In the early summer of 2017, Alex and I were standing in the kitchen making breakfast, our typical go-to of a massive cast-iron skillet filled with veggies and eggs, and Alex halfheartedly says “we should start a site called Cast Iron Keto.” Alex is like this, he has great branding/business ideas and I wish we could create them all. That time though, I knew I could make it happen. At the time, I owned a Paleo food blog called Wicked Spatula that I founded in 2011, 2012? What is time these days? I had success with it and knew that I could take everything I learned from that first site and create something even better, something Alex and I were both passionate about, those things being anything related to food and the ketogenic diet which we had been on for a few months while Alex was training for his first triathlon.
We hit the ground running, within a few short weeks we had thrown up a website with a few recipes and we were off. Cast Iron Keto grew quickly in the time before TikTok and IG Reels dominated every post you see on social media. We built an engaged audience who supported us by sharing our work and we supported them by creating inventive recipes that toed the line between healthy and indulgent. We were on a roll but then life started to happen, as it does.
Between 2017 and summer 2021 Alex finished up his second Bachelor’s degree program then decided to come on board with me to scale our businesses, we founded Healthful Creative – our content agency, we sold our first home in TN, bought an RV to travel full-time, wrote a cookbook, moved to Portland, OR, moved back to Asheville, NC in 2020 when the pandemic hit to be closer to family, then finally moved back to Portland a few months ago when we realized it was truly home.
We’ve been through quite a lot of changes the past few years not even touching on the numerous health struggles that I have and am going through. Between autoimmune diseases, PCOS, multiple miscarriages, and too many ER trips to count over the past few years, we knew that something had to change.
I’m always one to try and fix my diet first, thinking that everything will fall into place if I just land on the right one for my body. It went all-natural, Pescatarian, Paleo, then gluten-free, then Keto, then AIP, then this then that, and everything in between. You’re desperate when you feel like you’ll never be healthy again and you don’t know why. Spoiler, health is about so much more than just food or your body size. I’ve felt better at 260 pounds than I have at 170. True health is tied to many different factors and diet is just one component of that. Don’t get me wrong, I truly believe that food is medicine and we both truly believe, and there’s plenty of research to back it up, that a Ketogenic leaning diet free from processed foods is the best way to eat for long term health. However, the vast amount of animal-based ingredients in most Keto recipes is simply not sustainable or healthy, in our opinion. There’s also tons of research that shows that a plant-based diet is the best diet for long-term health. Again, you can find a research study to back up an all chocolate chip cookie diet if you really wanted to. I was and am tired of looking for the holy grail of the “perfect diet” to fix all of my issues because it simply doesn’t exist and if it did, there’s no telling if that same way of eating will serve you for a year, a month, or a decade as your body, needs, and environment change. It’s not just about food. So where did that leave us now that we believed that both a plant-based diet and a Keto diet were the best option for us but that there’s no one-size-fits-all to dietary choices?
In August of 2020 we decided to go plant-based for a few months, this was after months of debilitating stomach issues on my end and some high cholesterol readings on Alex’s. Within a few short days, the stomach issues that I’ve attributed to vegetables (specifically cruciferous ones) for years shockingly vanished all the while eating tons of cauliflower and broccoli. Over the next few months, Alex stayed the course but I added in a bit of dairy again and immediately got very, very sick. I begrudgingly cut out dairy again, got to feeling better, then added back in some chicken and fish and was sick all over again. The conclusion is that eating plant-based has almost 100% fixed my digestive issues. One’s I’ve dealt with since I was a child. Alex’s cholesterol was back to a healthy range within a few months. So, with this newfound way of eating we were left with the gigantic elephant in the room question, what did that mean for Cast Iron Keto?
It’s a weird thing to have your eating habits and dietary choices tied up in how you make a living. We’re so fortunate to have worked over the last decade to ensure that we have a reliable source of passive income through ad revenue but without fresh content hitting the site, that can dry up quickly. We have to continue to create content for this brand to be sustainable. We are also fortunate to have a great team of creators that work for us but the ROI isn’t there for outsourcing all content. We also considered selling as we did with my first site, Wicked Spatula, but we love this community, the story behind the brand, and our mission. So, we landed on the one option that feels true for us…
We’re excited to announce that moving forward Cast Iron Keto recipes will be 100% plant-based and keto-friendly! We know this will be a shock to some of you that have come to know our content as meat and dairy heavy. Our decision to transition to a plant-based lifestyle is a personal one and we’re not here to try to convince anyone that one way of eating is right for them. While we have always emphasized the importance of vegetables on a ketogenic diet, as well as the importance of sourcing humanely raised meats and sustainably sourced seafood, we believe a plant-based diet is the best diet for our bodies and the planet. This is our opinion and we respect that a lot of you will disagree. Do know that while we won’t be sharing recipes with animal-based ingredients going forward, you’ll still be able to access your favorite CIK recipes in our archive. We respect the vast differences in dietary needs and dietary beliefs and hope that you’ll continue to stick around for all the veggie goodness we’ll keep bringing your way, even if you also serve it with a steak on the side.
