Our Senior Manager of Nutrition, Danielle McAvoy, MSPH, RD, explains why a less strict approach to the keto diet is a better way to meet your health goals. 

Before “keto” became a trend,  it was medical nutrition therapy for patients suffering from epilepsy and seizures. It has a clinical definition: at least 70% of calories must come from fat, 20% from protein, and no more than 10% from carbs. Translating those ratios to a plate is hard, even for a dietitian. You may be surprised to learn that the cliche “keto” breakfast of bacon and eggs is not actually keto because there’s no combination of those two foods that would provide fewer than 20% calories from protein. 

Adhering to the keto protocols requires a lot of math and measuring, so as the diet became more popular, it transformed into something less challenging to stick to: a very low-carb diet that allows for a lot of bacon. In the mainstream version of keto, the plate of bacon and eggs works. 

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE SALMON WITH ASPARAGUS AND CAPONATA – 12g net carbs

I never recommend keto to anyone who is not epileptic, because my training as a Registered Dietitian taught me that clinical diets serve a medical purpose. If you choose to follow just the low-carb part of the keto diet, then let’s call it very low-carb, or keto-friendly, or keto-ish. I think keto-ish is healthier than a strict keto diet for most people. It allows for more protein, focuses on fat quality rather than quantity, and makes room for additional nutrient-dense vegetables.

RED CHIMICHURRI CHICKEN WITH SUMMER VEGETABLES – 14g net carbs

I love it when someone improves their quality of life by making a change in their diet. I’ve heard countless stories of people, including members of my family, experiencing tremendous health benefits from a very low-carb diet. Making a positive dietary change always deserves to be celebrated. 

At Territory, we’re committed to making great-tasting food that meets people wherever they are on the carb, fat, and protein spectrum. For years, we offered meals that met the clinical definition of keto, because #integrity, but we no longer feel like that’s the most supportive approach.

SEARED STEAK WITH SMOKY CHIMICHURRI AND GARLIC BROCCOLI MASH – 15g net carbs

Starting September 3rd, we’re replacing our keto menu with “keto-friendly.” The meals will have a net carb limit of 15 grams, the protein and fat content will be more balanced, and as always, the meals will still be free of gluten, dairy, refined oils and sugars, and chemical additives. 

We’ve also heard (and agree) that the variety on the keto menu isn’t on par with the rest of our menu. Designing keto meals with strict 70/20/10 ratios is difficult. With our keto-friendly filter, we’re able to produce new meals more quickly and offer more variety. Ultimately, we believe that a keto-ish approach is a better way to help more people achieve their health goals.