When I decided to write about Indian keto diet plans, I never expected it to be easy. After visiting many Keto websites and joining Facebook groups, I was amazed by what my Keto counterparts were eating in other parts of the world.
They were having a great time!
The biggest advantage they have is that they can easily scan the barcode of any food, input the data into a fitness app, and create their own diet plan. But in India, it’s not that simple.
I live in a very small town in north India where it’s difficult to find low-carb and sugar-free food. For example, before starting Keto, I had never even heard of almond flour or chia seeds. There is no almond flour available within a 170 km radius of where I currently live.
And the cost of chia seeds is equivalent to a pair of silver hoops. But I am not going to give up. I am going to make the best of the food I can easily get and achieve my target weight no matter what. While designing my Indian Keto diet plan, I have kept some essential points in mind:
When you design an Indian Keto diet plan for yourself, keep in mind the cooking time and shelf life of the food. My Keto diet plan includes dairy in the form of cheese and paneer and the use of stevia as the natural sweetener. I gave up dairy completely because milk is rich in lactose and can cause stalling.
Coming back to planning an effective Keto diet plan for weight loss, it doesn’t necessarily have to be overly complicated. Because the whole purpose of a diet plan is to simplify the meal prep process and save you time. Here is a complete 7-day Keto diet plan, and meal prep tips to set you up for weight loss success.
Directions & Ingredients
Step: 1 | Whisk 2 eggs together |
Step: 2 | Add salt and pepper |
Step: 3 | Fry in 2 teaspoons of butter |
Step: 4 | Add 2 Bacon (Pan-fried) |
To the whisked eggs I add a spoonful of fresh cream, before pouring it on a hot non-stick pan. Once it is cooked to a fine golden color on one side, I flip it. Let it cook some more and take it off the pan.
Since I work 6 days a week, lunch has to be something that is easy to carry and can be eaten at room temperature. In my freezer, you will always find a packet of ready-made mutton, chicken seekh kebab and of course bacon.
Directions
So I just thaw the packet and take out 1 seekh kebab.
Also, keep ready-made and half-cooked meats only for an emergency, and for days you do not have time to cook. Otherwise, always try to have fresh food.
As I have mentioned before Broccoli comes in very handy in Keto. It is a versatile ingredient that can be incorporated into all three meals. I always keep some blanched and ready in my fridge.
Milk is rich in lactose and carbs. Avoid it on a Keto diet. However, you can have yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese in moderation and do keep a strict watch, on whether they throw you out of Ketosis or let you be. In the evening I have a handful of peanuts. Somedays, I replace the peanuts with 6 almonds and 4 halves of walnuts.
Try Keto spinach egg omelette for the dinner. It is tastier and healthier than non-keto delicacies. Also, the recipe doesn’t require much time to prepare, hence is the go-to choice when running low on time.
Start your day with Bulletproof Coffee, but you can switch it with a cup of green tea or any other beverage that you prefer.
You can have a single kebab and 3 eggs or change the ratio according to your taste. Choose your portion. In a non-stick pan. I shallow fry it in ghee. I suggest to have the eggs with homemade mayo or mint chutney.
Ingredients
Mint leaves (washed and chopped) | 250 grams |
Coriander or cilantro leaves (washed and chopped) | 100 grams |
Lemon juice | of 2-3 lemons |
Red onion (sliced) | 1 medium |
Green chilies (roughly chopped) | 4-5 |
Pink and white salt | As per your taste |
Red chilly powder | As per your taste |
Stevia (optional) | A few drops |
Procedure
Grind all of the ingredients in a blender, till the consistency resembles a fine paste. Some Indian housewives also add a teaspoon of sugar to this recipe. Always store this chutney in an airtight container, and it has a shelf life of a week at least.
This is one of my favorite meals. It tastes wonderful both hot and cold. For this, you need 100 gms of cottage cheese.
Ingredients
Cottage cheese | 100 grams |
Turmeric powder | ½ tbsp |
Chilly powder | ½ tbsp |
Coriander powder | ½ tbsp |
Salt | 1 tbsp |
Chaat Masala (optional) | ½ tbsp |
Mango powder (dried) | ½ tbsp |
Directions
After a long day at work, we all look forward to a small snack at home. You can choose to have some chopped strawberries or some almonds or peanuts. Or just grab a glass of salted and chilled buttermilk. Whatever you have ensured that it is within your macros.
Tip: Make your lassi or buttermilk more interesting by adding 1/2 tbsp of roasted cumin powder and a sprig of fresh mint to it — Priya Dogra.
This an easy recipe, that can be cooked in a jiffy and has very little prep time.
