Last Update: July 16, 2024
When switching up your lifestyle and perfecting everything Paleo, it helps to have the best resources to keep your diet on track. We’ve hunted and gathered everything you need—the best bloggers, pantry staples, and Paleo-friendly brands to shop, plus easy recipes—consider this post your ultimate Paleo primer.
Whether you call it eating primal, the Neolithic diet, or cooking like a caveman, eating Paleo means foctunusing on ingredients that were available to our hunter-gatherer ancestors. What was on the menu back then? Think meat, fish, berries, tubers, and veggies, and none of the packaged or highly processed foods that are stocked in grocery stores today.
Here are the three main food buckets you’ll be focusing on when you go Paleo, plus a partial list of the types of foods to fill your plate.
When you’re starting a new diet (or sticking with it long-term) having tried-and-true brands to rely on is a must. Here are some Paleo brands to try.
CHOMPS founder and CEO Pete Maldonado set out to create a delicious beef jerky without the harmful, artificial ingredients. These unhealthy additives have been replaced with their humanely sourced meat, healthy fats, lean proteins, and natural fruit and vegetable products.
EPIC not only makes high-quality bars, bone broths, and addicting Paleo snacks like pork rinds, but the company also works to shift the public narrative around regeneration. EPIC scales livestock production in a way that helps increase soil health, sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, and creates diverse ecosystems for animals.
Bone broth company Kettle & Fire was started by two health-conscious brothers, Nick and Justin. Their broths are certified USDA grass-fed, and are perfect for sipping or adding to Paleo-friendly dishes like soups or stews.
Starting with grass-fed and pasture-raised meat, The New Primal keeps its snack time products (think jerky and beef sticks) free from antibiotics or added hormones. Paleo-friendly marinades add incredible flavor without refined sugar, dairy, or soy.
When founder Madeline Haydon wanted a dairy-free creamer that could rival half and half, she created her own without the usual suspects like carrageenan, titanium dioxide, and mono- and diglycerides. It’s a rich and creamy addition to your favorite morning beverage.
This line of grain-free granolas is made with nothing but wholesome ingredients like nuts, dried fruits, and berries. The brand got its start when former NHL player Dinos Stamoulis transitioned to eating Paleo and was determined not to give up one of his favorite breakfast items.
Primal Kitchen was founded by former elite endurance athlete Mark Sisson, and it all started with mayo. Instead of adding harmful oils, Primal Kitchen makes its cult-favorite jar with avocado oil. The line has expanded into marinades, protein bars, and more, so you can fuel your Paleo lifestyle.
Adding Paleo-friendly fish to your diet is easy with Wild Planet. Its sustainably caught seafood helps support the conservation of wild marine ecosystems while fueling your body at the same time. From tuna and salmon to sardines and anchovies, you’ll love adding Wild Planet’s offerings to your next dish.
Thrive Market makes it easy to shop for Paleo products online—here’s everything you need!
This slightly smoky and spicy jerky stick established the classically delicious CHOMPS flavor. Whether you’re working from home or on the go, this sugar-free, paleo-certified snack is a great way to fuel up.
These BBQ pork rinds definitely deliver on big Texas flavor. Made from a blend of organic, antibiotic-free pork, each crunchy rind is seasoned with salt, paprika, and other spices.
Every Paleo pantry needs a box (or three!) of bone broth on hand. This go-to ingredient delivers protein, collagen, minerals, and gelatin that can help nourish joints. Add a splash to mashed sweet potatoes, or braise meats and veggies with it for added flavor.
Whether you sip it plain or add your own bold flavors (we’ve got four creative ideas here), you can always count on this carton being filled with a broth that’s been simmered with nothing but the good stuff: organic chicken bones, celery, onion, and spices.
Enjoy your morning coffee the dairy-free way, with a creamer substitute that’s made from almonds and coconuts. What’s not inside? Soy, corn syrup, gluten, refined sugars, and carrageenan. Talk about a Paleo-fueled morning.
No oats? No problem! This maple-infused, grain-free granola will make your breakfast dreams come true with ingredients like almonds, pecans, and pumpkin seeds, and every batch is sweetened with honey, maple syrup, and coated with coconut oil, too.
A Paleo pantry doesn’t mean you need to cut out favorite condiments. This mayo is made with Paleo-friendly ingredients like avocado oil, cage-free eggs, vinegar, and rosemary extract. Try it with tuna and a few grain-free crackers!
This vinaigrette is good for more than a delicious salad. A true Paleo kitchen workhorse, you can marinate chicken breasts or skirt steak, add a splash to mayo to make a dipping sauce, or coat veggies before roasting.
Breakfast in a hurry? Keep it Paleo powered with a bowl of coconut flakes. Made with nothing but coconut meat, coconut water, and palm starch, it’s naturally sweet and sure to become your new morning go-to.
Meet a versatile cooking oil that adds richness to every dish. Made by slow-cooking butter from grass-fed cows until the milk protein separates, keep this golden, gluten-free, and Paleo-friendly kitchen essential within arms reach.
We don’t jerky around when it comes to making Paleo-friendly snacks. You’ll find lots of goodness in each piece, like 10 grams of protein per 1 oz. serving, for starters. By partnering with trusted farmers we’ve nixed nitrates and nitrites (except for those naturally occurring in sea salt), antibiotics, MSG, preservatives, gluten, and soy.
