Paleo Diet Food Lists: Kick Start Your Meal Planning
by Tom Parker
The principle of the Paleo diet is to strictly follow the eating habits of our prehistoric ancestors, cavemen. Cavemen were hunters and gatherers, eating lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and were believed to be healthier than we are today. By closely following the guidelines and food lists laid out in the Paleo diet, you can make significant improvements to your health and well being.
As the era of the caveman was prior to the age of agriculture, they did not eat wheat or grains. These kinds of foods therefore fall into the 'do not eat' Paleo food lists, and this includes grains which are designated gluten free. Other grains on the list include corn, oats, rice, barley and rye. Of course, any foods which are made from these ingredients must also be avoided, including bread, cakes, corn chips, muffins, pasta, rice flour, tortillas and rye crackers.
We also know that cavemen did not eat processed or packaged foods so you'll need to avoid these altogether. Remember that certain meats feature on the 'do not eat' lists too because they aren't lean. These include breakfast sausage, salami, chicken wings, bacon, and fatty lamb chops.
While there are many foods that cannot be eaten, there are many more that can be eaten. People have found there are a wide variety of interesting meals that can be made once you're familiar with the Paleo food lists, so you can expect to enjoy your food at the same time as improving your health. For example, while cavemen did not eat dairy, they did eat eggs. Why not whip up an omelette with fresh vegetables like onions, peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms?
Snacking on fresh vegetables is another way to enjoy food on the Paleo diet; try them dipped in guacamole as a treat! One thing to remember is that sauces and condiments should be kept to minimum when enjoying vegetables as a snack or side dish as this is the healthiest option and contains the fewest calories.
Lean meats can also be enjoyed; these are firmly on the 'can be eaten' Paleo food lists. Always look for organic, pasture-fed animal meats, but if these are not available, go for the leanest cuts of meat you can find.
One of the highlights of the Paleo diet is that you will feel fuller for longer as your digestive system slows. To take advantage of this, only eat when you're hungry and keep snacking to a minimum. Alternatively, if you find that you're eating too often or very infrequently, try eating small, balanced meals at regular intervals (ideally every 3 hours) which will help to boost your metabolism, reduce your appetite and calm your digiestive system.
As the era of the caveman was prior to the age of agriculture, they did not eat wheat or grains. These kinds of foods therefore fall into the 'do not eat' Paleo food lists, and this includes grains which are designated gluten free. Other grains on the list include corn, oats, rice, barley and rye. Of course, any foods which are made from these ingredients must also be avoided, including bread, cakes, corn chips, muffins, pasta, rice flour, tortillas and rye crackers.
We also know that cavemen did not eat processed or packaged foods so you'll need to avoid these altogether. Remember that certain meats feature on the 'do not eat' lists too because they aren't lean. These include breakfast sausage, salami, chicken wings, bacon, and fatty lamb chops.
While there are many foods that cannot be eaten, there are many more that can be eaten. People have found there are a wide variety of interesting meals that can be made once you're familiar with the Paleo food lists, so you can expect to enjoy your food at the same time as improving your health. For example, while cavemen did not eat dairy, they did eat eggs. Why not whip up an omelette with fresh vegetables like onions, peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms?
Snacking on fresh vegetables is another way to enjoy food on the Paleo diet; try them dipped in guacamole as a treat! One thing to remember is that sauces and condiments should be kept to minimum when enjoying vegetables as a snack or side dish as this is the healthiest option and contains the fewest calories.
Lean meats can also be enjoyed; these are firmly on the 'can be eaten' Paleo food lists. Always look for organic, pasture-fed animal meats, but if these are not available, go for the leanest cuts of meat you can find.
One of the highlights of the Paleo diet is that you will feel fuller for longer as your digestive system slows. To take advantage of this, only eat when you're hungry and keep snacking to a minimum. Alternatively, if you find that you're eating too often or very infrequently, try eating small, balanced meals at regular intervals (ideally every 3 hours) which will help to boost your metabolism, reduce your appetite and calm your digiestive system.
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