72 Foods to Avoid on Keto (A Handy List For Low Carb Diets!)

What can’t you eat on keto? If you’re going low carb in 2024, here are 72 common foods to avoid on keto!

Consider it a cleanse for your pantry in the new year!

If you don’t already follow a keto diet, you’re likely to have food products in your home that are high in sugar and carbs, which some you may not even be aware of! Cleaning out your fridge and pantry of foods to avoid on a keto diet is an essential and beneficial step before starting on your keto journey. It’s so nice to start with a clean slate!

You might be wondering what you can’t eat on keto and we’re here to help! We’ve created a list of what needs to go so you can remove all the high carb food temptations in your household.

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72 common foods to avoid on keto:

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Bread, Pasta, Rice & Grains

Bread is probably the worst and most common foods to avoid on keto because it’s full of carbs! A plain bagel can have as many as 48 grams of carbs (with only 4 grams of fiber).

Bread, Pasta, Rice, & Grains to avoid on keto:

• • Pasta
  • Quinoa
  • Rice
  • Grits
  • White or Whole-wheat bread
  • Gluten-free bread
  • Flour or corn tortillas
  • Bagels
  • Croutons
  • Bread crumbs
  • White or wheat flour
  • Granola
  • Cereal
  • Oats
  • Potato chips
  • Crackers

While it’s not technically a food, beer should also be avoided on a ketogenic diet given most brews are made from grain and barley and contain a hefty amount of carbs per glass!

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Some Gluten-Free Foods

Don’t think that just because it’s gluten-free means it’s carb-free. Oddly enough, these processed foods can often have more carbs than the non-GF versions! Even Trader Joe’s often-touted cauliflower pizza crust is loaded with carbs.

Processed gluten-free foods to avoid on keto:

• • Gluten-free bread
  • Gluten-free muffins
  • Gluten-free bagels
  • Gluten-free waffles

Give almond or coconut flour a try in your low-carb recipes. Lina’s Fathead pizza dough recipe uses Bob’s Red Mill almond flour and it’s SO good. 🍕

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Fruit & Fruit Products

For some diets, fruit is essential. Keto is not that diet – mainly because many fruits contain a lot of sugar that can totally throw you out of ketosis. A medium-sized apple can have as many as 14 grams of sugar!

Juices go hand in hand with fruits as a keto no-no, especially since fruit juices contain so much sugar and so little fiber. Even unsweetened or 100% juice varieties can have over 20 grams of sugar in one cup! Yikes!

So what can’t you eat on keto?

Fruits & fruit products to avoid:

• • Bananas
  • Raisins
  • Dates
  • Mangos
  • Pears
  • Apples
  • Oranges
  • Pineapples
  • Grapes
  • Jams or jellies with added sugar
  • Fruit snacks, cups or bars
  • Any fruit or vegetable juice

If you’re a fruit lover, don’t panic! Going keto doesn’t mean you can’t have any fruit. Check out our post on the best keto fruits to eat and those to avoid.

For example, some berries (like blueberries) are lower in sugar and higher in fiber than other fruits. As a result, these are fair game to eat in moderation!

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Refined Fats & Oils

While it might be a little confusing since fats are great for keto, avoid refined and processed trans fats, since these can lead to some major health risks, like heart disease, cancer, reduced HDL cholesterol, or increased LDL cholesterol. They can be bad for your gut health as well.

Trans fat foods to avoid on keto:

• • Spreadable butter alternatives
  • Sunflower oil
  • Canola oil
  • Corn oil
  • Margarine – More so ones that are made with canola oil or other trans fats. Some brands make their margarine with extra virgin olive oil or even avocado oil, making those options a little more keto-friendly! That said, butter is BEST!

So what fats and oils should you be using? We LOVE Kerrygold butter, and it even comes in a spreadable tub if that’s more convenient for your lifestyle (pick it up at Costco, Sam’s Club, or ALDI for the lowest price!). Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and nut oils are all great oil varieties to use in your cooking.

