You propably struggled starting a low carb or Keto diet.
Choices and new information over internet are so confusing.
Cravings are hard to manage.
Still hungry. (when Keto or Low carb diet supposed to decrease your appetite because you stopped insulin from spiking.)
Here's what you can learn from mistakes of a newbie when going keto/ low carb.
Ultimate Pinoy Keto on a Budget
Here, you will learn what to buy on keto.
What are the important ingredients for Keto and what are the Keto products that are a waste of money.
But first let us start with equipment.
Most important equipment you need for Keto, can you guess?
No its not a coffee machine to make bullet proof coffee.
Are you taking a guess?
It's a working freezer.
Yes. A freezer.
I'll explain in a minute.
Pinoy Keto Food
Brocolli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, spinach, raddish.
Now, here's why you need freezer for.
For obvious reasons, that these vegetables spoils easily.
And for keto, its really important you eat these foods, because these vegetables will keep you full longer and will stop the cravings.
It's really a money saver when you buy a head of brocolli, a head of cauliflower, lucky if you find kale and spinach here in the Philippines (rare but possible), buy these veggies all at once and cut them up and freeze them.
A head of brocolli last me a week and i don't worry about it getting bad.
It keeps me full for a long time.
I don't eat a lot of brocolli because I get slight constipation, but its not that bad. It doesn't hurt me, I get mild constipation but I feel full longer which is more important for me.
1st Keto Product that is a Waste of Money
Green Powder 👎
(Organic kale powder, organic barley powder, organic wheat grass powder, organic spinach powder, organic moringa powder, organic pea powder)
On the attempt to eat vegetables the easy way, I bought a big bag of greens powder just to end up knowing that green powder is not the same with real food.
It does not have the same effect of keeping me full for a long time.
And since vegetables are not my favourite, its hard to swallow it down.
In reality..
I saved more money on buying a head of brocolli for 100 pesos, freeze it and pan fry it every time my tastebuds accepts it. (Like I said, a head of brocolli last me for a week and i dont have to worry about it spoiling)
It keeps me full longer. ( I intentionally mention it twice, same with cabbage)
So, can I buy other vegetables? Yes of course, but note other veggies does not give you the same effect as these cruciferous vegetables. You really need to start with these, else you will fail. Like i did.
Next Item MEAT
This is just preference but what I start with is eggs and ground beef.
I portion the ground beef into patties, put heavy salt and pepper, cut up parchment paper so they will keep separated, and that's it. (Ground beef is cheaper too and can be flexible on many dish but mainly pan fry beef patties and veggies are enough)
250 pesos worth of ground beef last me for a week or so ( My mom still cooks so this is just for back ups).
2nd keto product that is waste of money.
Supplements like minerals and fish oil.
I'm not so sure about them really.
But one thing I am sure of, relying on supplement alone does not do any good to me. (Dumb I was, wanting an easy way and make myself believe that supplement tablets will make me feel great instantly)
So, newbie mistake is do not put trust on processed products. And don't change the meaning of supplement into real/whole food, because they are not.
A powdered greens would never replace real cabbage or real brocolli.
For fish oil, not so sure. Youngs Town sardine feels really healthy and cheap and I feel really great eating them.
So, right now I feel like I wasted money buying that supplement 😟.
Final Thoughts
In my experience, no need to be in and trendy buying kale shake powder and expensive supplements to feel great in keto.
Start with the right veggies listed up. Dont change it with ampalaya or pinakbet (filipino vegetable delicacy).
Because in my experiece typical pinakbet vegetables does not make me full longer.
My opinion up was just tested in a week, I am hoping to make a 3rd month update to prove the point of this post.
As per observation of my previous post about nilagang baka (filipino soup delicacy with beef shank, potatoes, cabbage and bokchhoy) that kind of food make me full longer too and its keto approved. (Potatoes in moderation of course).
And one similiarity that anyone can notice is that it uses cruciferous vegetable cabbage and pechay.
So that might be a good indicator that right vegetables can help you to be successful on going low carb/ keto.
That is it for now.
Thanks for reading all the way.