Jenna Jameson Claps Back at Criticism for Breastfeeding on the Keto Diet

Former adult film star Jenna Jameson breastfeeds while on the keto diet — and she's sick of the uninformed, unsolicited criticism from mom-shamers.

The TV personality has been open about both her breastfeeding and weight loss journeys. But not everyone has been supportive of her ketogenic lifestyle — the diet advocates for low-carb, high-fat consumption — as she reaches two years of breastfeeding her daughter, Batel Lu.

"Let's talk breastfeeding and keto," the mother of three wrote on Instagram. "This subject is quite taboo it seems. A lot of naysayers rattle off falsehoods like 'you have to eat oats to produce sufficient milk.' Seriously ridiculous."

Jameson, who posted a side-by-side photo of her before and after she started the keto diet, added that she was once skeptical too. But after a week of carefully monitoring her breast milk supply while "slowly subtracting carbohydrates," Jameson noticed that she had actually increased, not decreased her overall production.

"I'm not quite sure why I thought processed foods contributed to my fabulous supply. I was absolutely wrong," Jameson wrote. "The moment I got into my full ketosis, my milk increased."

She ended her post by clarifying some other common misconceptions about the keto diet.

"I think a lot of people think Keto is all about bacon, salami, and copious amounts of cheese," she continued. "It's actually quite well-rounded with lots of organic veggies, fish and eggs. I am aware all women are not the same, but I think if you do your research, start slowly and monitor yourself…. nursing and keto go hand in hand."

Her final point that "women are not the same" is an important one. All bodies are diverse and have different dietary requirements. Just because Jameson claims to have lost weight by changing her diet postpartum doesn't mean every new mother can and should follow suit.

Additionally, Jameson's post raises another excellent point: What you eat while breastfeeding is important. Of course, that's not to say that everyone's diets will or should look the same during the process. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that breastfeeding women eat 450 to 500 extra calories a day to aid with milk production, and the only foods the ACOG specifically suggest not consuming too much of are fish high in mercury (like swordfish and king mackerel), coffee (more than 200 milligrams per day), and alcohol.  As always, you should consult with a doctor to find which foods are best for your body and your breastfeeding needs.

While we're not hopeful that all of the mom-shamers will back off from harassing Jameson online, we are optimistic that her most recent post will spark a meaningful conversation and inspire parents to figure out what's best for them. In the meantime, let's all allow Jameson to live her best life, OK?

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Keto diet elicits differing medical opinions

The keto diet was the No. 1 searched diet on Google in 2018. Keto pancakes and keto cheesecake were the fourth- and fifth-ranked food search terms.

But as the diet's popularity has increased, so has the controversy surrounding it.

It all begins with very low carbs.

A normal diet consists of about 300 grams of carbohydrates every day, but for people on the keto diet, about 20 grams is the limit. The low-carb intake is replaced with a high consumption of fats. It's similar to the Atkins diet, which was popular in the early 2000s.

When carbohydrates are restricted, the body turns to glycogen, a backup carbohydrate stored in the liver, for energy. When this supply of glycogen is depleted, the liver produces ketones for energy, a process known as ketosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. For people on the keto diet, the goal is to be in a constant state of ketosis, where instead of storing fats the body burns them.

Elizabeth Parks, a professor of nutrition and exercise physiology in the University of Missouri's School of Medicine, said the keto diet is sustainable and the criticism is often misguided.

"We know that people can do this forever," Parks said, referring to a study on the effects of low-carb diets on the heart. "From the metabolism standpoint it is sustainable."

Adam Whaley-Connell, professor of medicine in the division of nephrology and hypertension in the School of Medicine and associate chief of staff at Truman Veterans' Hospital, said while the short-term gains from a ketogenic diet are great for weight loss, the long-term effects can pose increased risks to the heart and kidneys.

"As a physician, I routinely tell people that these types of high-fat diets can have different implications for your health that may not be in your favor," he said.

For Brenda Breland, who has become a social media conduit for people wanting to go keto, there's an irony in the criticism and naysaying she's heard since she became a believer. "No one was worried about me when I ate chips and ice cream for dinner," she said, "but now because I'm doing keto, people think I'm going to die."

