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National Keto Day

Celebrate National Keto Day with a delicious low-carb meal! Get creative in the kitchen and enjoy all the health benefits of the keto diet.

Tuesday

January 2027

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEJanuary 5

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYHealth

SUBCATEGORYNutrition

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get ready to celebrate National Keto Day on January 5! This day was created in 2017 to honor the ketogenic diet which is a low-carb, high-fat way of eating. It has been used for decades as a treatment for epilepsy but more recently it has become popular among those looking to lose weight or improve their health. The benefits of this type of diet include increased energy levels and improved mental clarity.

TIMELINE

National Keto Day Timeline

Ketogenic Diet Invention

The ketogenic (keto) diet was first developed in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy by Dr. Russell Wilder at the Mayo Clinic.

Keto Diet Notice

In the early 2000s, the ketogenic diet started to gain wider recognition beyond medical applications, especially in fitness and weight loss communities.

Scientific Keto Research Expansion

Scientific research expanded on the uses of the ketogenic diet, focusing not only on epilepsy but also on weight loss, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and even some cancers.

Keto Diet Booms

The keto diet skyrocketed in popularity among fitness enthusiasts and those seeking to lose weight, leading to numerous cookbooks, meal plans, and guidelines being published.

First National Keto Day

Vitamin Shoppe, a nutritional supplement retailer, established National Keto Day on January 5, 2019, to celebrate the lifestyle and encourage newcomers to try the ketogenic diet.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Keto Day

Cook a low-carb dish

Choose one of your favorite keto recipes and make it for National Keto Day. Whether it’s a classic such as cauliflower pizza or something more creative like avocado fries, you’ll be able to celebrate the keto way.

TRY

Try a new keto snack

Check out your local health food store for keto friendly snacks. You can find things like pork rinds, trail mix, and cheese crisps that make great snacks while you’re on the keto diet.

ORGANIZE

Organize a potluck

Invite your friends over for a low carb potluck. Ask everyone to bring their favorite keto dish so you can all enjoy delicious foods together.

HOST

Host a recipe challenge

Gather your friends for a friendly competition to see who can come up with the best keto recipe. Have everyone cook their creations and have everyone vote on the best one.

Share your tips

If you’ve got some advice or tips about how to successfully follow the keto diet, share them with others on social media or through your blog/website. You’ll be helping out other people who are trying to get into keto as well!

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Keto Day

Keto helps regulate hormones

Another benefit of the keto diet is that it helps regulate hormone levels. By reducing carbohydrates and increasing healthy fats, you can reduce inflammation and stress hormones like cortisol in your body. This then helps balance out hormones like leptin (which controls hunger) and ghrelin (which regulates satiety). Ultimately, keto may help make sure your metabolism runs at optimum performance!

Keto is a sustainable diet

The ketogenic diet is more than just a 'fad diet', it's an effective way to achieve long-term weight loss. With its focus on low carbohydrate intake and moderate amounts of healthy fats, Keto doesn't leave you feeling deprived or hungry like many other diets do. As long as you stay committed to eating high quality meals and snacks throughout the day, you can enjoy a variety of delicious recipes and maintain your healthy weight!

Keto increases energy levels

By converting food into small amounts of usable energy rather than storing it as fat, keto encourages increased energy levels throughout the day. This means that you'll be less likely to become tired out easily, giving you the motivation to take on whatever tasks life has in store for you!

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