Go Keto with Seafood | Chicken of the Sea (2024)


What makes a diet “keto?”

If you know one thing about the keto diet, it’s that carbs are totally off the menu, even the ones in fruit. But you probablyalsoknow that carbohydrates give us energy—especially if you grew up “carbo-loading” before cross country meets or big soccer games. So how does it work? If you’re not eating carbs, where does the energy come from?

Simple: It comes from fat. On a keto diet, your body runs on fat, not carbs. This is way more normal than it sounds. Even though carbs are their first choice, your cells know exactly how to use fat for fuel because that’s what they do when you eat fewer calories than you use up. Instead of shutting down, they burn up some body fat and keep on going.

In other words, if you stop eating carbs, your metabolism will eventually switch to fat for its main fuel source. While this can lead to weight loss, you can’t run on body fat alone—that’s called starvation! Doing keto the healthy way means filling up on fats from nuts, cheese, full-fat yogurt (unsweetened, of course), eggs, meat, and fish, plus plenty of fiber from leafy greens and other veggies.

Seafood is high in healthy fats

Unlike the paleo diet and other super high-protein systems, the keto diet is all about eating enough fat. This makes it pretty easy to eat lots of delicious saturated fats and skimp on the healthy stuff—especially while you’re adjusting to life without bread, pasta, and dessert. But eating huge amounts of saturated fat still isn’t healthy, even if itistechnically “keto-friendly.” You need unsaturated fats, fiber, and protein to balance it out.

This makes seafood an excellent choice for keto diets. Across the board, it contains extremely low (or zero) carbs, making it naturally keto-friendly. Some types of seafood, like shrimp and crab, are nearly fat-free. But others, especially salmon, mackerel, tuna, oysters, and sardines, contain tons of heart-healthy unsaturated fats like omega-3s—and none of the saturated fat you get from other animal proteins.

Our best keto-friendly picks

Canned seafood is a great way to make sure your keto diet is actually meeting your nutritional needs. When you’re at the store stocking up on keto friendly staples, look for products that are higher in fat with no added sugars. Oil-packed seafood is great for keto diets, and Chicken of the Sea has a ton of options. From savorysmoked sardinesandoystersto solidwhite albacore tuna, there’s something for everyone. Andour Wild Catch collectionis made with wild-caught fish, water, sea salt, and nothing else, so you don’t have to worry about hidden carbs.

You can also use your canned seafood stash to whip up complete meals in a hurry. Here are a few of our favorite keto recipes to get you started.

Shrimp Scampi Dip

If you take the pasta out of shrimp scampi—then add a whole lot of butter and cheese—you get this outrageously indulgent dip. Serve it with cucumber slices or celery sticks for the ultimate keto appetizer.

Go Keto with Seafood | Chicken of the Sea (1)

Easy Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms

Hors d’oeuvres are usually carb-heavy, but these stuffed mushrooms skip the breadcrumbs and go straight for the cream cheese and Parmesan. The rich, creamy seafood filling and earthy mushrooms were made for each other—it’s hard to stop at one.

Go Keto with Seafood | Chicken of the Sea (2)

Easy Italian Salsa Verde

Don’t underestimate the power of a good sauce. This herbaceous salsa verde is savory, rich, and super-fresh all at once. Dollop it on grilled steak or fish, toss it with salad greens, or use it like a dip for raw veggies—it makes everything taste better.

Go Keto with Seafood | Chicken of the Sea (3)
Go Keto with Seafood | Chicken of the Sea (2024)

FAQs

What is the best seafood for keto? ›

Cod – Cod makes the cut on our keto list because it's low in carbohydrates – just 2% of your recommended daily value. Mackerel – Its oily, dark flesh makes it a keto diet necessity because of its high fat content. Tuna – Think beyond the can and try wild fresh tuna in your favorite keto fish recipes.

What seafood has no carbs? ›

Mahi-Mahi. This is another excellent seafood choice if you are on the keto diet. While it may be slightly less fatty than other fish, Mahi-Mahi is an excellent choice source of protein with no carbs. Moreover, Mahi-Mahi has a mild and sweet taste with a smooth texture, so you may bake, grill, or broil it.

