The carnivore diet is an extreme elimination diet, which leaves many people confused as to what their options are, especially when it comes to snacking. One question I see a lot is whether or not you can eat pork rinds on the carnivore diet. You can, just with caution, let me explain.
Are Pork Rinds Meat?
If you are following a strict carnivore diet, you will have eliminated everything except meat and other animal products such as fat and potentially dairy. The problem with pork rinds, and indeed many other alternative meat products, is they aren’t always meat.
Many pork rinds are just food fillers with meat flavoring. Others may contain meat in the form of pork skin but will have additional fillers and flavoring that you shouldn’t eat on the carnivore diet.
This is one of the aspects of the diet that makes eating non-fresh foods tricky. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what is in processed food products. But, if you are following the diet strictly, you have to know what it is you are putting in your body.
As I noted above, you can eat pork rinds on the carnivore diet. But, I would recommend you avoid most of what you find at the store. So much of what you see in supermarkets are full of junk and flavoring made to taste like real meat.
Since food labeling isn’t always straight forward, it can be hard to know what you are getting. I’ve found this out the hard way. Even at supposed health food stores like Whole Foods, many of the pork rind options are not carnivore diet-friendly.
Also Read: Are Pork Rinds Healthy?
Pork Rinds Suitable for the Carnivore Diet
I’ll be the first to admit that I love a tasty snack. That was one of the hardest parts about switching over to the carnivore diet.
So, when I started the diet, finding snacks that are carnivore friendly alternatives to my favorite snacks was a priority.
There are many snacks you can’t replace. No matter how hard you try, you can’t turn jalapeno poppers carnivore diet-friendly.
When it comes to best pork rinds, though, a great option I found was Utz Original Flavored Pork Rinds.
Pay attention to the fact that I specifically mention the original flavor options. Utz Pork Rinds come in many different varieties, including BBQ flavored and Hot and Spicy.
These options have additional flavoring that may not be carnivore diet-friendly. Make sure you stick to the original flavored options.
“Processed foods are essentially made by adding...ingredients such as sugar, salt, fat, and artificial colors or preservatives.”
- Katherine D. McManus MS, RD, LDN, Harvard Health Publishing Contributor
The other issue with flavored products is that they can mess with your mind. These products taste fantastic. That’s why many processed foods are so addictive [2]. If you’re just getting started with the carnivore diet, eating unnatural flavoring may set you on a binge of non-carnivore friendly foods.
Play it safe and stick to the original flavor pork rinds if you want a snack. And if you're feeling bold, you can make your own rinds with some Kurobuta pork.
Related Articles:
- What Is Picanha?
- Carnivore Diet Food List - What You Can & Cannot Eat
- Pork Butt Vs Pork Shoulder
- How To Smoke a Pork Butt
Final Thoughts on Snacking
Yes, the carnivore diet is an elimination diet and more restrictive than what you may be used to. That doesn’t mean you’re confined to a life of dry chicken breast, though. There are plenty of choices, not just for primary meal plans but also for snacking.
Pork rinds tend to be one of the better snacks on the carnivore diet as they can come without all the artificial flavors. So, if your daily diet is starting to seem bland, I encourage you to give some Utz Pork Rinds a try. Remember to stick to the original flavor and you’re good to go.
References:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-are-ultra-processed-foods-and-are-they-bad-for-our-health-2020010918605/ - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4334652/
