Keto and other low carb diets are increasingly popular, as the health benefits become better understood and more widely known. As someone who has lost a significant amount of weight (nearly 60 pounds) on a ketogenic diet and kept the weight off by maintaining a healthy, low-carb lifestyle, I'm reviewing my favorite gift ideas for anyone on your list who is trying to watch their carbohydrate intakes, or has plans to start a low carb or keto diet in the near future (perhaps once upcoming holidays, events, special occasions, or other celebrations—such as their, or your, birthday, graduation, anniversary, engagement party, wedding, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Valentine's Day, etc.).
Gift Ideas for Keto Diet or Low Carb Newbies
- A book that explains and helps them succeed on a keto diet by a respected and knowledgeable author. Keto: The Complete Guide to Success on The Ketogenic Diet, including Simplified Science and No-cook Meal Plans by Maria Emmerich and Suzanne Ryan's books Simply Keto and Beyond Simply Keto are all excellent choices.
- A reliable, accurate and reliable digital food scale to help them weigh and track their calories, carbs, and other macros. I recommend looking for one that has a convenient tare function (which zeroes out the weight of a plate, bowl, cup, or other container before adding the food to be weighed), weighs in pounds, ounces, kilograms, and grams, registers additions accurately in very small increments, has a large, easy-to-read display, a smooth, easy-to-clean surface, and is made by a company that stands behind its products. I highly recommend the Nicewell 22 Lb. Digital Kitchen Scale. It meets all the aforementioned criteria, has a smooth, wipe-clean, durable stainless steel and tempered glass surface, and has a wide measurement range of 0.1 ounce/2–3 grams to 22 pounds/10 kg, added in 0.1 ounce/1 gram increments. Mine also has been much more reliable than the two previous digital food scales I've owned (from well known brands), and the flat surface lets me weigh food on a large plate or in a large bowl, without taking up a lot of valuable kitchen counter space. At less than $37 (as of this writing), its high accuracy and excellent features compared to cheaper models make it a very good value.
- A selection of low-glycemic, keto-friendly sweeteners. Since each person's palate, digestive system, and metabolism are different, figuring out which types of keto-friendly sweeteners taste best to them, which ones cause them to experience an unpleasant aftertaste or noticeable cooling effect, which ones cause them gastrointestinal distress, and which ones elevate their blood sugar or knock them out of ketosis. Some people are much more sensitive than others to certain types of sweeteners. So, for someone who is just starting out, especially if they have a sweet tooth, a range of different types of granulated, powdered, and brown sugar replacements would likely be a welcome gift.
- One of the best articles to help you understand the differences and which keto sweeteners are best for specific uses is Carolyn Ketchum's "The Ultimate Guide to Keto Sweeteners" on her All Day I Dream About Food website. My favorite sweetener by far is BochaSweet "The Supreme Sugar Replacement," which tastes virtually identical to cane sugar, has no aftertaste, and comes in both granulated and powdered (confectioner's sugar) forms. It's also more expensive than other keto-friendly sweeteners, so it's a luxury a keto newbie might not splurge on to buy for themselves.
- An accurate and reliable digital body weight scale to help them track their weight loss progress. Our house is old and has settled, so the wood floors aren't perfectly level. As a result, I never had a scale that reliably displayed the same weight reading five minutes apart, until I bought myself the Etekcity High Precision Digital Body Weight Bathroom Scale with Ultra Wide Platform and Easy-to-Read Backlit LCD. In addition to its accuracy, I also love the big, easy-to-read, backlit digital display and the extra-wide, rock-steady platform (since my balance isn't that great when my feet are too close together). It measures within a weight range of 18–440 pounds (8–200 kg) in increments of 0.2 lb. /0.1 kg. Best of all, it costs less than $30!
- A journal where they can track their progress against their goals in whatever way is most helpful to them—tracking food, exercise, sleep, water intake, body measurements, blood pressure, mood, how their clothes fit, how they're feeling, etc. Many food and exercise journals track just 90 days, and have limited (or no) flexibility in what you can track and in what format. I suggest choosing one like Eat Better, Feel Better, Live Better: A 52-Week Food Journal, which will allow your gift recipient track the things they care about most for an entire year. Even though I've used the Carb Manager app since the day I switched to a low carb keto lifestyle, I would have really benefited from also using a journal like this one where I could track more than just numbers.
