What foods are allowed on the Paleo diet. Which meats, vegetables, fruits, and fats should you eat on Paleo. How to create a balanced Paleo meal plan. What foods to avoid on the Paleo diet. Is the Paleo diet healthy and sustainable long-term.

Understanding the Basics of the Paleo Diet

The Paleolithic diet, commonly known as the Paleo diet, is based on the eating habits of our ancient ancestors. It emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods that were available to hunter-gatherers during the Paleolithic era. The diet aims to improve health by eliminating modern processed foods and focusing on nutrient-dense options.

Are you wondering what you can eat on the Paleo diet? Here’s a quick overview:

• Meat and fish
• Fruits and vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Healthy oils

Foods to avoid include:

• Grains
• Legumes
• Dairy
• Processed foods and sugars

Paleo-Approved Protein Sources

Protein is a cornerstone of the Paleo diet, with an emphasis on high-quality, unprocessed sources. Which meats are best for Paleo? Here’s a comprehensive list:

Land Animals

• Grass-fed beef
• Pork
• Lamb
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Bison
• Venison
• Duck
• Goose
• Rabbit
• Elk
• Wild boar

Seafood

• Salmon
• Tuna
• Mackerel
• Sardines
• Trout
• Halibut
• Cod
• Shrimp
• Crab
• Lobster
• Clams
• Mussels

Can you eat eggs on the Paleo diet? Yes, eggs are an excellent source of protein and nutrients on the Paleo diet. Choose pasture-raised eggs when possible for optimal nutrition.

Fruits and Vegetables: The Paleo Way

Fruits and vegetables form the basis of a healthy Paleo diet, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Which produce items are Paleo-friendly?

Paleo-Approved Vegetables

• Leafy greens (spinach, kale, Swiss chard)
• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts)
• Bell peppers
• Zucchini
• Asparagus
• Onions
• Garlic
• Carrots
• Beets
• Sweet potatoes (in moderation)

Paleo-Friendly Fruits

• Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
• Apples
• Pears
• Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes)
• Melons
• Peaches
• Plums
• Figs
• Grapes

Is fruit consumption limited on the Paleo diet? While fruits are allowed, it’s recommended to consume them in moderation due to their natural sugar content. Focus on lower-sugar fruits like berries and limit high-sugar tropical fruits.

Nuts, Seeds, and Healthy Fats in the Paleo Diet

Nuts, seeds, and healthy fats play a crucial role in the Paleo diet, providing essential nutrients and helping to keep you satiated. Which options are best?

Paleo-Approved Nuts and Seeds

• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Macadamia nuts
• Pistachios
• Cashews (in moderation)
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Chia seeds
• Flaxseeds

Healthy Fats for Paleo

• Avocado oil
• Coconut oil
• Olive oil
• Ghee (clarified butter)
• Duck fat
• Lard (from pasture-raised animals)

Are all nuts and seeds equally beneficial on the Paleo diet? While most nuts and seeds are allowed, it’s best to focus on those with higher omega-3 content and lower omega-6 content, such as walnuts and macadamia nuts. Consume nuts and seeds in moderation, as they are calorie-dense.

Foods to Avoid on the Paleo Diet

Understanding what not to eat is just as important as knowing what to eat on the Paleo diet. Which foods should you eliminate?

Grains and Legumes

• Wheat
• Barley
• Oats
• Rice
• Corn
• Beans
• Lentils
• Peanuts

Dairy Products

• Milk
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Ice cream

Processed Foods and Sugars

• Refined sugar
• High fructose corn syrup
• Artificial sweeteners
• Packaged snacks
• Soft drinks
• Processed meats (hot dogs, spam)

Why are these foods excluded from the Paleo diet? The Paleo diet philosophy argues that these foods were not part of our ancestral diet and may contribute to inflammation, digestive issues, and chronic diseases. However, it’s important to note that modern research has shown some health benefits in whole grains and legumes for many people.

Creating Balanced Paleo Meals

How can you create nutritious and satisfying meals on the Paleo diet? Here are some tips for balanced Paleo eating:

1. Fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables for fiber and nutrients.
2. Include a palm-sized portion of protein with each meal.
3. Add a serving of healthy fats, such as avocado or nuts.
4. Include a small portion of fruit or starchy vegetables for carbohydrates.
5. Use herbs and spices liberally for flavor and additional health benefits.

Sample Paleo meal ideas:

• Grilled salmon with roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potato
• Chicken stir-fry with mixed vegetables and cauliflower rice
• Beef and vegetable soup with a side salad
• Egg and vegetable frittata with fresh berries

Potential Benefits and Considerations of the Paleo Diet

Is the Paleo diet beneficial for everyone? While many people report improved health on the Paleo diet, it’s important to consider both potential benefits and drawbacks:

Potential Benefits

• Weight loss
• Improved blood sugar control
• Reduced inflammation
• Better digestion
• Increased satiety

Considerations

• May be difficult to sustain long-term
• Can be expensive
• May lead to nutrient deficiencies if not well-planned
• Eliminates some nutritious food groups
• Limited scientific evidence for long-term benefits

Is the Paleo diet suitable for everyone? As with any diet, the Paleo approach may not be ideal for everyone. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet, especially if you have any existing health conditions or nutritional concerns.

Adapting the Paleo Diet for Modern Life

How can you incorporate Paleo principles into a modern lifestyle? Here are some practical tips:

• Focus on whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible
• Cook meals at home to have control over ingredients
• Plan and prep meals in advance to avoid relying on convenience foods
• Experiment with Paleo-friendly alternatives to favorite dishes
• Be flexible and allow for occasional non-Paleo treats if desired

Can you modify the Paleo diet to fit your needs? While the strict Paleo diet eliminates certain food groups, some people choose to follow a modified version that includes small amounts of dairy, legumes, or whole grains. This approach, sometimes called “Paleo-ish,” may be more sustainable and nutritionally complete for some individuals.

In conclusion, the Paleo diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods that our ancestors might have eaten. By emphasizing nutrient-dense options and eliminating modern processed foods, many people find improvements in their health and well-being. However, it’s important to approach any dietary change with careful consideration and professional guidance when needed. Whether you choose to follow a strict Paleo diet or incorporate some of its principles into your eating habits, focusing on whole foods and listening to your body’s needs can lead to improved overall health.

The Ultimate Paleo Diet Food List

Updated: August 5th, 2021

This is the definitive paleo diet food list. In it, you’ll find a list of the paleo diet meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and oils that are allowed on the paleo diet. You can throw these into any delicious paleo recipe (or make up your own) and be 100% sure that you’re paleo diet compliant :). Let’s get started.

Paleo Diet Rules

We don’t specifically like to think of food as having “rules,” but when it comes to the paleo diet, there are foods that you should eat and ones you should avoid. For a quick “do eat” and “don’t eat” primer, see our quick reference guide below.

EAT THIS

• Grass-fed meats
• Fish/seafood
• Fresh fruits
• Fresh vegetables
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Healthy oils (olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado, coconut)

Paleo Diet Food List App

If you thought that was easy, what if you could have a paleo reference app in your pocket – so you knew WITHOUT A DOUBT – whether every food you put in your body was paleo or not.

If you have more questions on specific foods, we’ve included a comprehensive list of paleo diet foods below. We’ve provided a list of the foods that are allowed on the paleo diet. We’ve also broken this list down into the specific food groups, so you can see which meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fats are on the paleo diet. In addition to all of that, we’ve also included a comprehensive list of foods not allowed on the paleo diet.

There’s often confusion about what falls where, so we’ve tried to clarify that as much as possible. You can click on the links below to jump directly to whichever section of the food list you’re interested in.

 Good luck and happy eating!

[color-box color=”yellow”]After multiple requests, we’ve turned this Paleo Diet Food List resource into a downloadable PDF that you can download, print off, and use on your next trip to the grocery store. Simply right click and download this Paleo Diet Food List. [/color-box]

Paleo Diet Foods

Meats

Almost all meats are paleo by definition. Of course, you’ll want to stay away from highly processed meats and meats that are very high in fat (stuff like spam, hot dogs, and other low-quality meats), but if it used to moo, oink, or make some other sound, it’s almost certainly paleo (and, yes, that means you can still have bacon). Here’s the full list of paleo diet meats. Grill them up!

• Poultry
• Turkey
• Chicken breast
• Pork tenderloin
• Pork chops
• Steak
• Veal
• Bacon
• Pork
• Ground beef
• Grass-fed beef
• Chicken thigh
• Chicken leg
• Chicken wings (yum!)
• Lamb rack
• Shrimp
• Lobster
• Clams
• Salmon
• Venison steaks
• Buffalo
• New York steak
• Bison

• Bison steaks
• Bison jerky
• Bison ribeye
• Bison sirloin
• Lamb chops
• Rabbit
• Goat
• Elk
• Emu
• Goose
• Kangaroo
• Bear (good luck getting this!)
• Beef jerky
• Eggs (duck, chicken, or goose)
• Wild boar
• Reindeer
• Turtle
• Ostrich
• Pheasant
• Quail
• Lean veal
• Chuck steak
• Rattlesnake
• Head Cheese

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Fish

Fish are definitely on the paleo diet and they’re chock full of good stuff like omega-3s as well. If it swims and has fins, it’s definitely paleo diet food list worthy. Have it!

