9 foods you didn't realize you could eat on the keto diet, according to experts

• Although many assume that keto-friendly food choices are limited, experts suggest that there are plenty of keto-friendly foods you can add to your diet that will provide lots of fiber and essential nutrients like calcium and zinc.
• If you are craving chocolate, expert dietitians suggest choosing dark chocolate, as it is usually lower in carbs than milk chocolate.
• Non-starchy vegetables like spinach are also suitable for a ketogenic lifestyle, as the net carb count for these vegetables usually ranges from less than one gram.
• Berries are also OK for consumption on the keto diet, as they provide necessary fiber and antioxidants.

Although many assume that keto-friendly food choices are limited to lots of animal protein, low-carb vegetables, and next to no fruit, experts suggest that there are plenty of foods you can add to your diet that will provide lots of fiber and essential nutrients like calcium and zinc.

To bring some new low-carb meal ideas to your plate, we spoke to some experts about all those foods you didn't realize you could eat on the keto diet. Below are some sweet and savory options to definitely give try next time you're feeling creative in the kitchen.  

SEE ALSO: Keto diet mistakes

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Always choose dark chocolate.

Registered dietitian Vanessa Rissetto, MS, RD, CDN, said that chocolate can be part of a ketogenic diet, however, it's important to choose your chocolate with caution.

She advised choosing dark chocolate if you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, as she explained that it contains a minimum of 70% of cocoa solids, and one ounce (28 grams) of unsweetened chocolate (100% cocoa) has just 3 grams of net carbs.

Add non-starchy vegetables to your diet.

Rissetto also recommended adding non-starchy vegetables (think spinach) to your diet, as she said the net carb count for these type of vegetables ranges from less than 1 gram.

Eggs are suitable for a ketogenic lifestyle.

"One large egg contains less than 1 gram of carbs and fewer than 6 grams of protein, making eggs an ideal food for a ketogenic lifestyle," said Rissetto.