Real life has restaurants, weddings and office parties. A little strategy makes all of it easy.
The five rules
- Protein first. Pick the steak, fish, chicken or seafood.
- Swap the starch for vegetables or a side salad.
- Sauces on the side. That is where sugar and flour hide.
- Send the bread basket away.
- Drink dry. Spirits with soda, dry wine or brut sparkling.
Before you go
- Look up the menu and decide in advance.
- Eat a protein-rich snack or meal earlier so you are not starving.
- Have a polite line ready (“I’m saving room for dinner”).
Use the tools
- The dining-out navigator covers ten cuisines with order, skip and ask lists.
- The drink carb explorer shows what is in your glass.
- The free Keto Dress Code guide puts it all in your pocket.
Special occasions
- Weddings: cocktail hour is your friend; choose the beef or fish and skip the starch.
- Steakhouses: one of the easiest places to eat low-carb.
- Holidays: bring a dish you love. See the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve guides.
Travel
Airports and road trips are hard. Pack cheese sticks, jerky (with no added sugar), nuts and olives, and look for grilled protein and salads. Most hotels have eggs at breakfast.
One off-plan meal is fine
A wedding cake slice or a basket of fries does not undo anything. Enjoy it, and return to your plan at the next meal.