You can have your cake and eat it too. It’s quite literally the keto diet premise. But what do we really know about the keto diet? In a nutshell: no/low sugar, low in carbs, high in fat and moderate in protein. It is an effective weight loss diet that’s well supported by evidence. It is filling and usually does not require calorie counting. And it isn’t boring at all. 

Jumping on the keto handwagon in early 2016, Janti Joso Brasali believes the keto diet should not deprive anyone of the joy of eating. 

Staying steadfast in her keto journey – and upon realising the dearth of keto-friendly substitutes for food rich in carbs and sugar – the skilled chef and passionate baker decided to make her own recipes. She turned it into a keto lifestyle, achieving both happiness and health by eliminating sugar from her life.

Whipping up tasty meals is one of Janti’s favourite things to do. Growing up in a family who loves food, she has been a cook and baker for as long as she could remember. The home kitchen has always been a happy place. The only downside was Janti wrestled with her weight so enjoying the delicious food she prepared was a tussle.  She struggled maintaining the limit of the dietary chart of whatever weight loss programme she was into. That was until she discovered the keto diet.

“I dabbled with the keto diet initially as a means to quickly shed a few lingering kilos. It didn’t take long for me to realise that this diet worked. It worked fast and it was totally sustainable as a lifestyle. Not only did I manage to achieve my target weight, I also obtained great mental clarity, higher energy levels and, ultimately, this led me to attain my happiness,” says the mother of three. 

“Since I had gestational diabetes in all of my pregnancies, I have a 60% probability of becoming a diabetic. Knowing that and having lived the keto lifestyle, I am now confident that I am living a healthier and happier life and wanted to share it beyond my home kitchen, she says. It was this outlook that motivated her to establish Seriously Keto as a lifestyle brand. 

Singapore’s first wholly ketogenic bakery, Seriously Keto embodies healthy nutrition and delicious taste that doesn’t make you choose between enjoying food and enjoying life because “one cannot exist without the other” as Jantil puts it. 

The goal is to improve one’s overall wellbeing and quality of life. This begins with the omission of sugar from the everyday diet. Seriously Keto has created an increasingly large variety of foodstuff: no added sugar, low carb, diabetic-friendly and gluten-free.

“I have tried various other diets and found keto to be the most sustainable as a lifestyle. This is mainly because you don’t have to deprive yourself of tasty food, and the elimination of sugar has wondrous benefits for your body. You can be in a state of ketosis where your body uses fat as its energy source, and still enjoy a warm savoury lamb casserole, or refreshing Thai iced tea like we do at Seriously Keto,” Janti says.

In order to understand how the keto diet works, first you need to understand what it means to be in ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state of when the body burns fat for energy because it is deprived of carbohydrates. This happens by avoiding the consumption of sugar and carbs. Ultimately, this diet shifts the body’s metabolism away from using carbs and towards utilizing fat and ketones. The keto diet can help you improve your overall health and lose weight.

This diet is non-restrictive. You can basically eat anything – except carbs. The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat (LCHF) diet, which will induce your body to always be in ketosis.All you need to do is follow the keto diet breakdown: 75% fat, 20% protein and 5% net carbohydrates. Yes, you read that right. 75 percent of your daily caloric intake should consist of fat. On keto, fat is your friend. A lot of that fat will come from the protein you choose to consume. So indulge in that rib eye steak without holding back on the garlic butter sauce. 

Examples of healthy fats: cheese, butter, lard, cream, coconut cream, olives, olive oil, avocado oil, fatty fish, grass-fed animal meat, eggs and seeds.

What to avoid: sugar, rice, pasta, milk, fruits (other than berries), juice, soda, starchy veggies grown underground (yams, potatoes, corn), chips and cookies. 

Clinical studies show there’s more to keto diet than simply shedding unwanted pounds. It also manages metabolic illness including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high waist-to- hip ratio, and low HDL (good) cholesterol. 

“There is so much science behind keto that just makes sense. Doctors in the 1930s even started using the keto approach to treat epileptic children. If we trace back the history of mankind, our bodies were naturally designed to burn fat because it’s the most optimal energy source as compared to sugar. That’s why the ketogenic diet focuses on minimising carbs as much as possible because where do we get the highest amount of sugar? Carbs!” Janti explains.

Seriously Keto recently opened an 18-seat café and bakery on Seah Street, Singapore’s first and only fully ketogenic hub. It’s a one-stop casual diner for both foodies and health-conscious individuals looking for gourmet food, snacks and desserts that are delicious and have no added sugar as well as an expanded guilt-free menu that include savoury dishes and plated desserts. Another outlet in Paragon on Orchard Road will open in December 2022.

“We’ve noticed that more Singaporeans are now placing a greater priority on health and wellness, and we have spent the past year embarking on a brand evolution to meet that need,” Janti shares. 

“After rigorous research and product testing, we are proud to present our new flagship cafe- bakery, offering a warm and comfortable environment for the community to hang out and enjoy baked goods that are perfect for indulging in without any guilt.” 

First launched in Singapore in 2019, Seriously Keto’s evolving menu will continue to deliver a selection of healthier choices to bring a rotation of hot dishes to diners, making the low/no sugar and low carb diet a flavourful journey. 

“Our hope is that as more people join the anti-sugar sugar club, we hope to grow with them, educating people and be more accessible to many more communities,” says Janti.

While Janti fully subscribes to keto diet, she is not one to impose it on anyone, not even on her three kids (all in their 20s) who are not on keto diet per se but are on low carb and intermittent fasting. They belong to the “wellness generation” that consider the importance of looking good and feeling good, who know that looking good means eating well, too. Jantil’s kids were brought up to understand that sugar and carbs are simply not that healthy and that there are appetite-satisfying alternatives.

There are certainly plenty of nutritious and delicious choices coming from Janti’s home kitchen and Seriously Keto.  

Debbie | ws

(Editor’s note: It is highly recommended to consult your doctor before starting on keto diet, or any diet)

Images from Seriously Keto | @seriouslyketosg | #seriouslyketo | Video 

Location: 32 Seah Street, Singapore 188388 | Open 10:30 am – 6:30 pm | Call +65 9838 4947