Becoming a believer

Six months after the birth of her second child, Breland wasn't happy. As a former college volleyball player, she wasn't used to feeling out of shape.

"I just wasn't in the best place, mentally or physically," she said. "I had a lot of anxiety and didn't feel like myself."

A friend introduced Breland, 29, to a keto drink supplement, and she decided to give it a go, hoping it would help her lose weight and feel healthier. After three months of drinking the supplement and changing to a low-carb diet, she decided to go full keto.

She didn't weigh herself, but she dropped from a size 6 to a 2 or 1 in the first three months, she said.

Breland begins her day drinking a ketogenic supplement that suppresses her hunger and helps her body stay in ketosis. She only eats between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For lunch and dinner, she sticks with leafy greens and meats, like a salad and a hamburger without a bun. It all adds up to about 1,400 calories per day, and she's now focusing on gaining muscle.

"After 7:30 at night I only drink water," she said. "I allow myself one treat meal on the weekend, where I'll maybe consume 80 to 100 grams of carbs instead of the daily 20."

Breland said she has never been in better shape physically or mentally.

"As a mom, I used to feel totally rundown at the end of the day with a lot of brain fog," she said. "Now I can keep up with my kids, with my work and everything going on around me."

Breland works out five days a week for 35 minutes during her lunch hour. Before going on the keto diet, she occasionally exercised and ate an unlimited amount of carbohydrates and sugars.

Long-term effects

Ashley Ritzo, a clinical dietitian for University of Missouri Health, typically does not recommend the keto diet to her patients. Her recommendations are based on the sustainability of the diet. "My philosophy on nutrition is to commit only to changes you can do for the rest of your life," she said.

For someone to sustain a ketogenic diet and maintain good health, they must be committed to including plant-based fats like avocados and nuts in their diet, she said.

"One of the problems is that some people end up eating too much of animal-based fats, like bacon," she said.

Whaley-Connell said research shows that high-fat diets in general can have negative health effects in the long-term, regardless of whether the fat comes from plants or animals.

"High-fat diets over time can induce kidney injury both functionally and structurally," he said. "It does not matter what the source of fat is."

Cardiovascular risks such as heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure can increase over time with a high-fat diet, he said.

That's why going on the keto diet under the supervision of a physician is important, he said. But he won't recommend it to his patients and explains that the long-term health risks outweigh the short-term weight loss results.

Parks is less persuaded by those risks.

"I wouldn't say there are no risks, but on the whole the risks are relatively low," she said. "If you are relatively healthy, it is not a dangerous diet to try. People who are diabetic should check with their doctor before they start the diet. Some diabetes medicines do not work well on the keto diet."

For her patients on low-carb diets, she recommends taking multivitamins, and making sure vitamin C is being replenished. Drinking plenty of water is important, as carbohydrates often supply most of the body's hydration, she said.

"Many people ask what the minimum amount of carbs you need a day is, which is controversial, but it's important to realize that your liver can supply the body with energy in other ways when on low-carb," she said.

Works for her

The hardest part of the keto diet for Breland is the negativity and criticism that surrounds the lifestyle.

"The lifestyle isn't for everyone, but for me, it is sustainable long-term," she said.

Parks, who regularly conducts weight loss studies at the MU School of Medicine, said the quick and large amount of weight loss that results from the keto diet, is explainable in part by three factors:

Losing water weight: Glycogen, the backup carbohydrate in the liver, is stored with water. During ketosis, glycogen becomes depleted and thus water is not being stored.

Less sugar means less stored fat: Sugar is a carb, and the carb intake on the ketogenic diet is very low. When fat is consumed with sugar, the body uses the sugar as fuel and stores the fat. When fat is consumed without sugar, the body burns the fat instead.

Cutting carbs means cutting calories: When a diet is restricted by something as common as carbohydrates, fewer food options are available to the person. With fewer food choices, people eat less.

