Authors: Laura Dority, MS, RD, LD & Taylor Parrish, RDN, LD   Editor: Amy Merwarth, RD, LD  While a ketogenic diet can be a highly effective option for epilepsy, it also comes with challenges and nuances of adhering to this low-carbohydrate, high-fat dietary approach.  A common question that arises is the role of artificial and non-nutritive sweeteners which are often found in “keto-marketed” convenience foods.  Are sweeteners friends or foes in the realm of ketosis?  Let's delve into the science and practical considerations. First, what are artificial and no ..read more

By: Laura Dority, MS, RD, LD Fats, often misunderstood and unfairly vilified, play a crucial role in our diet, especially for those embracing the ketogenic lifestyle. It's time to demystify the different types of fats, understand their sources, and appreciate the health benefits each type brings to the table. Monounsaturated Fats Sources: Olive oil, avocados, nuts (especially almonds), seeds (pumpkin, sesame) Health Benefits: Monounsaturated fats are associated with heart health, as they can help lower bad LDL cholesterol levels while maintaining or increasing good HDL cholesterol. They are a ..read more

By: Laura Dority, MS, RD, LD As we step into the promising year of 2024, the Keto Hope Foundation is gearing up for an exciting initiative to help make it easier for clinicians to educate patients and caregivers on the ins and outs of ketogenic diet therapy for epilepsy. Focused on empowering patients and caregivers, our primary goal is to provide invaluable resources in the form of quality and user-friendly handouts. We know as clinicians you are incredibly busy and finding the time to create educational handouts for your facility or private practice can be nearly impossible. We hope our free ..read more

Recipe and Content Contributor: Taylor Parrish, RDN, CLC, LD Like Halloween and Thanksgiving, food is often one of the main spotlights of the Christmas season. Check out these keto friendly Christmas activities and recipes. Your keto kiddo doesn’t have to miss out on this magical time! From the whole team at the Keto Hope Foundation, we hope you find joy in this season and have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year!  First, check out these fun holiday ideas where food is not the focus!   LEGO® Gingerbread House Play-Doh Gingerbread House  Non-fo ..read more

Recipe & Content Contributor: Taylor Parrish, RDN, CLC, LD In the US alone, there are over 100 yogurt production businesses. When it comes to the world of yogurts, you’ve got options… flavors, textures, ingredients, and nutritional content are all areas where yogurts can differ! All of these options and differences can make it difficult to determine the best keto yogurt.  When following a ketogenic diet, macros matter so how do we determine which yogurt to choose?  Do all yogurts contain probiotics?  Most (not all) yogurts contain probiotics but keep in mind that the good ..read more

By: Taylor Parrish, RDN, LD & Laura Dority, MS, RD, LD We made it…. the kiddos are back in the school routine and life is feeling a bit more organized…manageable even! That is until the first illness hits! Unfortunately, illness is inevitable regardless of diagnosis. Being sick while on a ketogenic diet is sort of a double whammy! It’s important to keep in mind that illness can lower the threshold for seizures so you may see that your child has more seizures during a period of illness – regardless of ketone and glucose levels and maintenance of a ketogenic diet.   It is still ver ..read more

By: Laura Dority, MS, RD, LD Are avocados the perfect food for the ketogenic diet? The answer may very well be yes…or at least close to the perfect food and here is why:  Rich in healthy monounsaturated fat Contain omega-3 fatty acids  High in fiber and low in net carbohydrates Fun Fact: They have the highest fiber content of any fruit.  Loaded with vitamins including C, E, K, B6, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic, magnesium, and potassium. Fun fact: Avocados have 60% more potassium than bananas.  The nutrition stats for ½ an avocado (approximate ..read more

By: Laura Dority MS, RD, LD & Daisy Argudin (parent advocate) Epilepsy is hard… it’s hard for everyone… siblings, parents, grandparents, friends, and especially the kiddo with seizures. Epilepsy is complicated… there isn’t just one cure… one medication that works for one person doesn’t work for another…there are numerous different kinds of seizures and epilepsy syndromes.  Epilepsy is not easy to explain… especially to younger children, so we compiled a list of books to help!  Keto-Related Krazy for Keto by Brandon Kopp (2023)  The story of a young boy's successful journey ..read more

By: Kayla Hansmann, MS, RD, LD, CLC When thinking about diet quality – across the spectrum of all diets, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who would argue that the quality of what we’re eating isn’t important. While that might not be one of the first steps in implementing a medically prescribed ketogenic diet, it can certainly take precedence down the road once some of the other critical boxes are checked and everyone is feeling comfortable with how to navigate this new way of eating. Dietary choices and lifestyle habits can be daunting to implement all at once so most dietitians will rec ..read more

Recipe and Content Contributor: Taylor Parrish, RDN, CLC, LD Wow, I can’t believe it’s already springtime and a furry bunny has been spotted hopping around your neighborhood! Whether you celebrate Easter for its biblical significance or not, most families take part in the Easter festivities – egg hunts, baskets, brunch/dinner, etc.  Most holiday festivities include food and being on keto and not eating what other kids are eating can be very difficult. However, as a parent, we can refocus on what’s important and how we celebrate different holidays. Being on keto is a great way to start ne ..read more