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When eating keto, you are required to eat a high-fat, low-carb diet. Some many dos and don’ts come with the keto diet. You need to pay attention to how many carbs you are consuming to remain in ketosis.

Most of the fat we consume on a keto diet is from animal products like fresh meats, high-fat dairy products, and sea foods. Other sources of healthy fats are fats and oils like olive oil and coconut oil, which contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs and PUFAs) that reduce heart disease risk factors.

If your nutritionist asked you to restrict your carb consumption to lower your net carbs, you are probably asking yourself, which foods you can eat that will help you stay within the carb limit.

Because the keto diet is high in fats, it may feel like you are consuming too many meats and animal products. At times it may feel like you cannot be on the keto diet if you are vegetarian or vegan. No need to worry! You can incorporate vegetable intake into your ketogenic diet.

Today, we will look at what you are allowed to eat on keto, which vegetables are considered low-carb vegetables, the carb count in low-carb veggies, which veggies are high-carb vegetables, which ones to avoid so as not to increase your total carbs, and a vegetable net carbs chart that can guide you on which vegetables are keto vegetables.

What Foods Can You Eat On Keto?

The Keto diet focuses on lowering carb consumption to trigger ketosis in the body. The body switches from using glucose as fuel to using stored fat and dietary fat. This switch from glucose metabolism to fat oxidation helps drop insulin levels and improves insulin resistance in people with metabolic syndrome.

You can eat fresh meats, poultry, eggs, Greek yogurt, dark chocolate, nuts, and seeds. These are rich sources of fat and protein. You will get your low-carb content from carbs in vegetables.

Why are we focusing on low-carb vegetables? Because they are low in net carbohydrates and total carbohydrates. Net carbs refer to the digestible carbs and absorbable carbs in vegetables. The daily carb intake on a keto diet is 20 g to 50 g of carbohydrates, and 5% to 10% of your total calories should be from carbs. You cannot consume less than 20 g of carbs when eating vegetables, and if you choose the right low-carb vegetables, you will stay within the 50 g limit.

Which Vegetables Can You Eat on Keto Diet?

Vegetables are nutrient-dense containing many essential micronutrients. They are also rich in dietary fiber which helps lower blood sugar by reducing the rate of digestion and slowing down the release of glucose into the bloodstream. Dietary fiber is a type of carb that does not count in net carbs, so the more fiber in a vegetable the lower the net carbs.

Healthy vegetables, especially leafy greens are low in calories preventing weight gain. If you did a quick google search, many sites recommend apps that may contain incorrect values of net carbs per serving of food. Finding accurate information on carbs in vegetables can be a bit challenging. The values in this article have been properly researched and added from credible sources that follow the USDA regulation values.

Keto-Friendly Veggies

If you want to know whether your vegetable is considered part of low-carb veggies or high-carb vegetables, consider this rule:

Above the Ground Vegetables

These are vegetables that grow on top of the soil. They are keto vegetables and their net carbs are very low. These are the best options when eating keto.

Root Vegetables

Vegetables that grow in the ground are high carb and are not recommended on a keto diet. This is because these foods store their nutrients in their roots. These vegetables are not necessarily roots, but bulb-like growths which store starch to help in feeding the plant.

There are some exceptions to this rule in some foods. But first, because you want to keep your carb counts low, let me give you a list of vegetables, their total carbs and net carbs, and net carbs per serving.

Vegetable Net Carbs Chart

I will divide them according to the carbs in vegetables: low, moderate, and high-carb veggies. These are the carbs per 100 g serving.

