Paleo Diet Foods List

The Paleo Diet, popularized by Loren Cordain, Ph.D., is a diet that espouses eating the foods available to our paleolithic ancestors and avoiding those that were not. In essence, this forces you to choose unprocessed, whole foods that, by and large, have greater nutrient density are are considered to be more nutritious as a whole. Likewise, due to the lack of grains and sugary foods in the diet, Paleo dieters can more effectively control blood sugar levels and appetite levels, making it a potentially valuable diet for good health and weight loss, while not being restrictive.

Lean Meats

Lean meats serve as the foundation of the Paleo Diet meal as they provide a great deal of vital micronutrients and high levels of protein and fat to better control appetite while still providing energy. Cordain advocates meats with lower levels of fat, including London broil, round steak, sirloin steak, extra lean ground beef, pork tenderloin, pork chops, turkey, duck, chicken breasts and thighs and an abundance of wild game. Foods from the sea are also encouraged: Tuna, swordfish, shark, catfish, bass, crappie, perch, walleye, snapper, flounder, hallibut, tilapia, sardines, clams, oysters, lobster, crab and roughy are excellent choices. Cordain also suggests eating cold water fish like salmon and mackerel as they contain large amounts of the healthy omega-3 fatty acid that can increase metabolism, control blood sugar and control metabolism. Paleo dieters may choose to eat free-range or wild caught meats as they offer a better fatty acid profile says nutrition writer, Michael Pollan in his book "The Omnivore's Dilemma."

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables and fruits were easily gathered by Paleolithic people, and they provided a blend of micronutrients and water to fortify the Paleo dietary program. As with the animal products, Cordain suggests that dieters make an effort to choose organic fruits and vegetables, including berries of all kinds, honeydew melon, bananas, avocados, cucumbers, coconuts, starfruit, citrus fruits, grapes, watermelon, apples, nectarines, apricots, lettuce, spinach, beet greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, chard, seaweed, mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, hot peppers, artichokes, tomatoes, cabbage, sprouts, celery, onions, garlic, kohlrabi, horseradish, red radishes and a variety of squash-type plants. As a general rule, Paleo dieters should know that if the food at one point was green and grew from the ground, it is an acceptable Paleo food.

Nuts and Oils

Hunting and gathering Paleolithic people had easy access to energy-dense tree nuts that are acceptable for the modern-day Paleo dieter. Enjoy walnuts, almonds, cashews, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and pistachios for a boost of healthy fats. Cordain suggests that some oils are permissible, including extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil and fish oil for cooking and seasoning needs.