Intermittent Fasting Keto Meals - Ideas for low carb meal plan recipes (2024)

Intermittent Fasting Keto Meals – Guide with ideas for low carb diet meal plan recipes and inspiration following my own experience of 6 months of combining together the popular ketogenic diet and 16/8 Intermittent Fasting.

Intermittent Fasting Keto Meals

It’s been around 6 months since I started regularly Intermittent Fasting. So, today I’m sharing some of my favourite Intermittent Fasting Keto Meals that I’ve enjoyed and how I incorporate Intermittent Fasting and Keto Diet into my lifestyle to enjoy all of the health benefits of both of the diets.

Here’s the video where I talk you through my experience of 6 months of Intermittent Fasting work, being in a fasted state and fat loss. Hit play below or click here to watch on YouTube.

Important note – please consult with your chosen health professional or healthcare provider before commencing an intermittent fasting or keto diet to address any health conditions and ensure you keep factors like your blood pressure and insulin sensitivity under control and appropriately monitored.

Both being in a state of ketosis and following an intermittent fasting dietshould really only be attempted under medical supervision to ensure that your overall health is maintained and any potential negative side effects avoided.

To Skip Breakfast or Dinner?

That’s the question you’re faced when you want to start dabbling in Intermittent Fasting. Initially I experimented with both – skipping breakfast and only having lunch and dinner.

And, enjoying a generous breakfast and lunch and then skipping dinner, monitoring my energy levels and eating pattern with each fasting window.

Different plans and periods of fasting will work for different people, it’s a good idea to experiment for yourself to determine which diet plan works best for you.

Personally, my “sweet spot” is eating breakfast and lunch and then skipping dinner. So, I eat between 8am and 4pm, then my hours of fasting arefrom 4pm until 8am the following morning.

This fits perfectly into my lifestyle – I get to enjoy a big hearty breakfast and a second sizeable meal during the day, making sure all is finished up by 4pm.

The good news is that there are also different ways to incorporate intermittent fasting into your own lifestyle. You can choose whether to have fasting days every day or opt for an alternate day way of eating by fasting on the days of the week of your choosing.

It’s also up to you whether you’d like to follow a calorie restriction type diet and monitor your calories. I choose not to because with only 2 meals a day I figure I’m consuming fewer calories than I would with three, while enjoying the potential benefits of intermittent fasting meal plans.

I found tons of inspiration and Intermittent Fasting advice in the book The 2 Meal Day. (Get it here.) There’s all the science you need to know about Intermittent Fasting, plus loads of recipes and meal ideas.

What About Evening Plans?

You’re probably wondering whether I fast every single day or whether it’s just now and then. Well, for the first around 3 months I fasted EVERY SINGLE DAY! Without exception. Then, in the lead up to moving from Australia to Ireland, I knew that everything would be thrown off, so I slowly started having my afternoon meal later and later so I’d be used to it.

Also, around that time there were a number of social occasions that meant family dinners and later meals. So, I loosened up my eating habits a littleand intermittently intermittent fasting. (If that’s a thing!) I’d aim for an 8am to 4pm eating window, but didn’t drive myself crazy if I didn’t achieve that specific time.

Now, I’m back to most days eating a balanced dietbetween 8am and 4pm and fasting the rest of the time. Some days where we are out later or traveling, I will have something a little later if I feel I need it.

Intermittent Fasting Keto Breakfast Ideas

To me, my first meal of the day is usually a big keto breakfast of some type. Fried eggs, loads of veggies and healthy fats.

Here are some ideas for low-carb diet friendlybreakfast meals with healthy foods:

  • Fried Eggs
  • Scrambled Eggs
  • Omelette
  • Cauliflower
  • Radish
  • Garlic
  • Broccoli
  • Asparagus
  • Sausages
  • Leftover meat

You can put together a couple of low carb high-fat diet breakfast elements, cooking your eggs and optionalbreakfast meat of choicein plenty of healthy high fat coconut oil, butter or olive oil and serving them with cheese and sour cream to create a big breakfast fry up, pictured below.


For more inspiration, here is a video with a week of Easy Keto Breakfast Ideas. Hit play below or click here to watch on YouTube.

Intermittent Fasting Keto Lunch and Dinner Ideas

For the second meal of the day, it’s usually a cross between lunch and dinner. A big meal to keep me satisfied through the afternoon/evening and happy until breakfast the following day. Here are some of my favourites and for even more inspiration, click through for 25 quick keto dinner ideas.

If I’m going to be out and about, and I’m also a bit more organised, I may make a meal prep box. The above pictured box includes corned beef, cauliflower mash and a hard boiled egg. (Here are the meal prep boxes I use.)

Another favourite is Broccoli Casserole, pictured above, for when I’m after a meat free keto meal. (Click here for the recipe.)

For a lighter meal, I may make an enormous salad, like the above pictured tuna salad, loaded with greens, healthy fats in avocado, sour cream and/or mayo.

Another meal which is a great lunch/dinner that will keep me full for the rest of the day is Egg Roll in A Bowl. It’s super easy to make and is budget friendly too. (Click here for the recipe.)

What About Snacks?

Sometimes I’ll have a snack either between my two meals or later on in the day, just prior to 4pm. My snack is either a hot chocolate (click here for the recipe) or a bowl of strawberries and cream.

As you can tell, I LOVE whipped cream and find that it satiates me wonderfully and helps my Intermittent Fasting efforts and to keep me on track with my healthy diet.