Low Carb Vegetables

• Romaine lettuce: 20 calories of energy, 3.24 g of total carbs, 1.8 g of fiber, 1.19 g of sugars, 1.74g of net carbs
• Kales (raw): 43 calories of energy, 4.42 g of total carbs, 4.1 g of fiber, 0.8 g of sugars, and 0.32 g of net carbs
• Bok Choy: 13 calories of energy, 2.18 g of total carbs, 1 g of fiber, 1.18 g of sugars, and 1.18 g of net carbs
• Eggplant (cooked): 33 calories of energy, 5.9 g of total carbs, 3.0 g of fiber, 3 g of sugar, and 2.9 g of net carbs
• Green bell peppers: 23 kcals of energy, 4.78 g of total carbs, 0.9 g of fiber, and 3.88 g of net carbs
• Green beans: 31 kcals of energy, 7.0 g of total carbs, 2.7 g of fiber, and 4.3 g of net carbs
• Broccoli: 34 kcals of energy, 6.6 g of total carbs, 2.6 g of fiber, and 4 g of net carbs
• Celery: 17 kcals of energy, 3.32 g of total carbs, 1.6 g of fiber, and 1.72 g of net carbs
• Tomato (grape): 31 kcals of energy, 5.51 g of total carbs, 2.1 g of fiber, and 3.41 g of net carbs
• Cauliflower: 25 kcals of energy, 5 g of total carbs, 2.0 g of fiber, and 3 g of net carbs
• Cucumber: 16 kcals of energy, 2.95 g of total carbs, 0.7 g of fiber, and 2.25 g of net carbs
• Spinach (baby): 27 kcals of energy, 2.41 g of total carbs, 1.6 g of fiber, and 0.81 g of net carbs
• Asparagus: 20 kcals of energy, 3.9 g of total carbs, 2.1 g of fiber, and 1.8 g of net carbs
• Olives: 145 kcals of energy, 3.84 g of total carbs, 3.3 g of fiber, 0.54 g of sugars, and net carbs
• Avocado: 160 kcals of energy, 8.5 g of total carbs, 6.7 g of fiber, and 1.8 g of net carbs
• Alfalfa sprouts: 23 kcals of energy, 2.1g of total carbs, 1.9 g of fiber, and 0.2 g of net carbs
• Mushrooms (white): 22 kcal of energy, 3.26 g of total carbs, and 1 g of net carbs
• Green Cabbage: 31 kcals of energy, 6.38 g of total carbs, 2.5g of fiber, and 3.88 g of net carbs
• Red bell peppers: 31 kcals of energy, 6.65 g of total carbs, 1.2 g of fiber, and 5.45 g of net carbs
• Arugula: 25 kcals of energy, 3.65 g of total carbs, 1.65 g of dietary, and 2.05 g of sugars and net carbs
• Radishes: 16 kcals of energy, 3.4 g of total carbs, 1.6 g of fiber, 1.86 g of sugars, and net carbs
• Brussels Sprouts (raw): 43 kcals of energy, 8.95 g of total carbs, 3.8 g of fiber, and 5.15 g of net carbs

Low-carb vegetables contain less than 1 to 5 g of net carbs per serving. The carb counts of these vegetables may increase in one cup of the same cooked vegetables. This is because more vegetables are packed into the cup cooked than when raw. It may decrease as well because of loss of water and breakdown of fiber by heat.

Medium Carb Content Vegetables

The net carbs per serving are not the only determinant of whether the carbs in vegetables are moderate or high. We will look at the glycemic index of moderate and high-carb foods, which is a score that represents how fast a food can raise your blood sugar levels. A food’s glycemic load measures how food affects your blood sugar levels based on its net carbs per serving and glycemic index.

Vegetables that score below 30 are extremely low in carbs, between 31 to below 55 are low carb, between 56 to below 70 are moderate carb and those above 70 are high carbs. Low-carb vegetables have a glycemic load ranging from 1 to 10, moderate-carb veggies have a GL ranging from 11 to 19, while veggies with a GL higher than 20 are high-carb veggies.

The following contain moderate amounts of carbs in vegetables:

Yellow Bell Peppers

Yellow bell peppers are keto vegetables, but you must be careful with their portion sizes. One serving of yellow bell peppers contains 31 kcals, 6.6 g of carbs, 1.1 g of fiber, and 5.5 g of net carbs. Their GI is estimated to range from 30-40 and their GL from 2 to 2.5. They have a higher net carb than red and green bell peppers.

Artichokes

Artichokes are keto vegetables when consumed in moderation. Why do they fall on the moderate list in our vegetable net carbs chart? The total carbs per 100 g in artichokes are 10.5 g. They also contain 5.4 g of fiber and 5.1 g of net carbs. Their glycemic load is 0.6 and their glycemic index is 32. Consuming a moderate number of artichokes can help regulate blood sugar levels.

Beets

Are beets keto vegetables? They can be in moderate amounts! The net carbs per 100 g of beets are 6.76 g, with 9.56 g of total carbs and 2.8 g of fiber. Beets have a glycemic load of 5 and a glycemic index of 61, which is considered moderate.

Consider raw beets over cooked beets because they contain lower carb content.

Carrot

The net carbs per 100 g of carrots are 6.78 g, gotten by subtracting 2.8 g of fiber from 9.58 g of total carbs. The glycemic load is equal to 8 and the glycemic index is 16. A cup of these cooked veggies contains 8. 22 g of total carbs, 3 g of fiber, 3.45 g of sugars, and 5.22 g of net carbs.

