Are Carrots Keto-Friendly? (2024)

Non-starchy vegetables play a big role on the low carb, high fat keto diet.

On this diet, net carbs, which is the number of total carbs minus fiber, are generally restricted to 25 grams or less per day.

Many people on the keto diet spend a large amount of their daily net carb allotment on low carb veggies like zucchini, cauliflower, avocado, broccoli, and salad greens.

However, you may wonder if carrots are appropriate to eat on the keto diet.

This article reviews the carbs in carrots, whether they can be eaten on keto, and some keto-friendly alternatives.

Carrots are considered root vegetables because the carrot itself is the root of the carrot plant. On the other hand, some root vegetables like potatoes are tubers, or the storage site for the plant’s natural sugar (1).

Because carrots are a root, they’re lower in sugar and carbs than tuber vegetables like potatoes.

One medium (61-gram) raw carrot provides (2):

  • Calories: 25
  • Protein: 1 gram
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbs: 6 grams
  • Fiber: 2 grams
  • Net carbs: 4 grams

Additionally, 1 cup (122 grams) of sliced raw carrots contains (2):

  • Calories: 50
  • Protein: 1 gram
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbs: 12 grams
  • Fiber: 3 grams
  • Net carbs: 9 grams

While carrots aren’t as low in carbs as leafy green vegetables like lettuce or spinach, they’re not as high in carbs as many other root vegetables.

Summary

Raw carrots contain 9 grams of net carbs per cup (122 grams). Although they’re not as high in starch as other root vegetables, they’re still higher in carbs than many non-starchy vegetables.

As you can see from the nutrient content of carrots, they can be eaten in small quantities on a keto diet.

However, you’ll need to stick to a reasonable portion. With 1 cup (122 grams) of carrots containing 9 grams of net carbs, a single portion can use up nearly half of your net carbs for the day if you’re aiming for a standard allotment of 25 grams of net carbs daily.

The cooking method of carrots doesn’t affect their carb content significantly, so they can be included raw or cooked in reasonable portions on the keto diet.

Summary

Carrots can be part of a keto diet. However, given that they contain moderate amounts of carbs, you’ll need to strictly limit your portion size.

Below are some lower carb veggies to eat raw or use in recipes instead of carrots:

  • Celery: contains 2 grams of net carbs per cup (120 grams) (3)
  • Broccoli: contains 3 grams of net carbs per cup (71 grams) (4)
  • Cauliflower: contains 3 grams of net carbs per cup (107 grams) (5)

Like carrots, each of these veggies can be eaten raw or added to recipes.

Summary

Some lower carb substitutes for carrots include celery, broccoli, and cauliflower. These veggies can be eaten raw or cooked, making them fair alternatives to raw or cooked carrots.

Carrots can be eaten on keto, but it may be difficult to include them regularly or in large quantities, as they contain a fair amount of carbs.

Some less starchy alternatives to enjoy raw or cooked include celery, broccoli, and cauliflower.

That said, when it comes to getting adequate nutrition on keto, carrots are an important source of vitamin A, which is important for skin, hair, and eye health, providing significantly more vitamin A per cup than celery or broccoli.

Remember to stick to a small portion of carrots when you’re enjoying them on keto and consume a variety of vegetables to meet your nutritional needs.

Are Carrots Keto-Friendly? (2024)

FAQs

Are Carrots Keto-Friendly? ›

The bottom line. Carrots can be eaten on keto, but it may be difficult to include them regularly or in large quantities, as they contain a fair amount of carbs. Some less starchy alternatives to enjoy raw or cooked include celery, broccoli, and cauliflower.

How many carrots can I eat on keto? ›

Carrots are a great addition to the keto diet, and here's how to get them into your meal plan. "I'd recommend keeping them to just about 1 cup a day, so you can fit in other fruits and veggies into your diet as well," says Ehsani.

What vegetables are off limits on keto? ›

On the keto diet, you should restrict the consumption of starchy vegetables such as potatoes, yams, and corn.

