A DIY Collection for the Keto Enthusiast in Your Life
If you’re looking to buy a thoughtful present for someone on a low carb, high fat ketogenic diet, this could be the perfect gift idea. A DIY basket filled with keto friendly items is bound to put a smile on any keto lover’s face. These make for great Holiday gift baskets, but they are also a wonderful way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, job promotions and other special events.
Let’s get started!
You’ll need the right size basket for everything you plan to include. You could start there, but it might be best to buy all the gift items first and then see what size basket you’ll need. Once you’ve settled on a good size, one fun option is to forgo the basket and go to a container store or look on the internet for some interesting storage bins or boxes that can be reused or even put on display. The choices are endless!
Now you’re ready to start scoping out and purchasing those keto gifts. Once you start looking, you’ll be amazed at how many great ideas come to you.
Here are some keto-friendly items you may want to include:
A Cheese Sampler. You can find some excellent cheese samplers online. But we think it’s way more interesting to cruise the nearest upscale grocery store and browse through their section of imported cheeses for exotic and unusual finds. A good sheep’s milk Manchego from Spain, a nice British Stilton or a creamy Brie are all delicious options.
A Selection of Nuts. Raw nuts are an excellent, healthy choice for a keto diet, but roasted ones can work as well. Just make sure to read the back of the label and keep an eye out for added sugar and other carb-y ingredients you don’t want. Or better yet, find a recipe for spiced roasted nuts on the internet and make your own!
A Keto Recipe Book. Speaking of recipes, including a keto-friendly cookbook or two is an obvious choice that will be greatly appreciated. Have a little extra time on your hands? Consider looking through the internet for keto recipes and making your own recipe cards. Here are a couple of our favorites to get you started: a fragrant, tasty
Chicken Tikka Masala Soup, and a movie or football game night favorite,
Cheesy Pizza Dip (great with pork rinds).
An Omelet Pan. When it comes to keto, eggs are your friend. Excellent sources of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, eggs are delicious, versatile and easy to prepare, particularly when you have the right equipment. The perfect size for a tasty omelet, this handy pan is small enough to fit comfortably in most gift baskets or boxes. And best of all, it won’t break the bank. If you’ve decided to take us up on the keto recipes suggestion, be sure to include one or two for a good omelet.
A Digital Meat Thermometer. As you already know, keto diets are the ultimate meat fest. And what could be more useful than a spot-on, accurate, instant-read thermometer to make sure that roast chicken or juicy ribeye are perfectly cooked? There are a lot of excellent digital options for well under $20, and some very fancy ones for a lot more, depending on your budget and tastes.
Some Hot Sauces. As you probably know, a good blast of heat and spice can rev up your metabolism, always a good thing when trying to manage your weight. There are a lot of keto-friendly hot sauces, and you can choose the level of heat your giftee will be able to handle. Plus many hot sauces have colorful labels and clever names that are good for a laugh! Just remember to look at the ingredients and nutrition information on the back label to make sure there are no hidden carbs.
Stevia. Plant-based, low-glycemic and great-tasting, Stevia is the sweetener of choice for most keto dieters. You’ll find Stevia comes in
liquid drops,
powder and some
interesting flavors like hazelnut, coconut and chocolate cardamon.
Good Olive Oil. An incredibly healthy fat, olive oil is perfect for marinades and salad dressings and imparts a rich flavor to meats, fish and vegetables. When choosing an olive oil, pure virgin is a must, and certified organic is even better. Plus some of the more upscale brands come in attractive bottles that look great in a gift basket.
Keto Test Strips. A must for keto, Paleo and other low-carb diets, these easy-to-use urinalysis test strips can help determine whether a keto diet is working. Holding a strip in the stream or in a urine sample for a couple of seconds lets the user know whether they have reached ketosis. As the strip changes colors, the shade may be matched to the color chart printed on the label to see where the ketone levels are.
Zhou Nutrition Keto Test is an excellent choice for fast, accurate results.
Magnesium Oil. Workouts are a big part of any keto plan. With any strenuous exercise come tired, overused muscles screaming for some comfort. Magnesium oil has a soothing effect on both body and mind. A little
Life-flo Magnesium Oil Spray rubbed onto overworked muscles and joints or tired feet will go a long way. Magnesium also has a calming effect, and is great at bedtime to help you relax. Also available from Life-flo as a convenient,
easy-to-use roll-on.
A Jump Rope. Jump ropes are inexpensive, make for an excellent workout, and are a fun way to exercise.
Essential Supplements. Keto dieters have their own specific nutritional needs, so in a way, this could be the most important part of your gift basket. The right dietary supplements can help fill nutritional deficiencies and support the success of a keto plan by helping the dieter reach and stay in ketosis.
Here are some excellent supplement recommendations from the Healthway family of brands:
Zhou Nutrition Keto Drive Orange Mango. This complex of patented beta-hydroxybutyrates (BHB) exogenous ketones from Zhou Nutrition is formulated to support blood ketone levels when paired with a low-carb, keto diet and exercise. These powdered ketones are designed to help achieve ketosis and support healthy weight management, energy, stamina and mental focus. Great Orange Mango flavor makes for a refreshing drink. Non-GMO, no caffeine or sugar, lab verified, 60-day money-back guarantee.
8.3 oz, 16 Servings.
Zhou Nutrition MCT Oil. A clean source of medium chain triglycerides, healthy fats that quickly convert to ketones in the body, MCT Oil is another excellent addition to a keto lifestyle. Taken regularly as part of a ketogenic diet and exercise plan, it can help the user reach and stay in ketosis and support healthy energy and vitality for more intense workouts. Non-GMO, vegetarian, gluten free, lab verified, 60-day money-back guarantee. 16 oz, 31 Servings.
Zhou Nutrition MCT Powder. The same health properties of MCT oil in a fast-dissolving powder formulated to be easier on digestion and mix readily into cold or hot drinks (it’s great in coffee!), smoothies and soft foods. One scoop gives you 4g of healthy fat and 9g of MCTs. As an added benefit, Zhou's formula includes gut-healthy acacia prebiotic fiber, providing 18% of the fiber you need to keep your digestion on track. No maltodextrin, non-GMO, lab verified, 60-day money-back guarantee. 14.5oz, 45 Servings. Also try Nature’s Life Coconut MCT Powder.
KAL Magnesium Malate 400mg. Involved 300+ bodily processes, this mineral is very important to our health. But magnesium-rich foods like beans and fruit can be high in carbs and are often avoided while on a keto diet, so supplementation just makes sense. Magnesium malate – magnesium bound with malic acid for maximum absorption – may help support energy metabolism, nerve function, bone and heart health and can be beneficial to muscle recovery and comfort after a workout. ActivTab technology, lab verified. 90 VegCaps, 45 Servings. Also try Nature’s Life Magnesium Malate 1,300mg.
Lyte Up. A low carb, high fat diet could temporarily get your electrolytes out of whack. This powerful supplement is designed to help replenish electrolytes lost through excessive sweating during a workout or from imbalances caused by a keto, Paleo or other low carb diet. Scientifically formulated for rapid rehydration, this advanced complex supports faster recovery and peak performance. Non-GMO, gluten free, lab verified, 60-day money-back guarantee. 100 Capsules, 100 Servings.
When it comes to keto-friendly gifts, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Once you get started, you’ll find tons of fabulous ideas will pop into your head. You can make this gift basket as small or large as you want, depending on your budget. Either way, we think you’ll have a great time shopping!
Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.