Make Ahead Thanksgiving! Keto, Low Carb, & THM Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you survive Thanksgiving on keto? ›

If you're unfamiliar with a keto diet, here's the quick explanation: It's extremely low in carbohydrates and high in fat. Meat, including turkey with skin, is fine to consume, but other Thanksgiving staples aren't. Mashed potatoes are off limits, along with bread stuffing, rolls, sugary cranberry sauce and desserts.

The basic rules of keto are eating few carbohydrates and emphasizing fat with a moderate intake of protein. In order to be in a state of ketosis, you will likely have to track the amount of carbohydrates you eat by weighing out your food.

What foods do people miss most on low carb? So much that they'd like low-carb replacements for them? As you can see, bread is by far the food people miss the most, followed by dessert/sweets and beer. Below are our best suggestions for low-carb versions of these foods.

1.The First 10 Days May Be The Toughest

Before starting, you should be aware that if you drop carbs cold-turkey, the first few days you will most likely experience symptoms of your body adjusting to lack of glucose. Many people starting off keto will go through this and it's often referred to as the “Keto Flu”.

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

The bottom line. You should avoid cheat meals and days on the keto diet. Consuming too many carbs can kick your body out of ketosis — and it takes several days to 1 week to get back into it. In the meantime, your weight loss may be disrupted.

Keto Thanksgiving Side Ideas

Add some protein and make a shrimp and avocado salad, or toss salad greens with an avocado-packed green goddess dressing. Bell peppers: Go raw and crunchy with bell pepper keto nachos. For a slight crunch, throw together a colorful bell pepper salad.

Generally, the body is used to the regular consumption of carbohydrates, so the sudden change in diet can cause the body to react. The most common side effects of suddenly stopping a keto diet include fatigue, headaches, nausea, digestive issues, increased appetite and cravings, sugar cravings, and mood swings.

Increase the size of your meals with nutrient-dense foods. This will promote a sense of fullness and reduce the urge to snack in between meals. Include plenty of fibre in your meals. While fibre from foods like green leafy vegetables is considered a carbohydrate, we don't digest it, so it doesn't count.

What happens when you cut carbs cold turkey? ›

You Might Feel Dizzy and Have Headaches

It will switch to breaking down fat into ketones, an alternative to glucose. This puts the body into ketosis, or a state with elevated ketones, which have side effects such as dizziness, weakness, fatigue and headaches.