An Index of the Best Paleo Recipes from My Natural Family (2024)

FAQs

Is sweet potato Paleo? ›

Yes — sweet potatoes are generally considered a paleo-approved food, however, some paleo dieters prefer to limit their consumption to avoid consuming too many carbohydrates that spike their blood sugar levels.

Foods to avoid on the paleo diet

Grains: bread, pasta, wheat, cereal, spelt, rye, barley, etc. Legumes: beans, lentils, and many more. Dairy: most dairy, especially low fat dairy (some versions of paleo do include full-fat dairy like butter and cheese)

Some of you might be saying, "green beans aren't Paleo; they're a legume!" This is correct, green beans are a legume, but they fall into a gray area of Paleo. In a nutshell, fresh peas, green beans, and sugar snap peas contain very minimal amounts of the potential negative constituents found in most other legumes.

The diet excludes cereal grains, legumes, dairy, processed oils, refined sugar, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and trans fats.

Try to eat lean protein and healthy fats at every meal. Good examples of healthy proteins are grass fed beef, chicken, and fish (cod, tuna, or salmon). Healthy fats include avocado, coconut, and olive oils. Lean meats and healthy fats are both filling and nutrient-rich, which makes them perfect for weight loss.

Though the paleo diet restricts certain foods, such as dairy, grains, and processed items, you can buy or prepare many healthy, delicious paleo snack options. Those including whole, nutrient-dense ingredients like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and filling proteins are always the best choice.

Many paleo followers wonder if bananas are paleo because of their higher sugar content. They are considered paleo. One medium banana has 113 calories, 2 grams of fiber and 26 grams of carbohydrates. Bananas are an unprocessed, whole food with a good source of potassium.

Peanuts are technically legumes, which are not paleo compliant, and that means peanut butter is off limits for paleo eaters. All other nuts and seeds are fair game, so if nuts and seeds are the only ingredients, snack away!

One of our most frequently asked questions: Is bacon Paleo? Since most bacon is considered cured meat, it is not Paleo. However, pork belly that is cut into thin slices is considered Paleo. So you can still enjoy your favorite breakfast side, just with a little more flavor!

Can you drink coffee on a paleo diet? ›

While we have said in the past that coffee is not Paleo, we have changed our position based on new research and now we believe that coffee is fine for most people. It boasts numerous health benefits, like longevity, mental performance, and a healthy gut, and it could be beneficial for many.

Luckily, the paleo diet emphasizes eating fruits, so eating cucumbers is recommended!

A Paleo diet contains plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, contributing about 35-45% of all caloric intake. Vegetables chosen are usually especially low in starch, such as carrots and leafy vegetables, which Paleolithic populations are supposed to have found abundantly in their environment.

Unprocessed potatoes are paleo

Generally, unprocessed potatoes of all types can be part of a paleo diet. Similarly to grains, which are off-limits on paleo, potatoes are starchy and rich in carbohydrates. However, potatoes are actually a type of starchy vegetable that grows underground, known as a tuber ( 2 , 3 ).

Examples of foods you can eat while on the AIP diet include: Vegetables that aren't nightshade vegetables like cucumbers, spinach, sweet potatoes and zucchini. Fresh fruits like apples, oranges, mangos, strawberries, bananas and blueberries.

Here at The Paleo Diet, we recommend focusing on foods with a low glycemic load, which means that the food will only minimally impact blood sugar and insulin levels. Since corn is high in starch, it's also high on the glycemic index.

That's because, like white potatoes, red and purple potatoes are unprocessed whole foods—which, by definition, makes them paleo.