You’ve decided to try the Paleo Diet, but you need a very clear list of Paleo foods to make sure what you put in your mouth is acceptable to the plan. Below is a detailed list by food category that can serve as a convenient reference. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. This is meant to be a helpful list to get you started, but you may be able to find other Paleolithic foods by reading blogs or reading a book on the subject.
Paleo Foods: Meats/Fish/Seafood
Try to stick to lean cuts of meat, as saturated fat is now linked to heart disease and stroke. Remember, cooking was limited in the Paleolithic era, so stick with very basic cooking methods without much added oil or other fat. These paleolithic era foods can be omitted or modified for vegetarians or vegans. Everyone can enjoy the Paleo Diet today, so don’t feel limited to these lists.
- Lean Beef (burgers, steaks, beef, London broil)
- Pork Away or Chops
- Chicken breast
- chicken breast
- White Meat Turkey
- Rabbit meat
- goat meat
- organ meats
- Bushmeat
- All varieties of fish
- clams
- Crab
- lobster
- River crab
- mussels
- oysters
- scallops
- Shrimp
Paleo Foods: Fruits/Berries
Acceptable foods from the Paleolithic era include all kinds of natural fruits and berries. This is far from a complete list of what’s allowed on the Paleo Diet, but it will give you some fruit and berry ideas to try. Experiment with foods you’ve never tried before, like using blueberries to sweeten your food and fruit salads as a sweet substitute for sugary foods.
- all citrus
- Naturally grown berries (strawberry, blackberry, currant, etc.)
- apples
- nectarines
- papaya
- peaches
- Feathers
- Khaki
- grapes
- melons
- Grenade
- Rhubarb
- Watermelon
- Apricot
- Banana
- cherries
- passion fruit
- pears
- pineapple
- figs
- Guava
- Kiwi
- mango
Paleo Foods: Vegetables/Roots
The Paleo Diet excludes potatoes and other starchy tubers. Look at the food list for some vegetable ideas you may have never tried before.
- All green leafy vegetables
- All the Variety of Peppers
- Brussels sprouts
- Celery
- Cucumber
- carrots
- Eggplant
- Onions
- Mushroom
- pumpkin
- Radish
- Pumpkin
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Dandelion
- Endive
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Tomato
Paleo Foods: Nuts/Seeds
If you’re on the Paleo Diet to lose weight, don’t go overboard with the nuts. They are a great source of healthy fats, but they also contain more calories than fruits and vegetables. Vegetarians can use them to get more nutrients in their diet.
- almonds
- cashew nuts
- pecans
- hazelnuts
- Pinions
- Pumpkin seeds
- sunflower seeds
- brazil nuts
- chestnuts
- Macadamia nuts
- unsalted pistachios
- Sesame seeds
- walnuts
Paleo Foods: Various
- Duck, goose, chicken eggs (only 6 per week)
- Limited Canola Oil (4 T or less per day, all oils combined)
- Linseed or linseed oil
- olive oil
- Limited nuts (preferably unsweetened)