A couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about how I made my husband gain weight. My husband has always been super-supportive of my keto lifestyle, and eats whatever I cook for dinner. But pre-pandemic, he would have normal carby meals when he was out at work, because he didn’t really have to worry about his weight. So when I would load up our dinners with extra butter or coconut milk or whatever fat delivery method I chose for that particular meal, it was having a negative effect on him. You can’t do carbs and high fat without gaining weight!
But that support doesn’t always come easy. In my Intentionally Bare Keto Support Group on Facebook, we sometimes see questions from group members about how to get support from the significant other in the relationship. It’s something I see often in families where cooking duties are split. The spouse who is doing keto will cook their meals to be mostly keto, while the non-keto spouse often cooks meals with pasta or potatoes or rice as a large part of the meal. It can be difficult at best when that happens.
So how do you get support from your significant other in that case?
The key to getting support from your significant other is communication.
Look. Here’s the heart of the matter. You can do this without any support, but it will be much easier with support. And while it’s natural to expect that you will just get the support you expect from your spouse, sometimes, that just doesn’t happen. And if that’s the case, communication needs to happen.
When it’s time to have the talk with your spouse, plan for a time when neither of you is already going to be stressed out about something. After work may not be the best idea; if you’re busy trying to handle homework or cooking or one of you has had a bad day, it can throw a damper on the whole thing. Maybe you can have the conversation over coffee on a Saturday morning, or plan a late Sunday lunch date.
Make sure to explain why you’ve chosen to do the keto diet. Explain that the health benefits of keto go far beyond weight loss. Science tells us that keto can help with some brain issues, with auto-immune disorders, with recovery from issues such as stroke or TBI. We know that eliminating wheat can help with inflammation, may relieve some of the symptoms of Crohn’s disease and arthritis, and of course can help with gluten sensitivities. And we also know that keto has been shown to help conditions including epilepsy, PCOS, hypothyroid, and Type 2 Diabetes.
Also explain to your significant other that it’s important that the keto diet become a lifestyle change, not just a diet that you can go off of occasionally. When you make keto your lifestyle instead of your diet, you move ahead. Going off plan every few days makes it very difficult to reach your goals.
Lastly, be prepared to explain how you can help your spouse make necessary changes to allow them to prepare meals that will be both keto-friendly and still enjoyable for them to eat. If your spouse still really wants to make macaroni and cheese to go with that roast beef that they’ve been cooking in the Crock-Pot all day, great! Ask your spouse if they will also take the time to prepare your favorite cauliflower and cheese recipe, too. That gives you a delicious keto-friendly option. If your spouse wants to make fried chicken, that’s just fine; here’s a great recipe for a keto-friendly version that they could make at the same time. They only need to make small changes in order to make the meals they prepare more keto-friendly for you to eat. Just remember to add your extra fats at the end so only you get those benefits!
By making these small changes, you two can celebrate being keto-friendly together! In fact, I’ve even put together some recipes I love to help you get started. These are great keto-friendly recipes for date night-perfect for the two of you to share together!
Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole – For a hearty keto meal that is perfect for date night, make this delicious bacon cheeseburger casserole! Rich in flavor and totally satisfying, this casserole is perfect for anyone on the keto diet. Best of all, there will be leftovers to enjoy another night!
Red Velvet Torte – For a romantic keto dessert to make for date night, make this decadent Red Velvet Torte! This keto-friendly dessert has rich chocolate flavor and is easy to make!
Juicy Roasted Turkey Breast – Easy roasted turkey breast that is ready in just 60-90 minutes! It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day dinner and other special occasions.
Gluten-Free Moussaka – Have a keto Mediterranean dinner with this delicious Moussaka recipe that can be made with either lamb or beef. Simply pair it with a Greek salad and you have the perfect dinner for a themed date night!
Grilled Dry-Aged Tomahawk Steak – The iconic tomahawk steak is often reserved for special occasions. This juicy thick-cut ribeye attacked to a long bone is the perfect keto main course.
Keto Chocolate Lava Cake – A molten, low-carb chocolate cake that is meant to be shared and only takes a couple of minutes to prepare.
Blackened Shrimp Tacos – Blackened shrimp keto tacos are your new favorite tacos and are the perfect date night recipe. They’re fun to make together, too!
Grilled Chicken Salad – This grilled chicken salad is perfect for a simple, elegant evening. In just 40 minutes, you can turn plain ingredients into an extraordinary dinner! Drizzle with a quick olive oil dressing to finish.
Low Carb Instant Pot Pesto Chicken -Instant Pot Italian chicken with Olive Garden Salad Dressing is an easy low-carb, four ingredient recipe for the pressure cooker. It’s simple, yet delicious.
Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs – Easy one-pan weeknight meal that’s so convenient, family-friendly, and delicious! This sheet pan chicken thighs with brussels sprouts dinner never disappoints. It’s definitely a breeze to throw together, and it’s bursting with flavors.
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas – Super easy and flavorful chicken fajitas made quickly in the air fryer! The chicken is succulent and full of flavor and the peppers and onions are crunchy and delicious. A great dinner for busy mid-week nights!
Marry Me Chicken – Creamy Marry Me Chicken is a crowd-pleasing quick and easy recipe – chicken thighs ina creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and bacon! Even better, it cooks up in one pot for easy cleanup for busy weeknights!
Low Carb Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake – Share a chocolate peanut butter mug cake on your next date night so your spouse can see how tasty keto can be! This rich and indulgent dessert is packed with flavor without all the carbs. With just a few bites you will both be satisfied without going over your carb count. Whip up this portion-controlled dessert in minutes and enjoy with your significant other!
Shrimp Cakes – These shrimp cakes are quick and easy to mix up and they only take about five minutes to cook. Crispy and golden brown on the outside, loaded with tender, juicy shrimp on the inside. They are amazing served with remoulade or a spicy garlic mayo.
Garlic-Butter Steak Bites – Ready and on the table in under 30 minutes. This steak bite recipe is juicy, tender, and incredibly flavorful!
Keto Espresso Flourless Cake – This keto chocolate espresso flourless cake is super rich and decadent, while still being nut free, sugar free, dairy free and gluten free. What kind of low-carb wizardry is this?!
Most of these recipes are great because they are simple and easy to make, and are main dishes that can be served with a salad or your favorite keto sides, while your spouse can add a carb if they want.
If you need more help to get your partner onboard with your keto lifestyle, or find that you need more support than you’re getting at home, please stop by my Intentionally Bare Keto Support Group. We would love to have you!
You got this!
Leta
~ Intentionally Bare
❗️ DISCLAIMER: Health information given here is based on public research and is not meant to take the place of your doctor's advice. Always do your own research and discuss it with your health practitioner before trying a new diet, supplement or exercise plan.
❗️ DISCLOSURE: I manufacture a line of 100% natural keto products under the brand name, Intentionally Bare. These products will be mentioned from time to time because they are amazingly healthy and fantastic for those on a ketogenic diet or anyone looking to improve their health. I am also a participant in the Amazon services LLC Associates Program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.** I ONLY ever post a link to products I personally USE and LOVE!
