The 14 Day Ketogenic Diet Plan: The Ketogenic Diet For Beginners Cookbook (2016)

Chapter 2. Starting the Ketogenic Diet Plan

I know from my own experience that starting any diet is not as easy as you would hope, but there are some tips below that will help make things a little bit easier.

Please don't' start the Ketogenic diet assuming that it will be a breeze, it may be a little tougher than you think, but don't worry, you will get there.

Making mistakes

It's not always easy to start a new diet, and the ketogenic diet can be a hard one to get used to. This is because you are asked to stay away from carbohydrates and any kind of sugars. You may occasionally make a mistake and eat more sugars than you realize, but try not to get too downhearted about it. The more you partake in this diet plan, the more used you will become to eating foods that contain very little, or no carbohydrates at all.

Find out where you can source your ingredients

A lot of the ingredients that you'll need to source in order to cook the recipes in this book are available from most stores. This is the beauty of this diet, it doesn't as you to eat anything that's hard to get a hold of.

I know that some recipes do ask you to use a milk alternative (Such as soy or almond milk, and occasionally coconut milk), but they are usually available in a wide range of stores. If you local grocery store does not sell milk alternatives, then you may want to visit a health food store, as they are likely to sell them. If you're still stuck, then turn to the internet as there are a lot of websites that sell milk alternatives for a reasonable price.

Start the plan with a friend

If you wish, you may want to start the plan with a friend. This is because it's easier than doing it alone. Starting the plan with a friend will be so much easier, as it will allow you to get recipe ideas, and work on your motivation too.

That being said, you do not have to start the plan with a friend if you wish, you may want to go it alone. If you choose to do this, you should do your best to stay motivated, especially when you find that things are tough going.

Key foods/Ingredients

Meat and cheese

Throughout the Ketogenic diet plan, you will be asked to eat a lot of meat and cheese. This is because meat is a good source of protein, but you need to stay away from processed meats as these can contain hidden carbohydrates.

The great news is that meat can be enjoyed every single day, so please feel free to add even more of it to your diet, and enjoy it!

Fish

Fish is also an excellent source of protein, as well as some very healthy oils. I must stress that you need to stay away from battered and breaded fish, as these will contain a lot of carbs. Try not to eat fish more than three times a week as it is known to contain a lot of mercury.

Dairy Products

I know it's hard to stay away from dairy products all together, but there are some good and very tasty alternatives. I know these have been processed to a degree, but they ensure that you get the calcium you need, along with other very beneficial nutrients.

Fruits and vegetables

Many people assume that you cannot eat fruits and vegetables as part of the Ketogenic diet. This is a complete misunderstanding, as you will need to consume these foods in order to gain energy. Fruits and vegetables contain sugars, and as you're not going to be eating carbs, you'll need to get your energy from somewhere. Make sure you only eat fruits and vegetables that are low in sugar, so that you don't end up putting weight on.

Dressings

Let's face it, we all love to add dressings to our meals from time to time. While this is perfectly acceptable as part of the Ketogenic diet, you should make sure that you don't overdo it with the carbs. The good news is that oil based dressings and mayonnaise is allowed on this diet, so eat away!