Fun Gifts for Low Carb and Keto Enthusiasts
Low carb or keto themed T-shirts or tank tops, like the ones from Epic Life featuring sayings like "Recovering Carboholic," "Living That Keto Life," "Keto Queen," or my favorite, "Keto Makes My Clothes Fall Off." Most come in a wide choice of colors and in both unisex and women's sizes (depending on the style).Recovering Carboholic T-shirt
available on Amazon Handmade- A humorous mug to put a smile on their face every time they drink their bulletproof coffee, tea, low carb hot chocolate, or bone broth. To make your present even more special, you can add a bag or two of sugar free, low carb La Nouba or Know Brainer Max Mallow marshmallows, and tuck a copy of my fabulous Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe inside the gift card, bag, or box.
Gifts for Someone Who Loves Cooking or Baking
- A couple of really good, reliable low carb or keto cookbooks. Some that I can recommend highly are Carolyn Ketchum's cookbooks, especially The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking (my low carb baking bible), and The Everyday Ketogenic Kitchen, filled with foolproof, seriously yummy recipes to suit a wide variety of tastes; Maya Krampf's The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook (simple, delicious recipes with no more than 10 ingredients); Southern Keto: 100+ Traditional Food Favorites for a Low-Carb Lifestyle by Natasha Newton for anyone who loves Southern food; and all of Maria Emmerich's cookbooks, especially Keto Restaurant Favorites and Keto Comfort Foods. If your gift recipient has or will be getting an air fryer or an Instant Pot, Maria also has written low carb cookbooks for using both those popular kitchen appliances.
- A vegetable spiralizer for making zoodles (zucchini noodles) and cucumber spirals. If your gift recipient is eating low carb but not following a strict keto diet, butternut squash noodles and carrot spirals can also be enjoyed in moderation, and add important nutrients including antioxidants, carotenoids, and Vitamin A, among others.
- A mini waffle iron for making chaffles. Chaffles are individual size, high-protein, low carb mini waffles, made from beaten egg, shredded mozzarella or other cheese, almond flour, and other ingredients, depending on the flavor. They're a favorite staple for many who follow a keto or low carb diet. There are myriad chaffle recipes, both sweet and savory. Chaffles are great topped with butter and sugar free syrup for breakfast, and can be used as a bread alternative for sandwiches, as a base for individual pizzas, or as a dessert, topped with keto-friendly ice cream, syrup, and/or whipped cream. They're quick and easy to make. They also freeze well and can be popped into a toaster or toaster oven for a grab-and-go meal or snack.
Last year, about six months into my keto diet journey, I put the popular, very inexpensive DASH Mini Waffle Maker on my Christmas wish list, so I could see what all the chaffle buzz was about. It makes perfectly fine chaffles, and would be a great stocking stuffer. However, if you can afford a higher-end chaffle maker for your gift recipient, I would definitely recommend choosing one like the Cuisinart WAF-300 Belgian Waffle Maker with Pancake Plates, which can make as many as four (and as few as one) chaffles (or Belgian waffles, for household members who aren't watching their carbohydrate intake), and has an attractive, brushed stainless steel top cover; removable, dishwasher-safe, nonstick waffle plates (as well as a pancake plate that makes four perfectly round pancakes); lights that indicate when the unit has finished preheating and when the chaffles, waffles, or pancakes are done; and an audible alert beep. Although it has a large footprint, this waffle maker can be stored upright to save space, and comes with a set of tongs, a recipe book (for non-keto household members), and a 3-year limited warranty. I would love to receive this terrific piece of equipment as a gift for my keto kitchen (hint, hint)! - A selection of sugar free syrups made with a low glycemic sweetener, such as monkfruit, allulose, erythritol, and/or stevia. I love ChocZero syrups and have bought them in nearly every flavor they make (the current selection sold depends on the season). They're high in dietary fiber, low in net carbs, and extremely versatile. I use them often as toppings for low-carb pancakes, waffles, or chaffles. (I think ChocZero makes the best-tasting, low glycemic maple, maple pecan, and vanilla maple syrup on the market. Some people prefer the Lakanto maple flavored syrup, which is thinner and has a stronger maple flavor that I don't care for. To each his or her own!) ChocZero's line of syrups are also great for pouring over keto ice cream (Enlightened's yummy Keto Collection flavors are my favorites), and I love using these syrups for flavoring tea, coffee, hot chocolate, etc. They don't dissolve readily in cold liquids, so for cold drinks, I just dissolve a tablespoon or two of ChocZero syrup in two or three tablespoons of microwaved hot water, let it cool for a few minutes, and then stir the diluted syrup into it to my cold drink, along with a bunch of ice cubes. I also love Sukrin Gold syrup, which has a taste and consistency surprisingly similar to honey, and is also sugar free and high in fiber.