For Breland, the lifestyle change came at no additional expense and was an easy transition, even with meals to prepare for two kids and a husband. "When I cook for my family, I just modify it for me," she said. "If my family has tacos, I have a taco bowl.

"When I switched to the this lifestyle, I reached out and tried to find a physician who practiced or was an advocate for the diet, and was never able to connect with one," Breland said. "As long as I am practicing a well-formulated ketogenic diet, my physician supports it."

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Jenna Jameson shares new higher calorie keto diet meal plan

After shedding 80 pounds post-baby, Jenna Jameson is increasing her caloric intake while still sticking with her beloved keto diet.

JENNA JAMESON SHARES BIKINI PHOTO AFTER MASSIVE KETO DIET WEIGHT LOSS

Jameson, 44, shared her updated meal plan on Instagram this week.

Like before, the former porn star starts her day with coffee, Stevia and sugarfree non-dairy creamer. When she gets hungry, she makes her signature "Bomblette," an omelet made with eggs, shredded cheese, chives and sometimes tomatoes and onions, which she says she has with a "huge [glass of] ice water."

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When her daughter, Batel, naps, Jameson prepares "tender white fish baked in the oven in butter with garlic," which she enjoys with an arugula salad or "savage cabbage," a whole cabbage cut into wedges and cooked with olive oil, salt, pepper and sometimes paprika.

Her final meal before bed is what she refers to as "beastie bolognese," which she makes with browned ground meat, organic tomato sauce, garlic, onion, garlic salt, kosher beef seasoning, oregano and parsley.

JENNA JAMESON SHOWS OFF KETO DIET WEIGHT LOSS, SAYS SHE'S 'IN AWE' OF HER BODY

She also notes in her bolognese recipe that while she maintains a kosher diet, those who don't can add cheese to their taste.

Before bed, Jameson enjoys mint leaves steeped in hot water.

The bestselling author has been vocal about her support of the keto diet, which she's adhered to since March 2018.

She's previously sworn off snacking and advocated for intermittent fasting.

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Jillian Michaels, who slammed the keto diet, bashes CrossFit: 'It stops being effective'

© Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for iHeartMedia Jillian Michaels arrives at the 2019 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards Presented by Capital One at the iHeartRadio Theater LA on January 18, 2019 in Burbank, California. The keto diet isn't the only trend Jillian Michaels has a problem with.

In a video filmed back in December but shared by Shape yesterday on the magazine's Instagram account, the personal trainer bashed CrossFit, listing multiple "issues" with the trendy workout.

"First of all, you've got what, maybe 20 to 25 movements that don't really vary? And you're doing them over and over and over again," she said. "So on one hand it stops being effective because you're not challenging the body from various angles of push and pull, with different varieties of exercises and different types of movements that work different modalities."

She continued, "And I know CrossFit (athletes say), 'Oh, we work all the modalities!' — but no, not really, so shouldn't you choose a workout that has a little bit more flexibility and strength so you get more mobility, not just power, which is speed and strength."

Instead, she advised a more balanced workout.

"A little agility work, maybe some endurance training," she said. "So that you're training in a more balanced way, to keep the body changing and keep your training more holistic by hitting all modalities of fitness."

Shape shared the video on its website in December but the Thursday post on Instagram by the magazine quickly drew eyeballs, with negative reactions filling up the comment section.

"I'd love to see her be thankful people are just out moving and working their bodies. How about a good job instead of u shouldn't do this or that!" one user wrote. "My husband lost 70 lbs with CrossFit 6 years ago and has kept it off. I'd say it works pretty good."

"What DOES she like? Oh, just her programs? Gotcha," another wrote with an eye-rolling emoji.

"She only likes what she can make money off of. Simple," another said.

"She's quickly turned into a crazy negative person. She bashes every thing," another wrote. "How about do what works for your body & you actually enjoy"

It's not the first time Michaels has gone after a health trend. The star, who rose to fame on "The Biggest Loser," ripped the keto diet in January. 

She slammed the trendy weight-loss regimen tied to everyone from Al Roker to Halle Berry because she says it starves the body's cells of essential macronutrients.

