70 Keto and Low Carb Holiday Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can I break keto for Christmas? ›

You can take breaks. You can have carbs and re-enter ketosis later. You might, for instance, consider a Cyclical Ketogenic Diet (CKD) over the holidays. To practice cyclical Keto, simply eat high-carb one to two days per week and stay Keto the other five days.

A few general tips for making your Thanksgiving keto-friendly: Swap out mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower, nix adding any flour to thicken recipes like green bean casserole or creamed spinach, and load up on the low-carb veggies like Brussels sprouts, spaghetti squash, and mushrooms.

Some disadvantages of having a cheat day on keto include getting knocked out of ketosis and hindering further weight loss.

A significant cheat, even for one meal, can stall your weight loss, make you feel sluggish, experience significant brain fog, and if you're somewhat new to keto, perhaps cause you go through keto flu symptoms all over again. More than that, you will need to work your way into ketosis again.

If you've cheated on keto, you're likely out of ketosis. Once out, you'll need to strictly follow the keto diet to reenter ketosis. This process takes several days to 1 week, depending on your carb intake, metabolism, and activity levels ( 6 , 7 , 8 ).

For those that have strayed from keto for a while, experts recommend cutting your carb count by about 25 grams per day until you are back in range for your body to enter into ketosis.

You should take a break from the keto diet regularly, whether that's every few days or every couple of weeks. "Following any form of restrictive diet for a prolonged period of time is not recommended," says nutritionist Jenna Hope.