• Bass
• Salmon
• Halibut
• Mackerel
• Sardines
• Tuna

• Red snapper
• Shark
• Sunfish
• Swordfish
• Tilapia
• Trout
• Walleye

Seafood

Down in New Orleans and want to have a crawfish boil? Paleo. Swap it out for shrimp? Ditto. Heck, even a stop at Red Lobster is good as long as you stay away from the rolls. Check out all the different seafood you can eat on the paleo diet.

• Crab
• Crawfish
• Crayfish
• Shrimp

Vegetables

Almost all vegetables are paleo with some exceptions. Vegetables with a high starch content, such as potatoes and squashes, tend to have low nutritional value in comparison to the amount of starches/carbs/sugars they contain.

• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Artichoke hearts
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Celery

• Broccoli
• Zucchini
• Cabbage
• Peppers (all kinds)
• Cauliflower
• Parsley
• Eggplant
• Green onions
• Mushrooms

Some of our favorite paleo vegetables are even purple.

Starchy Vegetables*

These vegetables are quite starchy, so eat them in moderation especially if you’re trying to lose weight.

Oils and Fats

Contrary to popular belief, fat doesn’t make you fat; carbs do (and the Standard American Diet contains a ton of them!). Natural oils and fats are your body’s preferred sources of creating energy, so it’s best to give your body what it’s asking for. The following are some of the best types of paleo diet oils and fats that you can give your body if you’re in need of some additional energy.

• Macadamia oil
• Avocado oil
• Grass-fed butter
• Ghee

Nuts and Seeds

We love nuts and they are decidedly paleo diet friendly. Be careful though, as cashews are high in fat and, for some reason, it’s incredibly easy to eat an entire jar of them in one sitting (that’s not just us, is it?). If you’re trying to lose weight, limit the amount of nuts you’re consuming. Otherwise, have at it. I mean, you can’t beat a good almond/pecan/walnut mix, can you?

• Almonds
• Cashews
• Hazelnuts
• Pecans

• Pine nuts
• Sesame seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Macadamia nuts
• Walnuts
• Chia seeds

Please note: peanuts are NOT paleo as they’re not actually a nut. They’re a legume! For more on this, see our article about legumes.

Fruits**

Fruits are not only delicious, but they’re also great for you. That said, fruits (even paleo-approved ones) contain large amounts of fructose which, while much better than HFCS (high-fructose corn syrup), is still sugar. If you’re looking to lose weight on the paleo diet, you’ll want to cut back on your fruit intake and focus more on the vegetables allowed on the paleo diet.

However, feel free to have one to three servings of fruit a day. Check out this list of paleo diet fruits and see if you’re not hungry by the end! (We’ll admit, we’re partial to blackberries!)

• Apple
• Avocado
• Blackberries
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Plums
• Mango
• Lychee
• Blueberries
• Grapes
• Dragon Fruit (how to eat it)

• Lemon
• Strawberries
• Watermelon
• Pineapple guava
• Lime
• Raspberries
• Cantaloupe
• Tangerine
• Figs
• Oranges
• Bananas*

*While these starchy foods are great for energy replacement for paleo diet athletes who are spending long periods of time exercising and who need some of the starchier foods to sustain their energy levels, if you’re trying to lose weight on the paleo diet, you’ll want to limit the quantities of these that you’re eating.

**Eat high-sugar fruits in moderation. They’re great for you, but it’s easy to overdo it. Remember, your caveman ancestors didn’t have access to Florida’s orange groves 24/7, so you probably shouldn’t try to eat a bushel of oranges in your next paleo diet meal.

Other Paleo-friendly Foods

This is a pretty comprehensive list of foods available on the paleo diet and we’re constantly updating it. If you’re looking for ways to eat these foods, check out some of the paleo recipes on our site.

Paleo Diet – Foods To Avoid

This is a complete list of foods not allowed on the paleo diet. It’s a sad day when you first have to say goodbye to these foods but, once you start, it’s much easier and you find there are even better paleo substitutes for these foods. The first few weeks might be tough, but if you stick with it over time, it’ll be worth it. We promise. Here’s the ultimate list of foods not allowed on the paleo diet.

Dairy

• Cheese
• Cottage cheese
• Non-fat dairy creamer
• Skim milk
• 2% milk
• Whole milk (sometimes)
• Dairy spreads
• Butter – this is debatable in the Paleo community. Some argue that grass-fed butter does have a place in a well-balanced Paleo diet.

• Cream cheese
• Powdered milk
• Yogurt
• Pudding
• Frozen yogurt
• Ice milk
• Low fat milk
• Ice cream

Soft drinks

Soft drinks, pop, and Coke are packed with sugar and high-fructose corn syrup and are definitely NOT paleo diet friendly.

• Coke
• Sprite
• Pepsi
• Mountain Dew
• Etc.

Fruit Juices

Fruit juices are super high in sugar (fructose) and will throw your paleo diet off track. Stay away from these.

• Apple juice
• Orange juice
• Grape juice
• Strawberry juice
• Chinola juice
• Starfruit juice
• Mango juice

Grains

You should avoid anything that has a grain in it. Yes, anything. If you pretend that grains are the devil, you’ll find it’s much easier to avoid them.

• Cereals
• Bread
• English muffins
• Toast
• Sandwiches
• Triscuits
• Wheat Thins
• Crackers
• Oatmeal
• Cream of wheat

Legumes

Don’t know what a legume is? That’s okay because we’ve put together a primer on what legumes are and why, unfortunately, they’re not paleo diet friendly. For the paleo diet, legumes are not on the menu. Sorry. Here are the ones you should avoid.

• All beans
  • Black beans
  • Broad beans
  • Fava beans
  • Garbanzo beans
  • Horse beans
  • Kidney beans
  • Lima beans
  • Mung beans
  • Adzuki beans
  • Navy beans
  • Pinto beans
  • Red beans
  • String beans
  • White beans

• Peas
  • Black-eyed peas (and, yes, you should also avoid the band)
  • Chickpeas
  • Snow peas
• Peanuts
• Peanut butter
• Miso
• Lentils
• Lupins
• Mesquite
• Soybeans
• All soybean products and derivatives
• Tofu
• Caveat – fresh green beans and green peas can be consumed in moderation on the Paleo diet. Compared to other legumes, their phytic acid content is way lower, and these vegetables offer beneficial vitamins and minerals.

Artificial Sweeteners

Bad news – sweeteners aren’t paleo, sweetie. All artificial sweeteners are, by definition, artificial and not paleo. If you’d like to sweeten your foods, use honey, maple syrup, or (if you’re really in a pinch) Stevia.

• Acesulfame potassium
  • ACK
  • Ace K
  • Equal Spoonful (also +aspartame)
  • Sweet One
  • Sunett
• Aspartame
  • APM
  • AminoSweet (but not in US)
  • Aspartyl-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester
  • Canderel (not in US)
  • Equal Classic
  • NatraTaste Blue
  • NutraSweet
• Aspartame-acesulfame salt
• Cyclamate
  • Not in US as per FDA
  • Calcium cyclamate
  • Cologran = cyclamate and saccharin (not in US)
  • Sucaryl
• Erythritol
  • Sugar alcohol
  • Zerose
  • ZSweet
• Glycerol
• Glycyrrhizin
• Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate (HSH)
• Isomalt
  • Sugar alcohol
  • ClearCut Isomalt
  • Decomalt
  • DiabetiSweet (also contains Acesulfame-K)
  • Hydrogenated Isomaltulose
  • Isomaltitol
• Lactitol

• Maltitol
  • Sugar alcohol
  • Maltitol syrup
  • Maltitol powder
  • Hydrogenated High Maltose Content Glucose Syrup
  • Hydrogenated maltose
  • Lesys
  • MaltiSweet (hard to purchase)
  • SweetPearl
• Mannitol
• Neotame
• Polydextrose
  • Sugar alcohol
  • (Derived from glucose and sorbitol)
• Saccharin
  • Acid saccharin
  • Equal Saccharin
  • Necta Sweet
  • Sodium Saccharin
  • Sweet N Low
  • Sweet Twin
• Sorbitol
  • Sugar alcohol
  • D-glucitol
  • D-glucitol syrup
• Steviol glycoside
• Sucralose
  • 1′,4,6′-Trichlorogalactosucrose
  • Trichlorosucrose
  • Equal Sucralose
  • NatraTaste Gold
  • Splenda
• Tagatose
• Xylitol
  • Sugar alcohol
  • Smart Sweet
  • Xylipure
  • Xylosweet
  • Anything that says “artificial”

Fatty Meats

If you’re going to eat meat, go ahead and spring for some steak. Stay far away from these non-paleo foods.

• Spam
• Hot dogs
• Other low-quality meats (if you do eat them, eat them in moderation)

Salty Foods

These overly salty foods fall outside the paleo diet guidelines.

• French fries
• Ketchup
• Potato chips
• Popcorn

Snacks

These easy, cheap, and pre-packaged snacks could last years on their own. That means they’re definitely not paleo.