The glycemic load of cooked carrots is 4.25 and the glycemic index is 85. From this, you are better off eating raw carrots over cooked ones. Eat a cup of raw carrots or half a cup of cooked ones to remain in ketosis.

Green Peas

In 100 g of green peas, you will get 14.4 g of total carbs, 5.7 g of fiber, and 8.7 g of net carbs. It also contains 5.67 g of sugar. The glycemic load (GL) is 4 and the glycemic index of 51. It contains high amounts of sugar that can spike your blood glucose.

A cup of green peas contains a high amount of starch, so if you are on a strict keto diet, you are better off not eating them at all. Consume half a cup of these veggies if you don’t want to surpass your carb limit.

Onion

Onions grow underground and they are higher in carbs than other veggies. Onions contain 9.34 g of carbs, 1.7 g of fiber, and 7.64 g of net carbs. The glycemic index of onion is 10 and the glycemic load is 1.

Cooked onion rings contain 36.3 g of carbs, 2.4 g of fiber, and 33.9 g of net carbs. The GI of cooked onion ranges from 10 to 15. Because they are root veggies they are high in carbs. Add raw onions to your salads without much worry because they will not affect your blood sugar as fast.

Celeriac

Celeriac contains 42 kcals of energy, 9.2 g of carbs, 1.8 g of fiber, 1.6 g of sugars, and 7.4 g of net carbs. The GI of celeriac is 35 and the GL is 3.2. Not consuming them in large quantities will have less effect on your blood glucose.

High Carb Vegetables

These are vegetables that contain the highest carbs and should be avoided on a ketogenic diet. These veggies contain more than 10 g of net carbs per serving and have a high GL and GI.

Sweet Potatoes

In 100 g of cooked sweet potatoes, you will get 20.7 g of carbs, 3.3 g of fiber, 6.48 g of sugars, and 17.4 g of net carbs. A raw sweet potato without the skin contains 77 kcals of energy, 17.3 g of carbs, 4.4 g of fiber, 6.06 g of sugar, and 12.9 g of net carbs.

The sweet potato has a glycemic load of 11.1 and a glycemic index of 62. GI can increase or decrease depending on the cooking methods used to prepare your sweet potatoes. Boiled sweet potatoes have a lower GI because heat alters the structure of the tuber increasing the retention of more resistant starch. Resistant starches are digested at a slower rate, reducing their impact on blood glucose. The longer the boiling time, the lower the GI.

Roasted sweet potatoes on the other hand have a higher GI than boiled ones. This is because roasting gets rid of resistant starches. A roasted sweet potato has a GI of 82.

If you’re on a keto diet, avoid baked sweet potatoes. Baking increases the GI of sweet potatoes to 94 which classifies it as a high-carb food.

Stir-frying is also another method that alters the GI of sweet potatoes. Sweet potato stir fries have a lower glycemic index than others prepared by other cooking methods. This is because the fat used slows down gastric emptying and slows down the absorption of glucose. Stir-fried sweet potatoes have a GI of 76.

You are better off staying clear of these tubers because their high carb content leads to high cholesterol levels, increased insulin resistance, and reduced weight loss. If they are part of your favorite foods, you may just have to find another option because their high sugar content increase carb cravings, which can make you binge eat them.

Yam

One serving of raw yams contains 118 kcals, 27.9 g of carbs, 4.1 g of fiber, and 23.8 g of net carbs. Its GI is 65 and its GL is 18.2. The GI of Yam changes depending on the variety and cooking method.

A study compared the changes in GI of different Yam varieties after undergoing boiling, roasting, and frying. White yam has a lower GI compared to water and yellow yam. Boiling lowers GI compared to other cooking methods. So when meal planning, choose a cooking method that will lower the GI of high-carb vegetables rather than increase them.

Plantains

Plantains can either be green or yellow. A serving of raw yellow plantains contains 122 kcals, 31.9 g of carbs, 1.7 g of total fiber, 17.5 g of sugar, and 30.2 g of net carbs. The same amount of raw green plantains contains 152 kcals, 36.7 g of carbs, 2.2 g of fiber, 2.29 g of sugar, and 34.5 g of net carbs.

The GI and GL of yellow plantain are 55 and 19.8 respectively. Green plantains have a lower GI and GL of 40 and 16.5 respectively. The cooking method can also affect how much and how fast plantains affect blood glucose. Boiling increases the GI to 66 and frying to over 90.