Ingredients
Chicken breast | 1 |
Garlic | 2 cloves |
Soya sauce | 1 tbsp |
Ghee | 1 tbsp |
Salt | As per your preference |
Black pepper | ½ tbsp |
Directions
Ingredients
Eggs | 2 |
Finely chopped cilantro leaves | A few |
Green chilly (finely sliced) | 1 small |
Cheese slice | 1 |
Button mushrooms (finely chopped) | 4-5 |
Salt and black pepper | As per your taste |
Ghee | 2 tbsp |
Mint leaves (finely chopped) | A few |
Directions
I like it a nice golden and usually, have it hot with mint chutney.
Bacon is a very Keto-friendly food item. As it has carbs, proteins, and fats in the perfect Keto ratio. It is easy to cook and gives you immense satisfaction too. You can add the bacon in the filling or have it on the side.
Ingredients
Florets of cauliflower | 8 or 9 |
Salt and pepper | to taste |
Directions
You can have the florets just like this or mix them with some homemade sugarless Mayo.
You might think that I mention mutton seekh kebabs daily, and I admit I do. They taste delicious, are easy to make, and can be had in any meal. And they are pretty Keto-friendly. If you want to make them at home try this recipe.
Procedure
For those of you who have never tried peanuts Indian style, I plead you to grab a packet (30 gms) from the closest Indian store. Believe me, you will get hooked onto them. Some Ketoites are not snacking at all, and I must say that’s commendable. But Indians have a tradition of sitting with their parents, kids, or friends in the evening and sharing their day over a cup of tea with something to munch on. Eat them if they fit into your macros and occasionally only.
Ingredients
Chicken thighs | 1 kg |
Paste of garlic cloves | 3 cloves |
Paste of ginger | a ½ inch piece |
Garam Masala | 1 tbsp |
Fresh coriander/cilantro green leaves powder | 1 tbsp |
Cumin (Zeera) powder | 1 tbsp |
Red chili (optional) | 1 tbsp |
Full fat greek yogurt | ½ cup |
Butter | 4 tbsp |
Cardamom stick | 1 |
Coconut milk | 1 cup |
Chopped coriander for garnish | ½ cup |
Tomato puree (optional) | 2 tbsp |
Pink and white salt | As per your taste |
Cardamom green (Elaichi) | 2 |
Directions
You don’t need me to tell you, how to make scrambled eggs. Just make them the way you like them. I make them in butter, with just salt and pepper. Make it three eggs and have it with 2 chicken sausages.
This is another world-famous dish, that has origins in North India. Very easy to make and tastes delicious. And it is completely Keto friendly.
Ingredients
Boneless Chicken cut into pieces | 1-inch pieces of 500 grams |
Ginger Garlic Paste | 2 tsp |
Heavy Cream | 2 tbsp |
Greek Yogurt | 2tbsp |
Green Chilly Paste | 2 to 3 tsp (optional) |
Garam Masala or Green Cardamom Powder | 1 tsp and ½ tsp respectively |
Black and white pepper | ½ tsp each |
Grated processed cheese | ½ cup |
Melted butter for basting | |
Lemon Juice | 1 tsp |
Chaat Masala | ½ tsp (optional) |
Salt | As per your preference |
Directions
Eat them hot and do sprinkle some lemon juice and chaat masala over them. You can marinate a bigger batch and cook them at your convenience, over a period of few days. Vegetarians; please note that you can make cottage cheese by this same recipe, only cut the cooking time to 5 to 8 minutes.
Since I started sharing my journey, I have got many requests to share my recipe for Chicken Seekh kebabs. So here goes:
Ingredients
Chicken mince, preferably with fat | 500 gram |
Green chilies chopped | 2-3 pieces |
Chopped Coriander leaves | ½ cup |
Ginger Garlic Paste | 2 tsp |
Roasted cumin powder | 1 tsp |
Garam Masala | 1 tsp |
Kashmiri or Deghi Red chilly powder | ½ tsp |
Melted Butter or Ghee for basting | 1 tsp |
Lemon Juice | 1 tsp |
Chaat Masala | ½ tsp (optional) |
Salt | As per taste preference |
Directions
Enjoy them hot and remember to sprinkle some lemon juice and chaat masala over them.
Tip: Never overcook the kebabs, always remove them from the fire when moist, not dry — Priya Dogra.
I am going to share another recipe of a famous kebab with you to your Indian version of Keto diet plan. This one promises to melt in your mouth. It is called the Shami Kebab. It is made with minced lamb, and can be made in batches and stored in the fridge. The preparation time is just 30 minutes, and cooking takes almost 20 minutes or less.
