By kkhealthcarecentre 
The keto diet is a popular eating plan that emphasizes low carbs and high fats. This approach encourages your body to switch from using carbs as energy to relying on fats. It’s become quite the trend, standing out alongside other diets like the paleo diet. As its popularity has grown, many stores now offer keto-friendly options created specifically for those following this plan.
This diet is particularly useful for managing epilepsy, aiding weight loss, and is quite advantageous for those not involved in highly active professions, like sports. However, finding fast-food options that fit within a keto diet can be challenging. Despite this, it’s possible to make selective choices to stick to your keto lifestyle. Here are some suggestions the next time you visit a fast-food restaurant.
1. Low-Carb Drinks
If you’re in a rush, consider grabbing a low-carb drink instead of fussing over what food to order. Water is an obvious choice, but you can also opt for lemonades, soda water, coffee, or tea. Coffee and tea have zero carbs, and they provide that caffeine boost to keep you energized. If you like cream in your coffee, be mindful that regular cream has a higher carb content, but you can order a half-and-half version, which has around 0.5 grams of carbs. Alternatively, you might try soy milk. For lemonade lovers, ensure it’s unsweetened or made with natural sweeteners. Drinks like unsweetened tea and iced coffee are also good options. It’s best to avoid sodas, as they are loaded with carbs and sugar, which aren’t compatible with a keto diet.
2. Healthy Salads
Choose salads packed with veggies and proteins, such as grilled chicken, Taco, Salmon, or avocado-shrimp salads. These meals help keep you full for longer. Some fast-food restaurants offer low-carb options like Antipasto salad, which comes with about 10 grams of healthy carbs and includes meats, olives, cheese, and vegetables.
3. Bacon, Sausage, and Eggs
These items work well in salads or as breakfast options since they’re low in carbs and help curb hunger. They are commonly found at fast-food establishments, but it’s wise to limit processed meats as they can pose health risks.
4. McDonald’s Sandwiches and Burgers
McDonald’s is known for tasty fast foods like their Quarter Pounder and Big Mac. To stick to a keto diet, you can skip the bread and enjoy a low-carb burger. One way to do this is by ordering a couple of Sausage McMuffins without the bread, cutting down to about 4 grams of carbs.
5. In-N-Out Burgers
At In-N-Out, you can try their keto-friendly menu items, like a protein burger where lettuce takes the place of buns. You can also get two patties with gooey cheese.
6. KFC Chicken
Grilled chicken is a must-try when discussing fast foods, as it tends to be more satisfying. Grilled options are healthier than fried ones, as they have about 1 gram of carbs, compared to the 10 grams found in fried chicken due to the oils used.
After-effects of a Long-term Keto Diet
While there are benefits to the keto diet, starting it can lead to nutritional deficiencies if you’re not careful about getting nutrients from various food groups. The transition period might bring side effects from cutting carbs. Therefore, it’s crucial to have guidance and maintain discipline.
If you can avoid fast food places altogether, that’s ideal. However, sticking to a keto diet in such settings is doable if you know what to avoid, what to substitute, and what to add to your order. Creativity and research into foods and their ingredients can help you make the right choices. Keep in mind that processed meats can impact your health negatively and not all fats are healthy, like those derived from vegetable oils when heated. Try to avoid animal-based sauces as well.