• Pretzels
• Chips
• Triscuits
• Wheat Thins
• Cookies
• SunChips
• Pastries
• Fruit gummies

Energy Drinks

These are not good for you and are definitely not approved for our paleo diet food list. Stay far, far away.

• Mountain Dew MDX
• Vault
• XS Energy Drink
• 5-Hour Energy

Alcohol

Unfortunately, almost all alcohol does not work with the paleo diet. Yes, this includes, but isn’t limited to:

Sweets

Sugar is almost always manufactured and should be avoided on the paleo diet. This means you’ll need to cut out the delicious but destructive sweets and sugars that are standard in the Standard American Diet. The rule of thumb here is: if it contains a ton of sugar, it’s probably not on the paleo diet friendly. That said, here’s a specific lists of sweets that are not on the paleo diet food list. You might want to take a moment to say goodbye to them before you start your paleo diet journey.

• Candy bars
• Snickers
• Snickers Peanut Butter
• 100 Grand
• Butterfinger
• Milky Way
• Reese’s (NOOOO!)
• Payday
• M&Ms
• Skittles

• Red Vines
• Twizzlers
• Hershey’s
• Nestle Crunch
• Almond Joy
• Mounds
• Reese’s Fast Break
• Reeses’s Pieces
• Twix
• Twix Peanut Butter

Any other refined sugars.

What about gluten free foods?

If you’ve got questions about adopting a gluten free lifestyle, check out: The Ultimate Guide to a Gluten Free Diet. This will answer all the questions you have about going gluten free (including which foods you should eat and avoid.)

——

Other Resources

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Here’s A Full List of Paleo Diet Foods — Eat This Not That

As with any diet, one of the primary struggles that comes with going paleo is figuring out what paleo diet foods you can and can’t eat. One of the simplest ways to figure out whether a food is paleo-friendly is to ask yourself, “Could my ancestors hunt or gather it?” After all, this diet is modeled after the way people ate during the Paleolithic era (2.5 million to 11,000 years ago). So, it goes without saying that a bag of chips or a frozen pizza is off the table. But what about everything else?

According to certified nutritionist Paul Claybrook, the paleo diet has become increasingly popular not only because it can help to rapidly jumpstart weight loss, but also because it addresses a problematic emphasis in the American diet on processed foods (which are stripped of their nutritional value during processing).

“Processed foods set the stage for high blood sugar and a hormonal response that leaves the body wanting to store fat and burn away muscle (which of itself is a huge metabolism booster),” he says. “Compared to the ‘average’ diet, paleo is better suited to the human body because it is based on the presumed diet of humans prior to the development of farming. In other words, this diet is what people were made to thrive on.”

But processed foods aren’t the only thing to be avoided on paleo—dairy products, grains, beans and legumes, refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, some vegetable and industrial seed oils, and soy are not allowed, either. Whether you’ve already gone full caveman or are toying with the idea of trying it out, it’s helpful to know exactly which paleo diet foods to have—and what foods are off-limits. Per the guidance of registered dietitians Lindsey Kane, Amanda A. Kostro Miller, Monica Auslander Moreno, and Andres Ayesta, here’s a full list of paleo diet foods that you can add to your grocery cart.

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Pasture-raised or grass-fed meat and wild game is ideal, but all meat is paleo-friendly.

Paleo meat options include (but are not limited to):

• Beef
• Pork
• Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck, pheasant, quail, etc.)
• Game (venison, rabbit, etc.)
• Lamb
• Bison

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All seafood is allowed on the paleo diet, as long as it’s not processed (like some canned crab meat, which contains preservatives.) Whenever possible, choose wild-caught over farmed-raised fish. It’s best to limit consumption of larger predatory fish, such as shark and swordfish, as they are more likely to accumulate heavy metals (such as mercury.)

Paleo-friendly fish include (but are not limited to):

• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Tuna
• Haddock
• Tilapia
• Trout
• Cod
• Herring
• Bass
• Sardines
• Anchovies
• Grouper
• Lobster
• Clams
• Crab
• Shrimp
• Oysters
• Scallops
• Mussels

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All kinds of fruit are acceptable on the paleo diet—as is dried fruit, provided there’s no added sugar. Ideally, seek out organic fruit.

• Apples
• Citrus (orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, lime)
• Berries
• Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew)
• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Plums
• Bananas
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Papaya
• Raisins
• Plantains
• Grapes
• Tomatoes
• Apricots
• Figs
• Guava
• Lychee
• Dragonfruit
• Coconut
• Avocado

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As with fruit, all vegetables are permitted on the paleo diet, but it’s best to opt for organic and local varieties. Here are some examples of the many paleo-approved veggies:

Leafy greens

• Kale
• Spinach
• Arugula
• Radicchio
• Cabbage
• Collard greens

Tubers

Root vegetables

• Beets
• Parsnips
• Turnips
• Sweet potatoes
• Radishes
• Carrots
• Garlic
• Rutabaga

Squashes

• Butternut squash
• Acorn squash
• Spaghetti squash
• Pumpkin squash
• Kabocha squash
• Delicata squash

Cruciferous vegetables

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Broccolini
• Broccoli rabe

Other

• Peppers
• Onions
• Celery
• Leeks
• Cucumbers
• Artichoke
• Asparagus
• Eggplant

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Not only are eggs allowed on the paleo diet, but they’re considered a staple due to the fact that they’re packed with high-quality protein, as well as a range of vitamins and minerals. Whenever possible, choose organic, free-range eggs, which tend to contain more omega-3 fatty acids.

RELATED: 150+ recipe ideas that get you lean for life.

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As long as there are no added sugars or oils, all seeds and nuts (as well as nut and seed butters) are permitted on the paleo diet—except peanuts, which are technically legumes. Some options include:

• Almonds
• Cashews
• Pistachios
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Hazelnuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Pine nuts
• Flax seeds
• Sesame seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sunflower seeds

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When cooking with oils, it’s best to choose unrefined, cold-pressed varieties. While processed oils, such as canola oil, palm oil, vegetable oil, and corn oil are not paleo-friendly, there are many other plant-based oils and other options that are allowed. These include:

• Olive oil
• Avocado oil
• Coconut oil
• Ghee, or clarified butter
• Walnut oil
• Macadamia nut oil
• Flaxseed oil
• Sesame oil
• Animals fats (lard, tallow, etc. )

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Refined sugar and artificial sweeteners may be off-limits, but some natural sweeteners do fit the paleo diet in moderation, such as:

• Pure maple syrup
• Honey
• Coconut sugar
• Pure stevia (powder or liquid)
• Date paste

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Paleo-approved drinks contain no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Even the unsweetened nut milks you’ll find at the grocery store often contain preservatives and other additives, but you can make your own homemade paleo-friendly versions. Examples of beverages you can enjoy on the paleo diet include:

• Water (sparkling or still)
• Black coffee (limit your consumption, or opt for decaf)
• Unsweetened herbal teas
• Unsweetened coconut water with no additives
• Fresh-pressed fruit or vegetable juice with no added sugar

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When your sweet tooth strikes, rejoice in the fact that dairy-free dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao) that’s unsweetened or made with coconut sugar is permitted on the paleo diet.

Knowing which foods are allowed on the paleo diet empowers you to plan ahead when you go grocery shopping, as well as to fully reap the health benefits of this diet. While ditching the dairy, grains, and other non-paleo foods might be an adjustment, there are clearly still a wide variety of tasty, nutritious options to keep you satiated, while also allowing you to reach your health- or fitness-related goals. Now, the only thing left to do is put that list to work with some paleo-approved meal plans.

The Complete Paleo Diet Food List

Need a quick go-to Paleo guide? Here’s the complete Paleo diet food list of what you should avoid – and what to load up on.

Are you new to the Paleo diet and worried it’s too restrictive? Or are you a seasoned Paleo enthusiast in need of food inspiration? Either way, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our complete Paleo Diet Food List – our comprehensive guide of what to eat & avoid on your Paleo journey.

It’s divided into neat, accessible categories, so Pull this guide up when in doubt of an ingredient, or when you’re not sure what to make for dinner.

Want to learn more about Paleo and how it can help you?
Grab our FREE “What Is Paleo?” Guide by Clicking Here!

I. The Short Paleo Diet Food List

Here’s a quick reference guide to what’s considered Paleo and not. In general, a balanced Paleo diet includes foods high in protein and fiber not derived from grain products, and it excludes foods high in carbohydrates, refined sugars and those that are heavily processed.

Paleo-Friendly Foods:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Poultry
• Beef
• Pork
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Seafood
• Animal fats
• Unrefined oils

Non-Paleo Foods:

• Refined sugars
• Dairy
• Grains
• Legumes (including beans and peanuts)
• Processed foods
• Sugary and caffeinated beverages
• Vegetable oil
• Canola oil
• White potatoes

II.

Paleo-Friendly Foods

Paleo-Friendly Meats

For many, the Paleo diet calls for a significant increase in their typical protein consumption. According to Paleo expert Loren Cordain, protein accounts for only 15% of calories consumed in the average Western diet.

The Paleo diet counts meat and seafood as staples and thus increases considerably the average individual’s protein intake. This lists the many high-protein meats available to you on the Paleo diet.

