Is The Paleo Diet Right For You?

What Foods Can I Eat?

Foods included in the paleo diet are grass-fed meat, fish and seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, nuts and seeds including coconut, and healthy oils such as olive, walnut, flaxseed, avocado, coconut, macadamia, and grapeseed. Lean meats include chicken, turkey, lean beef, lean pork, and buffalo (bison). Specifically, non-starchy vegetables include lettuce, asparagus, green beans, broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and spinach. Nuts included are almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, and pistachios, and seeds such as pumpkin and sunflower. Essentially, individuals are only allowed to consume foods ‘cavemen’ or our ancestors ate over 12,000 years ago.

Foods That Must Be Avoided!

Foods to avoid include cereal grains, legumes including peanuts, refined sugar, dairy, potatoes, processed foods, salt, refined vegetable oils, alcohol, and coffee. Specifically, grains to avoid are oats, wheat, barley, and rice, hence, no cereal, bread, pasta, bagels, crackers, and granola bars. Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, corn, tortillas, and popcorn, should be avoided as well. Legumes and beans to avoid are peanuts and peanut butter, no soy foods such as soy milk, tofu, or edamame, as well as no hummus or beans of any kind.

Dairy products include no milk, cheese, yogurt, or ice cream, and the avoidance of high-fat meats such as salami, bologna, pepperoni, ground meat, hot dogs, rib roast, and ribs. A huge component of the diet is avoiding all processed foods, sugars and salt, which includes soda, honey, jam, syrup, candy, cakes, cookies, and sports drinks, due to the sugar. Processed foods and trans fats found in fast food, fruit snacks, or the classic macaroni and cheese is to be avoided, as well as salty foods including crackers, chips, pretzels, soy sauce, and added-salt foods.