I was pleasantly surprised when Joshua Gonzales reached out to me from Keto Delivered. He asked me if I would be interested in reviewing a subscription box of the keto-friendly foodstuffs his company curates and sends out monthly.
“Of course!” was my reply. After all, what’s not to love about the promise of high quality keto treats delivered right to my doorstep? Mind you, I’m not the only one that finds this appealing. At the time of this writing Keto Delivered has already shipped nearly 10,000 boxes to low carb foodies around the country.
So we made the arrangements and I tried to be patient for my package to arrive.
A couple weeks later I stepped through the door and there it was: a shoe-sized box of keto goodness waiting for me on the kitchen table.
The Keto Delivered Box of Goodies
Roughly the size of a shoebox, I picked it up to evaluate its heft. At a little over a pound and a half, it certainly felt substantial. If you’re not sure what that feels like, it’s almost the weight of a liter of water. What could be inside to account for the box’s weight?
A few swipes with a box cutter and I was able to open the top flap and reveal the low carb treasures. There they were: my treats, packed amongst the recycled paper packing material.
Let me just say that impressions at this point were overall positive. The packaging design was smart and sharp (besides a blemish left on the outside by something leaking on to it during shipping). It felt like a substantial delivery. Even the packing material seems to evoke a sense of substance and quality.
A quick inventory was in order. Here’s what the July 2016 Keto Delivered box contained:
Chili & Garlic Oloves
I wasn’t sure what to expect with these, as it’s a brand and food I’d never encountered before. When I first got the Keto Delivered box, I assumed these were some sort of dried olive with flavoring. Boy, was I wrong. It turned out that these are actual black pitted olives shipped in a heavy foil package.
I tentatively pulled one out and tried it. It was delicious. The full flavor of the olive came through, with only a hint of the Chili and Garlic flavoring. While I’m not sure what magic they use to keep these shelf stable without refrigeration, I’ll admit that flavor-wise they easily compete with some of the options available at the olive bar at our local grocer.
Nutrition Information:
- Total Carbs: <1g
- Net Carbs: <1g
- Fat: 2.5g
- Protein: 0g
- Calories:30
- Servings Per Container: 2
Rosemary & Lemon Oloves
Basically the same as the above, but these are green pitted olives (not black) with a different flavor. Again, well balanced and not overwhelming. These Lemon and Rosemary Oloves are tasty.
Nutrition Information:
- Total Carbs: <1g
- Net Carbs: <1g
- Fat: 3g
- Protein: 0g
- Calories: 25
- Servings Per Container: 2
Sweet Dee’s Sugar Free Brownie Mix (yum!)
OK. Since going low carb and living a keto lifestyle, I haven’t had the chance to indulge in things like brownies. Seriously, it’s been years. And for the most part, I think that leaving these things behind is an important part of my success and quest for better health.
But there are a good many people who eat low carb and go to great lengths to recreate and enjoy low-carb versions of the sweet treats they were used to consuming on the standard american diet. Sweet Dee’s Brownie Mix undoubtedly helps in this situation. It has a macronutrient profile that’s difficult to argue with, and though it’s not something I’ve tried yet, I promise to give it a shot and update you with my thoughts.
Nutrition Information:
- Total Carbs: 14g
- Net Carbs: 1g
- Fat: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Calories: 35
- Servings Per Container: 12
Mission Meats Graze Stick (Original)
I’ve seen these around, but as a fan of Nick’s Sticks, I’d never ventured off the familiar path to try one of these. It is my loss. These are every bit as tasty as my old standby, and compete with them for what I consider to be a dang near perfect keto snack. I like the fact that they are made of real ingredients, and I can take them hiking and camping without worrying about refrigeration, etc.
The only complaint I could offer is that the box contained only one sample, so I had to share it with our two year old.
