Hi All
I’m new here, but an aware of the keto for a few years and am struggling to maintain the keto lifestyle. This is because of fewer keto friendly products that can be used for meals quick and easy. There is also low or no support from friends, family and general society, which does not help. Would be good to hear other people experiences and ways to go about these obstacles
Best Regards
Alex
Hi there! I’m new here also! I’m also fairly new to keto, but not new to therapeutic diets. I’ve been on the autoimmune protocol (basically eliminates everything and is super clean and restrictive) starting three years ago, and still maintained it with reintroductions. I just transitioned to a keto version of this starting about a month ago.
I think the key to sustainability is to keep things simple. You mentioned the lack of keto products. What kind of products are you looking for/using? I keep any processed products at a minimum (besides things like condiments and some sauces) and generally eat meat and veggies cooked in different ways. And meal prep saves my life during the work weeks! That way I’m not stuck every evening staring into the fridge, wondering what I’m going to have to eat. That’s a certain recipe for disaster.
The social aspect can be a bit tougher, and I don’t know if I can offer much insight on that one. Sometimes it takes people a while to see the benefits of something and then later they become more supportive. When I started AIP, my family thought I was a crazy nutcase lol. But I stuck to it and after they saw my health turn around, they became interested and supportive at that point.
For general society, there are pockets of people who think nutrition is important! A lot of my social interactions with this came online. I just searched out groups who were doing the same thing I was and reached out, just like you did here!! So hopefully the conversation that ensues is helpful. 
You said you’ve been aware of keto for a few years. How long have you been following it?
My pantry list is mostly geared around lazy microwave recipes.
My staples these days are cheesewiches and cheese bread, pizza, nachos, “hot pockets”, and more with Joseph’s Lavash Bread. Any of those can be made in less than 5 minutes. Same with a microwaved omelet or microwaved cream cheese pancakes (aka “custard in a bowl”).
My only obstacle can be me (but relatives visits are problematic too. I had a problem with free and wonderful homemade cakes for ages - but it was still me) I don’t always do keto but it’s all about me and my attitude, I love my simply low-carb days, I lose nothing with them, just gain as long I do them right and first of all, rarely. I don’t need support (but it’s nice my family don’t bother me about it, of course… but I cook carby meals, it’s no problem) or fancy keto stuff at all.
Quick meal, even when travelling (as at home it’s ridiculously easy, at least after a while)? Cheese, eggs (I always have some boiled eggs and they don’t spoil easily), meat products and more (I eat various dairy if I fancy some extra variation)… This is for carnivore. For keto? Even nuts and other things… Once I found nothing I liked in a store except butter (normally cheese is fine, I don’t know what was my problem). So I ate a stick of butter, I only needed food for a few hours until I went home. I usually bring my own food if I leave my house for a long time and I am not sure I will find proper food.
I admit it helps that I don’t get hungry easily. I usually can wait until dinner if I must. Many people easily fast on keto.
What’s easier than single ingredient fresh whole foods?
Meat, eggs, fresh vegetables, dairy products…
Don’t compromise your health to make other people happy…
You don’t need products. My life is simple, I cook meat, cut it up and take it into work to eat it, or I boil eggs and take them into work to eat. Sometimes I eat nuts. Doesn’t get much more quick and easy.
When I’m not at work I can take more time with food prep, but weekdays I need quick and easy so this is what I do.
Thanks all.
That’s the thing, you need to prepare food in advance or eat raw foods to avoid eating unhealthy (regular) foods…
Meals in glass pyrex containers the night before.
Improvise at restaurants. I’m sure restaurants are open to pleasing their customers.
One meal a day after daily 20-23 hour fasts but this takes time to become biologically adjusted.
When I compare my lifestyle pre-Keto to now, I realize there is nothing more abnormal than paying double for “food” handed to me in a drive-thru. My meals are very simple and require no more prep than a high-carb meal. As far as support, I have zero concern about what someone thinks if I don’t eat cake. I don’t make anyone eat my chia seed pudding.
Preparing will definitely make things simpler and cheaper, as well as keeping long life snacks in your bag/car too - jerky, pork rinds, nuts. But if you’re on the go you can find things, just takes some practice to know what your options are.
