If you’re thinking about embarking on a ketogenic diet, you probably already know you’ll be avoiding processed grains and sugar like pizza and muffins. But many other foods you’ll nix on this extremely low-carb, high-fat diet aren’t necessarily unhealthy. Indeed, many “no” foods are packed with health-promoting vitamins, minerals, and fiber but also have too many carbs for the restrictive keto diet.
Keto isn’t right for everyone. “For some people, the keto diet can be potentially harmful,” says Alyssa Burnison, RD, a regional registered dietitian for the supermarket chain Hy-Vee in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. That includes people who take insulin for type 2 diabetes or type 1 diabetes, she says. If you have any chronic health condition that you’re hoping to treat with a keto diet, talk to your doctor first or work with a registered dietitian; they can best advise if this is a safe diet for you.
If you do decide to try the diet, here are 15 foods that you should try to avoid on keto, and what to choose instead.
