Maintaining a stable weight or knowing the right foods to eat on a keto journey is not an easy thing. This keto grocery list for beginners was created to make the keto diet less complicated so you know what to eat or how to measure the food properly.
To take the stress out of searching through tons of pages over the internet to find the right quantity, we have taken the liberty of gathering up some main keto foods to consume and the carbs in each. So yes, this is a handy keto grocery list with net carbs!
Keto grocery list for beginners
This is an easy keto grocery list that outlines all the foods you can eat while on a keto journey. It includes all the fruits, vegetables, fats, nuts and seeds, pantry items, fats, proteins, seafood, beverages, dairy and other specialty keto grocery items one can eat.
Is this really a keto grocery list with net carbs?
Yes it is! The best part is that this is a keto grocery list with net carbs which will make it that much easier to do keto properly! So, if you’re ready to learn what to eat on keto, keep reading:
Leafy Vegetables
As you start on your keto journey, leafy greens are essential on keto because they are nutrient-dense, high in fiber, low in fat, but ultimately low in carbs with enough water to keep you full for long.
| Foods | Serving size | Net Carbs |
| Asparagus | 1 cup (91g) Raw | 6 grams |
| Alfalfa sprouts | 1 cup (33g) | 0.1 grams |
| Arugula | 1 cup (100g) | 2 grams |
| Broccoli | 1 cup (50g) | 4 grams |
| Broccoli Rabe | 1 cup (50g) raw | 1 gram |
| Cabbage | 1 cup (89g) | 5 grams |
| Collard greens | 1 cup (100g) chopped | 1.7 grams |
| Dandelion green | 1 cup (55g) chopped | 5 grams |
| Endive | 100 gram chopped | 0.3 grams |
| Iceberg lettuce | 1 cup (50g) | 2 grams |
| Kale | 1cup (67g) | 7 grams |
| Lettuce | 1 cup (100g) | 1.6 grams |
| Napa cabbage | 1 cup (100 g) | 2.2 grams |
| Bok Choy | 100 grams | 0.8 grams |
| Romaine lettuce | 1 cup (50g) Raw | 2 grams |
| Spinach | 1 cup (180g)Raw | 1 gram |
| Swiss chard | 1 cup cooked | 3 grams |
| Watercress | 1 cup (34g) | 0.3 grams |
Are you looking for a convenient keto meal plan that can help make eating keto easy?
Low Carb Vegetables
Vegetables are great for keto dieters and are essential on any beginner keto grocery list. Note, only a few are great and actually low in carbs. So, proper moderation, and serving sizes should be considered for keto. Here are the low carb keto vegetables with their net carbs.
| Vegetable | Serving size | Net carbs |
| Cucumbers | ½ cup (52g) | 1.5 grams |
| Artichokes | ½ cup (84g) | 10 grams |
| Bamboo shoots | ½ cup | 1.2 grams |
| Beets | 1 cup (136g) | 13 grams |
| Bell peppers | 1 cup (149g) chopped | 9 grams |
| Button mushroom | 1 cup (70g) | 2.3 grams |
| Cauliflower | 1 cup (100g) | 5 grams |
| Celery | 40 grams | 1.2 grams |
| Chili peppers | 1 cup (139g) | 4 grams |
| Eggplant | 1 cup (62g) | 4.8 grams |
| Garlic | 4 grams raw | I gram |
| Green Beans | 1 cup (125g) | 10 grams |
| Mushroom | 1 cup (70g) | 1.6 grams |
| Okra | ½ cup | 2 grams |
| Olives | 1 cup (99g) | 3 grams |
| Onions | ½ (58g) | 6 grams |
| Radishes | ½ cup (57g) | 1 gram |
| Rhubarb | 1 cup (122g) | 5.5 grams |
| Rutabagas | 1 cup (140g) | 12 grams |
| Sauerkraut | 1 cup (142g) | 7 grams |
| Shallot | ¼ cup raw shallot | 6.7 grams |
| Sugar snap peas | 1 cup (85g) | 4 grams |
| Yellow squash | 1 cup (115g) | 3.31 grams |
| Turnips | 1 cup (120g) | 6.1 grams |
| White mushroom | 1 cup (70g) | 2.3 grams |
| Yellow bell pepper | 1 cup (149g) | 9.6 grams |
| Zucchini | 1 cup (124g) | 4 grams |
Low Carb Fruits
Although fruits are not considered keto compliant, if you can avoid high sugar content fruits, then you are good to go. The following are some excellent fruits to enjoy on a keto diet.
| Fruits | Serving size | Net carbs |
| Avocado | 1/3 medium-size fruit | 1 gram |
| Blackberries | ¼ cup | 1.5 gram |
| Blueberries | ½ cup(74g) | 10.5 gram |
| Coconut | 1/3 cup flakes | 5 grams |
| Lemons | One whole lemon | 5 grams |
| Limes | 2 diameter lime | 5 grams |
| Starfruit | 1/2 cup | 2.6 grams |
| Raspberries | 100 grams | 5.4 grams |
| Strawberries | 100 grams | 5.7 grams |
| Tomatoes | 1 cup (149g) | 6 grams |
| watermelon | 1 cup | 11 grams |
Are you looking for a convenient keto meal plan that can help make eating keto easy?
