Dear Keto Eating Friend,

I’m just going to come out and say it: The Keto diet ain’t cheap.

In fact, it’s one of the most expensive eating plans I’ve come across (even more expensive than the organic, local, raw superfood diet).

Because I have other things that require my financial attention—think mortgage payments, the electric bill, et al—I am always on the lookout for ways to save money on staying healthy.

That’s why I love Amazon Prime day—this year, it’s Monday, July 16. (And you don’t even need to be a Prime owner to get in on the deals—I’ll share the hack in a moment.)

I am not a big Amazon user. I find it’s usually cheaper to scout out deals at my local Trader Joe’s, Aldi’s, farmer’s market and the big fancy supermarket across the street from my home. When I do use Amazon, it’s usually for bulk ingredients, school-related supplies for the kids or free e-books.

So I’m going to admit straight-up that this is the first year I’ve even explored Amazon Prime Days. But after reading a few of my friends’ blog posts about it, I was intrigued and jumped on: Perhaps there was some huge deal waiting for me? Something that would save me a lot of money?

It turns out, there is. In fact, there are enough big deals that I want to share with you, my Keto eating friend.

But before I share my shopping list, I want to just say that you can get in on this even if you don’t have an Amazon Prime account. If you don’t have Amazon prime, your first step is to pick up a free 30-Day Prime trial. Just make sure to put the cancel date on your calendar so you can easily cancel before it renews. You can get a free 30-Day Prime trial here.

And while Amazon is trying to get shoppers to download their Amazon app in order to check out the Prime Day deals, that’s not necessary, either. In fact, I am not sure why anyone would use up valuable storage space with that when you can just open a window on your computer and show “the old fashioned way.”

Prime Day works by providing timed deals. A certain product goes on sale at a certain time and stays on sale until all they are all scooped up. I find this annoying—I hate the eBayish feel of this. (Maybe this is Amazon’s way of forcing you to stay on their site in hopes you’ll end up purchasing more than you need.) But, it isn’t going to stop me from hopping on and seeing if there is anything worth snagging.

Here is what I’ll be scooping up during my first Amazon Prime Day, keep reading (keeping in mind that each of these goes “on sale” at a very random, specific time):

* Free 30-Day Trial of Amazon Prime.

* EatSmart Digital Nutrition Scale – Professional Food and Nutrient Calculator. Keto eaters often need to be tediously precise with their food intake in order to reach (and stay in) ketosis. Therefore, a great kitchen scale is a must-have piece of equipment for the serious Keto eater. EatSmart’s version calculates calories, carbs, fiber, sodium, fats, vitamin k and six other nutrients from thousands of ingredients. Plus, it contains a Memory Mode that saves up to 99 entries for daily or weekly tracking.

* Dash Rapid Egg Cooker: 6 Egg Capacity Electric Egg Cooker for Hard Boiled Eggs, Poached Eggs, Scrambled Eggs, or Omelets with Auto Shut Off Feature. In a range of colors. Keto eaters eat eggs. And eggs can get boring if you eat them the same way day after day. Save time with a kick-butt egg cooker.

* A multi-cooker. Everyone—regardless of the way they eat—should own some type of slow-cooker or instapot. This essential piece of kitchen equipment is truly the “set it and forget it” hero of the modern kitchen, ensuring that you and your family have a nightly hot meal—even when you have no time to cook. This particular version is called a multipot, and does everything from slow cooking to rice cooking to steaming to yogurt making. And more.

* A spiralizer! If you’re a Keto eater—or a gluten-free eater—you need a spiralizer to make veggie-based pasta, rice and other no-carb (no-gluten) side dishes. A stand version is easy-to-use, versatile, and sturdy. You can also find versions that include a mandoline option (great for making homemade veggie chips).

* Food containers! Great food containers make it easier to pre-make meals and to pack perfect Keto lunches. I admit that I like the cheapo kind with the transparent lids that I get with my takeout food. You can by a 21 pack of them during the Amazon Prime Day sale for less than $15. Though this 18-piece glass set contains different sizes and looks arty.

* Meat thermometer. Most Keto eaters, and others who follow a low-carb diet, eat a good amount of animal protein. Knowing when your chicken or lamb is done can be tricky. A meat thermometer makes sure you’re cooking your food to perfection.

* Kitchen knives. A set of good kitchen knives is a must for anyone. As a Keto eater, however, a set of easy-to-use knives is essential. Prime Day has several options, from the lower-priced, to the higher-end.

* A high-powered blender. If you’ve been eyeing a professional-grade blender, Prime Day is a great day to take the plunge. Plus, most sellers have free or heavily discounted shipping. This Aimores commercial blender is a great deal.

* A lunch tote. Sure you can take your healthy Keto lunch to work or school in a brown paper sack. But a cool insulated lunch tote will not only keep your lunch intact and fresh. There are a few models for sale during Prime Day, including an insulated tote, a purple shoulder bag, and a black and white number.

* A Powerful Omega 3 Supplement. Antarctic Krill Oil Softgels contain 1500mg of Omega 3 fatty acid to help keep the brain healthy, immune system function high and strengthen the cardiovascular system. However, this particular brand is usually pricey enough that I reach for a less expensive brand. But I do love the “fishless” finish of these and the super high, very absorbable (and cleanly-sourced) omega 3 content.

* Amazon Prime Student 6-month Trial. If you have a boarding school student or college student in your life, a student subscription to Amazon Prime can give them access to free shipping on food, linens, toiletries, school supplies and even textbooks.

* $10 off $40+ orders with a Prime Pantry free trial. Prime Pantry is Amazon’s dry-goods delivery service. I use it to get discounts on large bags of beans, nuts and oats (for my kids), jerkey and meat sticks, tea and other items.

* $30 off your first Amazon Fresh delivery. Amazon Fresh has meal-kits, ready-to-cook entrees, fresh ingredients, and all kinds of food to help you make dinner inexpensively, conveniently, and healthfully.

Happy—and smart—shopping to you!

Much love,

Stephanie

P.S. Is there anything in particular that you have your eye on this Amazon Prime Day?