Book excerpt: Keto is the fastest-growing diet in America, and the holiday season poses its greatest challenge: a steady stream of parties and feasts full of carbohydrate-loaded foods (think stuffing and sweet potato casserole) and tempting desserts. With this indespensible guide, you will never feel hungry, burn fat, boost energy, and transfrom your body all while enjoying the festive season. The ketogenic diet is based on cutting carbs down almost to near-zero while upping fat intake, and it has been shown to not only help people lose weight permanently, but also be good for their health by stabilizing blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, and improving markers for heart disease, among other benefits. This book is a guide to handling your keto lifestyle throughout the holidays to both enjoy the season and still maintain a healthy diet program. Starting first with the basics of keto—what it is, how and why it works, and what you need to know about fats and carbs—readers get tips on how to prep their kitchen, entertain in style, stay on track with exercise, and get through tough moments: maintaining keto when friends and family pressure you, recovering from a “cheat,” and adjusting your diet in the short term. The centerpiece is an extensive and colorful collection of keto recipes, starting with cocktails and appetizers and going through main and side dishes, vegetarian and vegan, and spectacular desserts. We wrap up with a fun keto gift guide full of products and foods that every keto dieter will love.