Make sure to tell your gift recipient to wipe the opening (and the surrounding area) of the ChocZero or Sukrin Gold syrup bottle with a hot, damp dishcloth right after they use the syrup. Otherwise, any residue in or around the opening will harden, and can make the lid/cap difficult to open next time. Also explain that these syrups should stored at room temperature, not in the refrigerator.
Low Carb and Keto Treats, Snacks, and Baked Goods
- Pork rinds. These light, crunchy snacks are a great keto friendly alternative to starchy potato chips. Crushed pork rinds are also a terrific substitute for bread crumbs!
- Cheese crisps - you can make these yourself by placing squares of sliced Parmesan, muenster, Fontal, or other good "melting cheeses" two inches apart on a large nonstick griddle, heating them until they melt, spread out, and get bubbly, and letting them cool, or you can buy ready-to-each cheese crisps in single-serving bags. The two commercial brands of cheese crisps I've tried are Whisps and HighKey Keto Cheese Crunch, which are both good, but much more expensive than making them yourself.
- Moon Cheese crunchy keto puffed cheese snacks - the high protein, low carb answer to Cheez Doodles and Utz Cheese Balls. They make five flavors: Cheddar, Gouda, Pepper Jack, Bacon Cheddar, and Garlic Parmesan. If you don't know your gift recipient's favorite type of cheese, there are also 5-pack and 10-pack variety assortments that include all five flavors.
- Low carb crackers - it's hard to find ones that don't taste like cardboard, but the Fat Snax Almond Flour Crackers get excellent reviews, and there is a variety pack option that includes all three flavors: Cheddar, Sea Salt, and Everything (seasoned similarly to an "everything" bagel). They're also expensive (currently $14.99 for a bag of three on Amazon).
- Sugar free chocolate candy and chips sweetened with keto-friendly sweeteners. If your favorite "recovering carboholic" is also a chocoholic, they would surely be thrilled to unwrap a few of these delicious, low carb treats. Some of my personal favorites include HighKey's milk chocolate pecan caramel clusters (they taste exactly like the iconic turtle candies) and dark chocolate almond caramel clusters (absolutely incredible!); ChocZero's Keto Bark in a wide assortment of seasonal and year-round flavors; their peanut butter cups in white, milk, and dark chocolate, and their no sugar added dark, milk, and (my favorite) white chocolate chips; Good Dee's dark chocolate chips; and Lily's stevia-sweetened chocolate bars (especially the 70% cacao bars, like their sea salt extra dark chocolate bar).
- Keto cookies. I'm absolutely crazy for HighKey mini cookies, so much that I keep multiple bags of every flavor they make (so far—they keep adding new ones!) in my pantry, including their crisp mini almond and chocolate chip biscotti. Each serving of 5 to 8 cookies (depending on the flavor) has 3–5 grams of protein, 9–14 grams of fat, 1–3 grams of dietary fiber, and only 1–3 net carbs and 110–150 calories, They've also just come out with larger, individually wrapped coconut macaroons and cocoa coconut macaroons, which have just 1 net carb and 90 calories each, plus 1 gram of protein, 7–8 grams of fat, and 5 grams of dietary fiber, and are chewy, filling, and absolutely scrumptious.
- Sugar-free, grain-free baking mixes for making great-tasting, quick and easy keto treats with wholesome, high quality ingredients. There are so many wonderful mixes on the market, it's hard to choose just a few to include in this gift guide. In recent months, I've share my reviews of some of my favorite low carb and keto cupcake and muffin baking mixes and several flavors of Good Dee's low carb cookie mixes here on Review This Reviews. Good Dee's coconut snack cake mix absolutely delicious. In fact, I decided to use it as the cake layer for my birthday cake this year, which I split, filled, and iced with cream cheese frosting, topped with toasted unsweetened coconut and fresh raspberries. My husband, who also loves baked goods but doesn't follow a low carb diet, liked it so much that he asked me to make the same cake for his birthday the following month! If your gift recipient is more interested in savory baked goods, one of the key ingredients in my keto cheddar cheese and chive biscuits recipe is HighKey's excellent buttermilk biscuit mix. Livlo also has a very good biscuit mix.
