The ketogenic diet (or keto, for short) is a low-carb, high-fat diet that many follow for weight loss and disease prevention. When following a keto diet, carbs are drastically reduced to 20 to 50 grams per day, with fats delivering 75 percent of calorie intake, and protein delivering 10 to 30 percent of calorie intake.
Following a keto diet results in the body relying on fat as its main source of energy instead of glucose, which puts the body into ketosis. Ketosis is a process that happens when your body doesn't have enough carbohydrates to burn for energy. Instead, it burns fat and makes things called ketones, which it can use for fuel.
Staples of the keto diet include fish, meat, eggs, dairy, oils, and green vegetables. Carbohydrate-rich foods like rice, pasta, grains, potatoes, and even fruits are strictly prohibited.
RECIPE
Keto Cast Iron Skillet Cookie
There are many recipe tricks out there to make normally carb-heavy foods keto-friendly—including desserts! Cookies, cakes, pancakes, and pies can all be made to suit a keto diet by swapping out certain ingredients and omitting flour.
Our recipe for a low-carb browned butter chocolate chip skillet cookie gives you the best of both worlds when craving a rich dessert while sticking to keto.