Do know that this decision was not one that we took lightly. One reader on Facebook called us “corporate sell-outs for plant-based propaganda companies”. First, how rude, but second, we have actually canceled multiple contracts with animal-based product brands over the past year if we weren’t able to outsource that content. This decision has nothing to do with financial gain but the fact is that this site is always going to be a bit personal unless we grow so large that we have a full-time staff (we don’t foresee that happening or even really desire that) and yes, it is a business that does need to make money so that Alex and I can support ourselves and other creatives.
You may have noticed that we also changed up our colors a bit and we’re excited about the new look. We have a full website redesign scheduled for late next year with all sorts of great features and we can’t wait for that. In the meantime, I hope my Google degree in web design isn’t too horrid.
Lastly, thank you for reading this far. This is by far the most personal update we’ve ever shared here but we believe that sharing our struggles, inspirations, failures, and all the normal human life things creates connections and brings us all closer together. So thanks for being here and we can’t wait for CIK 2.0!
cant wait for plant based recipes as am a vgean cant wait to make your recipes soon for me
I think it is so interesting that you have adapted and found what is good for you both! I have found on Keto that I need more veggies! I’m interested in your new recipes! Bless you both!
Thanks so much, Julie!
Can’t wait to see what you guys do next!
❤️ Thanks Briana!
You have to do what is best for you. I am sorry you are having such issues. I am happy you found something that is working for you. But I am grateful you will still have such good recipes with meat on your archives. Maybe I will find a new one on your updated site. (not a fan of most veggies, so) But I am open to try. Best to you both and thank you for your time and effort.
Thanks so much, Connie!
Thank you for sharing. I rarely post comments, but wanted to say I was looking forward to seeing this site evolve. Having similar issues with PCOS and insulin resistance, I have struggled for years about how to eat less meat, while maintaining a ketogenic diet – getting enough appropriate protein while keeping blood sugar down.
Good luck!
Thanks so much, Lisa!
Kudos to both of you for doing what is best for you and sharing it. I have been encouraged to go plant based and pescatarian through an Alzheimers study. So there is yet another reason. I don’t have it and certainly don’t want it. As I get older I am noticing that my body has more and more trouble digesting animal products.
I am looking forward to what you will be pushing out!!
Thanks, Jessie!
I appreciate you sharing your personal diet changes. I look forward to your recipes, I have always enjoyed them and pretty much only use cast iron in my kitchen
Thanks, Kathy!
I totally respect your decision. I am constantly looking for a better diet with some of the health issues I have had. Keto has helped me a lot but with a husband who just eats anything he wants and is always bringing junk food in the house it is very hard.
I love to try different recipes so I am excited about your changes and look forward to trying them.
Hey Deb, vegetables are never a bad thing so we can’t wait to bring you all the veggie-heavy goodness even your husband will enjoy! Stay tuned 😉
I am personally excited about this change! 🥳
I eat a mostly plant-based diet 🥦 with fish 🐟and eggs 🥚🍳 so sometimes it’s hard for me to modify recipes due to the meat and dairy. I look forward to your ideas and recipes!
Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing. God will definitely be using your testimony 🙏🏼✝️🙌🏼 and giving you the desires of your hearts!💙💖💝
I’m really excited about this and looking forward to the plant based recipes! I expect that this change will be very successful for you.
Thanks, Sherry!
Why do humans have to be rude? Change is always great to try and since I love what you two have done so far, I look forward to your plant based ideas. Even if people wish to eat meat, they may add your new recipes to get in the habit of eating more veggies. Bring it on!
Thanks, Barbara!
While I am skeptical that plant-based only recipes will be useful to me, I look forward to seeing what you come up with and how practical/desirable it is for me personally. Good luck!
Hey Charles – I’m sure you eat plenty of plant-based things already without realizing it – vegetable based side dishes, salads, etc. We’re excited to show that vegetables are super versatile and can most definitely be a part of a low-carb diet. A lot of the most popular recipes on CIK are already plant-based, like our Street Style Cauliflower! Thanks for your note!
Looking forward to the shift.
Thanks, Richard! We are too.