Most restaurants will do meat/fish + green veg (ask for no potatoes/rice and sauce on the side), you can get plain fast food patties in a box or a burger with cheese/bacon and lettuce, supermarkets sell precooked meat (chicken/hams/roast beef etc) and you can eat that with some olives or a cucumber or buy a snack sized bag of nuts.
Keto products aren’t really a thing in the uk but i’ve managed fine to sustain keto aip for the last 3 years, it’s doable you just gotta know your options and have an emergency snack on you!
Edit: with family and friends, i just say i’m on a whole foods diet to manage my health. some people recognise it’s keto or ask friendly questions and we’ll chat but otherwise i just do what i gotta do for my health and keep trucking on quietly.
Even my most complicated carnivore meals are simple and barely take time from me compared to my vegetable dishes back then… And there are many other benefits. But I make simpler things anyway as time passes… I love cooking but why to spend overly much time on it (especially when I just want a quick, satiating nutritious meal, it probably happens with everyone, even with people who usually gladly spend hours in the kitchen)? My taste got simpler too, it definitely helps But what could be wrong with a ridiculously simple food consisting of very delicious ingredients? That is my base and if I do want to play with something more complicated or fancy, I can. But it’s an option, not a necessity. I enjoy this.
Yesterday’s dinner was satisfying and as easy as the carby stuff. I put a pork butt in the slow cooker with nothing but salt, pepper, and garlic powder. For our sides we had mashed cauliflower and steamed broccoli. I think mashed cauliflower is easier than mashed potatoes because all I do is microwave frozen cauliflower for 10 minutes and put it in the food processor with some butter or cream cheese. When I ate potatoes, I wouldn’t settle for instant. The peeling, boiling and mashing was time consuming.
I have found a way to eat keto for me that is incredibly satisfying.
On work days I don’t eat. I’m not hungry. That’s still ketogenic.
Then I enjoy a simple whole foods ketogenic meal in the evening.
Coffee, though. I enjoy work a lot more with a morning cup of coffee.
Socially in society, among peers and acquaintances, I just look for low carb options to eat. If none, I don’t eat. However, I remain social.
Then there is essential, soul filling social. Sometimes Nonna will make cannoli. She makes it with love and history. I mean how often do you get food with love as an ingredient? I’d been an idiot not to eat it. The world does not end. I don’t see close family and friends so often that it derails the pursuit of a ketogenic diet. Social aspects are a part of a healthy lifestyle.
I find a ketogenic diet easy to maintain, apart from the carb cravings, which are lessening but by no means gone. I cook a meat and make a salad or a vegetable for supper, then have leftovers for lunch. I like to cook a large amount of meat at one time and then have leftovers, which greatly increases the convenience factor. My favourite is a pork picnic (shoulder joint), which is self-basting because of the fat, and which yields many delicious meals during the following week.
If you really want convenience, however, go to a fast-food burger place and order a couple of bun-free cheeseburgers and a salad, hold the fries. 
We have a thread for maintenance. Join in.
https://www.ketogenicforums.com/t/oct-2020-weight-maintenance-check-in
I agree. Low carbing means I cook all of my food. You can prepare for a few days in advance and freeze, or simply keep in the fridge, depending on the item. I cook a lot of porc in the pressure cooker and eat it for 3, or 4 days. Mushrooms, or asparagus, or broccoli: also prepped for 3 days.
For snacks while on the go, if I didn’t prepare a meal to take with: a small container with pecan nuts and broken pieces of 86% chocolate.
When I have to go to restaurants: I order a meat dish and tell them to replace garnishes by low carb ones, like replacing fries by a small portion of green beans. If they don’t have any, I just eat the meat. Sometimes I purchase some cheese before going to the restaurant and drop the cheese on my meat dish when the waiter isn’t looking.
Edit: as for family and friends, I don’t tell them about my WOE. If having dinner at friend’s, I’ll skip the garnishing and carb stuff. If asked, I say my stomach has been a bit upset.
It involves taking responsibility for yourself and the fuel you put into your body rather than giving responsibility away to others.
Would it be real convenient if you could buy preserved meals online to be delivered and microwaved to be consumed at home, work or when traveling?
Not for me no, what I do takes less than an hour prep a week and fits easily with my lifestyle, that’s why I do it. Never liked prepped meals, “microwave dinners” - overpriced and full of crap I wouldn’t want to eat. I like to be in control of what goes into my body.
If you have money to burn. I’m sure a catering company will accommodate your needs. 