Be adventurous with the various cuts and preparations of meat (even organ meat!) to identify your favorites, and remember: happy animals make happy meat! Opt for grass-fed and wild meats whenever possible, and avoid processed meats.

• Poultry: chicken, turkey, duck, geese, guinea fowl, pigeon, ostrich, emu, partridge, pheasant, quail, eggs
• Red meat: beef, lamb, venison, veal, mutton, goat, bison, elk, buffalo
• Yak
• Moose
• Pork
• Rabbit
• Wild Boar
• Rattlesnake
• Alligator
• Reindeer
• Turtle

Paleo-Friendly Seafood

Like land animals, sea animals serve as a healthy source of protein as well as a variety of micronutrients. Many fish offer a solid dose of omega-3 fatty acids (to be consumed in moderation and balanced with omega-6 fatty acids) and essential vitamins and nutrients. Be sure to purchase seafood that’s sustainably sourced and try to avoid fish heavily exposed to environmental toxins.

• Catfish
• Anchovy
• Mahi Mahi
• Mackerel
• Prawns
• Cod
• Bass
• Swai
• Shad
• Pollock
• Cuttlefish
• Sole
• Char
• Marlin
• Flounder
• Lamprey
• Shark
• Oysters
• Mussels
• Swordfish
• Halibut
• Salmon
• Snapper
• Barracuda
• Tuna
• Scallops
• Crawfish
• Whitefish
• Abalone
• Trout
• Basa
• Octopus
• Crayfish
• Bonito
• Bluefish
• Haddock
• Milkfish
• Squid
• Perch
• Roughy
• Herring
• Grouper
• Sardines
• Shrimp
• Clams
• Walleye
• Tilapia
• Sunfish
• Lobster
• Crab

Paleo-Friendly Vegetables

It’s been pounded into our brains since we first sat at our childhood dinner tables: eat your veggies. Still, the typical Western diet is massively deficient in plant-derived nutrients.

Generally, vegetables are dense in fiber and essential vitamins and minerals and are thus a required part of a balanced Paleo diet. Balance is key here: vegetables, while essential, are best consumed alongside a variety of food groups. They, nor any other food group, cannot alone constitute a healthy diet. More than that, not all vegetables are created equal, nutrition-wise. They are, however, delicious and provide tons of creative opportunities to diversify your diet!

• Leafy greens: kale, spinach, lettuce, arugula, bok choy, beet greens, chard, mustard greens, radicchio, turnip greens, purslane, watercress, collard greens, dandelion greens, cabbage
• Cruciferous vegetables: Brussels sprouts, broccoli, broccolini, cauliflower, kohlrabi, broccoli rabe, rutabaga, horseradish, radish, daikon
• Tubers and safe starches: carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, parsnips, taro, cassava, yucca
• Squashes: butternut, acorn, zucchini, yellow squash, pumpkin, Mexican gray squash, Kabocha squash, Delicata squash, spaghetti squash
• Asparagus
• Eggplant
• Bell peppers
• Hot peppers
• Sweet peppers
• Artichoke
• Squash blossoms
• Onions
• Celery
• Garlic
• Fennel
• Leeks
• Shallots
• Green onions
• Cucumbers
• Beets
• Bamboo shoots
• Jicama
• Seaweed
• Cactus

Paleo-Friendly Fruits

Fruit: nature’s sugar. As such, it’s far preferable to refined sugars and sugar products, but it’s also chock-full of fructose and therefore meant to be consumed in moderation. Still, fruit makes the basis of some awesome Paleo desserts and snacks. Consume one to three servings of fruit a day and limit high-sugar fruits to special indulgences. It’s also more beneficial to consume fruits in their raw, unaltered form – but we love smoothies, too.

• Berries: blueberries, blackberries, acai, raspberries, lingonberries, Marion berries, cranberries, strawberries, goji, elderberries, currants, bilberries
• Stone fruit: peaches, nectarines, apricots
• Citrus: lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruits, tangerines, pomelos
• Coconuts
• Apples
• Plantains
• Avocado
• Watermelon
• Papaya
• Bananas
• Honeydew
• Mango
• Lychee
• Grapes
• Tomatoes
• Tomatillos
• Pineapple
• Cantaloupe
• Figs
• Dragon fruit
• Guava

Paleo-Friendly Oils and Fats

Many conventionally-used cooking oils are banned from the Paleo diet because of their highly-processed and refined states and low nutrient quality. That’s okay, though, because there are many Paleo replacements with better nutritional profiles.

• Olive oil
• Coconut oil
• Flaxseed oil
• Walnut oil
• Avocado oil
• Macadamia nut oil
• Rendered animal fats
• Lard
• Tallow
• Ghee

Paleo-Friendly Nuts and Seeds

With grains excluded from the Paleo diet, nuts and seeds are popular replacements in Paleo versions of bread, cereals, pies, cakes and other baked goods. They form the basis of many dairy-free milks, flours and nut butters. They’re also incredibly popular and sustaining snacks and salad toppings. While nuts open up a range of previously non-Paleo offerings, they’re nevertheless high in calories and undesirable phytic acid. Consume them mindfully.

• Macadamia nuts
• Walnuts
• Hazelnuts
• Almonds
• Pecans
• Pine nuts
• Flax seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Sesame seeds

Looking for Paleo-friendly meals? Start here:
Paleo Recipes
21-Day Meal Plan

III.

What to Avoid on the Paleo Diet

Dairy

Dairy is a touchy subject. It’s widely considered a gray area in the Paleo community. Much of the world’s population cannot tolerate lactose, the sugar found in milk. Mass commercially-produced milk comes from industrially farmed cows, undesirable from both a health and ethical standpoint. That said, grass-fed and pasture-raised cows produce higher-quality milk. Fermented dairy, like yogurt and kefir, also offers the benefits of probiotics. If you choose to consume dairy, opt for the quality stuff. Otherwise, try additive-free nut and coconut milks.

Grains

Grains simply don’t measure up nutritionally to meat, seafood, vegetables and fruit. While filling, they are less nutrient-dense when compared to food in the latter categories. In fact, modern milling removes most of these nutrients.

• Cereal grains
• Corn
• Wheat
• Pseudocereals: quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat
• Enriched flours
• Pasta
• Semolina
• Polenta
• Grits
• Oats
• Barley

Legumes

While typically considered health foods (who’s ever been angry with a bag of lentils?), legumes have a major downside: phytic acid. According to Paleo Leap, “Phytic acid binds to nutrients in the food, preventing you from absorbing them.” While phytic acid is present in a number of Paleo-friendly foods (like nuts), these foods are generally consumed in smaller quantities. Legumes, however, constitute a staple in many diets around the world, leading to overexposure to phytic acid as well as a host of other antinutrients.

• Lentils
• Beans: black beans, pinto beans, red beans, kidney beans, white beans, garbanzo beans, black eyed peas, lima beans, Adzuki beans, Mung beans, navy beans, fava beans
• Peas
• Peanuts and peanut products
• Green beans
• String beans
• Snap peas
• Soybeans and soy products
• Tofu

Refined Sugars and Artificial Sweeteners

We have a penchant for finding an absurd amount of ways to sweeten our food, as evidenced by our sweetener-laden grocery store aisles. Our many sweeteners also have many names, making it difficult to suss out the added sugars in foods. There are only a few Paleo-friendly sweetening agents: fruit, raw honey, pure maple syrup, and coconut sugar, all of which are low on the glycemic index. Still, these should not be a diet staple.

• Acesulfame K
• Aspartame
• Neotame
• Saccharin
• Sucralose
• Refined white sugar
• Refined brown sugar
• Agave
• Molasses
• Turbinado sugar
• Cane sugar
• Beet sugar
• Maltitol
• Mannitol
• High fructose corn syrup
• Isomalt
• Treacle
• Cane juice
• Xylitol

Highly-Processed Junk Foods

We probably don’t have to tell you this, but a Snickers bar is just about the farthest you can get from Paleo-friendly. Junk foods are antithetical to the Paleo diet premise – and the premise of any balanced and healthy diet. Keep consumption of these to a minimum – or better yet, try some of the many Paleo alternatives.

• Fast foods
• Processed candy bars
• Gummy candy
• Lollipops
• Ice cream
• Sodas
• Diet sodas
• Processed meats: lunch meat, hot dogs, Spam
• Potato chips
• Cookies
• Energy drinks
• Fruit juices
• Donuts
• Pastries
• Processed condiments
• Processed salad dressings
• Cakes
• Pretzels
• Popsicles

Paleo Food List (with Printable PDF)

Because humans were hunter-gatherers for hundreds of thousands of years, we evolved to use and favor the diverse plant and rich meat intake of our hunting and foraging history. Farming and its core crops (e.g. grains), by contrast, only came on the scene approximately 10,000 years ago and took at least 8000 of those years to spread across the world. Our evolutionary roots—and residual genetic expectations—favor the nutritional practices of our hunter-gatherer legacy. (For more on the history of the paleo diet, click here.)

The “paleo diet” today looks to the dietary model of our hunter-gatherer ancestors and translates those eating practices to the modern age for the purpose of optimum health.

The paleo diet favors nutrient-dense whole foods and eschews processed food products. Let’s look at the wide variety of flavorful (and healthy) choices within a paleo protocol as well as some basic principles for what to eat and what to avoid. For a PDF print-out of this list, click here.

