At this point in history, who does not know what a meatball is? They are absolutely amazing for being able to pack a nice source of protein into a funny-looking dish that manages to taste incredible when is prepared with the proper ingredients. The best thing about meatballs is the fact that there are many ways and styles of preparing them and no one can say that you are doing it wrong! However, everyone has to agree that the Italian style is definitely the most popular as it comes with its signature tomato sauce and spaghetti that just makes everything better.
Individuals who are planning to start a keto diet might be a little concerned as this could mean that they will not be able to consume meatballs anymore (or at least on a regular basis) but how much of that is actually true? The next article will discuss: Are Meatballs Keto? To see if it is possible to include them in your keto diet without losing the gains of the strategy.
Are Meatballs Keto?
What is the Keto Diet?
In case you did not know, a keto diet is basically a low-carb, high-fat diet that gradually lets you lose weight by forcing the body into a state of ketosis. The way it works is kind of tough to understand the first time, but basically, the body will shed pounds by feeding on fat that is broken down in the liver, rather than the traditional carbohydrates and glucose.
Since carbohydrates will be eaten in fewer quantities, you will be burning a lot of fat instead of storing it, making keto diets a great way of losing weight by improving your health and strengthening both the body and mind by discovering new strategies and knowledge.
Are Meatballs Suited for Keto?
Sadly, thanks to the unique composition and used ingredients, meatballs are not keto, making them another dish that you have to sacrifice in order to lose some weight. The reason why meatballs are not suited for keto is because they tend to rely on breadcrumbs as the main ingredient to hold everything together in shape and improve the taste and texture. However, this proves to be a major violation of the Keto rules, as it could develop into a severe loss of efficiency.
But do not lose hope as there is still something that can be done. Keep in mind that while the traditional meatballs are not suited for keto diets, this does not mean that you can not create or find keto alternatives in the market. There are tons of keto-based meatballs that focus on eliminating the great majority of carbohydrate components while adding some additional fat into the composition.
Watch Out for “Outside” Meatballs
It is always said that restaurants and cheap grocery store meatballs should be avoided at all costs as they tend to use some unreliable ingredients that could prove to be unhealthy for your organism. Since in keto diets you have to refrain from consuming certain ingredients, it would not be wise to consume something as volatile as meatballs without knowing how they were made.
Meatballs are called volatile because everyone has their own way of making them, that is why, unless you manage to find a good and trustworthy brand that does sell keto-based meatballs, it would be wise to prepare your own meatballs at home. Do not worry, thanks to their unique nature, they prove to be easy to prepare even if you do not have a lot of experience in the kitchen.
Meatballs Consumption
Even if you find the best keto-based meatballs, it is extremely important to limit their consumption to only small servings. Meatballs should not be consumed on a regular basis as they could pack a lot of carbs into your organism if you are not conscious of how much you eat regularly.
In keto, it is important to measure any carb consumption as you have a limit that should not be surpassed at any moment. The usual daily net carb limit is around 20g to 30g, which is not a lot, so things like meatballs could make you break that limitation.
Also, since most meatballs are low in fats, they must be supplemented with other foods that prove to be high in healthy fats, which is what keto is all about, reducing carbs and improving the consumption of fats. While your body is in ketosis, it will burn a lot of energy, and this energy will be nothing more than the fat of your body. Not having enough fat reserves for keto could develop into unwanted situations and bad experiences.
What Ingredients Should be Used for Keto-Based Meatballs?
Normally, you would want to use ground beef combined with anything else like pork sausage to boost the taste and also to make sure that they do not break any keto regulation. Then it proves to be wise to rely on eggs as you will not be using breadcrumbs, so you will need a natural substitute that can hold everything in place and eggs can do that without any issue.
A lot of people who prepare keto-based meatballs use cheese to enhance the flavor of the dish and also to help the eggs in keeping everything together. Believe it or not, the cheese will trap out all the flavor of the seasoning without letting anything get away. For this purpose, you could use Mozzarella cheese and a little amount of Parmesan to top the cheesy flavor. However, keep in mind that this is completely optional so do not believe that all keto-based meatballs should be made with cheese.
Finally, when it comes to the spices and sauce. Onion powder, Italian seasonings, and peppers tend to be more than enough for preparing meatballs as you do not desire to let the seasoning overtake the flavor of the meat and cheese. In the case of the sauce, it would be wise to use marinara sauce or any other kind of tomato sauce that promotes both freshness and flavor in every bite.