"I don't understand. Like, why would anybody think this is a good idea?" Michaels told Women's Health at the time, calling the keto diet a "bad plan, for a million reasons." 

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The Keto Diet Totally Made Me Gain Weight

Photograph by Twenty20

I should start by stating that I've done every diet known to humankind. I'm that girl.

That "No thanks … I'm not eating fruit after 7 p.m." girl. That "time for my sixth mini-meal of the day" girl. That "Yes, this cayenne and lemon juice drink does kind burn on the way out, but I dropped 12 pounds in 3 days" girl.

So, it should come by no surprise that when Pinterest told me about keto, the newest fad diet, it sparked my interest. And, after seeing actual people I knew lose copious amounts of weight eating bacon, I just had to jump on board.

Healthline describes the keto diet like this: "The ketogenic diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet that shares many similarities with the Atkins and low-carb diets. It involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. When this happens, your body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy. It also turns fat into ketones in the liver, which can supply energy for the brain. Ketogenic diets can cause massive reductions in blood sugar and insulin levels."

I will admit that my main motivation to start keto was the draw of the food. For me, it has always been food. Food has been my comfort, my nemesis, my reward and my punishment.

The idea of being able to eat bacon, cheese, butter and steak — all things that are usually so sadly restricted on most diets — and lose weight fast sounded almost too good to be true.

But true, it was! I dropped eight pounds in my first seven days and continued to drop pounds week after week. I stuck with it, having very few hiccups or "cheats" for months, continuing to lose weight and feel amazing.

Moreover, while my initial goals had all circled around weight loss, I was also thrilled to find that I felt energized all day, slept better than I had in years, never felt bloated or gassy and rarely felt hungry.

Fast-forward to Christmas 2018.

I entered the season feeling better about myself than I had in ages. I was slimmer, more energized and happier than ever before. I'd worked hard for this and decided I deserved a bit of a break. I told myself that I would try to stick to mostly keto foods and have those yummy holiday treats in moderation. Sounds reasonable, right?

I thought so, too.

That is until I weighed in on January 1 of this year and had managed to gain a whopping 12 pounds in two weeks with this attempt at "keto moderation."

"Kind of Keto" will make you fat.

The thing I didn't realize was this: While the idea of 80/20 (i.e., eating on plan 80 percent of the time and allowing treats 20 percent of the time) works for a lot of diets, on keto, it makes you fat. The reason behind this is that keto success relies solely on keeping your body in a state ketosis. One cheat will knock you right out of that low-carb window.

I was eating extremely high fat, as you're supposed to with keto, but also adding in high carb treats once in a while. Thanks to the "moderation" of those Christmas goodies, my ass was nowhere near ketosis, yet I continued to down my bulletproof coffee every morning, eat steak topped with Kerrygold butter and enjoyed fat bombs as usual.

The result was massive weight gain.

While my weight gain wasn't ideal, I'm eternally grateful that I only attempted to eat "kind of keto" for a few weeks and found out relatively quickly what effect it would have on my body.

Lesson learned: There is no such thing as "kind of" following keto. Keto with cheats is not like other diets with cheats. "Kind of keto" will make you fat.

But I also know from experience that this diet, if followed correctly, likely will help you lose massive amounts of weight and feel better than you ever dreamed possible. So, if you're just contemplating taking the keto journey, really consider if this is a lifestyle you can stick with forever. If it is, happy, delicious eating to you!

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Fitness coach, 25, reveals the EXACT diet and workout routine she followed to transform her physique - after struggling with binge eating for years

Fitness coach, 25, reveals the EXACT diet and workout routine she followed to transform her physique - after struggling with binge eating for years

A fitness blogger has revealed her previously difficult relationship with her body 

Anjuli Mack, 25, started her 'fitness journey' seven years ago

Initially she had no idea what she was doing and wasn't noticing any changes

Over the years her weight fluctuated and so did her negative self-image

Now she is able to balance her nutrition and exercise and has shared her tips 

By Billie Schwab Dunn For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 20:47 EST, 3 February 2019 | Updated: 22:23 EST, 3 February 2019

A fitness coach has revealed how she overcame her tumultuous relationship with her body to become a bikini competitor. 