Paleo Basics: Foods To Eat

• Meat, including muscle and organ meats (beef, lamb, venison, pork, poultry, etc.)
• Animal fats (provided they’re unadulterated)
• Seafood
• Eggs
• Vegetables (prioritize non-starchy varieties)
• Fruit
• Eggs
• Stable, unrefined oils (particularly monounsaturated and saturated varieties—e. g. olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, etc.)
• Nuts and seeds
• Herbs and spices (provided they’ve no additives)

Paleo Basics: Foods To Avoid

• Grains (e.g. wheat, barley, oats, corn, rice)
• Dairy
• Refined sugar
• Processed foods
• Vegetable seed oils (e.g. soybean, peanut, corn, canola, etc.)
• In moderation (if well tolerated): legumes, nightshades

Paleo Food Categories: Digging Into Details

Meat

Archaeological research indicates that our Paleolithic ancestors gleaned the lion’s share of their calories and nutrition from meat, in stark comparison to modern day Western diets. Studies of today’s remaining hunter-gatherer societies show that meat and other animal products comprise a whopping 65% of their total caloric intake, whereas current day Western protein intakes average in at a measly 15% of total calories.

This means that embracing the Paleo diet means upping the meat ante, but with one major addendum: that meat must be from high quality sources! Quality, in this instance, is synonymous with grass-fed/pasture-raised, organic, free-range, and (ideally) humanely-raised. (Avoid the additives and nitrates of cured meats.) If your budget won’t allow for meats carrying these labels all the time, go for organic and pastured when you can, prioritizing it for fattier cuts and going budget-friendly on leaner varieties.

Also, think like our ancestors and approach your meat consumption with a nose-to-tail mantra in mind, eating as many different parts of an animal as possible. In addition to muscle meat, organs, connective tissue and unidentifiables are all on the menu.

• Red meat (e.g. beef, veal, mutton, lamb, venison, bison, buffalo, elk, goat)
• Poultry (e.g. chicken, duck, quail, turkey, pheasant, geese…basically anything with wings is fair game)
• Pork (including wild boar)
• Rabbit/Other Small Game
• Venison/Moose

Eggs

Eggs are a staple for paleo aficionados simply because they’re nutritionally amazing: they’re a potent source of protein and fat, they’re a top source of B vitamins and choline, and they come pre-packaged by nature…there’s just not much more you could ask for in a food.

But once again, choosing quality matters. Research shows that pastured eggs have twice the vitamin E and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, 2.5 times more short-chain omega-3s, and a 38% higher concentration of vitamin A than eggs from caged hens. If you can’t get your hands on pastured eggs, free-range organic is the next best thing.

Standard Paleo-friendly eggs include those from:

• Chickens
• Ducks
• Geese
• Quail
• Ostrich

Seafood

Seafood provides an excellent alternative or complement to terrestrial meat as a source of protein and healthy fats. Paleo favorites include cold-water fish high in omega-3s like salmon, sardines, and mackerel, and nutrient powerhouses like oysters and mussels.

With seafood, wild and sustainably caught is always best, as is sourcing your seafood from areas that are less likely to suffer from pollution and heavy metal contamination. Generally speaking, larger predatory fish are more likely to have higher levels of heavy metals than smaller fish and mollusks. It’s not a reason to avoid larger fish entirely, but it’s good to balance intake between larger and smaller fish varieties if you’re concerned about pollution.

Shellfish are generally fine to buy from farmed sources, provided those farms are sustainably run.

• Fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovy, tuna, snapper, cod, haddock, etc.)
• Cuttlefish
• Squid
• Octopus
• Shellfish (e.g. oysters, mussels, clams, scallops, abalone, etc.)
• Lobster
• Crayfish
• Shrimp
• Crab

Note that this isn’t an exhaustive list, and it’s good to experiment with different types of seafood to benefit from the varying nutrients each provides. Fresh water fish like trout and walleye also get the big Paleo thumbs up.

Vegetables

Despite the fact that even conventional nutritionists recommend that vegetables comprise a large portion of our daily diet, Americans and those in many other Western countries don’t get close to enough.

Under the paleo diet, vegetables make up a large part of the recommended nutritional intake. When we vary our plant intake as our hunter-gatherer ancestors did, we get a broader spectrum of nutrients.

Note that tubers and root vegetables are generally quite high in carbohydrates. As a result, they should be consumed in moderation unless a person is very active and in need of additional carbohydrates.

• Leafy greens (spinach, collard greens, kale, arugula, Swiss chard, dandelion greens, mustard greens, lettuce, bok choy, watercress, etc.)
• Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, cabbage, rutabaga, radish, daikon, etc.)
• Squashes (pumpkin, butternut squash, delicata squash, spaghetti squash, acorn squash, zucchini, etc.)
• Tubers and safe starches (sweet potato, carrots, beets, yams, parsnips, cassava, taro, yucca)
• Alliums (onion, garlic, leek, chives, shallots, etc.)
• Nightshades, if well-tolerated (tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, hot peppers, etc. )
• Asparagus
• Celery
• Artichoke
• Fennel
• Green onion
• Cucumber
• Jicama
• Avocado (technically a fruit)

Once again, this list is extensive but not non-exhaustive. With the exception of white potatoes and a select few others, you’ll find most vegetables get the Paleo seal of approval.

Fruit

The high concentrations of fructose in fruit means they should only be eaten in moderation, and generally treated as more of a treat than a staple.

Nonetheless, many varieties of fruit have their fair share of antioxidants and other pro-health phytochemicals, so there’s definitely room for especially lower glycemic fruits on any but the most extreme Paleo diet. If you’re big on fruit, learn to seek out those fruits that are higher in nutrients and lower in fructose, such as berries.

• Berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, boysenberries, cranberries, acai, lingonberries, goji, currants, etc. )
• Citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, mandarins, tangerines, pomelos, etc.)
• Stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, plums, etc.)
• Apples
• Bananas (including plantains)
• Coconut
• Melons (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc.)
• Papaya
• Mango
• Pineapple
• Lychee
• Grapes
• Figs
• Kiwifruit

Nuts and Seeds

This food group provides the basis for many “Paleo-friendly” breads, crackers and baked goods, but it’s surprisingly easy to go overboard on them—especially when they’re consumed in large quantities in baked goods or dairy-free milks.

Keep in mind that while nuts and seeds are good nutritional sources for many vitamins and especially minerals, they all tend to be high in phytic acid and can quickly send your caloric intake skyrocketing. Enjoy in moderation.

• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Cashews
• Hazelnuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Pecans
• Pistachios
• Brazil nuts
• Chestnuts
• Pine nuts
• Flaxseed
• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Chia seeds
• Sesame seeds

Healthy, Stable Fats and Oils

Going paleo means casting aside the Western aversion to fats, especially those of the saturated variety. While there are plenty of popular oils and fats that truly are bad for your health (particularly processed seed oils), there are others that provide critical nutrients—not to mention taste and richness. Here’s one such sample. Note that the less processed these products are, the better.

• Avocado oil
• Coconut oil
• Olive oil (extra virgin)
• Ghee (Grass-fed is best.)
• Tallow
• Lard
• Flaxseed oil
• Walnut oil
• Macadamia nut oil

Although strict paleo eschews dairy, grass-fed butter still deserves to find itself on this list, as it’s composed mostly of fat and has very little of the lactose and casein that can cause allergies in those who are sensitive to dairy.

Foods To Avoid or Eat in Moderation On Paleo

Grains

If there’s one thing all advocates for the paleo diet agree on, it’s that grains simply aren’t worth eating. Even when compared to the much-touted Mediterranean diet, the Paleo diet has been shown to improve glucose tolerance and satiate appetite more effectively, despite fewer calories consumed—and much of that is due to omitting grains.

Grains like wheat, barley, oats and corn simply don’t stack up on the nutritional front, with modern cultivars engineered for speed of growth and pest resistance rather than nutrient density. What’s more, the milling process tends to remove most of the nutrients that remain in those grains, meaning the end product is virtually pure carbohydrate. Throw in a heady dose of anti-nutrients like lectins and phytates, and one starts to see why grains are better left off the menu.

• Wheat
• Corn
• Oats
• Barley
• Rye
• Amaranth
• Millet
• Sorghum
• Spelt
• Quinoa (pseudo-grain, eat in moderation if at all)
• Buckwheat (pseudo-grain, eat in moderation if at all)

Note that any products made with any one or a combination of these grains are also off the cards. That means most breads, pastas, flours, baked goods and the majority of processed dry goods. Even if a product claims to be gluten free, it can still contain other grains (or pseudo-grains like quinoa or buckwheat) that subject the body to anti-nutrients like lectins.

Dairy

Dairy is something of a contentious food group, even within the paleo community. While Primal folks have long recognized that grass-fed, full-fat organic dairy can provide far more benefits than drawbacks, advocates for the paleo diet are mixed on the subject. (For more on the differences between paleo and Primal, check out this article.) Certainly, modern-day dairy production on the mass scale has a lot to answer for, subjecting cows to appalling living conditions and thereby degrading the quality of the milk and dairy products they produce.

