In my last article, I discussed how *unhealthy* I ate back at school and how bad I felt, both mentally and physically. Which is why I started the keto diet after a few days of research! I was 6 days in when I wrote my previous article and now I am on day 45. I said I have never felt better about myself in my life, and that still holds true now.
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Over the past few weeks on keto I have found myself cooking more and being more creative with the foods I can eat. I will admit I have had a few cheat meals (about 3, which isn’t bad), but after a while you stop craving carbohydrates: pasta, bread, pizza, mac n cheese etc. So instead of “giving up” how good I feel, I worked around my cravings.Â
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First, pasta. All you need is 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, melt it, and add one egg yolk. Mix it and spread it out evenly on a pan. Then take a knife and cut spaghetti strips and put it in the refrigerator. After an hour, add to boiling water and you will have pasta without the carbs.
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My second favorite meal to make has been cauliflower bacon mac and cheese.  First, boil some water, add a whole head of cauliflower with some salt. Boil for 4 minutes. In a separate pan, add 4 ounces of cream cheese, 1/3 cup of heavy cream, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika. Let it melt together and then add your cauliflower. Then add two cups of cheddar cheese and some cut up bacon. Taste just like mac and cheese but a touch healthier and keto-friendly!
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Lastly, sometimes I just want a sandwich. Not with lettuce, but with some bread. So, I made keto-friendly bread! In a small round bowl, add 3 tablespoons of almond flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon rosemary, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, some salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon butter, and 1 egg. Mix it and put it in the microwave for 90 seconds. And you will have bread with no carbs.
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Another important note, without eating carbohydrates (mostly) and most sugars, you do lose out on some nutrients, so I have also changed what vitamins I take as well. It is extremely important to drink water, a lot of water, every day. So, another idea is to keep a journal of how much you are drinking (and eating) to make sure you are getting enough, which is what I have found helpful.
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As of right now, I am going to keep the “diet” going, but slowly turn it into a lifestyle. I don’t think this is something anyone should be eating long term, yet it is a healthy way to kickstart a healthier lifestyle and relationship in general with food. I have learned healthier options to foods and snacks I have always loved, and I will slowly begin to eat more carbohydrates and sugars, but still limit myself with them. I really don’t find myself craving them as I used to, and I will be careful on my intake, as I don’t ever want to go back to feeling how I did before I started this journey.
Overall, I highly recommend trying this out to see if it can help you in any way like it has for me, both with my physical and mental health.