Low Carb Nuts & Seeds
Nuts and seeds are healthy snack options for keto. They contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, fibers and proteins that are good and healthy for the body. These are the keto friendly nuts and seeds that can fit into any keto grocery list for beginners.
| Nuts/seeds | Serving portion | Net carbs |
| Almonds | ¼ cup | 3 grams |
| Brazilian nuts | 30 grams | 3.7 grams |
| Cashews | 28 grams | 8.6 grams |
| Chia seeds | 28 grams | 6 grams |
| Flaxseeds | 28 grams | 11 grams |
| Macadamia nuts | 28 grams | 3.9 grams |
| Pecan | 28grams | 4 grams |
| Pistachios | 26 grams | 7.7 grams |
| Pumpkin seeds | 28 grams | 5 grams |
| Sesame seeds | ¼ cup | 8 grams |
| Walnuts | 28 grams | 3.8 grams |
Low Carb Fats
Fats are at the center of a keto dieter’s success. In addition to the list of healthy nuts and seeds above, the table below shows a list of oils and fats to help spice up your foods as you start on your keto journey.
| Oils & fats | Serving size | Net carbs | |
| Butter | 14.2 grams | 0 gram | |
| MCT oils | 14 grams | 0 gram | |
| Olive oils | 15 grams | 0 gram | |
| Ghee | 1 tsp 5 grams | 0 gram | |
| Coconut oil | 13.6 gram (1 tbsp) | 0 gram | |
| Cocoa butter | 14 gram | 0 gram | |
| Avocado oil | One tablespoon | 0 gram | |
| Red palm oil | 13.6 grams | 0 gram | |
Low Carb Protein Sources
Besides fats, proteins are the next keto grocery essentials, the fattier the better. While we keep that in mind, remember to go for organic, grass-fed and fresh-cut poultry, or meat when buying. You can shop at a local farmer’s stalls if possible. Chicken is a very popular protein on keto and with good reason as it can be used to make recipes like this delicious chicken salad. Besides chicken, here are the other protein sources you can check out:
| Proteins | Serving size | Net carbs |
| Charcuterie – salami, pepperoni | 50 grams | 1.12 grams |
| Beef | 50 grams | 0 gram |
| Chicken – any part | 50 grams | 0 gram |
| Bacon | 50 grams | 0 gram |
| Sausage | 50 grams | 0 gram |
| Ham | 50 gram | 1 gram |
| Pork belly | 50 gram | 1.8 gram |
| Offals | 50 grams | < 0.5 gram |
| Other poultry | 50 grams | 0 gram |
Low Carb Seafood
Besides meats and poultry, seafood is also a good choice of protein. Fish provide healthy Omega-3 fats and take well to herbs and spices. Seafood such as shellfish and other crustaceans are also great.
| Seafood | Serving size | Net carbs |
| Fish – salmon, halibut, tuna, mahi-mahi, trout, etc | 100g | 0 grams |
| Seafood – crab, crawfish, lobster, and other crustaceans | 100g | 1 gram |
Dairy & Eggs – Low Carb
If you are dairy intolerant, scroll past this section, otherwise, dairy is an excellent addition to your keto diet. They are high in proteins, low in unhealthy fats and great for you.
| Food | Serving size | Net carbs |
| All types of cheeses – hard. Soft or cottage | 28 grams ¼ cup | 0 – 1.8 grams |
| Plain Cream cheese | 2 oz (56g) | 2 grams |
| Whole milk | 50 grams | 2.6 grams |
| Coconut Cream | 1 tbsp (15g) | 1 gram |
| Half & Half | 50ml | 2.2 grams |
| Heavy Whipping cream | 15g 1 tbsp | 0 gram |
| Sour cream | ½ cup (115g) | 3.3 grams |
| Yogurt | 117g (1/2 cup) | 5.7 grams |
| Greek yogurt | 120grams (1/2 cup) | 4.2 grams |
| Eggs | 50 grams | 0.6gram |
| Heavy cream | 30 grams | 0.8gram |
Low Carb Beverages
If you are not a water lover because of its tastelessness, try adding a slice of lemon, some drops of lime juice, cucumbers or other keto vegetables you love.