This four-pack of albacore tuna is free of added salt, oil, water, and fillers, so you’re getting a pure, fresh taste every time. Perfect for boosting salads or a quick power lunch, you’re only limited by your imagination.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee laced with Paleo-friendly creamer and settle in, because we’ve got a round-up of Paleo-friendly blogs to bookmark ASAP. From crave-worthy recipes to product recs, these are the websites to follow.
When it comes to ancestral health, Paleo nutrition, and functional and integrative medicine, Chris Kresser, M.S., LAc is your guy. He’s the author of New York Times bestseller Your Personal Paleo Code, and you’ll find new recipes to try, plus resources to help you learn more about the benefits of bone broth.
Mark’s Daily Apple is written by none other than Mark Sisson, founder of Primal Kitchen (see above!). Every day he spills his secrets of Paleo living, including answering popular questions, dishing up delicious recipes, and sharing reader success stories.
What’s for dinner? Michelle Tam knows. She’s the voice behind this popular Paleo destination that has everything from easy recipes to meal plans. She made the switch to Paleo in the summer of 2010 and cut out grains, legumes, sugar, and processed food, cold turkey. She’s admittedly obsessed with her Paleo lifestyle, and her cookbooks and podcasts are proof.
Not only is Robb Wolf a former research biochemist, former California state powerlifting champion, and bestselling author of The Paleo Solution and Wired to Eat, he’s helped transform hundreds of thousands of lives around the world through his podcast, blog, books, and in-person seminars. His blog is known for offering “revolutionary solutions to modern life” so you can sift through the confusion about what to eat and why, and learn everything you need to empower your Paleo diet.
We love this food blog for it’s simple approach to Paleo recipes. Seriously, the intimidation factor is basically zero! Just take a look at recipes like lemon poppyseed fruit salad and taco pizza to see what we mean. There are also great lifestyle resources like how to find Paleo-friendly food at your favorite grocery stores.
PaleoHacks is more than a blog, it’s an entire community of Paleo-loving folks who are on the same journey. Whether you’re looking to discover new recipes, new workouts, or tips for healthy living, this is the place to go.
The Paleo Plan is just that—a service offering weekly meal plans, shopping lists, and recipes to fuel your Paleo lifestyle. The blog addresses lots of common questions, and the recipe page lets you search by ingredient or category.
If all this reading is making you hungry, here are a few recipes you can make ASAP.
Start your Paleo engine first thing in the morning with these protein-fueled dishes.
Need a morning buzz? Pour your cup of joe into pancake batter (it replaces buttermilk) so you can nosh lactose- and gluten-free. Paleo flour mix gives this short stack six grams of protein per serving, too.
This filling Spanish-style version of your favorite omelette will keep you full until lunch. We’ve upped the flavor profile with sweet potatoes and spices like nutmeg, thyme, and parsley.
Soft-baked eggs in spicy tomato sauce are even easier to make than scrambled eggs! This one-pot meal starts your morning on a savory note, and with a Paleo-friendly jarred sauce, it practically cooks itself.
Get lunch on the table fast! From chicken salad to salmon bowls, these recipes will fill you up without sacrificing flavor.
This is definitely not your basic chicken salad. Paleo pioneer Mark Sisson adds zing with curry powder, apples, walnuts, celery, plus a couple tablespoons of avocado oil mayo, of course. It’s great on its own or rolled into a lettuce wrap.
Craving sushi for lunch? Try this recipe that skips the rice and instead wraps a fresh tuna salad in nori sheets with matchstick-sized cucumbers. Pack it to-go for a satisfying brown bag.
Great for kids and adults, these bite-sized nuggets are breaded using only coconut flour, ground flaxseed, eggs, onion powder, and ghee or olive oil for frying.
Skip the rice and make this bowl Paleo-friendly with kelp noodles! The broth is full of flavor thanks to spices like paprika, coriander, tomato paste, and cooling coconut milk.
Go gourmet with this classic French salad featuring salmon, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh veggies like tomatoes and green beans.
Serve up a Paleo dinner with one of these amazing recipes! Lamb burgers, chili, and comforting soups are all on the menu.
Here’s a twist on a traditional burger. Juicy lamb meets a luscious pistachio pesto that’s so creamy you won’t even miss the cheese!
This Paleo-friendly chili is inspired by classic Texas con carne, which loads every bowl with meat, spices, and beef bone broth.
This traditional Korean stir-fry normally has rice noodles, but subbing in kelp noodles makes this dish Paleo-friendly and super nutritious, too.
Roasted kabocha squash is creamy and sweet, so when paired with the saltiness of pancetta, it’s a match made in Paleo dinner heaven.
If making a tagine sounds intimidating, you don’t need any special equipment to develop deep Moroccan flavors thanks to ground ginger and turmeric. Cauliflower stands in for couscous, and it’s a perfect make-ahead dish, too.
Eating Paleo doesn’t mean giving up a sweet tooth! Lucky for you, we’ve got the goods, from cheesecake to fruit pies, all with ingredients that will keep you on track.
Add this dessert to your list of Paleo-friendly favorites, because once you try a bite, it’ll be hard to resist the sweet and savory combo of maple syrup and bacon. Make it for your next dinner party!
When sweet, juicy blueberries overflow at the market, it’s time for pie. A trio of gluten-free flours (almond, coconut, and tapioca) makes this a summertime treat for all those picnics, barbecues, and parties.
Move over, Reese’s! Rich almond butter plus dark chocolate is the equation for a totally Paleo-approved bite.
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