space on my counter, and it’s super easy to clean. Several of my friends got the same one after trying mine and couldn’t be happier.

Cutting Board

For years, I used flexible plastic cutting boards for the convenience of pouring things into bowls. But I realized that they were dulling my knives, so I did a ton of research on cutting boards, and this on e I got is amazing . The teak wood is super durable, sustainably sourced, doesn’t dull my knives, and lasts a lifetime.

Paper Towel Holder

What’s so special about a paper towel holder, you ask? This one lets you tear off sheets with one hand. I tried 4 different ones and most don’t live up to that claim, but this one does. Very convenient when my hands are dirty while I’m cooking.

Cast Iron Skillet

I had a few of these already, but couldn’t resist expanding my collection because these skillets are the BEST! I have them in 10 inch (pictured), 12 inch , and even grill pan options. They are perfect for a sirloin steak (or really, any of my steak recipes ) to get that perfect sear, quickly sauteing vegetables , and more.

Salt & Pepper Grinders

These salt and pepper mills check all the boxes. They are beautiful, work well, and the clear glass allows me to see when they are running low.

High Power Blender

I’ve had this high-power blender for almost a decade, so the jar is not so pretty anymore, but it still works as well as the day I got it. It’s unbelievably powerful for everything from soups to smoothies to making nut butters.

Butter Dish

I have to admit this butter dish was a bit of a splurge, but I really wanted one that looks nice on the counter and can fit my Costco-sized blocks of butter. Most that I tried can’t fit those larger ones.

Utensil Holder

I tried several utensil holders, and most of them were flimsy or very small. This holder I settled on fits a lot of them in a compact way, plus it rotates and has dividers inside.

Baking Dish

I have a couple of these baking dishes in white (you’ll spot them in my recipe photos, like chicken bacon ranch casserole ), but more recently decided to get this fun turquoise color. Whatever color you get, it heats evenly and looks so pretty going straight to the table.

Drawer Organizers

When we moved into this new house, I vowed that I won’t have another junk drawer of random stuff! This organizer set comes in different sizes that are perfect for our utility drawer. I also have them in bathrooms and other places to organize small items.

Oil Dispensers

I love the convenience of keeping cooking oil next to my stove, but heat and light are not ideal for keeping it fresh. I searched high and low for cruets that will keep the oil protected and don’t leak. These work great , plus they look awesome and come in over a dozen different colors. I keep olive oil in a gray one and avocado oil in a white one.

Spoon Rest With Lid Holder

There are many spoon rests out there, but my pet peeve was having to set a dirty pot lid onto the countertop, so I was excited to find this spoon rest that has a built-in lid holder. It’s sturdy enough to support even my cast iron lids, and even fits more than one utensil on the spoon rest if needed.

Glass Mugs

You might recognize these mugs from some of my recipe photos, like bulletproof coffee . I got some extras for the new house, because we drink so much coffee and tea! I love how sturdy they are, the handle is comfortable, and they actually keep my coffee warm a bit longer than the cups I had before. I also like to use them with this coffee warmer !

Measuring Cups And Spoons

I brought this set of measuring cups and spoons from our last house, but love them so much that I had to include them on the list!

The colors make it easy to spot the size I’m looking for, but of course they are labeled too — and the labels have lasted without coming off.

Both the cups and spoons are stackable, so they don’t take up much space. The measuring spoons are magnetic, too. My favorite part, though, is that the spoons come in two shapes on opposite ends, and the oval-shaped ones fit into my spice jars!

I also have these liquid measuring cups , as liquids don’t measure the same.

Oven Mitts & Trivets

I switched from cloth to these silicone oven mitts a few years ago, and will never go back. They are so easy to clean, have a soft lining, and come in many colors (but I picked neutral gray).

I also got these silicone trivets to match. They are great for placing hot pans on the counter or dining room table, but they are also flexible, so you can use them for grabbing hot pans as well.

Dish Rack & Drying Mat

We didn’t get to pick everything about our kitchen layout, and one of the things I was worried about was having the sink on the kitchen island. Where was I going to dry my dishes (without taking up space inside the sink itself)?

