The Paleo Diet: What To Eat and What To Avoid

by OneGoodFoodBlog

On the paleo diet, you’ll find fewer processed foods, but you’ll also need to cut out all grains, legumes, and most dairy. Here’s a closer look at the eating plan.

What to Eat

Although the paleo diet isn’t proven to work, if you want to give this eating plan a try, you’ll need to prioritize fueling up on lots of natural foods and natural fats, including these options:

  • Lean cuts of beef, pork, and poultry, preferably grass-fed, organic, or free-range selections
  • Game animals, such as quail, venison, and bison
  • Eggs, but no more than six a week, and preferably free-range 
  • Fish, including shellfish
  • Fruit, such as strawberries, cantaloupe, mango, and figs
  • Nonstarchy vegetables, such as asparagus, onions, peppers, and pumpkin
  • Nuts and seeds, including almonds , cashews, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds
  • Olive oil, flaxseed  oil, and walnut oil, in moderation

What to Avoid

Similarly, any foods that were not easily available to Paleolithic humans are off-limits in this diet. That means processed foods — many of which contain added butter, margarine, and sugar — should not be a part of the paleo diet. The same goes for dairy, which may not have been accessible to Paleolithic humans, and legumes, which many proponents of the diet believe are not easily digestible by the body.

Keep in mind that some versions of the paleo diet are less strict than others and allow some dairy products or legumes, like peanuts.

Foods to avoid:

  • All dairy products, including milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter
  • Cereal grains, such as wheat, rye, rice, and barley
  • Legumes, like beans, peanuts, and peas
  • Starchy vegetables, such as potatoes (and some even say sweet potatoes)
  • Sweets, including all forms of candy as well as honey and sugar
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Sugary soft drinks and fruit juices
  • Processed and cured meats, such as bacon, deli meats, and hot dogs
  • Highly processed foods

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