Keto 7: Mo Fat, Mo Problems

            Now, I realize that I haven’t brought this up. Keto, like any dietary restriction, has a few complications that arise when it comes to etiquette. I am not “out” to everyone. Most of the people in my life aren’t going to understand it, and a few will be quite opposed. I’ve already had some who, not knowing why I was turning down food, try to push stuff on me. I think some of them mean well, but others are definitely baffled at my decision to not eat the bread, crackers, cupcakes, cookies, whatever.

            There are also the people who see me eating anything with carbohydrates and immediately jump on it, as though eating a food that contains carbohydrates means that I am not actually doing a ketogenic diet. This obviously makes about as much sense as taking a person who is eating a lower-fat diet to task for having something that contains egg, jumping on a person who is trying to up his protein intake for eating a carrot, or “calling out” someone who is eating more fiber for drinking coffee instead of Metamucil. It’s rather idiotic. Most, if not all, diets that are based on nutrients are about the bigger picture… high protein does not mean only protein, low fat does not mean no fat, high fiber does not mean only fiber, etc. A ketogenic diet is not about never having carbs, ever. (Doing so would be not only difficult, but also very limiting… one would have to stop eating anything other than meat and pure fat. Not even eggs and dairy can claim zero-carb status. Incidentally, this would very likely result in boredom and nutritional deficiencies, unless one ate organ meats.)

            It’s tough to find a good balance. I’m obviously very excited about eating this way because it has had such a positive effect on my life thus far. However, few people are especially interested in hearing about what you eat, even when they post pictures of every last meal that they order in restaurants. Still, the main purpose of bringing it up is making sure that people who want to feed you know how to do so. Taking responsibility for one’s dietary restriction might mean bringing something. It might mean declining food (repeatedly). Of course, in a polite world, if you declined something once, that would be the end of it (other than a “Let me know if you change your mind” or a “Is there anything that I can get you?”).

            Alas, we do not live in a polite world. People sometimes want to know why you aren’t drinking or eating. They might that you aren’t enjoying yourself if you aren’t digging into the kale smoothie bowls with sardine puree. (As if you didn’t come for the company?) Sometimes, you get a guilt trip. Since kicking people in the shins is most certainly not polite, you need to find another way.

            I go with the KISS technique, which I employed when I went vegetarian. If a “no thank you” elicits questions, concerns, or any other sort of response, I simply explain that I have started a ketogenic diet and that I eat very low carbohydrate and very high fat.