At the other end of the scale, free-range, grass-fed cows produce milk that is nutrient-dense and generally quite inflammation-averse…especially if it’s raw and/or fermented. For some, however, the risk of encountering allergens like lactose and casein outweighs the benefits, so dairy is “officially” considered non-paleo.

• Milk
• Cream
• Butter (see above under Fats and Oils)
• Cheese
• Ice cream
• Yogurt
• Sour cream

If you do opt for dairy, be sure to seek out high-quality products that have the highest fat content, as these will contain less lactose and casein.

Legumes

The Primal Blueprint leaves room for legumes (other than unfermented, organic soy) in close moderation, but those on a paleo diet tend to steer clear of them. Like nuts and seeds, legumes contain anti-nutrients like lectins, phytates and saponins. Unlike nuts and seeds, however, legumes tend to be consumed in large quantities, potentially preventing your body from absorbing sufficient nutrients for optimum health.

• Lentils
• Soy (including tofu, tempeh, miso, and other soy-related products)
• Peanuts
• Black beans
• Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• Red beans
• Pinto beans

Essentially, all beans are off-limits under paleo. Peas are also technically also legumes, but eating them occasionally isn’t going to do any harm. Know that they do have considerable carbs, however.

Seed Oils

The fact that vegetable oils are still so prevalent in today’s world is a testament to just how aggressively they’ve been marketed, lobbied, and subsidized. But just because everyone else is using them doesn’t mean you should, and you most definitely shouldn’t if you’re planning on going full paleo (or Primal). The following oils are typically ultra-processed and pro-inflammatory on account of their high levels of omega-6 fatty acids.

• Canola oil
• Corn oil
• Cottonseed oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Margarine
• Palm oil
• Peanut oil
• Safflower oil
• Soybean oil
• Sunflower oil

Refined Sugars and Sweeteners

You’d be surprised at how many processed foods have sweeteners in them—even those that aren’t supposed to be sweet! Food manufacturers know that refined sugars and many artificial sweeteners are highly addictive in nature, meaning customers will always come back for more.

But because our Paleolithic ancestors didn’t have access to these kinds or concentrations of sweeteners, there’s really no reason why we should too. Sweet paleo-friendly foods like fruit and (occasional) raw honey or black-strap molasses provide more than enough glucose/fructose to keep our bodies (and tastebuds) satisfied.

Here’s some of the culprits to stay away from:

• Aspartame
• Neotame
• Saccharin
• Sucralose/Splenda
• White sugar
• Brown sugar
• Cane sugar
• Agave
• Turbinado sugar
• Beet sugar
• High fructose corn syrup/corn syrup/corn sugar
• Treacle
• Cane juice

Natural sweeteners like stevia and xylitol have been extensively studied and don’t impose health risks. Allulose and yacon syrup also appear to be safe according to research studies. Primal (and some paleo adherents’) cooking and baking incorporate them as well as small doses of monk fruit, coconut sugar, maple syrup and wild honey. That said, it’s best to let your taste buds adapt to the natural sweetness and flavor of whole foods. Use these more Primal or paleo friendly very sparingly.

Table Salt

While iodized table salt—and essentially any other salt that’s been processed more than just drying and (mechanically) desiccating—isn’t supportive of optimal health, natural salts are.

In fact, salt is a critical part of our anatomy, and a lack thereof would soon make itself known. It’s best to favor more mineral-rich paleo-friendly salts like sea salt, “Real Salt,” Celtic salt, gray salt, or Himalayan pink salt.

Ultimately, eating Paleo is really about eating real food—naturally raised and occurring foods that would be recognizable to the ancestral genes.

That means eating meat and animal products from animals raised in the most natural (or wild) conditions, eating plenty of varied vegetables and smaller amounts of fruit, nuts and seeds, and not being shy in adding generous amounts of healthy, stable fats to our fresh meats and produce. It also means staying away from grains, processed foods, and compounds that have been modified beyond recognition.

As a nutritional philosophy and dietary practice, the Paleo diet foremost centers around the value of real, whole foods above all others. Enjoy the health and variety they offer to live—and eat—well.

About the Author

Mark Sisson is the founder of Mark’s Daily Apple, godfather to the Primal food and lifestyle movement, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Keto Reset Diet. His latest book is Keto for Life, where he discusses how he combines the keto diet with a Primal lifestyle for optimal health and longevity. Mark is the author of numerous other books as well, including The Primal Blueprint, which was credited with turbocharging the growth of the primal/paleo movement back in 2009. After spending three decades researching and educating folks on why food is the key component to achieving and maintaining optimal wellness, Mark launched Primal Kitchen, a real-food company that creates Primal/paleo, keto, and Whole30-friendly kitchen staples.

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The Ultimate Paleo Diet Food List- 2021

The Paleo diet is hot right now – and for good reasons. What you might not know is that the idea of eating like a paleolithic-era human got its start back in the 1890s, when Dr. Emmet Desnmore called bread the “staff of death” rather than the more-common staff of life.

Fast forward to 2002, when Loren Cordain’s popular book The Paleo Diet was introduced. In a nutshell, the diet recommends foods that were probably available to humans during the Paleolithic era; however items with similar characteristics make their way onto the Paleo food list

What are the benefits of the Paleo Diet?

The Paleo diet offers a number of benefits, with the best being that it is a clean, whole-foods based way of eating that eliminates problematic substances like processed sugar, high-salt food, and processed foods that contain harmful trans fats and chemical additives.

So long as you consume a wide variety of plant-based foods rather than relying solely on meats, you’ll enjoy plenty of vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients each day. The focus on lean meats and seafoods over high-fat and processed varieties means that you’ll take in less cholesterol than the average person who eats fatty meats and dairy products. Plus, stopping dairy and grains means eliminating two major food groups linked to intolerances that can exacerbate inflammatory diseases. If yuo are interested in Check out Cholesterol Lowering Foods List, we have also gathered nice tips for you.

Many people switch to the Paleo diet in hopes of losing weight – and many do meet that goal. More benefits of the Paleo diet include:

• Little to no chemical intake from food
• Lower risk of diabetes
• Steady, even energy; no more sugar crashes or hunger pangs
• Plenty of good foods to choose from; simple choices make life easier
• No calorie counting required
• Can be budget-friendly, particularly if you cut out fast food and most restaurant meals

While you’ll find plenty of options here, this paleo diet grocery list is by no means exhaustive. It does contain the top 10 paleo diet foods you absolutely need to be eating on a regular basis; these are marked with asterisks. This list is broken down by meal for easy referencing. You’ll notice that specific amounts are omitted; get the amount you think you’ll need to feed your family, enjoy leftovers for lunch, or prepare and freeze for later use.

You might find it very helpful to review some Paleo recipes before venturing out on your first shopping trip. True, you can eat these foods in their whole, unaltered form, but recipes can serve as inspiration and give you plenty of ideas for creating delicious meals that won’t leave you feeling bored and tipping toward a return to the standard American diet (SAD).

Paleo diet food list: Breakfast

• Eggs, preferably free-range
• Nuts
• Seeds such as flax, pumpkin, and chia
• Paleo granola
• Paleo pancake mix
• Paleo smoothie mix
• Coconut yogurt
• Dried fruit
• Fresh fruit
• Berries such as blueberries*, strawberries, and raspberries
• No-sugar added nut milk, i. e. almond, coconut, or cashew

Paleo diet food list: Lunch

• Salad ingredients such as lettuce, spinach*, cabbage, tomatoes*, and kale
• Fresh vegetables
• Lean protein – salmon*, chicken breast, trout, etc.
• Paleo-friendly soups
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Berries
• Fresh fruit, especially citrus* – ideal for adding to salad for optimal iron absorption
• Dried fruit

Paleo diet food list: Dinner

• Lean protein – chicken breast, lean beef steaks, bison burger, venison, etc.
• Favorite vegetables – Mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, etc.
• Salad ingredients like lettuce, spinach, avocado*, etc.
• Fresh fruits
• Berries and dark chocolate* (as close to 100% cacao as possible) for dessert a few times per week

Paleo diet food list: Snacks

• Fruits, fresh or dried
• Berries
• Fresh vegetables
• Nuts
• Nut butters such as cashew or almond (be sure there’s no sugar added)
• Paleo-friendly snack bars such as Larabars

Paleo diet food list: Seasonings and Beverages

• Favorite herbs, i. e. basil, garlic, thyme, oregano, pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, etc.
• Extra-virgin olive oil*
• Green tea*
• Sulfate-free wine*

Overview

As illustrated by the paleo diet food list for beginners above, there are several categories from which to choose when crafting a meal plan. As with any healthy diet, it’s best to enjoy plenty of variety in your day-to-day intake, and to ensure that you are eating plenty of colorful vegetables and fruits. It’s assumed that Paleolithic people ate a wide array of foods from these categories depending on what was available – and while there’s a misconception that “cave men” ate mostly meat, Paleo people had meat only when they enjoyed a successful hunt. Most of their foods were plant-based, meaning nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruits. Eggs could be foraged for, and so could insects – although you won’t find crickets, grasshoppers, and other creepy-crawlies on this Paleo food list.