I’ve been really pleased with the solution I came up with. This dish drying rack doesn’t look like an eyesore, has a little drain that flows into the sink, and also converts to fit over the sink if you prefer that.

I also got this dish mat for larger items, which has been a lot more absorbent than the microfiber towels I used to use. It comes in different colors and patterns to match your decor. (But speaking of dish towels, these are fantastic — so soft, absorbent, and lint free!)

Dish Soap Dispensers & Sink Caddy

I’m probably a bit too excited about something as silly as a sink caddy , but it maximizes the space so well. There’s space for brushes, a sponge, and these two touchless soap dispensers (one for hand soap and one for dish soap) that I’m also kind of obsessed with.

Saucepan

It’s not so pretty anymore because I use it so much, but this saucepan is my absolute favorite. The size is perfect for just about anything, it has a solid weight to it for great heat retention, and the best part is the curved bottom.

Microwave Cover

Ever had a big mess of splatters in your microwave after warming up a bowl of chili or leftovers with tomato sauce? If you know, you know. This microwave cover keeps the mess contained, it’s dishwasher safe, and it’s collapsible for storage (but I just keep mine inside the microwave).

Vacuum Sealer

This little tool has saved me so much money! It practically doubles the storage time for all my leftovers, as well as fresh produce that goes bad quickly, like berries and zucchini. You can use it with vacuum seal bags like a normal sealer, but I use it more often to keep leftovers in the matching glass storage containers .

Lid Organizer

Anyone else have a big mess of storage container lids? Mine certainly were, and this lid organizer fixed that problem. The total size is expandable to fit your shelves or drawers (I put mine in a pullout drawer inside a cabinet), and the dividers are adjustable depending on the lid sizes you have.

Hand Mixer With Storage

I’m obsessed with the convenient storage that this handheld mixer offers — all the attachments store right inside the included case. It’s also super powerful, with 9 speed settings. In fact, it’s so powerful that I don’t even need (or have) a stand mixer.

Mixing Bowls

Who knew I’d be so happy about a set of mixing bowls? This set has a non-slip bottom, tight-fitting lids, and the sizes you’d use most often. The stainless steel finish has been durable and truly doesn’t stain. Plus, one of the lids even comes with a few different grating attachments.

Baking Sheet With Rack

This might look familiar if you’ve make my healthy recipes often, because these are the sheet pans I use over 90% of the time. I have them in all sizes! The patented silicone surface never sticks, they don’t warp, and they’re made in the USA. My favorite is this set with a rack , which is great for getting foods crispy (like bacon in the oven ).

Food Processor

Other than my air fryer, this food processor is my most used kitchen tool. It’s a workhorse for making pizza dough , fresh salsa , mashed cauliflower (or cauliflower rice ), soups, and so much more.

Wooden Salt Cellar

We love flaky sea salt at my house, but it comes in this annoying cardboard box. I finally gave in and got this salt box for it. It’s a small thing that makes meals more enjoyable!

Box Grater

I use my food processor (also on this list!) to grate most of the time, but when I want less cleanup, I reach for this box grater . It’s so sturdy with a comfortable handle. There are holes in different sizes on the different sizes, so you can get the size you want.

Magnet Knife Holder

After trying out various knife blocks for years, I finally settled on this magnetic knife strip , and it’s the best decision I’ve made! Now all my knives don’t take up any counter space, and I can see them at a glance to grab the one I want easily. Here I have it attached with the included 3M tape (no-drill option!), but after we installed our textured backsplash, we used the option with screws instead.

Airtight Food Storage

This is still a work in progress, so I only have a few of them in the picture, but I have dozens of these to organize my pantry. I use the large ones for almond flour, Besti sweeteners, and oats, and use the smaller ones for most other pantry baking staples. They are 100% airtight, so I’ve noticed my pantry items definitely last longer, and the clear design with (included) labels makes it easy to find everything.

Wholesome Yum Pantry Ingredients

Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t include the ingredients I use so often for cooking and baking! Besti and Besti Brown are my go-to natural sweeteners. I use Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Honey and Zero Sugar Maple Syrup for breakfast foods, marinades, salad dressings, glazes, and more.

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?

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.

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

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

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

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!

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:

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:

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.

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