Ingredients
Minced mutton (without fat) | 500 grams |
Soaked split Bengal gram | 2 tablespoons |
Psyllium husk powder | 1 tablespoon |
Ginger and garlic paste | 2 tablespoons |
Garam masala | 1 tablespoon |
Green cardamom | 2 pieces |
Cinnamon | 1 stick or 1 tablespoon cinnamon powder |
Fresh coriander | half cup (chopped) |
Chopped mint leaves | a handful |
Egg | 1 beaten |
Lemon juice | ½ tbsp |
Ghee (for frying) | As per preference |
Salt | As per preference |
Procedure
Procedure and Ingredients
My broth recipe is very simple I get chicken necks from my butcher. Put them in a pressure cooker with a few cloves of garlic, a piece of ginger and a small chopped onion. With a generous amount of water I let them cook for almost 45 minutes on low heat, allowing all the juices to come out. Later I shred the chicken from the bone and strain the broth. Add salt and pepper according to taste.
I always keep boiled eggs in the fridge, they come very handy when you don’t have time to cook. You can have 3 boiled eggs with the broth.
Plus you can have 3 smoked chicken bacon. This diet plan is meant to give you an idea of what all you can eat in a day. Please adjust the portions according to your macros.
Beat three eggs to a fluffy stage with salt and pepper. I like to have them with crispy fried bacon, but that’s entirely your choice. If you can get bacon bits then that’s even better. Add some ghee to a pan and pour in the egg mixture. Sprinkle in some oregano, chilly flakes. My twist in these eggs is to add a dash of Sriracha and make them really hot and mouth-watering. I like to wash down my spicy eggs with my absolute favorite mug of Bulletproof coffee with butter and coconut oil.
Capsicum and Broccoli in moderation have become my favorite veggies on the Keto diet. For this recipe you will need medium-sized capsicums that have space for filling. You can go for any color of capsic
Ingredients
Capsicums/Bell Peppers | 4 |
Cottage Cheese (grated) | ½ to 1 cup |
Chopped onions (optional) | ½ cup |
Cumin powder | 1 tsp |
Lemon juice | 2 tsp |
Turmeric powder | 1/2 tsp |
Red Chilly powder (optional) | 1/2 tsp |
Chilli powder | ¼ tsp |
Olive Oil | 2 tsp |
White and Pink Salt | To taste |
Procedure
I have seen in-numerous recipes for Cauliflower fried rice on the Internet. This is my version of it.
Procedure
Tandoori chicken is essentially chicken that’s has been marinated with spices and yogurt for some time. It is always cooked over an open fire, grill or in a tandoor. And I can bet that by the time you will get your second batch out of the fire the first one will be long gone.
Ingredients
Chicken | 1 whole chicken cut into 12 or 8 pieces or just chicken legs |
Kashmiri red chilly powder | 2 teaspoons |
Lemon Juice | 2 tablespoons |
Greek (full fat) yogurt | 1 cupt |
Ginger paste | 2 teaspoons |
Garlic paste | 2 teaspoons |
Garam Masala powder | ½ teaspoon |
Chaat Masala | ½ tsp |
Salt | to taste |
Red Food colour | optional |
Procedure
Let’s start this day with the delectable, fulfilling, and healthy Keto cheese rollups.
Ingredients
Butter | 2 ounces |
Sliced cheddar/edam/provolone cheese | 8 ounces |
Procedure
Tip: You can add finely chopped parsley, paprika powder, salt flakes, and other herbs to give additional flavor to the already delectable Keto cheese rollups. A quick and filling breakfast that keeps you going till lunch — Priya Dogra.
For lunch, I tried my hand at Quesadillas and I admit I was pretty nervous, but the end result was pretty satisfying. So calm your nerves and give it a shot.
Ingredients
Cream Cheese | 6 ounces |
Eggs | 2 |
Egg whites | 2 |
Ground psyllium husk powder | 1 and 1/2 teaspoons |
Coconut flour | 1 tablespoon |
Salt | 1/2 teaspoon |
Procedure
Note:
For Dinner, you can try making this simple Spinach pie. Which can later become your go-to recipe for days when you just want to relax in front of the Tv and have a yummy Keto meal. So make it a day before or on a weekend and keep eating it all week through.
Ingredients
Fresh spinach leaves | 250 grams |
Softened cream cheese or cheese spread | 80 grams |
Sliced mushrooms | 12 |
Eggs | 4 |
Grated cheddar cheese or any hard cheese | 1 cup |
Minced garlic | 1 teaspoon |
Chopped onion | Half |
Butter | 1/4 cup |
Procedure
Most of you know by now that I have been on a low-carb Ketogenic diet for the last 4 months or so*. My reasons for going on this diet are very simple. I want to get fit, healthy and in shape. I want my children to not feel embarrassed walking with me, and my husband to get jealous when other men look at me.
More than anything, I want to discover my inner beauty and feel good about myself. The past 4 months have been full of discovery and knowledge. I have discovered the apps Fat Secret and Fitness Pal, they have been very helpful, although I have started using them diligently only a month ago. But they are not like super effective because many Indian food items are not on the index.
