Preparing meals in advance is an excellent way to get out ahead of the week! With just a little bit of planning, you won’t be caught on your back foot settling for the first meal you come across.
When it comes to the keto diet, meal planning is absolutely key! But when commuting to the office, you want lunches that don’t take up much space or require hardly any prep but are compliant with the keto diet and nutritious, too!
In this blog post, we’re sharing several quick and easy keto lunch ideas … perfect for a day at the office!
THE KETOGENIC DIET EXPLAINED
For those unfamiliar with the keto diet, it may feel mystifying or complex … but that couldn’t be farther from the truth! With just a few simple guidelines, the keto diet is made simple. Allow us to break it down!
HOW THE KETO DIET WORKS
The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb way of eating. On the keto diet, carbs are restricted, and generally, 50 grams of carbs are recommended per day. Carbs are the body’s main source of energy, and without enough carbs for energy, the body turns to break down fat into ketones. This means ketones become the primary source of fuel for the body! The ketones provide an alternate source of energy and help maintain lean muscle mass.
FOODS YOU CAN EAT ON A KETO DIET
Rather than focus on the foods, you can’t eat while on keto, we prefer to focus on all of the fabulous and nutritious foods you get to eat! ;) Healthline shared this helpful list of 20 foods you can eat while on keto, and here are a few favorites:
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Seafood
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Poultry and eggs
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Low carb cheeses (like cheddar, cream cheese, and feta)
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Leafy green veggies
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Nuts and seeds
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Berries
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Dark chocolate
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Olive oil
FOODS YOU MAY AVOID IN A KETO DIET
It can be super helpful to have a checklist of non-keto-compliant food and beverages handy! We love this list from Everyday Health and bulleted out a few sneaky non-keto options below:
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Starchy vegetables (like peas and potatoes)
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Potato chips
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Bananas
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Margarine
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Beer
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Animal-based milk
BENEFITS OF THE KETO DIET THAT MAY CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
While some aspects of the keto diet are restrictive, there are numerous health benefits associated with following a low-carb diet! The keto diet reduces your appetite, can lead to more weight loss, increases levels of good cholesterol reduces blood sugar, and may lower blood pressure. At the end of the day, when considering if the keto diet is a good option for you, talk to your doctor!
As you continue to research keto, we’ve written about quite a few keto-related topics:
5 KETO LUNCH IDEAS FOR BRINGING TO WORK
Whether you’re new to commuting to an office or have been doing it for years, sometimes bringing lunch tends to get a little bland! And when it comes to the keto diet, you can’t always rely on takeout meals. It’s simplest to prepare your own keto lunch recipes.
Keto meal prep lunch is SOLVED using the tasty, easy recipes below!
MEATBALLS WITH KETO BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP
Oh boy, are you in for a treat! ;) Proper Good Broccoli and Cheddar soup is keto, gluten-free, and low sodium, making it a perfect low-carb keto lunch. Delicious cheddar shredded cheese and turmeric only feel indulgent–they’re actually super healthy for you, coming in at 7 grams of net carbs, 7 grams of protein, and zero added sugar.
Mix in meatballs for an extra serving of protein! Meatballs can be made from a variety of meats–ground beef, chicken, pork, turkey, or even veggie! If you want to make sure your meatballs are keto-friendly, keep them simple. Just stick with the ground meat mixed with egg. Roll them up, fry them on a stovetop pan, and voila!
KETO AND LOW-CARB SALAD
The keto salads found on Diet Doctor are rich in protein! Not to mention that they’re also nutritious, flavorful, and packed with healthy fats to keep you full all day long.
Keto-friendly caesar, tuna salad, grilled chicken salad, and Greek salads are flavorful lunch ideas for work that can include or omit ingredients depending on your favorites! Did we mention there’s a keto “cheeseburger” salad with crispy bacon, too? Yep, tasty low-carb lunch ideas are simpler than you’d think, even in a salad!
KETO BOWLS
Keto “power bowls” are healthy, filling, and loaded with veggies, eggs, and meats from beef to smoked salmon. Plus, with so many nutrients, these keto bowls keep you full and energized throughout the day and are known to help you lose weight!
We’d recommend starting your bowl with a low-carb base, like shredded lettuce, cauliflower rice, quinoa, zucchini noodles, or couscous. Then layer your favorite keto ingredients up with seasoning ingredients like lemon juice on top!
KETO TACOS WITH CHICKEN MUSHROOM SOUP
Have you ever met a person who didn’t love tacos? Didn’t think so! ;) Not only are low-carb tacos delicious and healthy–they’re keto-friendly, too. Keto tacos can be made ahead of time and enjoyed throughout the week, making them an ideal keto lunch recipe, any leftovers can be saved for a creamy taco soup!
Most of the common taco seasonings, meats, and veggies are keto. However, when it comes to the shell, that’s where some research is needed to make sure it’s keto-friendly. Taco shells made of almond flour are a good option, as well as lettuce wraps or keto cauliflower tortillas
If you’re craving an additional side dish, Proper Good Chicken Mushroom Soup is a tasty option!
KETO STEAK WITH CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP
When enjoyed with decadent seasonings and sides, steak can feel like a far cry from being keto-friendly. But there are a ton of ways to make steak compliant with keto! It comes down in large part to side dishes. While healthy, some starchy vegetables aren’t low carb, and therefore not keto. It’s key to avoid high-carb side dishes, like potatoes, pasta, and bread. Instead, opt for keto sides like bell peppers, broccoli, or asparagus.
No matter what kind of steak you choose, soup is an appealing, low-carb keto idea to go along with it! And a perfect solution if you’re struggling to decide which side dish to pair with steak. Proper Good Cream of Chicken Soup is keto friendly as well as gluten-free. Not to mention packed with organic chicken bone broth to help you feel satisfied all day long!
Keto lunch ideas for work … done and dusted! Never worry about what to pack in your lunch sack again with these keto lunch recipes, making the keto meal plan simpler and tastier than ever!
And consider Proper Good your keto work lunch sidekick! ;) We have ready-made keto meals that require zero prep and are perfect for those hectic work days. Laura P. said, “I have been searching for a quick, tasty, convenient, keto-friendly, low-carb lunch option for those super busy days at work. The search is over! Best soups ever, best consumer service, and now, one happy, happy customer!!!”
