Approved Foods List

Nutrition & Lifestyle Training

for Insulin Control and Better Health ™
The Insulin IQ Food Pyramid
Nutrition & Lifestyle Training
™ for Insulin Control and Better Health ™

A low-carb, high-fat (LCHF) diet has been
proven to help people lower insulin lev-
els for better health. As a general rule,
consume 20% of your daily calories
from protein, 5% from carbohydrates
and 75% from fat.
In this new LCHF food pyramid,
you’ll find two categories of
foods: primary and secondary.
Eating a balanced selection of
foods from the primary cate-
gory to satiation will keep
your nutrient intake within
the recommended ratio. High-Fat Dairy, Lean Meats
These foods serve as the
staple for meal planning.
The foods in the secondary cate-
gory are smart choices to bring
variety to your LCHF meals, but
should be used in moderation
to avoid nutrient imbalance.
Be mindful of the 20/5/75
Nuts & Berries nutrient ratio, and aim for
your goal of consuming 25
or less grams of carbohy-
drates daily.
The following lists are
not comprehensive.
Be sure to consult
your doctor before
making dietary
changes.

Secondary
Eat in Moderation Low-Carbohydrate Vegetables

Primary
Eat to Satiation

Fatty Fish, Meats & Eggs + Non-Starch Vegetables + Healthy Fats

Remember the 20/5/75 Nutrient Ratio:

For the greatest success, consume 20% of your daily calories from
protein, 5% from carbohydrates and 75% from fat!
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 Primary Foods List
Nutrition & Lifestyle Training
for Insulin Control and Better Health ™

Eat to Satiation
Satiation is the point at which you don’t feel the desire to eat more. You’ll notice that there
is no mention of how many servings you should eat on this list. That’s because LCHF eating
is simply about learning to intuitively eat the right things, not calorie-counting.

Proteins: Beverages:
+ Fatty cuts of beef, pork, lamb, game + Coffee (unsweetened, black or w/cream)
+ Fish and seafood + Herbal teas
+ Bacon + Water with lemon or lime
+ Eggs w/yolk
Condiments & Sweeteners:
+ Broths (beef, chicken, bone, vegetable)
+ High-fat mayonnaise, mustard, pesto
Vegetables & Fruits: + High-fat dressings (3 grams or less
+ Leafy green vegetables: spinach, chard, lettuce, carbs per serving)
kale, etc. + Coconut aminos
+ Asparagus, celery, leeks, radishes, zucchini, + Guacamole
onions, bok choy, cucumbers + Pork rinds (for breading)
+ Avocados + Stevia, xylitol, erythritol, monk fruit
+ Olives
Fermented/Pickled Foods:
+ Herbs and spices: parsley, cilantro, thyme,
+ Kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles
basil, rosemary, lemon/lime juice, etc.
+ Kombucha, apple cider vinegar
Healthy Fats & Oils:
Nuts, Seeds, Legumes:
+ Cold-pressed, non-hydrogenated oils: coconut,
+ Unsweetened nut and seed milks
MCT, avocado, macadamia, olive, krill & fish oils
(almond, coconut, etc.)
+ Rendered animal fat or lard
+ Butter and ghee
+ HLTH Code™ Shake

Primary
Eat to Satiation

Fatty Fish, Meats & Eggs + Non-Starch Vegetables + Healthy Fats

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Secondary Foods List
Nutrition & Lifestyle Training
for Insulin Control and Better Health ™

Eat in Moderation
The following foods are low-carb options that bring a
variety of great tastes and textures to your LCHF meals.
Many also have lots of good, healthy fats. However,
because of their nutrient balance, they should be
eaten less than the foods in the primary category.

For example, chicken is a versatile ingredient included

in many LCHF recipes, but its low fat, high protein
content means it can land you outside of the rec-
ommended nutrient ratio if consumed in excess. Nuts & Berries
Nitrates & Nitrites:
Bacon and deli meats are likely to contain
nitrates and nitrites, which are preservatives
added during processing.

While a high intake of preservatives may

increase risk for some diseases, bacon’s High-Fat Dairy, Lean Meats
taste and high fat content make it a
favorite in many LCHF dishes.

Secondary
Eat in Moderation
Low-Carbohydrate Vegetables

Proteins: Dairy:
+ Poultry and other lean meats + Heavy cream, half-and-half
+ Deli-style meats (may contain preservatives) + High-fat yogurt (6g or less carbs
+ Powdered protein supplements per serving)
+ Cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese
Vegetables, Fruits, Grains:
+ Broccoli, cauliflower, artichoke hearts, Nuts, Seeds, Legumes:
Brussels sprouts + Macadamias, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts
+ Squash, peppers, cabbage, okra + Pistachios, pine nuts, brazil nuts, pecans
+ Eggplant, bean sprouts, peas, mushrooms + Flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
+ Berries + Peanut butter
+ Tomatoes + Coconut flour, almond flour
+ Psyllium husk + Snap peas
+ Resistant starch powders
Condiments & Sweeteners:
Beverages: + Hummus, Greek yogurt dips
+ Diet soda, if desired* + Sorbitol, maltitol, other sugar alcohols
* Some people prefer to eliminate all artificial sweetners.
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 Nutrition & Lifestyle Training

Foods to Avoid
for Insulin Control and Better Health ™

Eat Very Rarely

Once in a while that cinnamon roll is going to be calling your name, or they’ll be serving your
favorite cake at a birthday party. You don’t have to run and hide in the closet! Enjoy a small
portion, then get right back on the LCHF track the next morning. And, control impulse eating
by planning ahead of time those special occasions when you’ll have a treat.

The following foods contribute to high insulin levels and should not be a regular part of
your menu planning:

Proteins: Dairy:
+ Meats served w/sweetened sauces + Milk: 2%, 1%, skim
or breading + Condensed or powdered milk
+ Ice cream with sugar
Vegetables, Fruits, Grains:
+ Wheat, rice, millet, quinoa, oats, etc. Nuts, Seeds, Legumes:
+ Gluten-free and grain-derived flours + Cashews
+ Apples, peaches, pears, apricots, cherries + Peas (other than snap peas)
+ Bananas, oranges, mangos, + Beans
grapes, melons
Condiments & Sweeteners:
+ Corn, beets, carrots, potatoes (all varieties)
+ White sugar, brown sugar, fructose
+ Canned fruit, most canned vegetables
+ High-fructose corn syrup
+ Jams and jellies
+ Agave, honey, maple syrup
Beverages: + Sucralose
+ Soy milk
Fats & Oils:
+ Juices
+ Margarine and trans fat
+ Full-sugar sodas and sports drinks
+ Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated
+ Alcoholic beverages containing carbs
oils: peanut, canola, vegetable, soybean
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