Gift Baskets
Keto Pasta Party Basket
Gnooda keto pasta is made from nutrient-dense lupin flour and fresh eggs, using age-old Italian pasta making techniques. A one-cup serving of cooked Gnooda pasta contains a whopping 22 grams of protein, 15 grams of fiber, 7 grams of fat, and only 3g of net carbs and 165 calories. As of this writing it is only available in the radiatore shape, and can only be purchased in four-bag increments directly from the company's website, Gnooda.com. Also, Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce is a good alternative if you can't get Yo Mama's Original Marinara Sauce.
Fit and Fabulous Basket
- For someone who enjoys playing tennis, your basket might include a new can of tennis balls, a new sun visor or sweatband, a few pairs of breathable, low cut, cushioned athletic socks, a high SPF, broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen (see my review of EltaMD® and Colorescience® mineral-based physical sunscreens), and some packets of low carb, sugar free, powdered electrolyte drink mix.
- For someone who doesn't have the time to get to the gym on a regular basis or travels a lot, you could fill a large gift basket with a nice-looking, breathable, lightweight T-shirt and leggings, a digital fitness tracker, and a canister of low carb, sugar free, powdered electrolyte drink mix (my favorite is Key Nutrients' Cherry-Pom Electrolyte Recovery Plus Replenishment Drink). Depending on how much you want to spent, you could also include a gift card to Amazon, Dick's Sporting Goods, or another sports equipment store for them to pick out a piece of at-home or on-the-road workout equipment, such as a medicine ball, a set of dumbbells or free weights, or a set of resistance bands they can use both at home and on the road.
- For someone who hates to exercise but loves to dance, put together a "it's my (dance) party" basket, featuring a jazzy, comfortable, lightweight T-shirt with a matching or coordinating leggings or yoga pants and sweatband (the crazier and more fun and festive, the better), and a fun, upbeat, easy-to-follow dance workout, like Body Groove's Delicious Dance DVD Collection, Dance Your Heart Out DVD Collection, or Young at Heart DVD.
Relax and Unwind Basket
The Best Low Carb Keto Gift Ideas: Keto Gift Guide by Margaret Schindel
Posts In This Series About My Keto Diet Journey
The Best Low Carb Keto Gift Ideas: Keto Gift Guide
The Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe
Keto Cheddar Cheese Biscuits With Chives Recipe
My Favorite Hamama Microgreens Seed Quilt Accessories
Hamama Microgreens Growing Kit Review & Success Tips
Good Dee’s Keto Cookie Low Carb Baking Mix Review
Low Carb Keto Chocolate Yogurt Granola Chip Pudding Recipe
Low Carb Muffins & Cupcakes: Treats to Enjoy on a Keto Diet
Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part Two
Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part One
My First Year on The Keto Diet
Reviews of the Keto Diet by Barbara C. (aka Brite-Ideas)
How I Stayed Committed to the Ketogenic Way of Eating
Read More Reviews About Health and Wellness by Our Review This Reviews Contributors
Read More Reviews About Gifts by Our Review This Reviews Contributors
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Any keto-diet enthusiast would enjoy one or more from this wonderful selection of Keto-friendly gifts. A very helpful gift list indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your lovely feedback, Ms. Elf! Much appreciated.
DeleteOh Margaret, you are writing for me I'm sure. I'm sending this right to my other half so that he can stop stressing about what to get me for Christmas. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
ReplyDeleteOlivia, yes, indeed, I definitely thought of you as I was writing this gift guide! I'd love to know if there are any other keto-related gifts you would suggest adding.
