The ketogenic diet is a diet that consists of a very low carbohydrate, high fat and moderate protein intake. As food like rice, pasta and even flour are not allowed on a keto diet, it can seem restrictive and a little intimating to beginners and others new to it.

But don’t fear—We spoke to Carolyn Ketchum from All Day I Dream About Food, who shows us that that is not the case at all. Rather than having to give up carb-heavy foods and meals, it’s all about finding alternatives that can produce similar, if not better, results, while still adhering to keto guidelines.

Ketchum shared a whole day’s worth of keto recipes for beginners so you can have a delicious keto-friendly breakfast, lunch and/or dinner and of course, dessert.

Easy Keto Pancakes

Starting with breakfast, we have easy keto pancakes. Whether you’re able to whip up something a little different for weekends to share with the family, or if you’re tired of your usual keto-friendly cereal, it’s a simple recipe to follow and as Ketchum claims, “These are the best keto pancakes you’ll ever make.”

The key is to use almond flour to keep these pancakes keto—there are only 3.5g net carbs per serving— and this is a great keto recipe for those who’ve ever worked with this type of flour before. Ketchum also recommends using “a blender…It creates a more cohesive batter and helps to whip air into the mixture.” The end result is “fluffy and light [pancakes], with a perfect golden brown exterior.” You can even add a smear of peanut butter on top, some sugar-free maple syrup, or a sprinkle of cinnamon or your favorite spice.

Ketchum herself makes these for her family every few weeks. “I love them because I know my whole family will eat them. I can put a healthy breakfast in front of them without hearing any complaints.” And if you’re more of a waffle person, this batter can definitely be used to make waffles as well.

Get the easy keto pancakes recipe here.

Taco Pie

“This low carb taco pie is ridiculously easy to make and incredibly delicious,” says Ketchum, “A perfect weeknight dinner.” It uses staple pantry ingredients so most people will find all the ingredients they need right in their own kitchen, making it “the best keto recipe for those ‘I don’t know what to make for dinner’ nights,” she adds.

This keto recipe is also customizable. When Ketchum makes the taco pie, she adds a variety of toppings such as:

• Guacamole
• Salsa
• Sour cream
• Chopped cilantro

You can definitely add your own favorite toppings so that it suits your preferred taste. Not to mention, you can adjust the spice levels of the taco seasoning.

Not bothered to cook every night and prefer to meal prep? Ketchum has got you covered for that as well. “the whole pie can be frozen for later.”

Get the taco pie recipe here.

Keto Butter Pecan Cookies

And last but not least, we have dessert—keto butter pecan cookies. “No eggs or baking powder, just crispy, melt-in-your-mouth buttery goodness,” says Ketchum. “These low carb butter pecan cookies are one of my most popular keto dessert recipes. They’re so buttery and sweet, and so easy to make.”

This keto recipe is great for beginners because it takes less than 30-minutes (including prep and baking time) and gives you a sweet, shortbread-like treat that’s full of flavor, without a whole lot of effort. If you want to cut down the time, even more, make some spare dough and keep it in the freezer so you can easily pop them in the oven whenever you get a craving.

Ketchum does point out that “The sweetener you use makes a big difference to the outcome of your cookies. If you want a crisp cookie, the sweetener must be erythritol based, with no allulose or xylitol in the blend,” she says. “I always recommend Swerve Sweetener.”

Get the keto butter pecan cookies recipe here.

Give one of all of these beginner-friendly keto recipes a try. They may be low-carb but they definitely don’t compromise on flavor. They’re simple to make, will satisfy your hunger and cravings, all while keeping it keto.