Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
The Daisy Garland

  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Contact Us Donate
Menu
  • About Us
    • What We Do
    • Daisy's Story
    • Our charity film
    • Our team
    • Our patrons
    • Latest news
    • COVID-19
  • About childhood epilepsy
    • What is childhood epilepsy?
    • Types of epilepsy
    • Treatment for epilepsy
    • Medication & side effects
    • Vitamins & minerals
    • First aid for seizures
    • Monitor grant enquiry form
  • The Ketogenic Diet
    • What Is the ketogenic diet?
    • Ketogenic FAQs
    • Our Ketogenic Dietitians
    • Daisy's Keto Café
    • Recipes from Daisy's Keto Café
    • Keto Café Recipe Videos
    • Daisy Garland ketogenic resources
    • Request ketogenic resources
  • Support our work
    • Donate
    • Purple Day Appeal
    • Desperately seeking fundraisers
    • Ways to fundraise
    • Our fundraisers
    • Create a fundraising page
    • Request a fundraising pack
    • Projects & events
  • Stories & Impact
    • Stories
    • Daisy Blogs
    • Share your story
    • Purple Day
    • Our impact and achievements
    • Our newsletters
  • Our Daisy shop
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • ketogenic-faqs
  1. The Ketogenic Diet
  2. Ketogenic FAQs

Ketogenic FAQs

What types of food will my child be able to eat?

Your child will still be able to eat a variety of different foods on the ketogenic diet. This list is a good starting point and it will expand as you become more comfortable and adventurous with recipes.

  • Fat - double cream, mayonnaise, oil, butter.
  • Protein - chicken, bacon and ham, mince, salmon and tuna, eggs, cheese.
  • Carbohydrate - vegetables fresh or frozen eg broccoli, swede, cauliflower, mushrooms, peppers, spinach, spring onion, lettuce; low carb fruit eg melon, strawberries, blackberries, kiwis, raspberries, blueberries.

     

The diet is usually divided into 3 meals a day to include snacks if required. Each meal/snack is based on a specified amount of fat, protein and carbohydrate which will be calculated for you by your dietitian in line with your child's nutritional requirements.  Your ketogenic dietitian will work closely with you to produce appealing and appetising menus for your child to enjoy. And when you start the diet you will be invited to join Daisy's Keto Café, our closed, private, ketogenic parent support group.

Will meals look similar to the meals my child eats now?

Your dietitian will help you calculate ketogenic recipes for lots of tasty foods and snacks for your child to enjoy. Some examples are: scrambled eggs and bacon, omelettes, Bolognese, pizza, roasts, quiche, salads, tuna mayo, chicken nuggets, bread, muffins, pancakes, waffles, cookies, puddings, yoghurt, fruit shakes, ice cream and ice lollies - to name just a few!

     

Is my child too young to try the ketogenic diet?

Expand

The ketogenic diet is frequently used for children from two years of age upwards, although the diet can also be used for babies from as tiny as six months – and sometimes even younger.

Published: 9th October, 2019

Updated: 13th December, 2019

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Is the diet suitable if my child has special dietary requirements?

Expand

The ketogenic diet can accommodate most dietary requirements and can be used for different cultures and food restrictions. Children with food allergies and those who are vegetarian, vegan or follow a kosher or halal diet can also access the ketogenic diet, as can children who are tube/PEG fed and those who have gastrointestinal restrictions.

Published: 10th October, 2019

Updated: 13th December, 2019

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Is the diet suitable for children with GLUT1?

Expand

If your child has been diagnosed with GLUT1 deficiency syndrome* the ketogenic diet may be a life-time treatment.  

* A rare genetic disorder that impairs brain metabolism. GLUT1 (a protein) is responsible for the transport of glucose (a sugar) from the blood into the brain. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the brain; a shortage of glucose leads to impairment of brain function and growth.

Published: 11th October, 2019

Updated: 13th December, 2019

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

How long does it take for the diet to work?

Expand

Some children improve within a week while others show a slower response and take up to three months or more to respond.

Published: 12th October, 2019

Updated: 12th December, 2019

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

How long will my child have to be on the diet?

Expand

This will depend on how much benefit there is from the diet. If your child is seizure-free or has had a marked reduction in seizures for two years, most doctors would suggest a trial of slowly changing back to a more normal diet.

Published: 13th October, 2019

Updated: 13th December, 2019

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Is the ketogenic diet bad for your heart?

Expand

Although the diet is high in fat, this fat is changed into ketones. Ketones are used by the brain for energy and should not increase the risk of heart disease. Cholesterol levels will be monitored whilst on the diet. 

Published: 14th October, 2019

Updated: 29th November, 2019

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

What are my next steps?

Expand

If you would like to seriously consider the ketogenic diet as a treatment option for your child please speak to your consultant, paediatrician or GP to request a referral to see a ketogenic dietitian.