• Beverages, with a strong preference for water and herbal teas

  • beer (no more than one 12-ounce serving per day, preferably occasional use only)
  • coffee, preferably black or with a no-sugar added nut milk
  • diet sodas made with stevia, xylitol, or monk fruit rather than potentially toxic artificial sweeteners
  • mineral water
  • sparkling water with or without added natural flavor
  • tea
  • wine (no more than two 4-ounce glasses per day, preferably occasional use only)

• Lean meats, preferably organic, grass-fed, wild, and/or free-range:

  • beef (leanest cuts only; avoid any with marbling)
  • buffalo / bison
  • caribou
  • chicken breast
  • elk
  • partridge
  • game hens
  • grouse
  • moose
  • ostrich
  • pheasant
  • pork (leanest cuts only)
  • quail
  • rabbit
  • venison
  • wild duck
  • wild goose
  • wild pig / javelina
  • wild turkey

• Fish, shellfish, and other seafood, preferably wild-sourced, low-mercury species:

  • bass
  • clams
  • cod
  • drum
  • eel
  • grouper
  • haddock
  • halibut
  • herring
  • mackerel
  • northern pike
  • oysters
  • perch
  • salmon
  • scallops
  • scrod
  • shrimp (try to avoid farmed shrimp as many are fed a poor-quality diet)
  • trout
  • turbot
  • walleye

• Eggs, preferably the organic, free-range variety, up to six per week:

  • Chicken
  • Duck
  • Goose
  • Quail
  • Turkey

• Colorful, non-starchy fruits and vegetables:

  • apples
  • apricots
  • artichokes
  • asparagus
  • avocados
  • berries, i.e. blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc.
  • broccoli
  • cauliflower
  • cherries
  • citrus fruits, i.e. lemons, oranges, tangerines, etc.
  • figs
  • grapes
  • green beans
  • kale
  • lettuce
  • melons, i.e. cantaloupe, watermelon, cassava melon, etc.
  • nectarines
  • peaches
  • pears
  • peppers
  • spinach
  • tomatoes
• Nuts and seeds, with the exception of peanuts, which are legumes
• Plant-based oils, i.e. avocado, olive, coconut, grapeseed, etc.

Paleo Diet Food List: Not Allowed

Take a look at just about any Paleo diet food list pdf and you’ll find specific items to eat and avoid. These lists can help you find answers to common questions such as “Can you eat rice on Paleo?” (That’s a “no,” unfortunately). Here’s a quick list of foods to avoid on Paleo. Note that certain items like bread, tortillas, and muffins can be made with paleo-friendly ingredients. It’s the common, grain-containing bakery items that you’ll want to avoid when following the Paleo diet. This list helps us to have a clean eating that will help us to be healthy and have some weight loss.

• Dairy products and foods that contain them:
  • butter
  • dairy spreads such as those containing yogurt
  • cheese (all types)
  • milk (all types)
  • cream
  • half-and-half
  • ice cream
  • yogurt and frozen yogurt
• Legumes and items that contain them:
  • beans of all types
  • black-eyed peas
  • lentils
  • miso
  • peanuts
  • peanut butter
  • peas, including sugar snap and snowpea varieties
  • soybeans and soy products
  • tofu
  • TVP
• Grains, grain-like seeds, and items that contain them:
  • amaranth
  • barley
  • buckwheat
  • bread
  • cakes
  • corn
  • millet
  • muffins
  • oats
  • pancakes
  • pasta
  • pizza crust
  • pretzels
  • rice
  • rye
  • quinoa
  • sorghum
  • tortillas
  • tortilla chips
  • waffles
  • wheat
  • wild rice
• High-fat meats
  • Bacon
  • Chicken legs, skin, and thighs
  • Fatty cuts of beef, lamb, pork, etc.
  • Ribs (beef & pork)
  • Sausages (lean, fresh varieties may be OK if low-sodium)
  • Turkey legs, skin, and thighs
• High-sodium foods:
  • Bacon
  • Canned, smoked, and dried fish and meats (some can be soaked and drained to reduce sodium)
  • Deli-style meats
  • Ham
  • Hot dogs
  • Most condiments, salad dressings, etc.
  • Olives
  • Salted nuts
  • Sausages
  • Spices containing salt
• Starchy vegetables and foods that contain them:
  • Cassava
  • French fries
  • Manioc
  • Potatoes
  • Potato chips
  • Sweet potatoes and yams (these are often considered OK in moderation, particularly if you’re not trying to lose weight)
  • Tapioca
• Sugary foods and beverages:
  • Cakes
  • Candies
  • Cupcakes
  • Desserts made with sugar
  • Donuts
  • Honey
  • Sodas
  • Sports drinks
  • Sugars of all kinds: White, demerara, powdered, brown, turbinado, etc.

Quick Tip:

No matter what language you speak, it’s possible to learn which foods to eat and avoid; the Paleo diet is popular all over the world.  Here’s a quick video guide in Spanish. Books, recipes, and other resources are available to everyone, making the Paleo diet accessible as well as sensible.

Paleo Diet Food List

The paleo diet takes what you know about hunter–gathering to a new level. It emphasizes foods that our ancestors had access to, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, and nuts. Using your paleo diet food list will be helpful when you are trying to stick to the paleo diet plan when making or purchasing meals.

Click here for Paleo-Friendly Tips for Carb Lovers slideshow.

A basic overview of the paleo diet food list highlights grass-fed meats, fish, seafood, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, eggs, nuts, seeds, and healthy oils. Almost all meats are paleo by definition, but you want to stay away from meats that are high in fat, as well as processed meats, such as hot dogs. Wild-caught fish is always on the paleo diet food list, especially fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon.

In terms of fruits and vegetables, you have a lot to choose from, and all fruits and vegetables are fair game on the paleo diet food list. If you want to be stricter with your vegetable intake, choose vegetables that have a low starch content, and eat high-starch vegetables, such as potatoes and squash, in moderation. For fruits, it’s a similar rule, except the focus is on sugar. High-sugar fruits, such as grapes and mangos, should be consumed, but in moderation.

Nuts and seeds are great for an on-the-go snack, and they contain healthy fats. Portion control is important when it comes to nuts. Many nuts, such as cashews, are high in fat and calories, and it’s very easy to consume more than your body needs. You can buy snack packs of mixed nuts — just make sure that they are plain nuts and not drenched in salt or sugar. Spoiler alert: Peanuts are not nuts, they are actually legumes, so they are not on the approved paleo diet food list. In addition to legumes, grains, dairy, refined sugar, processed food, and refined oils should be avoided on the paleo diet.

The accompanying slideshow is provided by special contributor Dana McMahan.

The Ultimate Paleo Diet Food List

It’s official—the Paleo diet has hit the tipping point. Although this prehistoric eating regimen, also known as “primal” eating, has been in the zeitgeist for years (it was Google’s most-searched term in 2013), more people are going Paleo to lose weight, feel better, and simplify their diets.

Rules for Eating Paleo

The rules for eating Paleo are pretty simple: Eat the same things that our caveman ancestors would have eaten in Paleolithic times. Not sure what exactly was on the menu of these ancient hunter-gatherers? Here are the basic guidelines to keep in mind.

• Foods that are in their most natural state are preferred. Our ancestors didn’t spend a lot of time cooking complicated five-course meals; they just ate whatever they could pick from the ground or kill with a spear with little to no preparation involved.
  Avoid processed foods. Paleolithic predecessors couldn’t head to the store to pick up a bag of chips when they were in need of a midday snack.
• Eat a diet that is high in fat, relatively low in carbohydrates, and contains moderate amounts of protein.
• Eat low-sugar foods, which might mean cutting out certain fruits; some are too high in fructose and can affect blood sugar levels negatively.
• Try to go for grass-fed, organic, and pasture-raised meat as often as possible. Organic vegetables are also preferable to non-organic or conventional produce that could have been sprayed with pesticides and toxins. There’s nothing Paleo about Roundup!
• Basically, go gluten-free. Cut out all cereal grains and legumes from your diet for a couple reasons. One, they contain gluten and other antinutrients, which cause unnecessary inflammation in the body. And two, grains and legumes typically need to be processed in order to be eaten.

What to Eat on the Paleo Diet

Even though the media tends to paint the Paleo diet as limiting and restrictive, there are actually tons of foods that are fair game. You might be surprised to see things like bacon, ghee, and eggs on the list. Don’t be shy about eating these so-called “unhealthy,” yummy foods.

Here’s the thing: When you go Paleo, you don’t need to count calories or worry about portion sizes. Eat anything on the list, and as much of it as you’d like, when you’re hungry—just remember to eat high fat, medium amounts of protein, and low-carb. Here’s the complete list of foods you can eat on a Paleo diet.

Paleo Diet Meats

If all you know about the Paleo diet is that primal eaters love bacon, you’re actually on the right track! Nearly all meat is Paleo-friendly, but processed proteins like hot dogs or spam aren’t exactly the best dietary choice for those trying to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. Get to know your local butcher or head to your town’s farmers market for the freshest protein. Look for grass-fed, humanely raised animal protein when food shopping, and when cooking try not to burn or create a char on meat—it’s carcinogenic, and decidedly un-Paleo.