Anjuli Mack, 25, from Auckland, New Zealand started her 'fitness journey' seven years ago which began as a form of stress relief. 

She started lifting weights at the beginning of university but at the time had no idea what she was doing.

'I was the only girl in the weights room and there weren't many big YouTube and Instagram girls to follow online so I started training with the guys in the gym,' she told FEMAIL.

Anjuli Mack, 25, has revealed how she overcame her tumultuous relationship with her body to become a bikini competitor

'They encouraged me to lift heavy and stop doing so much cardio. As my strength increased I began to love lifting weights - it felt SO good to feel strong,' she continued.

'My confidence improved and going to the gym became something I would choose over going out partying but on the occasion I did go out, I'd be in the gym the next day.' 

For her, working out never felt like a chore and the post workout endorphins made her 'feel amazing', which became an addicting high. 

Unfortunately although her exercise levels changed Anjuli didn't adapt her approach to her nutrition, she just ate more. 

She originally started her 'fitness journey' seven years ago which she began as a form of stress relief

She has documented her fluctuating weight and her relationship with her body on her Instagram account 

'I remember thinking, "I go to the gym so I can eat more". Of course more activity means that you can get away with more ca lories but I wasn't fuelling myself with the right foods, I had no idea what I was doing so I ended up gaining muscle but it was hiding underneath the fat from a university style diet of hall foods and study snacks,' she revealed.

'I started feeling like I wasn't progressing anymore because I wasn't looking any better.'

Anjuli was becoming frustrated as even though she was going to the gym five to six times a week she wasn't noticing any physical differences. 

Anjuli started lifting weights at the beginning of university but at the time had no idea what she was doing

'I tried many quick fix type fad diets such as keto diet and typical body builder type diets that I found online but I ended up developing a really unhealthy relationship with food and exercise as I was trying so many different things that weren't working,' she said.

'Unfortunately back then I had no idea about coaches or online programs so I was really stuck. I knew something had to change so I got a nutritionist and she helped me find a healthier relationship with food.' 

I tried many quick fix type fad diets such as keto diet and typical body builder type diets that I found online but I ended up developing a really unhealthy relationship with food and exercise 

It was at this point that she started educating herself and eventually realised that there are no quick fixes.

Now she understands that the only way you can achieve your goals of being healthy, strong and feeling confident is through putting in work - nutrition and exercise go hand in hand.

'It seriously took me years to get to this point and if there was one thing I could change about my journey it would be to hav e had someone help me from day one,' she said.

Anjuli was becoming frustrated as even though she was going to the gym five to six times a week she wasn't noticing any physical difference

'I tried many quick fix type fad diets such as keto diet and typical body builder type diets that I found online but I ended up developing a really unhealthy relationship with food and exercise,' she said

What is an example of Anjuli's day on a plate? 

First meal: Post workout cacao salted caramel protein smoothie made with 250ml unsweetened coconut and almond milk, 8g cacao, 80g frozen banana and 29g salted caramel protein 

Second meal: 125g chicken, 40g couscous, green salad and 100g mixed vegetables ⁣

Third meal: 125g fresh blueberries ⁣

Fourth meal: 160g beef fillet and 200g stir fry mixed vegetables with teriyaki sauce ⁣

Fifth meal: Rice, 125g chicken and 50 per cent less sugar ketchup ⁣

Sixth meal: Baby tomatoes on soy and linseed bread 

When she first started working out her average day on a plate would vary greatly, some days she would be really 'clean' and only consume broccoli, spinach, eggs, chicken and oats and other days she may have eaten a whole packet of cookies followed by a night out drinking.

Both her training and her nutrition had no structure which is why she wasn't getting the results that she wanted.

These days her training is structured and tailored to her goals.

These days her exercise routine is made up of a c ombination of heavy weight lifting, circuits and working out outside, such as racing up mountains.

'My new style of nutrition doesn't involve depriving myself or binge eating - it is all about eating to nourish my body and to achieve my goals whilst not being afraid to have a treat here and there,' she said.

