Carnivore Diet Grocery List | 9 Food Groups

Carnivore Diet Food List – Overview

While there’s no formal definition of the carnivore diet, think of it as a diet that comprises foods that either walked, swam, or flew. Therefore, the carnivore diet is a restrictive regimen that primarily includes meat, fish, and animal products like eggs.

Dairy products are often debated within the carnivore community, with some individuals including them and others opting for a stricter meat, fish, and eggs-only approach.

While on the carnivore diet, you can’t consume vegetables, fruits, bread, nuts, grain, or seeds as all items must come from animals.

The Carnivore Diet is based on the contentious belief that ancestral populations mostly consumed meat and fish and that high-carb foods are responsible for the high rates of chronic illnesses witnessed today.

Other typical diets, such as keto and paleo restrict but do not exclude carb intake. The carnivore diet, on the other hand, strives to reduce carb intake significantly.

By excluding carbs, you may help manage certain health issues for some individuals.

While there is some truth to the theory on carbs, you’ll soon find out that the Carnivore Diet is also controversial.

Let’s look at what you can and can’t eat when you’re on the Carnivore Diet, then at some meal plan samples you can use on this diet.

Which Foods Can You Take While On a Carnivore Diet?

1. Beef

Carnivore Diet Food List

Carnivore Diet Food List

You can pick various kinds of high-quality beef cuts when you’re on a Carnivore Diet. These cuts vary in taste, nutrient content, and price.

These beef cuts include ribs, round steak, brisket, flat iron, top rump, and flank.

With these beef cuts, you can reach the desired energy, health, and fitness levels. In addition, all these cuts have more fat content than your usual steaks.

Therefore, they are excellent picks for providing additional calories to conclude your Carnivore Diet nutrient list.

2. Other Meats

Now that you have beef as the baseline of your Carnivore Diet, it’s time to add some other carnivorous delights to your meal plan. Some of the other meats you can have in your Carnivorous Diet include:

Chicken: Breasts with skin, liver, drumsticks, etc.

Pork: chops, belly, and loin

Duck: breast with skin

Turkey: Drumsticks

You can also reach out to local meat markets. Most of the time, meat markets will have meats from diverse animals. Some cuts you can get include Ostrich, Moose, Bison, Venison, etc.

3. Organ Meats

Carnivore Diet Food List

Carnivore Diet Food List

Organ meats are considered nature’s superfoods within the carnivore diet due to their high levels of essential nutrients. They are particularly rich in vitamins such as A, D, E, and K2.

Some of the organs to have in your Carnivore Diet include:

1. Bone marrow

2. Brains

3. Kidney

4. Liver

5. Pancreas

6. Tongue

7. Tripe

4. Seafood

Seafood

Seafood is an excellent way to diversify your Carnivore diet. It’s particularly ideal before any exercise routine for weight loss.

Of course, you’ll have meat to energize you, but it could be sitting heavy in your stomach.

Adding seafood to your diet can be an excellent way to break the monotony. Fish and fish oils go easy on your stomach, and your digestive system breaks them up faster, ensuring you have all the necessary nutrients.

Fish also cooks fast, and you’ll have your meal ready in about 15 minutes. Some fish from the sea to consider include:

1. Crabs

2. Lobster

3. Oysters

4. Salmon

5. Sardines

6. Shrimp

7. Tuna

5. Animal Fat

It might seem ironic, but you need a relatively high amount of saturated animal fat in your carnivore diet, even if it’s aimed at weight loss.

Since the Carnivore Diet aims to be very low in carbohydrates, proponents believe increasing fat intake is essential to provide energy and support overall health. It’s crucial to balance fat with protein for energy and to maintain body functions, as the diet emphasizes nutritional needs can be met through animal products alone.

If you have a history of heart conditions, consult a physician before consuming high amounts of fatty acids.

1. Lard

2. Tallow

3. Egg yolks

4. Chicken fat

5. Bone marrow

Duck fat

Other Proteins You Can Take While On a Carnivore Diet

The Carnivore Diet is based on animal products alone, so it’s allowed on your plate if it comes from an animal.

