Most folks will call you crazy for even thinking of eating nothing but meat. But I think they're crazy for not trying.
I'll answer some of the most common questions with regards to Carnivore Diet, like what is and is not allowed. Let's get started.
Foods You Can Eat On The Carnivore Diet
So, let's get started with my favorite part of this Carnivore Diet food list.
You can achieve your desired fitness results with these beef cuts and try to increase the consumption over time too.
For the days when you want to treat yourself, try out some of my favorite cuts of steak:
This ensures more of the proteins remain intact, giving you the maximum dietary benefits.
2. Other Meats
Ideally, find one that is supplied for many different types of restaurants, as there will always be some more obscure orders coming in.
The good news is that on this meat-only diet, the main rule is that if it walked, flew or swam, then it belongs on your plate.
Here are some ideas for you to work with:
Often enough, these guys will end up with more meat than they can possibly handle themselves, and they're often happy enough to give some of it away. Some of them are not even on Carnivore Diet, they just love hunting.
3. Seafood
Yes, you'll have all the macros to keep you fueled, but it
Adding fish on your Carnivore Diet food list may be a good idea. Fish and fish oils are a lot easier on the stomach, and your digestive system will process them much faster.
Fish cooks fast so you can have your lunch ready in about 10 minutes.
Seafood is also great for providing micronutrients, especially vitamins A, D, E, and K, along with other health benefits.
If you really want to up the flavor, then try putting them on a charcoal BBQ.
4. Fatty Meats
Because you cut out all carbs, there is a pretty big fuel gap that you need to fill, and the only real way to do that is with fat.
One way to up your fat intake when on Carnivore Diet is to use lard or tallow in a frying pan or skillet. It works great to avoid meat sticking to the pan, and adds a great deal of flavor as well. Another way is to add fatty meats to your diet.
There are a few beef cuts that fit this category, but the absolute best is pork belly. Try slow cooking it in the oven, and then pop it under the grill.
You'll get that lovely crispy outer fat, along with juicy flavors on the inside. A gentle reminder when consuming high amounts of fatty acids during a Carnivore Diet is to consult with your physician especially if have history of heart disease.
The risk of heart disease increases especially when there's no baseline data to monitor cholesterol. Many people consume high amounts of fatty foods per day and this is not good.
Other Protein Foods You Are Allowed To Eat On The Carnivore Diet
Sticking with the rule that if it came from animals, then it’s allowed on your plate. However, there are some non-meat products allowed on the
Let’s take a closer look.
1. Eggs
Many whole food stores will stock more than just chicken eggs, so give other types like duck a try. If you're lucky you and see a eggs from turkey, give it a try.
One thing I would suggest, although not mandatory, is to stick with organic eggs. These organic eggs usually have more nutrients as compared to mass produced eggs filled with chemicals.
One of my favorite meals is a late breakfast with six eggs and some strip steak. Steak and eggs is a must on everyone's
2. Dairy-Based Products
While it might not always make sense to put a slice of cheese on your meat, you can use dairy-based products as snacks in between meals.
Here are some
3. Condiments
The reason I recommend people to avoid vegetables, herbs, or any other plant foods is to take full advantage of this type of elimination diet.
4. Sides and Beverages
If you need a side dish to your porterhouse steak, then consider a few slices of bacon, bone marrow, or some beef liver.
It's not only the foods that has limits while on Carnivore Diet, but with drinks too. When it comes to what you drink,
Some milk is okay, but keep it to a minimum as it does contain sugar. Juices and sodas are a complete no-go, and we would also suggest people staying away from a lot of the diet sodas.
The chemicals used as sweeteners are questionable at best, so aim to stick with water.
6. Coffee and Tea
So for every cup you drink, you will want to add some extra water as well.
Personally, I found caffeine very helpful on exercise days to sharpen my mind and stay more focused on the task.
What I would also suggest is trying out
Green tea contains
6. Water
On a regular diet
Even when you're consuming your beef medium to rare, a lot of the water in it will evaporate during the cooking process.
What I usually do is have one full pint of water (480 mL) with every meal. And then, in between meals, I make sure I spread out another 900 mL.
It’s an easy guideline to follow when on Carnivore Diet, and of course, you’ll need to increase
7. Bone Broth
You can buy
It's full of collagen, which has excellent healing properties for your skin, hair, connective tissue, and is known to improve cartilage health.
8. Snacks
Here are some tips you can use.
If you can find some 100% pork sausages, then you can cook them ahead of time and eat them cold as a snack between meals.
One cardinal rule to remember is to avoid processed meats when on Carnivore Diet also canned meats.
You can do the same with
I used to recommend some beef jerky to add in a Carnivore Diet food list, but it's really difficult to get some with no additives, spices, and even sugar thrown in.