'At the time I didn't realise how the extra food and stress from lifting heavy was impacting my body but looking back my mental and physical health would have suffered.' 

When she first started working out her average day on a plate would vary greatly, some days she would be really 'clean' and other days she may have eaten a whole packet of cookies followed by a night out drinking

At the beginning of all of this Anjuli doesn't think she was 'mentally fit' as she found herself becoming more critical of how she looked.

She would often look in the mirror and feel her stomach rolls, her hips and her 'love handles'. She also thought her legs were 'too big'. 

'I didn't know how lean down and shed the extra fat so I felt self-conscious in a bikini too - this had never happened to me before,' she said.

'From the experience of ranging from 69 kilos at my heaviest to 57 kilos before competitions, which is the lightest I can remember being, and a lot of work on self-love over the years I realise that it's not the size of me that was causing my negative feelings or my self-conscious thoughts.

'It was the lack of control I had and the poor relationship with food and my body.'

These days her exercise routine is made up of a combination of heavy weight lifting, circuits and working out outside, such as racing up mountains

At the beginning of all of this Anjuli doesn't think she was 'mentally fit' as she found herself becoming more critical of how she looked

What is Anjuli's advice for success? 

- Remember to be kind to yourself and speak to yourself as you would to your best friend.  

- Think about your body as a whole being - how amazing is it that you have the ability to exercise, to eat, to work and adventure.

- Look after your body by nourishing it with foods, exercise and kind thoughts.

- Every time something negative pops into your head, replace it with a positive one or just let it go.

- Do not compare yourself to anyone else.

-Take control of your mind, your body and your life - empower yourself by doing things daily that make you feel amazing. 

When she is in control of her nutrition, feeding her body with foods that energise her and not make her bloated and fatigued, and working out she said she feels good, regardless of the aesthetics.

Anjuli explained that there have been a variety of things that were the catalyst for her changing her relationship with her body. 

'The first one was when I finished uni and went travelling. I wanted to make a New Years Resolution to change my body,' she said.

'I managed to drop a bit of weight and gain some muscle in 2016, seeing progress was SO rewarding. I decided a year later that I wanted to do my first ever WBFF Bikini Diva competition in the Gold Coast. I had about 16 weeks to prepare.

'This was the biggest challenge of my fitness journey and I loved it! I saw my abs for the first time and had gone from about 69 kilos to 59 kilos in the year.' 

When she is in control of her nutrition and feeding her body with foods that energise her and not make her bloated and fatigued and when she works out she said she feels good, regardless of the aesthetics

The second catalyst was post competing as she had been restricting herself for months, which makes it hard to control yourself when you don't have a goal in place and resulted her gaining a lot of weight back.

'I binged and treated my body the worst I had since university. I was over eating then trying to out exercise my bad diet. I was ruining everything and I developed a negative relationship with food and exercise all over again.

'I would cry a few times in the week, I was no longer myself - not the happy, positive and motivated Anjuli I knew.

'Every day I would wake up and say "I'll start tomorrow". Well tomorrow comes and goes but you never start.

'Four months after competing I realised that this HAD TO STOP. I couldn't keep doing this to myself, I was unhappy and insecure.'

'My new style of nutrition doesn't involve depriving myself or binge eating - it is all about eating to nourish my body and to achieve my goals whilst not being afraid to have a treat here and there,' she said

This led her to commit to a 12 week shred which resulted in her taking control of her life again. 

'My fitness journey has really been a roller coaster but I've found the results will come if you implement five key things: training, nutrition, hard work, consistency and patience,' Anjuli added.

'My weight will vary over time, as wi ll everyone else's. It has fluctuated a lot from the uni to traveling to competing and post competing.

'However, if there is one thing I could say to anyone that is looking to start their journey - the scales do not define you or your progress.'

The 25-year-old said she always encourages people to focus on the non-scale victories such as: clearer skin, more energy, better sleep, less cravings and clothes fitting better.

She said that focusing on how you feel instead of how you look or what the scale is saying will usually result in better results. 