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Sugars & Natural Sweeteners

You probably already know by now that sugar is off the table, but don’t be fooled by the “natural” alternatives as they contain just as many carbs, if not more!

Sugars & sweeteners to avoid on keto:

• • White sugar
  • Brown sugar
  • Maple syrup
  • Agave nectar
  • Honey

It’s also helpful to do your own research regarding sweeteners like Aspartame, Acesulfame, Sucralose, and Saccharin, which have been linked to potential health issues. If you prefer baking at home, check out some of our favorite keto sweeteners for all of your favorite sugar-free desserts!

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Certain Vegetables & Tubers

While some vegetables and beans can have high amounts of fiber, they’re also loaded with carbs. Legumes can also be hard for your gut to digest due to lectins and phytates. These are the types of foods to avoid on keto.

Vegetables & tubers to avoid on keto:

• • Potatoes
  • Sweet potatoes/yams
  • Beets
  • Peas
  • Carrots
  • Corn
  • Root vegetable chips

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Low-Fat & Fat-Free Dressings

It’s common to see “fat-free” labels and assume the product will be healthier. That’s not the case on keto! You want to take in full-fat products. Two tablespoons of fat-free ranch dressing can have up to 11 grams of carbs, whereas the full-fat counterpart has only 2 grams. Low-fat and fat-free items tend to be sweetened with added sugar.

Salad dressings to avoid on keto:

• • Fat-free French dressing
  • Fat-free Ranch dressing
  • Fat-free Thousand Island dressing
  • Fat-free Caesar dressing

An even healthier alternative is a splash of vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, which is a heart-healthy combination and can promote weight loss.

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Condiments

Condiments are very sneaky with all of the added sugar and carbs thrown in. Skip the high-sugar ones and choose keto-friendly options like mustard and mayo!

Condiments to avoid on keto:

• • Ketchup
  • BBQ sauce
  • Honey mustard
  • Teriyaki Sauce
  • Low-fat salad dressings (such as vinaigrettes or other sweetened dressing)
  • Maple syrup
  • Honey

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Certain dairy products

Milk can be a great source of nutrients, but it’s better to avoid it on low carb diets due to its higher sugar content (lactose). Stick to whole milk, half and half, or heavy cream in small amounts in applications like coffee.

Dairy foods to avoid on keto:

• • Yogurt with added sugars
  • Low-fat cow’s milk

For more typical ‘milk’ applications, consider nut milk. Unsweetened almond milk has 0 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fat, and 1 gram of fiber. Just be sure to watch out for additives like carrageenan.

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Sweets

This is a no brainer! While we all love candy and all of the sweet things in life, they are filled with sugar which is a huge no-no for keto!

Sweets to avoid on keto:

• • Ice cream
  • Pudding
  • Jell-O
  • Frozen Desserts
  • Cake
  • Pie
  • Cookies
  • Candy
  • Doughnuts
  • Pastries

Basically, all those yummy treats that are sweetened with SUGAR! 😳 On a positive note, we have so many delicious keto desserts that you can still enjoy!

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Now what to do with all that food…

In many cases, purging the foods to avoid on keto diet could clear out the majority of your cabinets, but it doesn’t mean these products have to go to complete waste!

Consider donating unopened non-perishable boxes and cans to a local food shelter. Try to incorporate unopened products into appetizers or other dishes you may bring to an upcoming party. You can also explain to family and friends that certain products no longer fit into your diet to see if they would be willing to take them off your hands.

If space allows, you can dedicate a cabinet or section of the fridge that’s simply off-limits to store these foods for non-keto members of your household. There is truly power in the out-of-sight, out-of-mind effect!

Depending on when you plan to start a ketogenic diet, you could try to use up non-keto foods in your weekly cooking so they don’t go to waste—while still being mindful that you’re not eating 12 granola bars in a day. And when all else fails (and there is absolutely nowhere else to direct these products), toss them in the trash. Remember, you’ll be better off without these carb-heavy products, and you’re well on your way to a fulfilling, fat-fueled life!

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See our top 12 tips for starting a keto diet!