Tips for Cooking for the Whole Family: HELP Explained
It's not necessary to cook separate meals for non-keto family members!
At the start of the new year, my husband Kyle and I rededicated ourselves to low-carb eating. Kyle turns 40 in April, and much like my Dad did 20 years ago, he aims to be in peak physical condition come his big birthday.
As you can see from the image on the right, we also have five hungry and growing children in our house who are not following the ketogenic diet. Over the years, I've discovered some ways to simplify and modify my cooking to be able to efficiently meet the various nutritional needs of my household (and not spend all day in the kitchen).
Tips and Tricks
There are many great keto recipes the whole family can enjoy. I often make a keto-friendly main dish and then add extra healthy carbs as sides for the kids (roasted potato wedges, brown rice, fresh fruit, regular pasta, roasted sweet potatoes, carrots and ranch, buttery corn, unsweetened applesauce, etc).
Here are some of my go-to meals for the family:
Cheeseburgers—for a keto meal, skip the bun and ketchup (or try a sugar-free variety) and instead throw on some bacon and wrap in lettuce with mustard and mayo. Make some roasted broccoli on the side to complete your meal. I like to use my fry cutter and bake some homemade fries for my kids to enjoy.
Chicken Alfredo—make homemade sauce and serve your portion over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.
Pizza—everyone can enjoy this pizza recipe! I like serving a Caesar salad on the side (romaine lettuce, shredded parmesan, some bacon bits and Caesar dressing). Check the dressing to make sure it's low in carbs. I like to make my own; it's so yummy and relatively easy! This recipe includes a great Caesar dressing recipe.
Low-carb soup—recipes like this are great option for the whole family! I usually serve bread or crackers and apple slices on the side for my kids. Make some of my Mom's crackers for yourself, you won't be disappointed!
Recipes like Jalapeño Popper Chicken, Keto Chicken Stir Fry, Creamy Skillet Lemon Chicken, and Spicy Pork Stir Fry worked well for my family. The kids enjoy their portions with regular rice and Kyle and I put our portions atop cauliflower rice.
Recipes like Low Carb Keto Philly Cheesesteak and Keto Chicken Fajita Skillet can be served on regular tortillas or low-carb ones (I found some that my husband likes at Aldi). I like to have my portion on a bed of lettuce or spring mix.
Keep it Simple
You can always just choose a protein source to prepare: steak, grilled chicken, brats, pork chops, a roast, etc. Serve a salad on the side or some low carb veggies for an easy keto meal. I usually throw in one of the additional sides I mentioned above for the kids.
Breakfast for dinner is always a hit. Who doesn't love bacon and eggs? Well maybe my Mom, but I digress. Try my Dad's scrambled eggs supreme or make a keto egg bake for the whole family! My kids love when I add some crispy hash browns to their plates.
We are in it together!
I hope this post has given you some ideas of how to make low carb cooking work for you. Head on over to the HELPcare Community discussion page and share what you've found helpful as well as any tips and tricks that have made the keto diet easier for you to follow. I'd love to see you over there!
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