You’re keto. What’s for dinner?

We hear one of the hardest meals of the day to get right when you’re following a keto diet is dinner. What is you’re craving pasta? Is there such a thing as keto lasagne? Or what if you’re vegetarian and gluten free? Are there vegetarian keto recipes that taste good?

Dining Out

If live somewhere that now allows dining out again, you’re going to need to do a bit of planning and use some strategies for staying on track:

• Ask the waiter to take away your bread plate to avoid temptation
• Ask if you can substitute a lettuce warp for the bun
• Say no to rice and ask for more veggies instead
• Look at the menu ahead of time online and plan what you’re going to eat
• Add a healthy fat where you can
• Look for the cheese plate instead of a sweet dessert

Entertaining at home

One of the great joys in emerging from the pandemic is that, while we are all still being cautious, many people are starting to enjoy entertaining at home again. All the hard work on their homes during lockdown is something many people now want to share with friends and family. Some tips for home entertaining and staying keto-friendly include:

• Offer a keto friendly cheese board, complete with low carb crackers and leave it on the table or on a side table throughout the meal,
• European serving style or buffet style. Make sure there is a good selection of serving spoons and tools to keep things safe, but having a selection of items might help you stay on track and please everyone at the table,
• Make well known dishes but substitute keto-friendly items like cauliflower rice or konjac rice. Most guests will be curious to try it or embrace it,
• Collect recipes that you’ve tried ahead of time on the family. Slendier has hundreds of free recipes on our website and a free downloadable low carb, low calorie dinner book. You can practice ahead of time and know what works for you,
• Don’t forget that leftovers can be your best friend! You can transform cooked meat and veggies into winning salads, soups and casseroles.

Note – Don’t forget if you cook something healthy and yummy at home you can take a photo of it and enter our Slendier Home Cook Competition until March 31, 2021. Details on Slendier Facebook and Slendier Instagram.

Planning a big event

Now that weddings and other big events are back on the cards, it’s hard to make sure you stay on track even on your big day.

• Learn from other people. Amada Havard and her family all went on a keto diet and she planned her wedding feast to be keto-friendly.
• Ask your planner or caterer to prepare a keto friendly menu. It’s your day and your money so you can ask for the menu to meet your needs.