Not too long ago, a good friend of mine shared that she and her husband had decided to try the Keto diet. We spent a whole evening talking about how it was going and the various challenges. Snacking can be really tough, and a lot of people get in a rut of cheese and salami. We just aren’t trained as Americans to grab vegetables for a snack.
And while it would probably be best to re-train ourselves to eat more vegetables as snacks, or just to skip snacking all together perhaps, I had some other satiating keto snack suggestions for her.
Grain-free Snacking
I love putting my jar of coconut butter on the counter with a butter knife next to it, and just “driving by” and grabbing a little chunk. It has the smooth, melt-in-your-mouth feel of chocolate, and the satiating factor of fat. Plus it tastes great! #hottipfromKatie #ihavesnackingissues
I don’t really love chewing on flakes of coconut, precisely because they are so… chewy! But when I got to try a bag of coconut chips from Wildly Organic, I was smitten. They are crispy! Not quite as crispy as a potato chip, but really, really close for people who don’t get to spend any time with white potatoes!
And then there are nuts. Nuts are such a great snack, with protein, fat, some carbohydrates, and fiber. They really are the perfect package. But in the traditional foods world, one really should soak and dehydrate nuts to maximize nutrients and digestibility. I do that regularly, and not just for the nourishment.
Making crispy nuts is one of those healthy habits that actually tastes better than the easy way out. But if I fall behind on my routines and run out, I have found very few places that will do it for me. Again, Wildly Organic came through. They sell soaked and dehydrated cashews, walnuts, pecans, and almonds for snacking AND pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. Wowza!
The process, which Wildly Organic calls “activated,” does make nuts more nutritious, but it also makes walnuts and pecans more buttery, almonds and walnuts less mealy and more pop-in-your-mouth crispy, and well…cashews are always delicious!
We did side-by-side taste tests in the family with my homemade crispy walnuts, and Wildly Organic won! There was somewhat less of the potential bitter taste in the walnuts, and even my oldest, who doesn’t like walnuts, really enjoyed them. My feelings aren’t hurt, but I am impressed.
And finally, smoothies. Smoothies are a great way to pack in a ton of nutrition and supplements and feel very satisfied. However, most smoothies rely on fruit, in particular bananas, which can be too high in carbs for Keto. We have found around here that adding cacao powder and a little nut butter goes a long way in covering the bitter greens. Coconut or coconut butter is a great idea too, and it gives your tongue a little sense of sweetness.
Warning: Your smoothies will not look pretty green or pink like the pictures once you add cacao! Mind over visuals.
A Bit More About Wildly Organic
They don’t just have nuts and coconut, but spices, oils, and all sorts of dry goods of the highest quality. Here’s a bit from them:
Trust what you eat. The rest comes naturally.
What we put in our bodies shouldn’t be a leap of faith. We believe living a healthy life means eating high quality and safe nutritious food, knowing where it comes from and exactly how it’s made.
That philosophy has guided Wildly Organic by Wilderness Family Naturals from the beginning. Our founders moved their family to the pristine wilderness of northern Minnesota in search of a better life. They studied organic food and nutrition. They built relationships with growers and suppliers who shared their values. With little more than a cell phone, an internet connection, small production room and passionate belief in their cause, their solar-powered home in the North Woods became an independent source for the highest-quality organic and natural foods, building blocks for a healthy life.
We’ve been helping people eat for themselves ever since. We built a company we would be proud to support. Decades later, people around the world have made us part of their healthy journey. And we still believe in the power of organic and natural food: to sustain our health, to give us joy, and to nourish our families and communities.
From coconut oil to cacao to nuts to body care products, we prepare and package nearly everything we sell in our own facilities in the U.S.A. Enjoy our products confidently knowing they are handled with respect, knowledge and the highest attention to quality and safety.
Keto Snacking Made Easy
Are you in need of some easy snacks (i.e. that you don’t have to make) for a special diet like Keto or Whole30? Definitely give Wildly Organic a try. But I’m warning you, all of their products are addictive.
Katie Kimball is a trusted educator and author of 8 real food cookbooks. She is passionate about researching natural remedies and making healthy cooking easier for busy families. She’s been featured on media outlets like ABC, NBC and First for Women magazine as well as contributing regularly on the FOX Network. Over the last 10 years, Katie has spoken prolifically at conferences, online summits and podcasts and become a trusted authority and advocate for children’s health. Busy moms look to this certified educator for honest, in-depth natural product reviews and thorough research. She often partners with health experts and medical practitioners to deliver the most current information to the Kitchen Stewardship community. In 2016 she created the #1 bestselling online kids cooking course, Kids Cook Real Food, helping thousands of families around the world learn to cook. A mom of 4 kids from Michigan, she is a Stress Mastery Educator and member of the American Institute of Stress.
Lenetta says
So you’ve graduated from a swipe of ice cream with your finger to a chunk of coconut oil? 🙂