For many people, the standard or clean diet is simply too restrictive. They prefer a form of keto with more food options and limited macro counting. That’s the beauty of the “lazy” keto diet. All you need to keep track of is your carbohydrate intake.
Lazy keto is perfect for anybody with a busy lifestyle who doesn’t have the time to meal prep and track macros. As long as you keep your carbs between 20 to 50 grams per day, lazy keto will be exceptional for weight loss.
If you’re ready to get started with lazy keto and are in need of some lazy keto food ideas, here’s the food you should be eating to jumpstart your weight loss!
Lazy Keto Food Ideas
Meat and Poultry
Meats can provide your body with both protein and fat. Best of all, most sources of meats are low in carbohydrates, making it the perfect addition to any meal.
When choosing a meat product it’s always best to choose organic, grass-fed, and hormone-free meats. While this is a standard rule on the “clean” keto diet, it’s not considered necessary for lazy keto. However, it’s still highly recommended.
There are plenty of lazy keto food ideas to purchase in the meat department with your budget in mind.
Try some of the following meats and poultry:
–Turkey (deli sliced or whole)
–Beef (steaks, stew meat, ground, roast, etc)
–Pork (pork loin, sausage, bacon, ham, etc.)
–Deli meats (ham, pepperoni, salami, prosciutto, etc.)
Seafood and Fish
Like meat and poultry products, seafood is low in carbohydrates. Most seafood and fish are high in protein making it a wonderful addition to “clean” keto dishes. However, some seafood like shrimp is very low in fat.
To increase your fat intake for seafood and fish low in fat, simply add extra fat in the form of coconut or olive oil to your dish. Since you will not be tracking calories and all your macros on lazy keto, seafood and fish make an excellent option for lazy keto food ideas to add to your meals because they are typically low in calories.
This will ensure you are keeping your calories low for weight loss.
Seafood and fish high in fat include:
-Salmon
-Sardines
-Herring
-Mackeral
Medium fat:
-Catfish
-Rainbow trout
-Swordfish
-Bluefish
Low in fat:
-Halibut
-Oysters
-Mussels
-Tilapia
-Pacific rockfish
Very low in fat:
-Cod
-Crab
-Clams
-Flounder
-Tuna
-Lobster
-Scallops
-Haddock
-Mahi-mahi
-Pollock
Dairy Products
One rule of keto is to stick to foods that are full-fat compared to those labeled low-fat. When picking dairy products always opt for full-fat!
Here are some low carb options to choose from:
-Butter
-Ghee
-Soft-ripened cheeses like brie and camembert
-Plain Greek yogurt
-Hard cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, Swiss, and provolone
-Semi-soft cheeses like mozzorella, harvarti, and Monteray jack
-Heavy cream
-Eggs
Eggs are a healthy clean food filled with protein and fat. When on keto it’s important to always include egg yolks instead of just the whites for added fat. Plus, eggs are very versatile and can be added and used in many dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Lazy keto food ideas with eggs:
-Scrambled eggs with mushrooms, onions, and spinach
-Fried eggs over keto bread
-Eggs mixed in with mozzarella, basil, and oregano to make a “cheesy” lazy pizza crust
-Quiche
Healthy Fats
This is going to be the bulk of your diet. 70% worth! Many healthy fats are in the form of oils that can be added to homemade salad dressing or almost any meal.
Add in some of the following healthy fats to make up your lazy keto diet:
-Coconut oil
-Olive oil
-Avocadoes
-Avocado oil
-Flaxseed oil
-Non-starchy Vegetables
Vegetables are an important component of any diet. However, no matter what keto diet variation you’re on it’s important to say clear of starchy vegetables because they are high in carbohydrates.
Don’t worry there are plenty of vegetables that are low in carbs, low in calories, and are still packed with nutrients!
Non-starchy vegetables to add on lazy keto:
-Green beans
-Zucchini (try zucchini “noodles” to replace high carb noodles)
-Eggplant
-Tomatoes
-Mushrooms
-Leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, romaine, cabbage, etc)
-Peppers
-Cucumber
-Okra
-Onion
-Radish
-Cauliflower (try a cauliflower pizza crust)
-Brussel sprouts
-Carrots
-Bamboo shoots
-Beets
-Jicama
-Celery
-Chestnuts
-Baby corn
-Bean sprouts
-Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are another way to get healthy fats in your diet as well. Be advised though that while nuts and seeds provide healthy fats to make up 70% of your keto diet, snacking on nuts is very addictive and could lead to too many calories which can be counterproductive to weight loss.
Nuts and seeds for lazy keto food ideas:
-Almonds
-Peanuts
-Macadamia nuts (fewest carbs)
-Sunflower seeds (sprinkle over a leafy green salad)
-Pine nuts
-Nut and seed butter
-Pecans
-Walnuts
-Pumpkin seeds
-Brazil nuts
-Chia seeds (combine with full-fat Greek yogurt for a tasty snack or dessert)
-Flaxseeds (add to a keto-friendly smoothie)
Complex Carbs (10%)
Of course, carbohydrates are saved for last because carbs only make up 10% of your daily calories, typically between 20 to 50 grams, even on lazy keto. Just because carbs are limited on the keto diet does not mean they are completely off-limits.
While carbs are considered the “enemy” on keto, it is important to note that adding small portions of carbohydrates into your diet is possible, as long as it falls into the “under 50 grams of carbs” category. When we limit things in our diets too much, sometimes we crave those “forbidden foods” more.
To avoid cravings for carbs or to just enjoy them from time to time, try to stick to complex carbohydrates for added nutrients!
Always make sure to calculate and watch your portion sizes so you ensure you are under 50 grams of carbs per day!
Complex carbohydrates:
-Oatmeal (steel-cut, no instant)
-Buckwheat
-Brown rice
-Quinoa
-Beans (chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, etc.)
-Whole wheat pasta
-Sweet potatoes
Conclusion
The lazy keto diet is not as restrictive as the standard keto diet and only requires you to track and keep your carbs under 50 grams per day. There are many more lazy keto food ideas than compared to standard keto, which makes it much more enjoyable for many dieters.
Plus, lazy keto is easier to maintain for many compared to the standard keto.
With the lazy keto diet, you will never be low on food options! Whenever you’re wondering what to eat, just refer to the lazy keto food ideas above to create a new meal!
Works Cited
Lazy keto: How it works, benefits, drawbacks, and how to do it (medicalnewstoday.com)
Lazy Keto For Beginners – What Is Lazy Keto? Meal Plan & Recipes (easyketoliving.com)