Furthermore, there are a few options opened up to keto dieters but all things should be done in moderation.
| Beverage/ Drink | Serving size | Net carbs |
| Water | 1 cup | 0 gram |
| Coffee – fresh grounds | 8 ounce | 0 gram |
| Tea | 1 serving | 0 gram |
| Low carb vegetable broth | 100 grams | 1 gram |
| Low carb beef broth | 100 grams | 1 gram |
| Vodka | 50 gram | 0 gram |
| Low carb beer | 12 ounces | 2.9 – 10 grams |
| Sparkling water | 1 can | 0 grams |
| Tequila | 1 cup | 0 gram |
| Unsweetened hemp milk | 1 cup | 1.3 grams |
| Unsweetened almond milk | 1 cup (240ml) | 1 grams |
| Unsweetened coconut milk | 1 cup (225g) | 7.1 grams |
Low Carb flours and other Baking Ingredients
The internet is full of plenty of keto compliant baked goods, although baking the keto way can be hard, here are some ingredients that should be in your pantry to enable enjoy a decadent dessert as you watch your favorite movie without any fear of jeopardizing your keto diet.
Below, all of the best places and brands for each of the products mentioned are included. Click the links below if you want to get these products mentioned to start cooking or baking on your keto journey.
| Baking Goods | Serving size | Net carbs | |
| Almond flour | ¼ cup (28g) | 6 grams | |
| Sunflower meal | ¼ cup (33.5g) | 7 grams | |
| Erythritol | 1 tsp | 4 grams | |
| Stevia | 1 tsp | 0.5 grams | |
| Xanthan gum | 1 tbsp | 0 gram | |
| Chia seed powder | 1 tbsp (12g) | 0.9 grams | |
| Coconut flour | ¼ cup | 6 gram | |
| Psyllium husk powder | 1 tbsp (18g) | 1.5 grams | |
| Glucomannan powder | 0.5 gram | 0 gram | |
| Heavy cream powder | 1 tbsp (100g) | 0 gram | |
| Pork rinds | 14 grams | 0 grams | |
| Pecan flour | ¼ cup | 1 gram | |
| Ground flaxseed | 30 grams | 2 grams | |
| Hazelnut flour | 28.3 grams | 2 grams | |
| Gelatin | 35 grams | 4.6 grams | |
| Vanilla extract | 100 grams | 0 gram | |
| Cocoa powder (unsweetened) | 1 tbsp (5g) | 1 gram | |
Low Carb Sweeteners
Although we have mentioned some sweeteners in the table above, the lists here are some commonly used keto compliant sweeteners to help satisfy your sweet tooth but ensures you remain in ketosis.
| Sweeteners | Serving size | Net carb |
| Allulose | 100gram | 5 gram |
| Inulin | 100 grams | 1 gram |
| Sucralose | 100 grams | 0 gram |
| Monk fruit | 100 gram | 0 gram |
Low Carb Herbs and Spices
Food tastes bland with some sort of seasoning or spice. So to keep you in ketosis, we have the next table that will ensure you stay on track without sabotaging your diet plans.
| Spice/seasoning | Serving size | Net Carbs |
| Paprika | 1 tsp | 0.9 grams |
| Fresh Rosemary | 1 tsp | 0.31 grams |
| Salt | 1 tsp | 0 gram |
| Lemon zest | 1 tsp | 0.26 grams |
| Cilantro fresh | 1 tsp | 0.04 grams |
| Cinnamon ground | 1 tsp | 1.3 grams |
| Bay leaf | 1 tsp | 2.29 gram |
| Black pepper | 1 tsp | 1.8 gram |
| Beef bouillon cube | 1 tsp | 0.82 grams |
| Cardamom | 1 tsp | 1.92 grams |
| Cayenne | 1 tsp | 1.39 gram |
| Celery seeds/dried | 1 tsp | 1.4/1.69 grams |
| Chili powder | 1 tsp | 0.7 gram |
| Chives, fresh | 1 tsp | 0.09 grams |
| Curry powder | 1 tsp | 0.12 gram |
| Dill, fresh | 1 tsp | 0.23 gram |
| Ginger, fresh | 1 tsp | 0.74 gram |
| Allspice, Ground | 1 tsp | 2.4 grams |
| Basil fresh/dried | 1 tsp | 0.04/2.21 grams |
| Wasabi root | 1 tsp | 0.75 grams |
| Spearmint, fresh | 1 tsp | 0.08 grams |
| Turmeric roots | 1 tsp | 0.13 grams |
| Thyme, fresh | 1tsp | 0.49 gram |
| White peppers | 1 tsp | 2.01 grams |
Low Carb Dips, Sauces & Condiments
The table below will enable you to choose the right condiment to make your food taste good and ensure you stay wholly keto.
