All the Low Carb Ketogenic Pantry Essentials to start your low carb diet or keto diet. The staples you need to begin, sustain and flourish on your health journey!
Photo Credit Dana Miller, www.houzz.com
How to Stock a Keto Pantry
Stocking a pantry with low carb and keto pantry essentials may take a little bit of time to acquire all the items you need, but with a few great items you will be well on your way.
Keep in mind you can add a little more over time or add one new thing each week you shop. Stocking a keto pantry doesn't have to be as hard as you think and in fact you may already have a bunch of the items you need.
Most important to remember is you need three things to be successful on a keto diet. You need good quality protein, good quality fats and keto snacks for when you are on the go and really don't have time for a meal at home.
Obviously if you're ready to take control of your health and new keto lifestyle, making keto recipes at home is key.
While having these ready to go packaged keto snacks are great, if you have time it's better to make your own great keto snack at home where you can control what's in your food.
I've broken down my keto food list into 4 categories. Portable Protein, Healthy Fats, Keto-Friendly Snacks On-The-Go and Baking Keto Essentials for the ultimate guide for your Ketogenic Pantry.
This keto shopping list won't include fresh produce, or refrigerated items which are easier to find while grocery shopping.
When looking for fresh keto foods, stick to whole foods like meats, fish, eggs, leafy greens, low carb veggies and fruits like berries and dairy products like cream cheese, heavy cream, sour cream, cheddar cheese.
Dairy-free alternatives like unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk are a great way to swap dairy in many recipes.
Also, now it's quite easy to find dairy free alternatives for cream cheese, sour cream, yogurt and even dairy free mozzarella or cheddar cheeses. If you don't have an allergy to dairy but only to lactose that is found in most dairy, I have found lactose free sour cream, cream cheese and cottage cheese at Market Basket.
This post today is a guide for a well stocked keto pantry with items that are shelf-stable for a low carb diet and those following a ketogenic lifestyle.
I've linked my list of keto pantry staples buying on Amazon, but other online stores like Thrive market and iherb.com offer competitive prices and some even free shipping. Many items may be found at your local grocery store but specialty ingredients are often harder to find at your local store.
On-the-Go Portable Keto Protein Sources
When you're busy and on the go, having portable protein sources is key to keeping you full of energy and satiated.
Quality is important so be sure to look at the ingredient list of any packaged product, even those that may have the name "keto" on the front. Some include ingredients like potato starch, rice flour, agave, and other ingredients that would not be considered sugar free, low carb or keto friendly.
My rule of thumb is that if sugar or any of the names of sugar are listed in the first 5 ingredients on the label, I tell my clients and those in my courses to avoid it. This method has served me well for many years and is helping many of my members to see great results in their weight loss journey.
- Beef meat sticks
- Canned tuna
- Canned salmon
- Canned sardines
- Canned smoked oysters
- Cheese Crisps
- Hard boiled eggs
- Jerkey
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Pork rinds
- Epic meat bars
Healthy Keto Fat & Oils
Staying away from oils like vegetable oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, canola oil, corn oil, peanut oil, flax oil, grapeseed oil and margarine is important because they are very refined, processed and highly inflammatory to the body.
Using these healthier oils listed below;
Keto Snacks
Low Carb Nuts and seeds are a great quick snack to grab on the go, but there are calorie dense so you need to be cautious of portion control.
An easy way to keep your snack to just a serving is to portion them out and have ready in your pantry to grab-n-go.
- Almonds
- Brazil nuts
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Hazelnuts
- Hemp seeds
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Macadamia nuts
- Walnuts
- Pili nuts
- Nutzo
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Cheese crisps
- Olives single servings
Sugar Free Low Carb Nut Butters and Seed butters
Nut butters and nut free butters are wonderful as a healthy snack and for keto desserts!
One of the most common questions I get often is if coconut butter is the same and dairy butter that you can cook with. It's not at all like dairy butter but more like peanut butter in texture. Here's a great post about the differences between coconut butter, coconut oil and coconut milk to explain when and how to use each of them.
Unsweetened Macadamia nut butter
Unsweetened sunflower seed butter
Tahini, which is sesame seed butter
Keto Baking Essentials
Low Carb Flours are one of the most needed products in your low-carb pantry and a keto baking essential in my opinion.
Almond flour is one of the most popular because of how versatile it is in baking. Many times you can simply swap the same amount of white refined flour with almond flour and the recipe will still turn out well.
Unfortunately many people including my own child has tree nut and peanut allergies so I limit recipes using almond flour since he can't have it. I often choose nut free low carb flours like coconut flour, sunflower seed flour or sesame flour.
