To go into ketosis, and stay there, most people need to eat fewer than 20 net grams of carbs each day. What does that look like on a plate? On this page your find some simple pictures.
What looks more appetizing and filling: a plate overflowing with above ground vegetables, or a half of a hamburger bun - naked?
It is easy to see how consuming 20 grams of vegetables, even with the sweet taste of cherry tomatoes or sweet peppers, is not only very satisfying but also chock full of vitamins and minerals. See our keto vegetables guide.
But that naked half bun? Add the other half, the ketchup, and other fixings and soon it is easy to see that you will be well over your daily carb count. That is why regular bread is never a recommended part of a keto diet. It is pretty much impossible to eat it and stay below 20 grams of carbs. We do have recipes, however, for delicious keto breads that have much lower grams of carbs.
High carb foods: here's 20 grams
So what does 20 grams of carbs look like for potatoes, pasta, rice or bread?
It is one potato, a small serving of pasta (about 1/2 cup), about 1/2 cup of white rice, and that half bun.
It won't take much of any of these foods to exceed your daily carb limit and take you out of ketosis.
What to eat instead? Try cauliflower - riced, mashed, au gratin and many other ways - which makes a great replacement for rice or potatoes. For bread replacements, try making any of Diet Doctor's delicious bread and cracker recipes. Craving a sauce on a bed of pasta? We have keto pasta recipes or just spiralize a zucchini for a fresh veggie take on a noodle bed for a zesty sauce.
Low-carb food: here's 20 grams
Compare that half of a hamburger bun or miserly portion of pasta to 20 grams of various vegetables, nuts and berries.
Betcha can't eat 20 grams of spinach in one go! That plate on the bottom right isn't even 20 grams, it is about 5! It was all we could fit on the plate. Spinach has 1.4 grams of carbs in 100 grams of leaves. You would have to eat about three pounds (1.5 kilos) of spinach to get to 20 grams.
Berries and nuts do have more grams of carbs per serving, so be careful:, they can add up to over 20 grams if you munch mindlessly.
Moderate low carb eating: What does 50 grams look like?
Keto fruits and berries guide Keto nuts guide
If you occasionally want to come out of ketosis, or "carb up", eating 50 grams of carbs means you're still staying relatively low carb.
Here's 50 grams of refined or higher carb foods: three slices of bread, three potatoes, a cup of rice and a cup of pasta.
50 grams of carbs in low-carb foods
Here's 50 grams of lower carb foods like vegetables, nuts and berries. That a lot of food on a plate.
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