The apps do come very useful in calculating the daily calorie count and my macros. If you ask me, I like the fact that I am not following the diet to the ‘t’, because it leaves me scope to be flexible, and takes off the pressure of eating within the numbers.
The fact that I have lost 19 kgs, is a sure indication that I must be doing something right. I would also like to add that I have never used Keto sticks to date, for the simple reason that they are not available here.
Coming back to the Indian Keto diet plan, in the last four months, I have consciously tried to eradicate carbs from my diet and had 2 cheat days till date. For those of you who have just joined the Keto wagon please remember to maintain your electrolyte level at all times and keep yourself well hydrated, in order to tackle any symptoms of Keto-flu.
I have been having lime water or Nimbu Paani regularly. On a sunny day, it is like the most refreshing drink on the planet. You can add ice to it or even make it with equal proportions of plain soda and water. Green tea and a simple glass of chilled cold water can also come in very handy.
Recipe for Lime Water
While following the Keto diet, it is the diet that matters foremost, and exercise only makes you feel good. The effects of the diet rest 90% on the food and the rest from exercise. Exercise is actually helpful when you want to tighten your muscles, and want to tone your body that has just lost its stores of fat.
I walk briskly to my workplace and travel back by bus in the evening. The total distance that I cover is almost 3.5 km and it takes me 45 minutes to reach. After going through my diet plan if you feel the need to add more snacks or to increase the fat value, please feel free to do so, according to your macros. I felt extremely happy sharing a part of my life with you. Hope you had as much fun reading it.
*My Keto journey started on 1st January 2015.
Q. What are the health benefits of the Keto diet? A. If you follow the Keto diet correctly, then there are so many advantages of following it.
Q. Is Keto diet a mere fad diet?
A. No, it is not. The Keto diet is different from the rest of low-carb diets. It is a very scientific diet and should be followed under supervision only. It should not be tried off the net or by following somebody else’s diet blindly. And it requires a lot of discipline so sign up for it, only if you are determined to do something about your health, finally.
Q. Isn’t high fat intake bad for me?
A. Keto diet is a balanced and low-carb diet that does not lead to weight gain. It does not cause high cholesterol levels or any heart diseases.
Q. What’s the difference between Keto and a low-carb diet?
A. Both are low carb diets. The major difference is in carb intake and fat intake. In Keto, the carbs are restricted to below 30gms in a day, which is increased to about 50gms in a low carb diet.
Q. How do I know if I’m in ketosis?
A. A reliable method is that you can measure the levels of blood ketones by using a ketone meter. You also can use urine strips. In ketosis, you have a higher level of ketones than usual.
Q. Do I have to stay in ketosis for the rest of my life?
A. No, it is not necessary that you always eat the same diet if you have lost a lot of weight. You can switch to maintenance mode, which means you can have a cheat meal now and then. Or switch to a low-carb diet and maintain the weight.
Q. How many carbs do I have to eat per day on a ketogenic diet?
A. 20-25 grams of carbs are recommended per day.
Q. I’m a vegetarian. Can I still do Keto?
A. Yes! You can follow the Keto diet even if you are a vegetarian. Check out my vegetarian keto diet plan and Vegetarian keto recipes to know more about Keto regime for Indian Vegetarians. Keto diet is not all about non-vegetarian food.
Q. Can I eat fruits in Keto diet?
A. Fruits contain a lot of sugar, so no. And don’t forget that Keto is a “no sugar” diet.
Q. Can I eat dairy on the keto diet?
A. Yes, you can. But only in the form of yogurt, cheese, paneer and buttermilk.
Q. Can I drink alcohol on this diet?
A. Occasionally it’s ok! But when your body is processing alcohol, it does not burn fat. Alcohol like beer contains carbs. Vodka, gin, and wine are permissible sometimes.
Q. Can I work out while on Keto diet?
A. Yes you can, you should in fact. Any kind of exercise never hurts anybody!!
Q. What are macros and how do I calculate them?
A. “Macros” is the short term for macronutrients, which are categorized into three types of nutrients that provide most of the energy – protein, carbohydrates, and fats. When you calculate your macros, you are basically amounting to the quantity of proteins, carbs, and fats that you are ingesting. Tracking the intake of macros can help you make smart and healthy food choices. Generally, your macros intake should be around 5% carbs, 20% protein, and 75% fats. However, macros are specific to each individual; therefore the use of a Keto macros calculator is a good decision.
Q. Can I do Keto diet if I am diabetic?
A. Keto diet can help reduce insulin requirements and stabilize blood sugar levels in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Researches have also proved that people with diabetes have slimmed down and their blood sugar levels have lowered with the Keto diet. However, before making any major dietary adjustments, you must consult your doctor.
Q. Can Keto diet cause hair loss?
A. No! Keto diet does not cause hair loss. But if you are consuming too little micronutrients and proteins, there are chances of hair loss. So, make sure to consume enough micronutrients and proteins.