The Keto diet is basically a low carb, high fat (LCHF) diet. You cut out all grains and high-carb foods like potatoes, and many partakers of the diet also cut out all sugar. The idea is to stay under 20 net carbs every day (sometimes more if you workout intensely). Many researchers who are pro keto, have claimed that the keto diet takes us back to what our ancient ancestors ate.

While it might sound terrible to cut out all of your favorite sweets and comfort foods, the benefits might entice you to try it if you’ve struggled with other diets.

Weight Loss

10 Unexpected Health Benefits of the Keto Diet

Okay, we have to list this one. Weight loss is the number one reason people start a keto diet. As your body adapts to the high fat diet and is denied its regular carb-energy intake, it starts to burn fat for energy instead of glucose. Initially, most of your weight loss will be water weight. But you’ll find that the natural fatty foods are much more sustaining than your carb-loaded snacks and that you can go longer in between snack breaks and meals. You’ll naturally eat less calories because the keto diet can sustain you longer, thus, losing more weight in the long run.

Dental Health

8 Things You Should Know Before Going to the Dentist

When you cut out all the sugar you were consuming before, that will naturally have a much better impact on your dental health. Of course you still need to brush and floss, but less sugar means less opportunity for bacteria to form and eat away at your enamel. Professionals like those at Washington Periodontics will have a much easier time at your regular cleanings when you cut out sugar.

Disease Prevention

Getting Proper Medical Care for Your Family

While this is a little harder to prove overall, there have been many instances that show the keto diet helping with disease control and prevention.

Research suggests that people with type 2 diabetes can see improvements in their HbA1c levels when they go on the keto diet.

Others have seen improvements in their mood, particular those with bipolar disorders. It can even help people with epilepsy, by significantly reducing the amount of seizures a person experiences.

‘I Tried The Keto Diet For Weight Loss And It Did Not Disappoint’

The keto diet isn’t for everyone though, particularly pregnant women and those with kidney damage or anyone who is at risk for heart disease. If you want to try keto to lose weight, but are concerned about the potential impacts of it on your health, talk to your doctor or a nutritionist to find out if it’s right for you.

All diets work much better when complimented by mild exercise, quality sleep, and stress management techniques. Do what you need to take care of your body and ensure a healthy, happy life.

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Potato Pizza Crust

That’s right, you can use potatoes for pizza crust! Need to go gluten free? No problem! This potato pizza crust is healthy and delicious, and it is sure to help satisfy that pizza craving.

This recipe is super simple, and most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen: gluten free flour (or regular flour if you don’t need to be gluten free), potatoes, corn starch, salt, baking powder, and other seasonings.

Find the full recipe at Knead to Cook.

Potato Toast

Sweet potato toast has really been a game changer, but not everyone likes sweet potatoes. So we’ve found a potato toast recipe that uses russet potatoes! (Of course if you are a die hard sweet potato lover, you keep on keepin on with those delicious and healthy sweet potatoes!)

This particular recipe from Spoon University is for Avocado Potato Toast, but once you’ve made your toast, you can add any toppings that your heart desires!

Blooming Sweet Potato

You’ve likely tried bloomin’ onions at your favorite steak restaurant. But have you tried this sweet and delicious twist on the classic? This is a great appetizer for parties and get togethers that your guests will keep coming back to.

You can find the full recipe at The Gunny Sack.

Sweet Potato Pizza Crust

Okay, I know this is along the same lines as the first, but it’s totally different! And who doesn’t love pizza?

This simple three-ingredient crust is for all you sweet potato lovers out there. All you need is sweet potatoes, rolled oats, and an egg.

You can thank Pinch of Yum for this brilliant recipe.

Potato Poppers

These tiny loaded potatoes are the potato dish you never knew you needed. Another great appetizer for parties, these potato poppers will keep your guests coming back for more all night long. So be sure to make plenty!

You can find the full recipe at Passion for Savings.

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1. Oatmeal

Turn instant oats into a quick, easy, and deliciously healthy breakfast by adding berries and cream to it. If you have oatmeal lovers, this is a great meal to get your kids going in the morning. You can even lay out bowls of fruit on the table for your kids to put in their oatmeal.

2. Smoothie Bowls or Yogurt Parfaits

Smoothie bowls are great, especially if you want to hide some vegetables that your child wouldn’t get otherwise. Use your favorite smoothie recipe, pour it into a bowl, and add fruit and granola to it. Likewise, for an even simpler breakfast, add fruit and granola to yogurt. Lay out all of the fix-ins and let your kids make their own healthy parfait.

3. Grilled Cheese with Veggies

Are your kids grilled cheese lovers? Use whole grain bread, a favorite cheese, and add on veggies like tomatoes, peppers, spinach, and cucumbers. This meal only takes a few minutes to make and is perfect for quick lunches or dinners.

4. Chicken Salad

Grill up some chicken, throw it in a leafy green mix, add toppings like cheese and tomatoes, cover it in your favorite dressing (or your kids’ favorite dressing). For an extra simple meal, grill up some extra chicken on a night when you have chicken planned, and save if for lunch the next day. Any salad will be a great healthy and easy meal – you can use deli meats or leftover Christmas ham and turkey for the meat too.

5. Pesto Pasta

Cook up some bowtie pasta, mix it in with pesto or Italian dressing, and lay it over a bed of leafy greens for a perfect and simple healthy meal. If you have children old enough to do so, you can even instruct them to boil the pasta and mix it with the dressing.

The post Healthy Kid-Friendly Meals to Get You Through the Holidays appeared first on InstantELLA.

1. Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Casserole

Casseroles are great around the holidays. They are easy to throw together and they feed a lot of people. This wonderful recipe from The Diary of Real Housewife is a perfect quick dish to prepare and let sit in the crockpot all day while you visit with your guests or prepare the rest of your meal.

2. Sweet Potato Casserole Bites

Do you love finger food around the holidays? Or maybe you need some quick appetizers that are sure to please? Then look no further than these delightful sweet potato casserole bites from Shaken Together Life. They’ve turned a classic holiday dish into a convenient and delicious appetizer.

3. Loaded Leftover Mashed Potato Balls

You can make this dish for an appetizer or with the leftovers from your Thanksgiving mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes have never been so delicious! You can find the full recipe at Handle the Heat.

4. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Take a classic and make it better. Everyone loves mashed potatoes, and these roasted garlic mashed potatoes will have your guests back for seconds and thirds, so make sure you make plenty! Go to Cooking Classy to find the recipe.

5. Scalloped Potatoes

Don’t underestimate the power of a delicious classic potato dish. You don’t have to do something totally unique or super fancy to please your guests. Try this scalloped potato recipe from Gimme Some Oven and see how happy your guests will be.

6. Duchess Potatoes

Take your mashed potatoes to the next level with this fancy look. Bake fluffy, perfect individual servings of mashed potatoes with this treat. Find the recipe at Home Made Interest.

7. Roasted Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes

Because sweet potatoes are a staple of holiday gatherings, we had to throw another recipe in here. These roasted maple cinnamon sweet potatoes are sure to have your yam-loving guests coming back for more. Find the full recipe at Together as a Family.

8. Three Ingredient Roasted Potatoes

You can never go wrong with roasted potatoes. This 3-ingredient dish is so simple to prepare that you’ll want to make it with every meal. All you need is baby red potatoes, olive oil, and dry onion soup mix. You can thank The Food Charlatan for the recipe.

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