Super excited to see your recipes! You guys are the best <3
I’m so excited for you and cannot wait!! I’ve struggled finding good, plant based keto recipes, and as a fan of your original site, I know everything will be deliciously amazing!! Glad to see your health issues resolved from this too!!
Thanks so much, Monique!
Hi, I am happy to see that change . I was a vegetarian for so long but started to eat the Keto way and replaced beans and root veggies with animal
Protein . I am really excited about the change !
Awesome, thanks so much, Connie!
I continually try a Keto diet but really prefer eating plant based so I keep going back and forth. It’s hard to find good pb keto recipes. Your recipes are so amazing that the thought of new ones that are plant based is thrilling to me. I can’t wait to see what you come up with and have no doubt that they will be spectacular.
It is hard, even for us in the beginning but we’re excited to share our creations. Thank you!
Looking forward to your new recipes. My daughter and her husband have been eating plant based meals for over 10 years. But I just couldn’t quite make the total switch. I’m too much of a carnivore. Lately though I’ve been trying to increase my vegetable intake and cutting way back on dairy. So I think your upcoming recipes will help me in that quest. Thank you.
Awesome, thanks, Dee!
Diet is SO personal for everyone! Having been through many trials over the last 15 years, animal based keto is what works for me and I’m so happy y’all found what works for you! It’s such an awesome feeling! I will 100% continue to support you guys because I love my cast iron and am always looking for new recipes… Plus you can pretty much always work meat into a plant based dish 😉
Thanks so much for your note!
I’m happy that you’ve shared your journey with us thus far. Funny how an online community can be both good and bad however with that ‘it’s all about you and your health’
Looking forward to your plant based recipes as I went vegan for a year, felt great and the first time in 8 years blood pressure was normal however I wasn’t loosing any weight. Then came the ketogenic lifestyle which has allowed me to loose pounds and inches however am yet to fully understand keto from a vegan perspective. So can’t wait to see what you guys have in store for us. And am all in for a plant based ketogenic lifestyle
We are always trying to incorporate more plant only meals in our diet, as we too believe it is healthiest, but so dang hard to do. I look forward to the upcoming content. Kudos for doing what is best for you and a willingness to share it.
As long as I can still access your original Cast Iron recipes I can celebrate and perhaps even enjoy some new plant based recipes. You do what is good for you!
Thanks, Reggie!
I am really looking forward to this transition. I want to cut way back on animal protein and dairy finding nutritional substitutions I’m hoping not to much legumes as they are high in lectins which irritates my GI tract. I, like you, want to heal my GI tract. Looking forward to this adventure in healing.
Thank you.
I sure don’t eat hardly any veggies and I love them. Excited to see recipes that are truly healthy
I am so jazzed about this! I have made MANY of your recipes and LOVE them. However, they have mostly been 1/4th of my plate while the other 3/4 of the plate has been filled with veggies. I am not very creative when it comes to veg, so I’m very much looking forward to seeing what you create moving forward.
Great!! Lots of vegetable…so healthy!
I loved your recipes. Sadly I have several autoimmune conditions with a host of other health problems…my journey has led me opposite yours. After being on low carb keto and at times without dairy…I also went carnivore for a while… my health has improved and baffled many specialty Doctors..my inflammation markers decreased tragically…having studied nutrition in Germany I would never have picked Keto or carnivore it was so vilified. Since life has it’s own twists and at a certain age we know our bodies…I tried what medical experts caution and started keto then carnivore… I added bone broth and fasting to my repertoire and also fell a few short times of the wagon just to realize that I felt better with animal proteins. I wish you all the best on your journey… most of my plant food was shared with ChubbyCheeks the sweetest bunny she past 2 weeks ago ..when I shop for veggies and fruits it reminds me of that fur ball enjoying a plethora of plants….her brown M&M’s composted beautifully into new soil for new plants…love gardening
I’m so glad you have both figured out what works for you!! n=1 experimentation is so important and hopefully you can ignore anyone who has issues with your decisions. You’ve shared tons of great recipes over the years and look forward to seeing what comes next!
Looking forward to this new and innovative approach to Keto.
Heavy Sigh.
But as so many others have stated so eloquently, you need to do what is right for you.
I, too, will continue to check out your new recipes. And based on the exquisite flavors of all of your previous recipes which I have tried (I just found your site a month ago!), I am sure I will find some new favorites as well. Maybe I’ll have to begin the traditional “Meatless Monday” at my home.
🙂
Hallelujah! My husband recently went keto and my daughter and I eat vegetarian. Meal planning has become a nightmare trying to please everyone. I’m excited to try your new recipes!