6 Keto Condiments to Level Up Your Low-Carb Meals
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Having a tough time finding keto condiments that are low on carbs and big on flavor? Fret no more, Farm to Fit has the low-down.
We always want a little more something, don’t we? A little zhuzh to tip a good meal over into a great one. Whether it’s a drizzle of dressing or a savory spread, condiments give us a unique control over the flavor of each bite of a meal.
If you’re adhering to a keto diet, though, you might be giving some sauces and dips the side-eye. Some of your favorite condiments might be full of healthy fats, but plenty more have hidden sugar and calories lurking on their nutritional labels. As we all know, those little dollops of carbs can add up!
Keto can be a challenging diet because of its restrictions, but it doesn’t mean sacrificing taste. Here are six of our favorite keto-friendly condiments to level up your low-carb meals. Keep things interesting while you’re keeping it keto!
Keto Crash Course:
A keto diet focuses on consuming a high fat, high protein, low carbohydrate regimen. By eating less than 50 grams of carbohydrates per day, you shift your body into ketosis. In this metabolic state, your body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. This switch can take 2-3 weeks, and is often accompanied by side effects like mild dehydration and fatigue we call the "keto flu.” As such, the keto diet is not for everyone, so be sure to consult with your doctor about your dietary needs.
6 Keto Condiment
1. Mustard:
We started our calorie-free condiments list with the humble mustard, and it's headlining here again. One of the world’s favorite flavors is also one of its lowest-carb. Most mustard consists of only vinegar, garlic powder, mustard seed, turmeric, and lemon juice. Of course, every brand is different, so be sure to read the nutritional label before you buy. Make sure to avoid sugar-laden styles like honey mustard and dig on stone ground or Dijon.
2. Mayo:
It might not be the first thing to jump to mind when the subject of “healthy condiments” comes up, but mayo is keto! Its high-fat and low-carb composition make it a perfect base for keto-friendly sauces, dips, or dishes. Some store-bought brands have added sugar, so read the labels or try making your own at home! If you want to stay completely keto, opt for olive or avocado oil based mayo if you can find it
3. Hot sauce:
Spiceheads rejoice! Hot sauce is almost unilaterally keto. Since most hot sauce is a vinegar base with peppers and herbs, there are few to no carbs in each dash. Just steer clear of spicy-sweet sauces that might be hiding sugar, fruit extracts, or honey. Keep an eye out for capsaicin, the component in chili peppers that has been shown to help with weight loss.
4. Soy sauce and coconut aminos:
Is soy sauce keto friendly? As long as you’re watching your portion size and paying attention to the type of soy sauce you’re topping off with. Light soy sauce is the most common variation and has only 1 gram of carbs per tablespoon, making it a great keto condiment. Watch out for dark soy or sweet soy, though, as they often have added sugars.
Some keto diets may want you to ditch gluten all together, in which case you should try coconut aminos as a substitute. Coconut aminos come in a number of different low-carb styles and flavors, and are a great way to switch up your stir fry.
5. Chimichurri:
This Argentinian spread brings bright, fresh flavor to just about any meat, but is best associated with steak and lamb. Akin to pesto (which is keto too!), chimichurri is made of ground herbs and spices suspended in vinegar and oil. If you’re buying a store brand, make sure to pick one that uses traditional olive oil and not vegetable oil.
6. Sour Cream:
This one might ruffle some feathers. Yes, regular full-bodied sour cream is, in fact, keto. Other diets may decry sour cream as too fatty and caloric, insisting you opt for low-fat options packed with artificial stabilizers and texture additives. These substitutions might be lower in fat, but they’re higher in carbs. So if you need a dollop dairy while doing keto, full-fledged sour cream is a great way to go.
Final thoughts:
So many condiments, sauces, and dips rely on fats and oils to make their consistency smooth and creamy. While other diets might strike them out for that, keto says bring it on! Just make sure you read the nutritional labels to avoid added sugars that hide those secret carbs. Zhuzh up your keto diet dinners with these keto condiments and keep things fresh!
If aioli or aminos aren’t enough to make your keto cooking craveable, why not sign up for Farm to Fit’s keto meal delivery service? Condiments and all, our ready to eat meals are crafted by chefs and evaluated by expert nutritionists to ensure they’re packed with everything you need, nothing you don’t. All you’ve gotta do is keep calm and keto on!