Last August, after consulting with both my primary care doctor and my endocrinologist, I decided to give the keto way of eating a try. Please note, I did not say "diet", because although weight loss was certainly something I was seeking, I was more concerned with cutting out sugar and improving my overall health.
I'll cut to the chase: it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I feel much better, have more energy, my thyroid replacement dosage bumped down for the first time in 20 years of taking it, and I did end up losing quite a bit of weight without much effort (although regular exercise was part of the "getting healthy" process).
But I'm not writing this post to extol the benefits of keto, or even explain how it works, because there are plenty of other sites that already do a much better job of that. And don't start with me about keto being "dangerous"...my doctors signed off on it, and I'm doing great. If you aren't on board with it, let's agree to disagree.
The purpose of this post is share what I've learned over the past 5 months, in regards to the best sites for finding easy, delicious, keto-friendly recipes. Here are my favorite go-to sites:
Keto Karma by Suzanne Ryan, author of Simply Keto
Suzanne's site is my go-to for a wide variety of recipes for every meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner, side dishes, appetizers, snacks, etc. I'm the only one in my family eating the keto way, yet they love the Suzanne's recipes just as much as I do. Her Keto Chili is on permanent rotation on our dinner menu, and when I made her Twice-Baked Cauliflower casserole for Christmas dinner so that I could pass on the traditional Sweet Potato Casserole, the cauliflower was a big hit with everyone, and the sweet potatoes were barely touched.
All Day I Dream About Food - by Carolyn Ketchum, author of The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking
There is no one better at revamping decadent favorites into keto-friendly versions than Carolyn. She knows her stuff when it comes to baking, and then some. I ended up buying a few more of her cookbooks, just based on how well all of her baked items turn out. Her recipe for caramel sauce is outstanding (as are the Salted Caramel Butter Bars you can make with it). I also recommend her Lemon Bars--my youngest liked them better than the traditional, sugar-laden version.
I Breathe I'm Hungry by Mellissa Sevigny, author of Keto For Life
Another great site for all-purpose recipes that are so good, I promise, you will not miss the carbs or sugar. The "fathead dough" Gnocchi are a little tricky, but if you follow the recipe instructions exactly, you will be rewarded with the best keto pasta you've ever had.
Ruled.me founded by Craig Clark
This is a great site for beginners. In addition to recipes, they have a great deal of helpful information for those looking to get started with keto, including tips, FAQs, a suggested eating plan, a Keto calculator, and more.
I thought cutting back on carbs would make me feel deprived, or that it wouldn't be sustainable, but these 4 websites made it easy. If you're looking to give keto a try, do check out these sites...and good luck!
*Full disclosure: the book links are affiliate links to Amazon.
I've been making the Marcella Hazan gnocchi recipe for years. In her cookbook, she says that adding an egg to the mixture is optional, but I find it necessary to impart that extra layer of flavor. Her son Guliano has a blog that includes her gnocchi recipe: you'll find it HERE.
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