'It is never too late to start! Write down your goals, create a plan, don't be afraid to ask for help and just put in the work to achieve them,' Anjuli added.

For more diet and exercise tips follow Anjuli's fitness account on Instagram. 

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Seniors develop keto diet snack

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From left to right: Charlie Stahurski, Candice Mazewski (the team's TA), Karen Zheng, Allison Streeter, Keelin Frank and Regan Doolin, all seniors in ACES, developed Keto Kups, a quiche-like snack food for people on the ketogenic diet.

Photo courtesy of Keelin Frank

From left to right: Charlie Stahurski, Candice Mazewski (the team's TA), Karen Zheng, Allison Streeter, Keelin Frank and Regan Doolin, all seniors in ACES, developed Keto Kups, a quiche-like snack food for people on the ketogenic diet.

Photo courtesy of Keelin Frank

Photo courtesy of Keelin Frank

From left to right: Charlie Stahurski, Candice Mazewski (the team's TA), Karen Zheng, Allison Streeter, Keelin Frank and Regan Doolin, all seniors in ACES, developed Keto Kups, a quiche-like snack food for people on the ketogenic diet.

Last semester, students Keelin Frank, Regan Doolin, Allison Streeter, Karen Zheng, Candace Mazewski and Charlie Stahurski decided to create a food product that followed the ketogenic diet for their class, FSHN 466: Food Product Development. They wanted to take a beloved frozen snack and "Keto-tiz-it" into a product that someone on this diet could eat. They ended up creating Ketotizit!, a startup that focuses directly on maintaining a ketogenic diet in a delicious way.

With a growing trend in the ketogenic diet — a high-fat, low-carbohydrate meal plan that forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates — these students developed a snack to help those with dietary restrictions still enjoy the meals they thought they couldn't eat.

They created Keto Kups: bite-sized snacks similar to a quiche. Hemp Hearts, a trending ingredient, are found in the crust to add a nice flavor and bring a higher fat content. They researched several recipes and trending flavors, finally deciding on buffalo chicken.

Stahurski, senior in ACES, shared his teammates of Ketotizit! actually went on a 48-hour ketogenic diet to see what consumers were experiencing when developing their product. They all realized they had a craving for high carb foods, such as pizza and bread, and wanted to design a nutritious product that could fight this craving for consumers on the diet.

"Ketotizit! is one of the first companies to develop a ketogenic frozen snack that only needs to be reheated. It allows for people on the ketogenic diet to come home from work or school to enjoy a quick convenient snack before preparing a keto dinner," Stahurski said.

 After developing the actual Keto Kup product, the team began to think of what its startup could offer and how Ketotizit! would analyze what consumers on the ketogenic diet were going through.

The team was paired with Patryk Swietek, senior in Business, who served as its business adviser in FSHN 466, the senior capstone class.

Swietek is a co-founder of Menu3, an augmented reality menu startup on campus. He volunteered to participate in this food development class as a business adviser and was one of the seven Business undergraduates  that advised a team.

"I mainly focused my attention on providing business guidance to the project, business, marketing and pricing strategies," Swietek said. "They built the product, and I helped create the strategy to get it in the hands of the consumers."

Frank, senior in ACES, was another Ketotizit! team member. She said the team was fortunate to be matched with Swietek as its business mentor. He guided members through various marketing resources, like social media, and helped the team decide which parts of Keto Kups it should really focus on, such as ingredients. 

"Ketotizit! is a food product made for people on the ketogenic diet, which makes it super interesting in itself," Swietek said. "Diets are not easy to maintain, especially the ketogenic diet, so providing an easy way to make that manageable is truly an amazing experience. Ketotizit! makes the ketogenic diet easier and even more enjoyable to do."

For their final presentation in the capstone class, team members had to make a Shark Tank-style pitch to judges from the food industry. They competed against the other teams in their FSHN 466 class and won funding to move forward and compete in the Cozad New Venture Challenge, with a goal of learning more about the business perspective of food innovation and product design.

"That was the day we really became a startup company," Frank said. "My favorite part of this whole experience was being able to take everything I've learned over my college career and apply it to make a product my team was proud of." 

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