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As a toddler mom, I’m always on the lookout for ways to nourish my body, keep my energy up, and still enjoy the foods I love. If you’re anything like me, your days are packed with diaper changes, toddler snacks, outdoor adventures, and stolen moments of self-care. Eating healthy can feel like just one more thing on the never-ending to-do list. That’s why I picked up The Keto Diet: Your 30-Day Plan to Lose Weight, Balance Hormones, and Reverse Disease by Dr. Josh Axe—to see if this popular keto diet for beginners could work for a busy mom like me.
Spoiler alert: I was surprised by how much I loved his approach! Whether you’re new to the keto diet for beginners or just curious about how it could fit into a mom’s life, I’m breaking it all down for you here.
Why I Was Looking for a New Approach
I’ve done several rounds of Whole30 over the years, including my first one as a mom recently, and I love how it helps me reset my eating habits and focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods. But after completing my last round, I was looking for something with a bit more flexibility—a way to maintain healthy eating without feeling like I had to start over every time I wanted to enjoy a slice of sourdough or a bowl of berries.
That’s what drew me to keto, especially Dr. Axe’s take on it. Unlike strict elimination diets, his keto diet for beginners focuses on cycling in and out of ketosis, making it more sustainable for everyday life. Instead of being all-or-nothing, it allows for balance, flexibility, and long-term success—something that’s so important as a busy mom!
What Is the Keto Diet?
Dr. Josh Axe’s The Keto Diet: Your 30-Day Plan to Lose Weight, Balance Hormones, and Reverse Disease goes beyond the typical high-fat, low-carb eating plan you might have heard about. Instead of just focusing on cutting carbs, he introduces a health-first approach that includes clean eating, gut health, and even keto cycling—where you alternate between low-carb and moderate-carb days to maintain metabolic flexibility.
The keto diet for beginners works by shifting your body from burning carbs (glucose) for energy to burning fat (ketones). When you reduce your carbohydrate intake, your body enters a state of ketosis, where it becomes more efficient at using fat for fuel. The benefits? Increased energy, weight loss, reduced inflammation, improved brain function, and better digestion—all things I was totally on board with as a busy mom.
What Makes Dr. Axe’s Keto Approach Different?
There are tons of keto books and plans out there, but what I love about Dr. Axe’s take is that it’s not just about eating bacon and cheese all day (though I do love a good cheese board!). His clean keto approach emphasizes:
- Quality over quantity – Choosing nutrient-dense, high-quality foods rather than just hitting macro goals
- Gut health – Focusing on foods that support digestion and reduce inflammation
- Keto cycling – Alternating between periods of ketosis and higher-carb days to maintain metabolic flexibility
- Sustainability – Making keto a long-term, livable lifestyle rather than a restrictive diet
This is a keto diet for beginners that I can get behind—one that’s about nourishing my body, not just shedding weight.
My Experience Trying Keto as a Toddler Mom
Let’s be real: Eating a high-fat, low-carb diet sounds intimidating when you’re already balancing family meals, snack requests, and those random bites of your toddler’s peanut butter sandwich. But I gave it a shot, using The Keto Diet: Your 30-Day Plan to Lose Weight, Balance Hormones, and Reverse Disease as my guide.
1. Energy Boost
I didn’t expect to feel so good. Once I got past the initial adjustment (yes, there’s a short phase where your body freaks out a little), I had more steady energy throughout the day. No more afternoon crashes, no more post-lunch sluggishness—just a clear, steady flow of energy that made chasing my toddler easier.
2. Easy, Family-Friendly Meals
At first, I worried that making keto meals would be a hassle, but Dr. Axe includes plenty of real-food, whole-food recipes that my whole family could enjoy. Simple meals like grass-fed burgers with avocado, roasted veggies with healthy fats, and delicious keto-friendly smoothies became staples.
I also learned how to tweak meals so my toddler could eat what I was eating—just with a little extra fruit or a whole-grain option for her when needed. I didn’t have to cook separate meals, which was a huge win!
3. No More Sugar Cravings
One of the biggest shifts was breaking up with sugar. As a mom, I often reach for quick snacks—granola bars, crackers, a piece of chocolate—because they’re fast and easy. But after a few weeks on keto, my sugar cravings practically disappeared. Instead of grabbing a processed snack, I was satisfied with healthy fats like nuts, coconut, and dark chocolate.
4. Mindful Eating & More Outdoor Time
Another unexpected benefit? Keto made me more mindful of what I was eating. Instead of stress-eating whatever was around, I started paying attention to what fueled my body best. I even found myself spending more time outside, taking my meals to the backyard or eating picnic-style with my toddler. There’s something about eating nourishing food in nature that just feels right.
Final Thoughts on Keto Diet by Dr. Josh Axe
Reading The Keto Diet: Your 30-Day Plan to Lose Weight, Balance Hormones, and Reverse Disease gave me a whole new perspective on fueling my body in a way that supports my energy, health, and busy mom life. This isn’t about restriction—it’s about eating foods that make you feel good and give you the energy to chase your little ones, explore the outdoors, and show up as your best self.
If you’ve been curious about keto, I highly recommend giving Dr. Axe’s book a read. His approach is flexible, holistic, and packed with real-life advice that makes the keto diet for beginners feel doable—even for moms who are constantly on the go.
Have you tried keto or thought about it? Let’s chat in the comments! I’d love to hear what works for you when it comes to eating for energy and feeling your best.