Potato

Potatoes are high-starch vegetables. The carb content of raw potatoes is 12.4 g, fiber content is 2.5 g and net carb is 9.9. The GI of potatoes ranges from 55 to 115, depending on whether it is raw or cooked and on the type of potatoes. The longer the boiling time, the higher the GI.

Waxy potatoes like fingerlings have a lower GI than starch varieties like Russel potatoes. Boiled and roasted potatoes have the lowest GI, baked potatoes have a slightly higher GI, and mashed, and instant potatoes have the highest GI.

You can lower the GI of your potatoes by combining them with proteins and fats, which helps in triggering insulin secretion and increases the activity of the gut microbiome. However, because of their effect on blood sugar, you should avoid them.

Butternut Squash

One serving of butternut squash contains 45 kcals, 11.7 g of carbs, 2 g of fiber, and 9.7 g of net carbs. In 1 cup of cooked butternut squash, you will get 22 g of total carbohydrates. It has a glycemic index of 75 and a glycemic load of 10. Consuming butternut will spike your blood sugar levels very quickly.

Parsnips

Parsnips root is closely related to parsley and carrots. It is on the high-carb veggies list in our vegetable net carbs chart because it contains 13 g of net carbs per 100 g, and it has a GL and GI of 15.3 and 85 respectively.

Are All Above the Ground Veggies Low Carb?

I did mention that the basic rule is above the ground growing veggies are low carb. But there are exceptions. Although legumes like beans and lentils and whole grains like corn and quinoa grow above the ground, they are high in carb content and not recommended on a ketogenic diet. To stay within the 50 g carb limit, avoid these foods as much as possible.

Which Crudités Are Keto?

Crudites are pieces of raw vegetables served as an appetizer often accompanied by dips.

• Veggie sticks made from celery, bell peppers, and cucumbers are better options. You can also make them from moderate-carb veggies like carrots.
• Dips: You can dip your raw vegetables in cream cheese or keto dip sauces

Why Should You Eat Low-Carb Vegetables?

• Nutrient-dense: vegetables are rich in essential nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, iron, and vitamin K which are necessary for the body’s well-being.
• Promotes fat metabolism: Your leafy green vegetable is low in carbs which helps your body achieve ketosis that further promotes weight loss.
• Anti-inflammatory properties: Vegetables contain antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress. Carbs also cause inflammation, so restricting them by eating non-starchy vegetables reduces inflammation.
• Reduce risks of heart disease: Fat metabolism triggered by the consumption of low-carb vegetables lowers cholesterol levels and increases good cholesterol.
• Improves insulin resistance: The high fiber content in these vegetables increases satiety levels, which reduces food intake, preventing weight gain. They are also low-calorie, which creates a calorie deficit in the body, promoting weight loss. Obesity increases insulin resistance, so reduced weight gain improves insulin resistance.

Moreover, the switch from glucose metabolism to fat oxidation increases cell insulin sensitivity and helps regulate blood glucose levels.

How to Incorporate Low-Carb Veggies into Keto Recipes

Veggie Pasta Alternatives

Spaghetti, noodles, and pasta are high carb and may kick you out of ketosis. As an alternative, you can spiralize your veggies like zucchini noodles or cucumbers to make yourself some keto-friendly noodles.

Use Cauliflower in place of Rice

Cauliflower rice is the in thing now, you shouldn’t be left behind. Since rice is high carb and not recommended on keto, grate or throw your cauliflowers into a food processor, and voila! You have yourself some rice.

Go Salad!

Eat salads more, seasoned with olive oil or lemon juice for that additional kick. Raw vegetables have a lower GI than roasted vegetables, so take good advantage of salads.

Be Creative

Use your imagination. Eat those vegetables in a way you haven’t before. Make veggie wraps, vegetable boats, and stuffed veggies! Anything your mind can think of. Keep exploring. You can use veggies to make your side dish or even make your favorite one the star of the show.

Juice Them

Green smoothies are powerhouses. They are rich in antioxidants and essential nutrients that will take your nutrition and fitness journey to the next level. Throw in your green leaf lettuce or spinach into your blender, and blend yourself a smoothie to increase your vegetable intake.

Final Thoughts

Knowing which vegetables are low-carb is necessary for to keto diet right. A combination of the right low-starch vegetables, high-fat foods, and protein animal products increases the chances of benefiting from keto. Pay attention to what you can and cannot eat, the cooking method you use, and the portion sizes.

Are there any other vegetables you would like to add to our vegetable net carbs chart? Which category do they fall in? Tell us some tips you use to increase your vegetable intake in the comment section.