I've found that the best nut free flour to equally swap with almond flour in recipes is sunflower seed flour. You can make your own almond flour from almond meal and your own sunflower seed flour from raw, unsalted sunflower seeds, but you run the risk in a food processor that it could process too much and you end up with butter.
- Almond flour
- Coconut shredded, unsweetened
- Coconut flour
- Cacao butter
- Chia seeds
- Collagen powder, is great to add to coffee or tea for extra protein
- Ground Flaxseed
- Sesame flour
- Pork rind breadcrumbs
- Unsweetened Cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Bone broth
- Cream of tartar
- Unflavored beef Gelatin powder
- Xanthan gum
- Apple extract
- Almond extract
- Caramel extract
- Lemon extract
- Maple extract
- Vanilla extract
Keto Sweeteners
We are all different as far as our sweet tooth and taste buds and what one person thinks is a fabulous low carb sweetener with no aftertaste but have a terrible aftertaste to someone else.
It's really about trial and error for your personal preferences when it comes to making sweet treats without added sugar.
Also, some people think that because honey, coconut sugar and maple syrup are natural, they are better to use than low carb sweeteners with funny names. This is a big misconception because those are all still sugar and will raise blood sugar and cause cravings for more.
I don't use any artificial sweeteners in my recipes because studies show how they spike blood sugar. When your blood glucose is spiked it leads to cravings. Here's my sweetener guide and conversion chart to give you the most information on all the best low carb sweeteners.
Protein Powders
Strawberry Whey Protein Powder
Vanilla egg white protein powder
Recipes that include protein powders; Strawberry Angel Food Cake, Dairy Free Cloud Bread, New & Improved Cloud Bread Loaf, Hoagie Rolls, Cloud Bread Bagels
Keto Pantry Condiments
While I love making my own condiments, I don't always have the time so having some trust worthy condiments from companies that use pure ingredients and great healthy oils, is a great option to have on hand in the pantry.
- Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
- BBQ Sauce
- Italian Salad dressings
- Ranch dressing
- No Sugar Added Ketchup
- Mustard
- Lakanto maple syrup
- No Sugar added Tomato sauce
- Coconut aminos
- Apple cider vinegar
- Red wine vinegar
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
Seasonings & Spices
I pretty much use salt, pepper and garlic in every savory recipe with the exception to some recipes. But here are the most important ones to spice up your meals and take them from bland to fantastic!
Italian Seasoning
Dried Basil
Garlic Powder
Dried Parsley
Dried oregano
Cayenne powder
Chili powder
Cumin
Onion Powder
Ground ginger
Ground cinnamon
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
If you're a little overwhelmed, don't be. You can build a well-stocked keto pantry over over time, a little by little as you start making recipes in your keto kitchen.
Finding seasonings and spices at Aldi's, Walmart, Price Right can help cut costs as well as buying in bulk at Whole Foods or larger quantities like at Costco or Sam's Club.
You can find all my favorite kitchen gadgets, appliances and products I use in my Amazon Shop!
HUGE BAKING GIVEAWAY!!!
If you have my new book, The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, one of the most popular recipes is my Dairy Free Cloud bread and you need liquid Allulose as well as egg white protein powder which many people have difficulty finding.
So to help you out this new year I am offering two people, (one in the USA and one not located in the USA) a keto baking products giveaway!
I want to support your weight loss low-carb diet or keto journey! This keto baking giveaway includes some amazing products to help you have a well-stocked pantry!
Many of my readers want to make my popular Dairy Free Cloud Bread as well as other popular recipes that include some hard to find products so this will help you be ready to make all the low carb keto recipes.
There will be two winners!
One USA reader will win the following. The Winner is Sandy from MA!!!
Monk fruit liquid, chocolate flavor
If you are outside the USA, you will win a $75 Amazon gift card so you can purchase your products of choice! The WINNER IS FIONA from South Africa!
How to Enter the Baking Giveaway
Here's the contest guidelines:
- You must be an active email subscriber to my free newsletter, active means you open emails. Not a subscriber? Sign up here for my free email newsletter!
- Follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
- Bonus entry if you have my new book, The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet.
- Extra entry if you've given an Amazon review of the new book.
Comment below if you have done any of the above and you'll be entered for the baking giveaway!
All entries need to be completed by January 31st at midnight.
Winners will randomly be selected using a random comment picker and be notified via email. Winners will be selected on February 1st and have 48 hours to email me back or a new winner will be selected.
I truly thank you for following my blog, making my recipes and sharing my website with your friends and family. If you've purchased my new book or my previous cookbook, Naturally Keto, thank you so much for your support!
