Are Plantains Compatible With Paleo Diet?

Plantains are the fruit of an herbaceous plant and are botanically the same as bananas. The main difference between plantains and bananas is the way they are prepared and eaten. Bananas are sweeter and are most often eaten raw, as a fruit, while plantains are usually cooked and served as a starchy vegetable. Seasonal fruits and vegetables constitute an important food group on the Paleo diet.

The Paleo Diet

The Paleo diet is a gluten-free, grain-free, legume-free, dairy-free and sugar-free diet that promote the consumption of whole foods that are as close as possible to what ancestor hunter-gatherers ate before the introduction of agriculture. The foundation of a healthy Paleo diet include seasonal fruits and vegetables, animal protein from free-range eggs, free-range chicken, wild-caught fish and seafood and grass-fed meat, as well as healthy fats from coconut products, olive oil, avocado and nuts and seeds.

Fruits

Seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as plantains, can be part of a healthy Paleo diet. Non-starchy vegetables should be emphasized because of their very high nutrient density, which means that they provide a lot of health-protective nutrients, such as fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, for very few calories and carbohydrates. Fruits, tubers and starchy vegetables like plantains also provide an abundance of important nutrients, but also contain more calories and carbohydrates per serving.

Carbohydrate Target

Although most Paleo dieters keep their carbohydrate intake relatively low, the Paleo diet does not have to be a low-carb diet and allows you to adjust your macronutrient ratio depending on your goals and physical activity level. If you are lean and fairly active, you can benefit from including more carbohydrates into your diet, mainly from tubers, fruits and starchy vegetables like plantains. On the other hand, if you are trying to lose weight and decrease your body fat percentage, it is best to keep your carb intake on the low side and to eliminate or eat very limited amounts of fruits, root vegetables and plantains.

Ideas To Use Plantains

Plantains can be a good source of gluten-free, grain-free and sugar-free carbohydrates on your Paleo diet. You can either grill plantains, mash them or fry them. Avoid oils that are rich in polyunsaturated fats and omega-6 fatty acids, such as corn oil, soybean oil and cottonseed oil and use Paleo-friendly oils, such as olive oil or coconut oil instead. You can also make plantain chips by frying slices of plantains in coconut oil and serving them with guacamole or salsa for a healthy Paleo treat.