What Has Intermittent Fasting Taught Me?

Intermittent Fasting has taught me that I don’t have to eat around the clock. That I can give my body a real chance to rest and digest. I don’t do it for the weight loss results, but rather for the energy balance and positive effects that I’ve personally experienced.

I do it because I now love the feeling of my afternoon meal slowly digesting and not feeling full and uncomfortable when it’s time to go to sleep.

I love the way I feel while Intermittent Fasting and will be continuing this lifestyle for the foreseeable future.

More Helpful Fasting Resources:

16/8 Intermittent Fasting Experiment

Intermittent Fasting For Beginners

Intermittent Fasting MealsIntermittent Fasting Keto Meals - Ideas for low carb meal plan recipes (12)

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Disclaimer – this post is meant for informational post only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your health professional before making any dietary changes.

Disclosure – this post contains affiliate links.

Intermittent Fasting Keto Meals - Ideas for low carb meal plan recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you do intermittent fasting and low carb at the same time? ›

While it's currently popular to combine low carb living and intermittent fasting, it's not strictly necessary. When adapted to a low carb diet like Atkins, your body is already trained to burn fat for fuel, and your diet is already helping to maintain your blood sugar levels.

What is the best intermittent fasting schedule for keto? ›

The Right Way to Start an Intermittent Fasting Keto Diet

It's also important to choose the correct timing. For their patients, Kwasnicka suggested a 12- to 16-hour fast. For many people, not eating 12 hours a day (say overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) is a natural habit anyway and doesn't require skipping meals.

Can you do keto diet and intermittent fasting? ›

Now that you know what keto and intermittent fasting can do on their own, you may be wondering if you can combine the two. The answer is absolutely, yes! Studies have shown that combining keto with intermittent fasting can help you kick your body into ketosis faster than on the keto diet by itself.

Can you lose belly fat by intermittent fasting? ›

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that alternates between periods of eating and fasting. Studies suggest that it may be one of the most effective ways to lose weight and belly fat.

Does lemon water break intermittent fasting? ›

Plain lemon water with only lemon juice is also allowed when following the intermittent fasting method. The drink contains almost zero calories and does not break your fast. Having one or two glasses of lemon drink, when following intermittent fasting can also help you burn fat and curb hunger.

Which meal to skip in intermittent fasting? ›

Intermittent fasting methods

These are the most popular methods: The 16/8 method: Also called the Leangains protocol, this involves an 8-hour eating period and a 16-hour fasting period. Some people do this by skipping breakfast, but you can also do the reverse and skip dinner or eat early.

What not to eat during intermittent fasting? ›

It's best to limit ultra-processed foods like packaged snacks, deep-fried items, sugary drinks, and most frozen meals. These negate the positive effects of 16/8 intermittent fasting. To begin 16/8 intermittent fasting, choose an 8-hour window and limit your food intake to that time span.

What foods keep you full during intermittent fasting? ›

Best foods to eat while intermittent fasting

They include things like avocado, potatoes, cruciferous veggies, fish, seafood, whole grains, nuts, and fermented foods. It's also key to remember water as a part of your daily routine.

How long to lose 20 pounds on keto and intermittent fasting? ›

“If the patient can maintain a steady calorie deficit, I expect them to lose one to two pounds per week,” says Dr. Seeman. So after 12 weeks, her clients are usually down around 20-25 pounds.

What is an example of intermittent fasting meals? ›

For example, you might choose to have a light breakfast at 10 a.m., eat lunch at 12 p.m. and have an early dinner at 5:30 p.m. and then fast overnight. Alternatively, you may prefer skipping breakfast altogether and limiting your eating window to 12 p.m.-8 p.m. each day.

How many meals do you eat on a 16:8 fast? ›

Intermittent fasting for beginners using the 16:8 approach is relatively easy: simply pick an eight-hour feeding window, eat one to three nutritious meals during that time frame, then abstain from food the rest of the time. You can still drink water, herbal teas, black tea or coffee.

What is the best intermittent fasting window to lose belly fat? ›

A 2023 review of research found that the 16/8 method and 16/8 combined with restricting calories were effective strategies for weight control in adults with overweight or obesity. An eating window starting before noon led to greater weight loss than one that began after noon.

How much weight can you lose in a month on intermittent fasting? ›

If the diet is followed correctly and consistently, you can lose as much as half a pound to a pound and a half each week. This would equal roughly 2-4 pounds a month.

How long does it take for 16:8 intermittent fasting to work? ›

Additionally, it will take your body a while to get used to this new eating schedule. So don't expect results right away. You may need to wait between 2 and 4 weeks to see or feel any results.

How many carbs can you have while intermittent fasting? ›

By definition, fasting means refraining from eating food. However, you may be able to consume some foods and beverages while still preserving the benefits of fasting. Some experts say as long as you keep your carbohydrate intake below 50 grams per day during a fast, you can maintain ketosis ( 13 ).

Should I cut carbs when intermittent fasting? ›

So yes, you can eat carbohydrate rich foods while intermittent fasting. You should avoid refined carbs (flours, pastries, junk, etc) not just for weight loss, but also for your health. You can eat anything but not refined sugar in that 6 or 8 hours window.

What is better for weight loss intermittent fasting or low-carb? ›

The takeaway: keto for short-term losses, intermittent fasting for long-term success.

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