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The Ultimate Paleo Lifestyle Food List
Let's Start with the Backstory
The concept of the Paleolithic diet is simple - eat as our ancestors did before the advent of agriculture.
The hypothesis behind this is as follows:
While the abundance of farming is beneficial, the foods we ate before our conspicuous fields of grain were actually better suited to our metabolisms; our bodies evolved to eat a "hunter-gatherer diet" comprised of whole foods prepared simply.
What does paleo do?
The diet focuses on fruits and vegetables, high-quality proteins, and healthy fats while minimizing salt, sugar, and any processed foods.
By going back to our simple culinary roots, followers of this stone-age diet claim to reap health benefits.
- Weight loss
- Improved glucose tolerance
- Blood pressure control
- Appetite management
Paleo Lifestyle Foods - What Not to Eat
To preface the list of paleo-friendly foods, here's a list of foods to avoid if you want to eat paleo.
Eating paleo means cutting out all processed foods, anything that has been modified with additives or otherwise changed in a factory before consumption. You'll also find items like dairy, which Paleolithic humans largely didn't consume.
Foods to avoid
- Cereal grains - wheat products like pasta, bread, oats, etc.
- Legumes - peanuts, beans, lentils
- Refined sugars
- Processed foods
- Soda, fruit juices, and other sweetened beverages
- Refined vegetable oils
- Salt (any more than is necessary)
- Artificial sweeteners
- Dairy products
- Alcohol
Can you eat rice on paleo?
Paleo-purists might say no, but it's known that some paleo lifestylers incorporate small amounts of white rice into their diets. After all, some Paleolithic humans did have access to naturally growing rice.
Seems too restrictive?
As you can see, the paleo lifestyle restricts many foods common to our contemporary diets. It may not be easy to cut these items from your diet, but there are big benefits. It's always a good idea to eat less sugar and processed foods and to consume less alcohol.
While cutting dairy products can be difficult, there are increasingly great alternatives, like coconut milk or almond milk. Just make sure it doesn't have added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Diets by definition restrict what you eat. Look no further than what is keto diet friendly to see how these restrictive rules can provide great results for some. The added benefit of paleo is the focus on specific ingredients which can help gut health and reduce carbon footprint as well as losing weight.
Check out our peppercorn steak tips:
Tender steak tips paired with a savory cream sauce made with crushed peppercorns, rich beef stock, and black pepper.
Peppercorn Steak Tips
Paleo Diet Foods - What To Eat
Now that you know what you're avoiding, here are some of the delicious, nutritious, whole foods that the paleo lifestyle promotes. You'll find the "caveman diet" isn't nearly as barbaric as it sounds.
Meat & Seafood
Our ancestors loved to hunt. High-quality proteins are a cornerstone of any paleo lifestyle meal plan. If you can, always opt for organic, grass-fed, or wild-caught. There's a real difference in quality. Among other things, these will have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which helps reduce inflammation and improve heart health.
- Meat
- Beef
- Pork
- Poultry
- Lamb
- Veal
- Seafood
- Salmon
- Trout
- Shellfish
- Shrimp
- Tuna
- Oysters
- Eggs, too, can be a great source of protein and fats.
Bursting with delicious umami flavor, Kevin’s tender steak tips are paired with a classic peppercorn sauce: just the right amount of creaminess, just the right amount of zip. You can eat our perfectly sous-vide steak tips by themselves, or pair them with our signature cauliflower mash for a match made in heaven.
Fruits & Veggies
You don't need a lecture on how fruits and vegetables are good for you. Full of so much that fuels our bodies and minds, the paleo lens here emphasizes the varieties that Paleolithic humans could find easily and incorporate into their diets.
Fruits
Fruit can satisfy our craving for something sweet on the paleo lifestyle.
- Apples
- Berries
- Melon
- Grapes
- Citrus
- Peaches
- Plums
Vegetables
Some consider veggies the core of the paleo lifestyle. If this seems like a lot of vegetables - good. A helpful way of thinking about paleo is that its bedrock is a robust menu of fresh vegetables.
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Sweet potatoes
- Cabbage
- Bok choy
- Spinach
- Kale
- Arugula
- Lettuce
- Mushrooms
- Celery
- Peppers
- Asparagus
- Zucchini
- Onions
- Pumpkin seeds
- Olives
- Pickles
Can you eat potatoes on paleo?
Some vegetables are very starchy (read: high in carbs). This includes potatoes. While they can be paleo, they're best consumed in moderation.
You should try our awesome vegan mashed potatoes:
Tender steak tips paired with a soy-free Mongolian sauce made with coconut aminos, ginger, and shiitake mushrooms.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Can I eat bananas on the paleo lifestyle?
Some fruits, like the modern banana (which was created by hundreds of years of selective farming), are high in sugar. Choose the organic or wild-picked fruit options if you can.
Fats
No dish is complete without a delicious fat to tie it together. There are more options here than most people know about. Here are some of the best.
- Olive oil - extra virgin
- Avocado oil
- Coconut oil
- Tahini
Nuts
Our ancestors loved to forage and gather. Nuts have protein, fat, and other vitamins and minerals seldom found elsewhere. Here are some favorites that can make great paleo snacks to keep you feeling full between meals.
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Macadamia nuts
- Hazelnuts
Conclusion
The idea behind the paleo lifestyle is straightforward-seeming, but more recent anthropological evidence has complicated our picture of what our ancestors consumed.
What we at Kevin's know is that whole foods, prepared well and without additives or artificial sweeteners, are a great basis for a diet.
If you want to eat a simpler, healthier diet plan, head over to Kevin's paleo recipes for tons of great ideas. Easy to make, easier to enjoy; food to make you feel great.