Published: 15th October, 2019

Updated: 5th December, 2019

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

How do I find out more about the diet?

Expand

Request a FREE Daisy Garland Ketogenic Information Pack here

Published: 16th October, 2019

Updated: 3rd December, 2019

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Why do I need a Ketogenic Dietitian?

Expand

Hannah Queenan, our fabulous Daisy Dietitian at Sheffield Children's Hospital, has written an article for Complete Nutrition Magazine on 'The Role of a Daisy Garland Ketogenic Dietitian'. Please click on the link below to read more...

Complete Nutrition - Hannah Queenan

Published: 17th October, 2019

Updated: 6th July, 2020

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

What ketogenic support does The Daisy Garland offer?

Expand

Daisy’s Keto Café, our online parent support group, is an interactive, buzzy café accessed via The Daisy Garland Facebook page.  This closed, private group is a safe place for old and new keto parents to get together to share thoughts, discuss worries, exchange keto recipes, tips and tricks and to seek advice from other keto parents.  And Marian, our Daisy Ketogenic Nutritionist is always on hand to offer free help and guidance.  Family support is our top priority and you will find this in abundance in Daisy's Keto Café. 

The Daisy Garland fund Ketogenic Dietitians and Dietetic Support Workers all of them working within the NHS treating thousands of children FREE of charge with the ketogenic diet.

Every child in the UK starting the ketogenic diet is offered a complimentary Daisy Garland Ketogenic Welcome Box bursting with lots of essential items to get their keto journey off to a positive start.

The Really Useful Ketogenic Diets Booklet, written and produced by us comes in user-friendly format and is packed with essential information about the ketogenic diet diet, FAQ’s, true stories, dietitians top tips and has tempting recipes for you to try.  This booklet is the perfect introduction to the ketogenic diet.

The Really Useful Ketogenic Diets Book - a guide to the different diets available researched and written by us in conjunction with our dietitians - includes everything you need to know about running the ketogenic diet.  A copy is included in every Daisy Welcome Box, along with a selection of our 'I can Only Have Food From Home' stickers and badges.

Our Daisy Dietitians host regular Ketogenic Cookery Events and Coffee Mornings countrywide. Keep your eye on our Events page and The Daisy Garland Facebook Page for updates and more information.

Published: 18th October, 2019

Updated: 6th July, 2020

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Back to top

Showing 10 of 10

Latest

  • Courgette Rosti

    Courgette Rosti

  • Stewart's Story

    Stewart's Story

  • Glazed Doughnuts

    Glazed Doughnuts

  • Keto Custard

    Keto Custard

Most read

  • The final straw

    The final straw

    Our daughter has a long list of conditions but ‘drug resistant epilepsy’ was always so scary and one I never thought we’d get on top of …

  • Funding life-saving monitors

  • Black Tie Ball and Auction

    Black Tie Ball and Auction

    Reserve your tickets now for The Daisy Garland Black Tie Charity Ball, to be held on Saturday 17th September, at the Hurlingham Club, London.

  • Recipes from Daisy's Keto Café

    Recipes from Daisy's Keto Café

    The Daisy Garland is delighted to announce the launch of our new website page - Recipes from Daisy's Keto Café.

  • Banana Ice Cream

    Banana Ice Cream

  • No-Carb Nuggets

    No-Carb Nuggets

  • Keto Cupcakes

    Keto Cupcakes

  • Cheese and Tomato Pizza

    Cheese and Tomato Pizza

  • Absence seizures

  • Our Daisy Garland Ketogenic Dietitian, Vicki Whiteley, goes Keto!

    Our Daisy Garland Ketogenic Dietitian, Vicki Whiteley, goes Keto!

    Vicki Whiteley, our amazing Daisy Garland Ketogenic Dietitian from Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, is going keto to find out how children feel when they start the diet and to trial lots of yummy ketogenic recipes for us!

Tag cloud

Diagnosis Epilepsy Hope Keto SUDEP
Donate to The Daisy Garland

Donate to The Daisy Garland

Every single penny donated goes directly to The Daisy Garland charity helping children with drug-resistant epilepsy reach their full potential in life. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 9th April, 2018

Updated: 5th July, 2022

Author:

Ketogenic FAQs

Ketogenic FAQs

Parents of children with epilepsy are pleasantly surprised at the vast array of healthy food options their child can eat on the ketogenic/Low-GI Diet Read more

Published: 27th September, 2019

Updated: 18th June, 2020

Author: Karen Wyett

COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19 is having a big impact on all our lives, but please be assured that The Daisy Garland is here to help you. Read more

Published: 30th April, 2020

Updated: 17th May, 2021

Author: Karen Wyett

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Find us

Registered Office:  

Units A1 and A2
 
Dart Marine Park
 
Steamer Quay Road
Totnes  
 
Devon  TQ9 5AL 
 
 
 +44 (0)1803 847999  
 [email protected] 

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Registered Charity number: 1106530