| Sauce/dips | Serving size | Net carbs |
| Guacamole | 30 gram (2 tbsp) | 2.6 gram |
| Balsamic vinegar | 1 tbsp (16g) | 2.7 grams |
| béarnaise | 47 gram | 1 gram |
| Black olive tapenade | 1 Tbsp (17g) | 0.8 gram |
| Blueberry sauce | One tbsp | 3.7 grams |
| Chimichurri sauce | 1 tbsp (15g) | 0.7 gram |
| Cream cheese | 1 tbsp (13 g) | 0.7 gram |
| Dressing/vinaigrette (balsamic) | 1 tbsp | 1 gram |
| Heavy cream | 1 tbsp (15g) | 0.4 grams |
| Horseradish | 1 tbsp | 1.4 grams |
| Hummus | 1 tbsp (15g) | 3 grams |
| Lemon/Lime | 1 tbsp | 1 -1.5 grams |
| Marinara sauce | ¼ cup (66g) | 5 grams |
| Mayonnaise | 1 tbsp (15g) | 0 gram |
| Mustard (organic) | 1 tsp | 0.1 grams |
| Pesto | 1 tbsp (15g) | 1.2 grams |
| Salsa | 18 grams | 1.2 grams |
| Tabasco sauce (hot sauces) | 1 tsp (5g) | 0 gram |
Specialty keto ingredients for the keto lifestyle
While I’ve listed all the basic healthy fats, low carb vegetables, low carb fruits, nuts and seeds and more that are allowed for keto, there are also some important speciality keto ingredients or keto grocery items that are highly recommended to make the keto diet work for you.
These includes keto flours, keto sweeteners, and some miscellaneous items to name a few. These are very important in keto cooking as they help you to broaden the scope of the food you can make on this new diet. These are important for baking, making desserts, making syrups, making bread and so much more. They include:
Keto Flours
These are important for making baked goods like keto breads, pies, keto cakes, pancakes, muffins, cookies and more.
Keto sweeteners
Great for adding sweetness to your keto recipes without the carbs. Also great for making your own sugar free syrups.
- Swerve brown sugar substitute
- Swerve Confectioners Sweetener
- Swerve granular sweetener
- Monk fruit
- Erythritol
- Stevia liquid extra
Keto Miscellaneous items
- Xanthan gum – Great for using in baking to make breads made with keto flours less crumbly
- Hemp hearts – Great for helping you to make keto friendly oatmeal
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – great for low carb hot chocolate, chocolate mug cakes and other keto chocolate recipes
- Unflavored whey protein powder – This product is great for helping you to use less flour in keto baked goods. it is flavorless, and contains zero carbs and can be used to substitute coconut or almond flour so that your baked goos contain less carbs.
- Keto friendly chocolate chips
- Keto friendly chocolate bars
How to get started on keto
To get started, do as much research as you possibly can. Keto is an entire lifestyle change so the more you know about it the better and easier it will be for you and, the easier it will be to stick to this new lifestyle. Here is a straight forward keto essentials list that helps you with all the must haves for keto.
What not to eat on keto
Now that you have a fairly good ideas of what you can eat on keto, there is also a long list of the foods you cannot eat on this new keto lifestyle. Keto includes high fat, moderate proteins and low carbs and so all food that are high in carbs are to be avoided. To make it easier, stick to the foods that are listed here to avoid eating foods that are not recommended for a keto lifestyle.
The foods to avoid on keto include foods like honey, brown sugar, cane sugar and syrups. Also Starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, and cereals. And even fruits like mangoes, plums, apples, oranges, bananas, pineapples, grapes, watermelon and pears. And butters sweetened with sugars like peanut butter or even meats like spam.
Keto meal plan with low carb food list
Making the decision to make a lifestyle change can sometimes feel overwhelming. For this reason, I’ve created a simple to follow keto meal plan pdf to help you get through these first 14 days of this journey as easily as possible. You can get this 14 day keto meal plan here.
FREE Keto grocery list pdf
Lastly, you can download this easy keto grocery list pdf for free!
Now you don’t need to ask too many questions concerning what to eat or not to eat on a keto diet. This is a comprehensive keto grocery list for beginners you can take with you to the grocery store to ensure that you’re staying on track on your keto journey and make keto shopping a breeze. By the way, if you’re looking for a simple keto grocery list, this beginner keto grocery list in pdf form is one you absolutely must download! And, if this grocery list is too overwhelming and you need a cheap keto grocery list click here.