Is shrimp ok for keto? ›

If you're following a keto diet, shrimp is keto-friendly, virtually carb-free, and very low in fat and calories. Healthy, clean proteins like shrimp make it painless to limit carbs, and the low fat and calorie counts mean you can manage weight while feeling full and enjoying fantastic meals.

Can I eat lobster on a keto diet? ›

Lobster is very keto-friendly. In fact, the majority of fish and seafood can be eaten while on the keto diet. This is because seafood such as lobster are low in carbs—the exact type of food you want to be eating a low-carb diet. Additionally, many of the foods you pair with lobsters are also keto-friendly.

Which white fish is best for keto? ›

Cod is a mild-flavored white fish that's low in calories and carbs, making it a great choice for a keto diet. It's also a good source of vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids. You can enjoy cod in a variety of ways, such as baked, grilled, or fried in coconut oil.

What is the best meat for keto diet? ›

Some of the best meats for keto include beef, pork, chicken, salmon, and bison. Still, all plain, unprocessed meats are keto-friendly and low in carbs — so there are plenty of options to choose from. However, you may want to choose your meats based on other factors in addition to carb count.

What is the number one worst carb? ›

1. Sugary Foods. Most people already think of many of the foods in this category as unhealthy treats. Candy, soft drinks, and sweet desserts such as cake, chocolate, and ice cream are all expected entries on a list of carbs to avoid to lose weight.

What happens if you eat no carbs for a week? ›

Severe carb limits can cause your body to break down fat into ketones for energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis can cause side effects such as bad breath, headache, fatigue and weakness. It's not clear what kind of possible long-term health risks a low-carb diet may pose.

What fruit can I eat on keto? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Is bacon keto friendly? ›

Can You Eat Bacon On a Keto Diet? While you may not think of bacon as diet food, most types of bacon fit perfectly into a keto diet plan since they're low in carbs yet high in protein and fat. That means bacon is perfect for snacking on in the afternoon or mixing into your chicken dinner dish for some extra flavoring.

Can you eat tomatoes on keto? ›

Can you eat tomatoes on the keto diet? "Tomatoes are keto," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. "They're low in carbs, so they fit perfectly into keto." One whole medium tomato contains roughly 5 grams of carbohydrates, of which 1.5 grams are fiber and 3 grams are sugar.

Is cottage cheese good for keto? ›

Cottage cheese, like ricotta, is not as keto-friendly, and you should limit the amount you eat if you're on a strict keto diet, says Weiss. While cottage cheese is known for its high protein content, it also contains a relatively high amount of carbs and not that much fat, making it a less-than-ideal choice for keto.

Is mayo keto-friendly? ›

Mayonnaise is the perfect condiment for the Keto Diet because it consists of high fat, low protein, and zero carbohydrates. It also has many health benefits that can help you maintain Ketosis and achieve your weight loss goals on the Keto diet.

Is crab ok for a keto diet? ›

Regardless if you are a shellfish or seafood lover that can't get enough of foods from the sea, or you're looking to cut down on your red meat intake, this article is for you. Crabs are some of the best kinds of seafood that you can eat on a ketogenic diet due to their extensive list of health benefits.

What seafood is high in carbs? ›

Fish flesh contains virtually no carbohydrate. Not so for shellfish. A number of shellfish contain a significant percentage of calories (10 – 25%) as carbohydrate, including oysters, mussels, abalone, whelk, clams, octopus and scallops.

Why is imitation crab not keto? ›

For example, imitation crab derives most of its calories from added carbs. The calories in an Alaskan king crab are derived from proteins, not from carbs. If you're on a keto or low-carb diet and are trying to cut your carb intake, real crab would be the better choice.

Is a crab boil keto? ›

Traditionally seafood boil is not Keto friendly unless you eat around the potatoes and corn! However, you can make a delicious seafood boil that is Keto like we have in this recipe, using cauliflower florets instead of potatoes and corn. It is a really nice substitute and is equally delicious without all the carbs.

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