What vegetables are keto friendly? ›

Plenty of low-carb vegetable options include arugula, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes. Those vegetables provide other benefits like reducing the risk of certain chronic diseases, containing antioxidants, and providing filling fiber.

Are carrots low-carb friendly? ›

“Many people believe they are high in carbohydrates and therefore avoid them,” she says. However, carrots are nutritious and low-carb, containing only 8.3 grams of net carbs per cup of sliced carrots. In addition, carrots are naturally low in sodium and contain potassium and fiber.

Are cucumbers keto? ›

Cucumber is another popular salad vegetable. It contains many essential nutrients, including vitamin K. Cucumber is also suitable for the keto diet, as its carb content is just 3.63 g per 100 g. To make the carb content lower, a person can peel the cucumber before eating it.

Can I eat 3 times a day on keto? ›

There are no limitations or rules about meal patterns. Besides, each individual is different. You only have to be careful not to keep yourself too hungry in between meals. If you do this, you will overeat later.

What foods can I eat unlimited on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

What cancels out carbs on keto? ›

Keto Net Carb Diet. On the ketogenic diet, the "net carb" is the amount of carbs in a food minus the fiber and sugar alcohol. Fiber and sugar alcohol are subtracted because the body does not fully absorb them. The keto net carb diet limits daily carbohydrate consumption to 20-50 grams to induce ketosis.

What foods are surprisingly not keto? ›

- Grains: Rice, wheat, oats, barley, rye, quinoa, buckwheat, etc. - Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, cassava, artichoke, etc. - Refined Carbs: Bread, pasta, pastries, tortilla, sandwich, etc. Due to the high-carb content of these food items, they are not keto-friendly.

What are the top 10 keto foods? ›

These are the top 10 keto foods you should include if you're on...
  1. Salmon. Whether wild or farm-raised, salmon is rich in fat, making it an essential ketogenic diet staple. ...
  2. Eggs. This affordable protein and fat source is highly versatile. ...
  3. Cauliflower. ...
  4. Greens. ...
  5. Avocado. ...
  6. Nuts. ...
  7. Olive oil. ...
  8. Zucchini.

Is peanut butter keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

Can you eat salad on keto? ›

You can eat a variety of salads on keto, as long as they contain healthy fats and proteins and are low in carbs. Egg salad, grilled chicken salad, shrimp salad, cauliflower salad, arugula salad, cucumber salad, antipasto salad, Greek salad, Caprese salad, and spinach salad are just a few keto-friendly salads to enjoy.

Are pickles keto? ›

Luckily, pickles are keto friendly, especially those that are of the dill pickle variety, as sugar is low. “Simply put, sweet pickles are made with sugar which will automatically push the carb count up,” says Hultin. “Dill or salt pickles don't have the added sugar and carbs, naturally,” she says.

Is corn ok on keto? ›

Can corn kick you out of ketosis? Yes. Corn doesn't easily fit into a keto diet, because this starchy vegetable contains far too many carbohydrates. For a corn fix, popcorn may be a better occasional snack option if you are on a keto diet.

Is tomato keto friendly? ›

Botanically speaking, tomatoes are considered a fruit. However, unlike other fruit, they're considered keto-friendly. That's because tomatoes contain around 2–3 grams of net carbs per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) — or up to 10 times fewer net carbs than most fruit — regardless of their variety ( 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ).

Can you overeat vegetables on keto? ›

“Even though all vegetables have health value, eating too much of some will likely push you over your carb limit.” Worried about their carb counts, some people avoid veggies altogether when they go keto.

What foods can you eat unlimited amounts of on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

How many carrots should I eat a day to lose weight? ›

Carrots help lose weight since they are naturally low in calories. One cup of raw carrot sticks contains 50 calories. However, mindful eating and portion control is the key to weight loss. Health professionals advise eating no more than one to two medium-sized carrots daily.

How much vegetables per day on keto? ›

Other foods also contain carbohydrates in small amounts, e.g. eggs and nuts as well as dairy products. At the beginning of a ketogenic diet, we recommend consuming rather less dairy products and getting the carbohydrates mainly from nutrient-rich vegetables. So you can easily consume 600-900 g of vegetables per day.

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