Foods You Can’t Eat On The Carnivore Diet
So, the simple rule is that if
1.
Salami, sausages, and beef jerky are off-limits on a Carnivore Diet. You may think they are counted as snacks on you Carnivore Diet food list, but it doesn't. Unless you can verify from your local butcher that it doesn't have additives, then it's okay.
Most products you can buy in supermarkets have added grain, flour, and prohibited sauces.
The same is the case for many Italian dishes, including a pasta carbonara. Despite it being a mainly cream-based sauce, there will be plenty of thickeners added in.
There simply is no way around it; you'll have to stop drinking for a while.
Personally, I found that after about 3 or 4 weeks, I really didn't crave a beer anymore. You just get used to it, and you certainly won't be missing the hangovers.
While you do get a significant dose of calories, these are predominantly from carbs and not fats. Just stay away from them while on Carnivore Diet, as they will mess up your metabolism.
If you're still leading up to day one, then start cutting these foods out a few days earlier to help you get used to not having them anymore.
However, that's the exact opposite of what
Most of the saturated fat in beef actually decreases your heart-disease risk—either by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol or by reducing your ratio of total cholesterol to HDL (good) cholesterol.
Jeff Volek
Registered Dietician
Where Can You Buy Your Meat?
There are 4 different options that I have tried
1. Local Butcher
These people will have a huge amount of knowledge about different cuts. And when you're buying in bulk, they will be welcoming you with open arms.
2. Farmers’ Market
In most cases, the suppliers at these markets will be providing only grass-fed and pasture-raised products, which is a big bonus.
3. Supermarkets
It's not ideal, and you might struggle to find some of the more obscure types, but it's always an option.
4. Buy Online
That's the main reason I don't use them for all my needs, but having
Other meat delivery services available:
The Carnivore Diet Food Pyramid
It emphasizes carbohydrate intake, which is under considerable investigation with countless new diets, avoiding them (Ketogenic, Paleo, and Carnivore Diet).
The typical food pyramid has the base layer made up of vegetables, salads, and fruit, with the next one focusing on grains, cereals, and bread.
That's a ton of carbs locked up in the Food Pyramid, and probably 50% of your diet may compose of carbohydrates alone. [2]
Fats, meat, and all other animal products are pretty much near the top, and the only products higher up are sugar, salts, and saturated fats.
Now, I used to think that a Carnivore Diet just turns that whole concept upside down. But in many ways, you could actually say that a pyramid isn't as descriptive anymore.
You have two layers: one is meat, and the other is water. But, what you can do is break down the types of meat into segments. In that case, you would have a base layer of beef, and sitting on top of that would be pork, poultry, game, and organ meats.
Finally, on top of the water sits a small layer of a few dairy items that you can have every once in a while.
What's completely missing is any hint or sign of a carbohydrates. I've thought about having a t-shirt printed with this, just to annoy some vegans at dinner parties.
Ideally unprocessed meats are a better choice since any meat that is processed usually entails being cooked in highly inflammatory vegetable oils, and they usually have added sugars.
Judy Cho
Nutritional Therapist
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is eating only protein dangerous?
A full Carnivore Diet, along with an active lifestyle, will bring many benefits that come from a ketogenic metabolism. To know more you can read the review of Dr. Shawn Baker on Carnivore Diet.
Dr. Shawn Baker even wrote
Which meat is the healthiest?
If you're planning a meat-based diet, then try to always go for certified organic. You're better off going for cheaper organic cuts, than more expensive mass-produced meat.
Is it healthy to just eat chicken?
Can I just eat fish on this diet?
Fish
Are processed meats okay?
It might seem like a good idea for a full Carnivore Diet, but they often use cooking methods and additives that destroy many nutrients.
Can I add sauces and seasonings to my food?
No, you cannot add sauces to your food, and most seasonings are off-limits.
In most cases, seasonings and sauces has many carbs, which will cause all sorts of problems for your metabolism, and you will struggle to achieve your fat loss goals.
What about Vitamin C?
If you get the chance to the read the book of Dr. Shawn Baker, "The Carnivore Diet" it explains further issues on Vitamin C. His theory states the body's Vitamin C needs decreases when
He also recommended trying organ meats, fresh-beef and medium-rare to medium-well cooking to attain Vitamin C and other nutrients while on Carnivore Diet.
Conclusion
You have to forget about everything you've been told about healthy eating, digestive and heart health,
This is especially clear when you look at our "revised" food pyramid above.
The final tip I would give you is to keep a detailed food journal to document your experience.
This will also help you identify any shortcomings in vitamins and minerals that you may need to source through suppl
And if you're looking for extra convenience to get started on the all-meat diet, I recommend you check out Crowd Cow.
#1 Meat Delivery Service
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