Finding Keto-Friendly Choices at Cracker Barrel
Sticking to a keto diet when eating out can be challenging. Low-carb options may seem limited, especially at classic country-style restaurants like Cracker Barrel. However, with the rising popularity of low-carb and ketogenic diets, even traditional restaurants are expanding their menus. At Cracker Barrel, it is possible to find keto-friendly choices that will keep you in ketosis.
Understanding Keto Diets
The ketogenic or "keto" diet emphasizes high fat intake, adequate protein, and very minimal carbs to put your body into ketosis. In this fat-burning metabolic state, your body breaks down fat and ketones rather than glucose from carbohydrates for fuel.
Experts suggest limiting carb intake to just 50 grams or less per day on a keto diet. To stay under this low carb threshold when dining out can be tricky. However, Cracker Barrel does accommodate low-carb lifestyles in many tasty ways.
Finding Low Carb Breakfast Options
Breakfast at Cracker Barrel brings lots of tasty southern-inspired options from biscuits to gravy, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, and more. Yet traditional breakfast items also tend to be loaded with carbs from biscuits and pancakes to grits and gravy.
Luckily, there are also easy ways to customize your Cracker Barrel breakfast for a low carb keto meal:
- Order eggs cooked your way without hashbrowns or pancakes
- Add side meat like bacon or sausage patties
- Choose a "Low Carb Sampler" with eggs, meat, and no biscuit or grits
- Order a breakfast bowl without grits or gravy
- Choose sausage or bacon with eggs without biscuits or pancakes
Simply avoiding the pancakes, biscuits, muffins, cereals, and heavy carb sides like gravies, jams, and grits will instantly cut the carbs. Afford yourself extra meat, cheese, eggs, and low carb veggies instead.
Lunch and Dinner Keto Options
Lunch and dinner fare at Cracker Barrel also includes southern comfort foods. That can mean more fried dishes, sandwiches, beans, biscuits, potatoes, rice, gravies, corn, and other higher carb options.
Yet by customizing main dishes and being choosy with sides, you can order delicious keto meals for lunch or dinner. Options include:
- Grilled chicken tenderloin or roast turkeybreast
- Broiled fish or shrimp
- Beef roasts like round, shoulder clod, or chopped steak
- Omelets or eggs made your way
- Salads with grilled chicken or other proteins added
- Low carb vegetables like broccoli, green beans, or sauted spinach as sides
Avoid the mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, breaded fried dishes, biscuits with main dishes and sugars and heavy gravies on the side. Stick to low carb veggies prepared without sugary glazes or batters which increases the carb count.
Keto Friendly Salad Choices
One dependable keto choice for meals at any restaurant are fresh salads. Cracker Barrel offers 14 salad options that can easily be customized into delicious keto-friendly lunches or dinners.
Select grilled, roasted, blackened, or fried chicken tenders or a broiled fish fillet to add protein without extra carbs. Then choose low carb salad dressings like vinaigrettes, Greek yogurt ranch, or blue cheese.
Further limit carbs by avoiding corn, beans, potatoes, rice, croutons, and sugary fruits as salad add-ins. Enjoy just leafy greens, cucumbers, broccoli, cheese, eggs, mushrooms, and other low carb veggies instead. A salad customized in these healthy low carb ways can make for satisfying keto meal.
Finding Low Carb Sides
Side dishes that pair well without spiking blood sugars are key to keto success when eating out. At Cracker Barrel, low carb vegetable sides to enjoy include:
- Steamed broccoli
- Sauted spinach
- Green beans
- Coleslaw without sugary dressing
- Fried okra
- Sauted mushrooms or onions
- Fresh loaded salad with vinaigrette instead of croutons and sugary toppings
Avoid potatoes, rice dishes, gravies, corn, beans, biscuits, or mac and cheese as sides to prevent excess carbs. Stick to green veggies, salads, cheese, and the other delicious low carb options instead.
Hacking the Menu for Keto Success
Customizing menu items is key for finding lower carb choices when eating at Cracker Barrel. Avoid the obvious breads, biscuits, pancakes, potatoes, corn, beans, and heavy gravy dishes.
Instead, choose eggs, grilled meats, broiled fish, shrimp, and chicken paired with low carb salads, sliced cheeses, non-breaded green veggies, mushrooms, and onions.
Check the online menu and nutrition info to pre-plan your meal. Craft your perfect custom keto plate by swapping starchy sides for veggies. Dine low-carb and enjoy the tasty comfort foods Cracker Barrel does so well.
Understanding what basic dishes you can adapt into delicious keto meals makes dining out while sticking to your diet much easier. Cracker Barrels southern-inspired classics can suit your keto needs when ordered wisely.
Substitute starchy, sugary, and high carb choices like biscuits, rice, potatoes, beans, pancakes, and heavy gravies for the fresh salads, grilled proteins, leafy greens, eggs, and low carb veggie sides. While sticking to keto limits, you can craft satisfying low carb meals at a classic country restaurant like Cracker Barrel.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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