Nutrition Information:
- Total Carbs: 1g
- Net Carbs: <1g
- Fat: 6g
- Protein: 7g
- Calories:80
- Servings Per Container: 1
Nduja Spreadable Salami
I was turned on to Nduja only a few weeks before I connected with Josh and Keto Delivered. Talk about Baader-Meinhof phenomenon! If you’re new to it, Nduja is a spreadable salami…and a spicy one at that. I’d say it has the consistency of a block of traditional cream cheese…perhaps a bit more spreadable. I’ve seen it sampled at the local food co-op as something you’d spread on bread. But being a ketoer, that option is out for me.
Perhaps a good option would be to use it on a baked parmesan cracker, or something else low carb. I chose to use it in a recipe contained in the Keto Delivered box (see below).
Nutrition Information:
- Total Carbs: 2g
- Net Carbs: 1g
- Fat: 14g
- Protein: 2g
- Calories: 140
- Servings Per Container: 6
Recipe Card
This Keto Delivered box came with an enclosed recipe and partial inventory card. On one side it included a recipe to use with the Nduja (above). On the other, it had a partial inventory of the contents of the box, with photos, descriptions and retail prices. I think the intent is to describe a little of what you receive, and reinforce Keto Delivered’s commitment to always ship you more value than you’d pay for the contents individually.
As far as the recipe goes: I actually tried it out, with a few variations (I’m not a fan of mayonnaise or mustard…both of which were included in the recipe). It was tasty, provided you’re a fan of spicy salami-like flavors. For the record, I found it enjoyable and the wife and child (2.5 year old) couldn’t keep their hands off it.
In the grand scheme of things, I rather like the fact that not only does Keto Delivered include some nifty keto-friendly foods, but they take the time to source some recipes that you can try out with what they deliver. Feels like a nice play, and an effort to go above and beyond a service that just ships you some food every month.
Truly Zero Stevia and Sucralose Sweetener Kit
At first, I was a little confused, and thought this month’s Keto Delivered contained a partial chemistry set. But a little investigation revealed a delightful surprise. This Truly Zero sampler contains two small plastic dropper-containers: one of liquid stevia, the other of liquid sucralose.
I’m a big fan of stevia, and sucralose is my backup when we run out of the former. Considering that one of the central tenants of a low carb ketogenic diet is to give up sugar, keto-friendly sweeteners can occupy an important part of a low carb dieter’s pantry. This certainly delivers. They claim that each dropper vial is good for about 160-180 servings, so it should last a good while. The manufacturer also shares this fun bit of trivia about their product:
Each 1/2 ounce bottle has the equivalent sweetness of 4 to 6 pounds (yes, pounds!) of sugar.
Imagine that!
Nutrition Information:
- Total Carbs: 0g
- Net Carbs: 0g
- Fat: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Calories: 0g
- Servings Per Container: 160 – 180
Skout Raw Pumpkin Seeds
These are still sitting in our pantry. Not for lack of interest, but simply because we haven’t had the chance to try them yet. I think this speaks to the sheer volume of stuff you get in a box from Keto Delivered. It’s a lot, and even after a couple weeks, we still have yet to try a few things. This being one of them.
Nutrition Information:
- Total Carbs: 4g
- Net Carbs: 2g
- Fat: 17g
- Protein: 10g
- Calories: 190
- Servings Per Container: 2
ProTings Zesty Nacho Crisps
These fascinate me. Again, another low carb option I’d never seen, and as a chip, an example of an entire class of foods that have been completely off my radar for years. Because of this, I was as as excited as I was curious to try them. The verdict: interesting. They have a unique flavor to them that made them enjoyable, but not so tasty as to be a binge hazard (frequently a hazard with chips). I used them to dip in the Nduja spread (above) and found them quite flavorful. But even if these were stocked in our local grocer, it’s probably not something I’d keep stocked in our pantry. Not because of the flavor, but just because I’ve largely given up chips as a snack and it’s not just not a foodstuff I’m looking to partake of regularly. With that in mind, I will note that our resident keto baby consumed every last crumb from the bowl.
