Nutritional compositions contain a mixture of ketogenic ingredients including from 80 to 99% weight % 1,3-butanediol (BDO), preferably R-1,3-butanediol, and from 1 to 20 weight % beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB), preferably D-beta-hydroxybutyric acid, or an equivalent molar amount of its conjugate base beta-hydroxybutyrate, salts, monoesters, polyesters, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the nutritional compositions for providing ketosis are prepared for oral administration in a solid form, such as bars, bites, tablets, pills or capsules, in a liquid form, such as smoothies, goos, water, carbonated beverages, soft drinks, fermented beverage suspensions, solutions and emulsions, or in a powder form that can be used to prepare drink mixes or can be added as a supplement to other food or drink products. Methods of providing ketosis in a subject include delivering optimal therapeutic ketosis, with rapidity into and extended duration of blood concentrations of D-BHB of between 1 mM and 2.5 mM.