MJ
I follow you on Facebook and Instgram and am an email subscriber. I've been through a busy patch where I have not been able to keep up with all the emails I get. I have unsubcribed from many others to simplify...but not yours. Thank you for keeping them coming!
Kimberly
I am an active email subscriber. I follow you on Facebook and just started following you on Instagram. I've done your 5 Day sugar detox and enjoy your recipes. I am happy to be able to enjoy sweets again. Thank you.
Ashley Mac
Email subscriber, and I follow you on Facebook and Insta!
Carleen Barrowclough
Thanks for the list....very helpful! I am an email subscriber......I love your recipes and they make life so easy. Thank you for sharing all of your information and successes.
Dawn Marsala
Hi Brenda!
I follow your account on Facebook and Instagram! I own the book and am in the 30 day sugar elimination diet Facebook group as well! I also get your emails and open them! We are on week two! I'm going to be doing it for another 30 days in February! Thank you so much.
Diane
I just received the book from Amazon and am excited to get started not just for me but also my family. I also follow you on FB and Instagram. Thank you!
Kathleen Allshouse
I love your cookbook !! Recipes are easy and thank you so much for your Facebook group I appreciate you're willing to answer questions:)
Kathy
Thanks for the list! I am an email subscriber and a FaceBook Follower.
Cheryle Davis
Hi Brenda, I have your book and have been following the Facebook group and I am also an email subscriber and of course I open my email from you, this is one email I always look forward to. Thanks so much for all you do and your continued support. Your book is fantastic by the way and the recipes are all so good. I’m going to try the cloud bread today, just waiting for my Amazon order to arrive with all my goodies in it.
Rania Burbach
I’ve been a subscriber for quite a while!
Thank you!
Yvonne Olson
Thank you so much for this list! I've been enjoying your recipes and learning a lot about watching the labels. There are some things that I've been using and wondering what your thoughts are on them; for Protein Shakes, I use Jocko Molk and for sugar free condiments & dressings I use G. Hughs and Skinny Girl. Is there anything about these products I should be aware/watchful for. Thank you in advance for all you do and any info you offer. Take care ~ Yvonne
Jenny
I follow you on both Facebook & Instagram and have been receiving your emails. I recently ordered your new book on kindle and have started to dig into that more. I’m excited to try some of your recipes in your book!
Laura Crone
Hi Brenda,
I have one of your cookbooks and use it daily. I have a trip coming up in Feb and the list for keto snacks is a great help. I hope to get your new book soon.
Nadia Cordae
Thank you much Brenda for this amazing cookbook! I have done all of the above including the Amazon review. Would love to win your giveaway!
Ruth Johnson
Hi Brenda, I have been an email subscriber for years. 10 years ago I was able to go off diabetic meds. Your recipes help a lot. I have the 30 day sugar elimination book form and kindle version.. I am presently in the Facebook group for this months challenge. First week down 5.1 pounds. Yay! Thank you for your help.
MichelleLynn Kuffler
Great list! I need to get some extracts!
Bella
What a great list and it is so helpful. I have your book and am so thankful for you and all the advice you share.
Nancy Catlin
HI Brenda, I have your book follow you on facebook and follow your blog. I have made some of your recipes, and posted on the 30 days site....I did put a Amazon rating.
thanks for all the help.
Nancy Catlin
Shari
I live and thank you for your emails! So much good info and a good reminder to keep you on track! Would love to win the contest too♡!
Mary Rigsbee
Love your book. The recipes that I have tried so far are great! I am getting ready to start my 30 days w/o sugar! I am a T2 Diabetic and want to get my sugars down and regular. Hoping this reset will help!
Kristen
I just signed up for your 5 day sugar elimination workshop, follow you on FB and Insta. Going to order your book as well. I love that you have alternates to nut based products as my daughter is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts as well. It can make it hard with cooking keto/low carb for sure. Thanks for all of the amazing recipes and information! Excited to jump in!
Holly
Brenda,
Thank you for this opportunity to win your giveaway. I have done all of the above including the Amazon review.
Teresa Luper
I’ve done all but the review. No time yet. Thank you
Heather Hood
E-mail subscriber - thanks for all of the helpful information!
Lynn R
Hi Brenda, i am an email subscriber. Thanks so much for the recipes that are budget friendly.
Angela Heid
Follow you on facebook and I've made a number of your recipes. I just joined your email list & followed you on instagram.
Cristina
I have followed you for a long time and YES, I'm an email subscriber!
Angela Clites
Thanks for this list Brenda! I love the book! Thank you for the chance to win this giveaway!