DeleteWe have several people on our gift list who have special diet needs and it definitely makes gift buying more difficult. I just purchased a vegan dessert cookbook yesterday for one of those individuals. Anyone who cooks loves cookbooks, but they become more a necessity when a certain diet needs to be considered. I appreciate you including my Aveda tea review. I already sent a box of that along the way to someone else who loves it. It is soooo helpful to have a gift guide for specific diet needs. I know the proper, accurate scales are extremely important (for food & body weight). I also know that journal will keep a individual focused, especially if the weight is slow loss (which is best) and they can't see immediate results. I kept one myself and was shocked when I realized I had lost 30 lbs. Of course, I noticed the body change with that much weight off, but it was still a huge milestone and cause for celebration. Those celebrations keep us on track!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind and detailed comment, Sylvestermouse! I agree that tracking one's behaviors, progress toward a goal, and celebrating key milestones is extremely helpful in staying focused, committed, and motivated. I love finally having accurate, reliable kitchen and body weight scales with the features I want. I admire your thoughtfulness in choosing gifts tailored to not only the preferences but also the needs of each recipient, such as the vegan dessert cookbooks you just purchased to fit that person's special dietary requirements (as well as their fondness for sweets, I'm guessing). Your husband and son are also extremely thoughtful about their gift choices. I've always felt that the time and effort spent thinking about what someone would love, rather than settling for a "one-size-fits-all" gift, is as much a part of the gift as the item (or service, experience, etc.) we ultimately select. Clearly, you and your family members feel that way, too.
DeleteA very comprehensive gift. Anyone in need of a gift for someone with a Keto diet should be able to find something on your list.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Mary Beth! That was definitely my goal when I wrote this gift guide. I'm hoping that some of these gift ideas will also appeal to people who don't follow a low carb diet, such as the Belgian waffle iron, vegetable spiralizer, herbal teas, and some of the items I suggested for the Fit and Fabulous Basket and Relax and Unwind Basket.
DeleteWow!! Margaret You have covered everything here from books to gift baskets. How very detailed these gift ideas are. It's wonderful that you added your own personal recommendations along with these gift ideas. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your lovely feedback, Sam! Whenever possible, I try to recommend products with which I have firsthand experience, so I can share my unbiased thoughts about I have used first, so I can provide my unbiased feedback based on my personal experiences, beyond what someone could find just by looking a customer reviews on Amazon or another site. I also tried to include some suggestions for gifts that would appeal to many potential recipients (and the people shopping for them!), such as the spiralizer, souped-up Belgian waffle maker (I think that one might have your name on it, lol), workout gear, portable fitness equipment, and a basket of items to help the person who receives it relax and unwind - something I think we would ALL appreciate after this crazy, stressful year! Thanks again for your very kind comment, my friend.
DeleteMargaret, what a fantastic compilation of gift ideas for people devoted to Keto. I love the teas, and the variety of syrups - oh, and a Keto pasta basket, great idea! I'll be referencing back to this article for birthday gifts, since four of us in our family are devoted to Keto (as you know). I actually bought Keto treats for two people in my family, they're wrapped under the tree lol. Your article is incredibly thorough as usual; you're the Keto queen - I learn so much from you about food as it relates to keto. I'm still going strong with keto. Like you, it's Keto (low carb) for life.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, thanks so much for your wonderful feedback on my low carb and keto gift guide! I didn't realize you had converted three of your family members to join you in Living and Loving This Low Carb Lifestyle - that's awesome! As you know, I'm incredibly grateful for your tremendous inspiration and encouragement on my keto journey, and it makes me so happy to hear that I've been able to be a source of inspiration, information and support for you, too. Embracing a low carb, ketogenic approach to eating has been such a powerful, transformative, positive catalyst for both of us. I'm so grateful that we are sharing this journey, my friend!
DeleteWow this is a great and very comprehensive Low Carb Keto Gift Guide. There is something here for everyone! I especially like your ideas for the gift baskets and can see the Relax and Unwind basket being appreciated by many people. I would like to try making your cheese crisps and would love a mini waffle iron! Thank you for sharing your experiences.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your lovely comment, Jasmine! I'd love to get a Relax and Unwind gift basket, for sure! :) The chaffles (cheese waffles) are such a wonderful and versatile concept. They can be made with pretty much any type of semisoft or not-too-hard shredded cheese, from mozzarella or fontina to cheddar or gouda. They're lovely straight from the mini waffle iron, with optional butter, syrup, or even marinara sauce, depending on the cheese you use in the batter, or you can fill two savory chaffles with chicken or tuna salad, sliced ham or turkey, etc., to make a sandwich. Use more strongly-flavored cheeses, like sharp cheddar, to make savory chaffles, like cheddar and jalapeno. If a mild cheese, such as mozzarella, you can also make sweet variations like cinnamon churro chaffles or chocolate chaffles, for example, with no detectable cheese flavor. They're a lot of fun to make and eat, and I think you'd love them!
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