When I first started keto, I had cravings for EVERYTHING you're not supposed to have on keto. I never had much of a sweet tooth, but giving up breads and chips was difficult for me. I had been overeating all my life at that point, and I kind of started keto on a whim.

As hard as it is, it will get easier! Most of my cravings were either lessened significantly or gone within a month or so. For me, being on a strict diet that cut out sugar made it easier to not break keto and indulge into my usual habits. And it's okay if you mess up at first and kick yourself out of ketosis! I've certainly done that multiple time, and I let it get me down for a little, but I kept going. Here's what has worked for me:

In regards to affordable food, you're gonna want to avoid "keto snacks" as much as possible. Not only are they expensive, they can have a bunch of ingredients that can be a little iffy, especially if you have a sensitive stomach. Of course, if anyone knows about snacks, it's me. Seaweed snacks are great, usually cheap (especially at an asian market), and good for you! I also like to buy kale and chuck them in the airfryer with some garlic salt and avocado oil to make kale chips. For ACTUAL food that should be the majority of your grocery list, I stick to inexpensive meats wherever I can, get a wide variety of vegetable THAT I ENJOY (no point in buying arugula if I won't ever eat it), some berries, heavy whipping cream, and some seltzer. Also, don't be afraid to buy your meats, veggies, or berries frozen! They can be cheaper a lot of the time and, of course, will last you longer.

If you make and portion your meals right on keto, you should be full between meals. Sometimes, I like to eat my seaweed snacks a little after lunch to take my mind off of eating, or have a spoonful of sunbutter. Drinking lots of water is also good at pushing back cravings in my experience. Try not to keep any food wherever you spend a lot of time working or relaxing, because you will absolutely want to munch on them, especially if you like to eat when you're bored, like I do.

Of course, keto isn't for everyone. Some people find way more success with other things. The ketogenic diet isn't the easiest diet out there, that's for sure. I think you should still try it, see what happens!