Sticking to any diet is difficult around the holidays, and the keto diet is no exception. While the desire to deviate from your diet may be strong, preparing some keto-friendly dishes to bring to your family’s holiday party is an excellent way to show your family a new dish while honoring your commitment to a new diet.
A Keto Dieter’s Holiday Survival Guide
The best advice for keeping your keto commitment at holiday festivities is to prepare a side dish and dessert that are keto-friendly. Many of the typical main courses at holiday parties, like ham, turkey, prime rib, and seafood, naturally honor the keto diet. However, side dishes and desserts are a whole other story, as they often come loaded with carbs.
Another keto dieter trick for parties and family gatherings is to add MCT oil to keto meals you prepare. The oil has healthy fats that will help prompt ketosis but won’t alter your food’s taste or texture.
Side Dishes
Now sure what keto-friendly side dishes the whole family will enjoy? These low-carb, high-fat sides are tasty crowd-pleasers that will have your friends and family asking about your diet.
- Roasted Butternut Squash Apple Soup– Nothing hits the spot during a holiday meal like a hot, decadent soup. This recipe contains butternut squash, rutabaga, carrots, pumpkin pie spice, sage, coconut milk, onion, and apples. You can even add a dash of MCT or olive oil on top for an additional garnish.
- Bacon-wrapped Brussels Sprouts– This bacon-wrapped treat is easy to make and will undoubtedly please the meat-lovers in attendance. Simple season the Brussels sprouts to your liking, wrap them in bacon strips, and bake or air fry them.
- Creamed Spinach– Any creamy side dish is a keto dieter’s dream. With butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, optional parmesan cheese, garlic, baby spinach, and seasoning, the dish is loaded with fat but low on carbs.
- Keto Stuffed Mushrooms– Mushrooms stuffed with cheese, spinach, and bacon are a no-fuss appetizer that will please keto dieters and non-keto dieters alike.
- Keto Stuffing– Using homemade keto bread as the base, you can make a low-carb stuffing that packs in all the same flavors as the traditional side dish.
Main Course
While the traditional main courses at holiday dinners are typically keto-safe, you may want to get a little more creative if you’re tasked with preparing the meal’s primary fixture. The following protein-based recipes will give you inspiration.
- Garlic and Herb-crusted Pork Loin– To make this recipe, all you need is rib roast, fresh herbs (thyme, sage, and rosemary), garlic cloves, extra virgin olive oil, and any additional seasoning you want to include.
- Lamb Roast with Broccoli Purée- A lamb roast may sound complicated, but all you need to prepare the meat is cream cheese, garlic, fresh herbs, lemon zest, and butter. The purée includes just three ingredients: Jerusalem artichokes, broccoli, and butter.
- Spicy Salmon– For a naturally keto-friendly dinner rich in omega-3, try a delicious spicy salmon roast for the main course at your next holiday dinner.
- Grilled Stuffed Turkey Breast With Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Mushrooms– Who said turkey has to be bland? This keto-friendly main course combines rich flavors and has a creamy center, thanks to the goat cheese.
Desserts
Pies, cookies, pound cakes, and other classic holiday desserts are unfortunately off-limits for keto dieters—but that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge your sweet tooth after dinner.
- Keto Chocolate Fat Bombs– Full of fat and delicious flavor, these are easy treats to make for your next holiday party. With cream cheese, butter, cream, and cocoa powder, they are keto-friendly without sacrificing flavor.
- Gingerbread Cream Cheese Pound Cake– This gingerbread cream cheese pound cake uses almond flour to keep it low in carbs, making this twist on the Christmas classic keto-friendly but decadent nonetheless.
- Keto Eggnog Cheesecake Bites– You can make creamy cheesecake bites using almond flour and golden flaxseed meal to keep the carb count low. With cream cheese, heavy cream, and keto whipped cream, this recipe has all the healthy fats a keto dieter could want in a dessert.
A Guilt-free Holiday Season
With a little inspiration and experimentation in the kitchen, you can prepare keto-friendly dishes that please the whole party while allowing you to stay faithful to your diet. This holiday season, focus on what you can eat, not what you can’t, and you’ll have a guilt-free holiday season still filled with delicious foods.