Nutrition Information:
- Total Carbs: 7g
- Net Carbs: 4g
- Fat: 4g
- Protein: 15g
- Calories: 120
- Servings Per Container: 1
Three Spice Assortment From Ground2Table
These appear to be high quality spices, but we’ve yet had the chance to try them. Right now they are hanging out in our spice cabinet, calling us to use them in some cooking. Will keep you posted!
Nutrition Information:
- Total Carbs: Pending
- Net Carbs: Pending
- Fat: Pending
- Protein: Pending
- Calories: Pending
- Servings Per Container: Pending
Impressions of Keto Delivered Contents
Everything looked either delicious, or fascinating (I’m looking at you, Truly Zero Sweetener Kit). Best of all, aside from the Mission Meats Graze Stick, everything was new to me! But is it a safe assortment of comestibles for a ketoer to consider?
Absolutely!
A quick scan of the nutrition labels suggested everything was workable without too much fuss. I’d have to be careful with a few items… but it’s clear that Keto Delivered understands what it means to eschew carbs while maintaining high food quality. At last a company that understands!
I’d also like to point out something that I’ve hinted at above, but is worthy of a few comments: If you’re committed to a low carb lifestyle, by necessity you’re likely giving up a good many types of foods that most people consume on a daily or weekly basis. Chips, bakery items, sweets…these are just a few examples. You’re likely also further limited by the keto friendly choices of foods available to you at your local grocers.
One of the neat things about Keto Delivered is that they scour the national market for keto friendly foods to share with you. And some of these likely represent foods you’ve learned to largely live without. In my case, brownies and chips. Suddenly carb-safe versions are back in our house, posing something of a challenge to remember once they find a spot in the the pantry.
I think it’s largely a good thing to have these options available, though I do wonder if people new to low carb eating should go here while they are still adjusting how they eat. Frequently this is a time where they are getting over some unhealthy eating behaviors. So use caution friends. It’s awesome to have low carb brownie options at the ready, but just keep in mind that this is a rare treat, and not something that most people should likely consider part of their regular diet.
Is Keto Delivered Worth It?
Keto Delivered is a food curation service that promises to find and deliver leto-friendly foods to your doorstep, once a month. They scour farmer’s markets, small batch food vendors and food artisans to find appropriate snacks, treats and edibles suitable for serious low carbers. They also promise value in each delivery, affirming that “the retail value of the contents will always be more than the cost you pay (including shipping).” And what does this cost?
It’s about $40 a month.
And whether or not this is within reach will certainly depend on how much disposable income you have. For our family of three, it’s a welcome luxury that could fit comfortably within our monthly grocery budget and provide access to interesting foods we don’t normally have in our location. I found the contents to be both surprising and delightful. A few gave me pause, but all were squarely within the guidelines we follow as low carb, ketogenic dieters.
Ultimately, I’d say that if you can swing it, it’s worth giving a try. Especially if you feel like you’ve fallen into a rut with your staples or that your way of eating is starting to feel a little bland. Keto Delivered is the perfect means to spice up your diet and expose you to new, keto-safe foods worth trying.
Disclaimer
These days it’s hard to trust a link. Or a review.
Because of this, I’d like to take a moment to be clear about something: Neither I nor Ketopia are compensated for this review. Furthermore, we don’t earn commission if you decide to subscribe to Keto Delivered. The Keto Delivered box reviewed above was provided to Ketopia without condition, and this review represents the honest opinions and assessment of the author. As a courtesy, this post was shared with Keto Delivered prior to publication, but at no time were they invited (nor did they seek) to exert any type of editorial influence over the contents of this review.
See Ketopia’s review policy for additional details.
A great post and interesting information. I didn’t realise this sort of thing was available anywhere, and although I’m in NZ, it gives hope and ideas. Thanks.