• Eggs (duck, chicken, or goose)
• Turkey
• Chicken breast
• Pork tenderloin
• Pork chops
• Steak
• Veal
• Bacon (nitrate-free)
• Pork
• Ground beef
• Grass-fed beef
• Chicken thighs
• Chicken legs
• Chicken wings
• Lamb rack
• Shrimp
• Lean veal
• Chuck steak
• Lobster
• Clams
• Salmon
• Venison steaks
• Buffalo
• New York steak
• Beef jerky
• Bison
• Bison steaks
• Bison jerky
• Bison ribeye
• Bison sirloin
• Lamb chops
• Rabbit
• Goat
• Elk
• Emu
• Goose
• Kangaroo
• Bear (seriously)
• Wild boar
• Reindeer
• Turtle
• Ostrich
• Pheasant
• Quail
• Rattlesnake

Paleo Diet Fish

Most fish are safe to eat on the Paleo diet—except for those that tend to be highly carcinogenic or contain lots of toxins. Plus, fish are full of brain-boosting healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, which are highly recommended on the Paleo diet. Just as with meat, try to buy the most ethically sourced, wild-caught fish possible.

• Bass
• Salmon
• Halibut
• Mackerel
• Sardines
• Tuna
• Red snapper
• Shark
• Sunfish
• Swordfish
• Tilapia
• Trout
• Walleye
• Crab
• Crawfish
• Crayfish
• Shrimp
• Clams
• Lobster
• Scallops
• Oysters

Fats to Eat on the Paleo Diet

It’s been proven that eating fat doesn’t make you fat. Instead, filling up on healthy fats from nuts, meat, and oils can help many people lose weight while supporting healthy hair growth, supple skin, strong nails, and better brain function. The following healthy fats are a Paleo eater’s best friend!

• Coconut oil
• Olive oil
• Macadamia oil
• Avocado oil
• Grass-fed butter
• Ghee

Paleo-Approved Vegetables

Almost all veggies are good to eat on the Paleo diet—they’re loaded with nutrition, low in calories, and packed with fiber! That being said, avoid starchy tubers like potatoes because they have a high sugar and high carbohydrate content (more on that later).

• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Artichoke hearts
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Celery
• Broccoli
• Zucchini
• Cabbage
• Peppers (all kinds)
• Cauliflower
• Parsley
• Eggplant
• Green onions
• Butternut squash
• Acorn squash
• Yam
• Sweet potato
• Beets

Fruits That Are Paleo

Ok, so fruits can be a little tricky on the Paleo diet. Sure, they’re some of the healthiest foods available to us—so many necessary vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are found in the fruits we eat every day. But some fresh and dried fruits can shoot blood sugar levels up as high as a cookie or candy bar. Stick to the items on this list in order to balance blood glucose levels and promote fat loss.

• Apple
• Avocado
• Blackberries
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Plums
• Mango
• Lychee
• Blueberries
• Grapes
• Lemon
• Strawberries
• Watermelon
• Pineapple
• Guava
• Lime
• Raspberries
• Cantaloupe
• Tangerine
• Figs
• Oranges
• Bananas

You’re going to want to steer clear of super-sugary fruits and fruit juices—those aren’t cool on the Paleo diet.

Nuts on Paleo

If you’re going Paleo, nuts are going to be your new BFF. While processed foods are a no-no on this diet, nuts are an easy grab-and-go snack. That being said, they’re also extremely calorically dense, so if you’re trying to lose weight on the Paleo diet, don’t go too … nuts. Here are some of the best nuts for the Paleo diet.

Seeds to Eat on Paleo

Hunter-gatherers were all about that seed life, so if you’re going Paleo, you should be, too. Mix them into your favorite nutty trail mix for an energizing snack.

• Sunflower seeds
• Sesame seeds
• Chia seeds
• Flax seeds
• Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Foods to Avoid on the Paleo Diet

If you’re used to eating the Standard American Diet, which is full of whole grains, dairy, and sugar, the first few weeks of eating Paleo might prove to be tough. It’ll force you to get a little creative when it comes to making your old favorite dishes (check out this Paleo-friendly mac and cheese for inspiration!) but you’ll love the way you feel after just a couple of days of cutting back on these foods.

Skip: Grains

Sorry, but all grains are off-limits (as are grain-derivatives like corn syrup). Not only can grains contain detrimental antinutrients, but they’re loaded with carbs. Load up on filling and nutritious fruits and veggies for complex carbohydrates, instead of getting your daily carb intake from a slice of bread or any of the following:

• Cereals
• Bread
• English muffins
• Toast
• Sandwiches
• Triscuits
• Wheat Thins
• Crackers
• Oatmeal
• Cream of wheat
• Corn
• Corn syrup
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Wheat
• Pancakes
• Pasta

Skip: Dairy

While grains are a definite, “NO!” on the Paleo diet, dairy is a little bit of a grey area. Sure, dairy can be a great way to introduce healthy bacteria into the gut via foods like kefir and yogurt. On the flip side, many people have an allergy or intolerance to dairy, simply because our bodies aren’t adapted to ingest milk after our first few years of life. The best practice would be to avoid dairy altogether, but if you choose to incorporate it into your diet make sure you stay away from these items in particular.

• Butter
• Cheese
• Cottage cheese
• Non-fat dairy creamer
• Skim milk
• Low-fat milk
• 2% milk
• Whole milk
• Powdered milk
• Dairy spreads
• Cream cheese
• Yogurt
• Pudding
• Frozen yogurt
• Ice milk
• Ice cream

Skip: Legumes

Beans, peanuts, and lentils are among the most popular legumes. Unfortunately, they aren’t allowed on the Paleo diet, namely because they tend to cause gastrointestinal distress.

• All beans
• Peas
• Black-eyed peas
• Chickpeas
• Snowpeas
• Sugar snap peas
• Peanuts
• Peanut butter
• Miso
• Lentils
• Lupins
• Mesquite
• Soybeans
• All soybean products and derivatives
• Tofu

Skip: Sugar

Pretty much all sugar is frowned upon on the Paleo diet. Have a hankering for something sweet? Grab a piece of fruit from the Paleo-Approved Fruits list above instead! Avoid:

• Sugar
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Molasses
• Honey
• Artificial sweeteners
• Alcohol sugars

Skip: Processed Meats

There are so many different types of meat you can eat on the Paleo diet, it’s not worth messing with these sub-par cuts. Stick to the good stuff instead!

• Spam
• Hot dogs
• Sausage
• Low-quality meats

Skip: Starchy Vegetables

Most veggies are okay on the Paleo diet, but these starchy tubers are high in sugar and carbs. Opt for the plethora of Paleo-Approved Vegetables above instead.

• Potatoes
• Yucca
• Batata
• Acorn squash

Skip: Alcohol (Mostly!)

Sorry, but alcohol intake is limited on the Paleo diet—after all, it is essentially poison to your body. There are a few spirits you can enjoy in moderation, like tequila, vodka, and gin, but in general staying sober is the safest way to stay Paleo.

• Beer
• Wine
• Colored Spirits
• Tonic water
• Mixers

Benefits of Eating Paleo

There’s a reason that the Paleo diet has turned into a full-fledged movement—for many, it works. Thousands have lost weight, healed digestive issues, and found renewed energy through primal eating.

According to Paleo expert Robb Wolf, eating like our ancestors is simply the only way to regain our health:

“The Paleo diet is the healthiest way you can eat because it is the ONLY nutritional approach that works with your genetics to help you stay lean, strong and energetic! Research in biology, biochemistry, ophthalmology, dermatology and many other disciplines indicate it is our modern diet, full of refined foods, trans fats and sugar, that is at the root of degenerative diseases such as obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression and infertility.”

Because the main tenets of the Paleo diet are to eat whole foods, low amounts of sugar, and avoid processed products, the eating plan itself is actually very healthy. In fact, eating Paleo has been proven to be beneficial for those with diabetes or anyone trying to maintain even blood sugar levels. It’s also been linked to stronger athletic performance, which is why many athletes follow a Paleo eating plan.

Who Eats Paleo?

The real question is, “Who isn’t eating Paleo?” Check out some of the celebrities and pro athletes who attribute their athleticism and health to following a primal diet.

• Jessica Biel
• Megan Fox
• Jack Osbourne
• Miley Cyrus
• Matthew McConaughey
• Grant Hill
• Gwyneth Paltrow
• Kobe Bryant
• Uma Thurman
• Aaron Rodgers
• Anne Hathaway
• Jeb Bush
• Christina Aguilera
• Bill Clinton
• Novak Djokovic

Weight Loss on Paleo

If your goal is to lose weight, the Paleo diet can definitely work for you—and you won’t have to count calories. Instead, fill up on veggies and healthy fats like coconut oil; aim to make vegetables about 75 percent of your plate. For the rest of your meal, eat a lightly cooked piece of meat. Remember that part of eating a Paleo diet is eliminating carcinogens, so don’t burn your burger to a crisp.

All in all, the Paleo diet is a much healthier and more balanced way to eat than most people might realize: It consists of mostly greens, healthy fats, proteins, and no sugar. Want to try it for yourself? Check out our favorite Paleo-friendly recipes here!

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Paleo Diet List of Foods Allowed And Prohibited – Telegraph