There are some non-meat animal products that you can consume when you’re on a zero-carb Carnivore Diet, and they include:

6. Eggs

Carnivore Diet Food List

Carnivore Diet Food List – Eggs

Eggs have high protein content and some fatty acids in the yolks. Most whole-food outlets will stock more than chicken eggs.

As a result, you can experiment with eggs from other birds such as duck, turkey, ostrich, etc.

Although it is not compulsory, stick to organic eggs because of their health benefits.

Organic eggs may have different feeding and farming practices, but the nutritional value can be similar to conventional eggs.

7. Dairy Products

Dairy

Dairy products are debated within the carnivore community; their inclusion is based on individual tolerance and preference rather than a universal allowance due to being animal products.

So, while it might not seem like a good idea to place a slice of cheese on your meat, it can boost your nutrient levels.

Also, you can use dairy products as snacks between meals. You can place grated cheese on baked pork rinds for a carnivore diet-friendly snack between meals.

Some other dairy products you can take include:

1. Butter

2. Full-fat cheese

3. Milk

4. Yogurt

8. Sides

If you’d like a side dish with your sirloin steak or beef ribs, then a couple of slices of bacon, some animal liver, or bone marrow will come in handy to boost your body’s protein intake.

It’s not only limited foods but also drinks.

Beverage options on the Carnivore Diet are primarily limited to water, bone broth, and possibly black coffee or tea without additives, based on personal choice. While some individuals on the carnivore diet might choose to include dairy, it’s generally recommended to consume it in moderation due to its lactose content, which is a form of sugar.

Beverages on the carnivore diet are limited to water, bone broth, and for some, coffee and tea without sweeteners. Juices, carbonated drinks, and diet sodas are avoided due to their non-animal origins and, in the case of diet sodas, artificial sweeteners.

9. Bone Broth

Bone broth is another item that should be in your carnivore diet long-term. The bone broth tastes good, fills your stomach quickly, and is easy to prepare.

You can buy bone broth in liquid or powder, but if you’re the hands-on type, you can extract it by boiling animal bone marrow

Bone broth is rich in collagen and is known for its healing properties for your hair, skin, and connective tissue. Bone broth is also known to enhance cartilage health.

Tip:

When you’re on a low-carb Carnivore Diet, you should consume about two and a half liters of water daily. Unfortunately, the long-term health benefits of water are massively understated.

When you’re on a plant-based or a regular meat diet, you’ll consume lots of fruits and vegetables with high water content.

When you’re on a carnivore diet, the number of foods you take that have water is limited, so you must supplement that with actual water.

Water intake should be based on individual needs, activity levels, and environmental conditions. Drinking to thirst is generally advised.

Also, your water intake should exceed the daily recommendations if you exercise a lot.

Which Foods Can’t You Take While On the Carnivore Diet?

When you’re sticking to a zero-carb carnivore diet, the list of the foods you’re not allowed to take is more than what you can carry.

It’s easy to get confused about what you can or can’t take when on a diet. However, these are common mistakes that can be avoided.

1. Processed Meats

The Carnivore Diet typically emphasizes whole, unprocessed animal foods; processed meats can be included if they do not contain non-animal additives, sugars, or fillers, making them more acceptable rather than entirely off-limits. You may think they should be snacks on your carnivore diet food list, but they shouldn’t.

However, if you get your processed meats from a trustworthy butcher who can confirm that they don’t have too many additives, then it’s okay you can use them as snacks.

Most processed meats in supermarkets have flour, grain, and other substances you shouldn’t consume if you’re on a zero-carb carnivore diet.

2 Alcohol

We hate being the buzzkill, but alcohol is off-limits if you’re on a zero-carb diet. Beer, cane spirits, wine, and whisky instantly increase your blood sugar levels and carb intake.

You’ll find that you might not crave beer or whisky after a couple of weeks.

You get used to it, and you won’t miss the hangovers. In the long run, you’ll be impressed by your reduced weight.

3. Nuts and Seeds

Carnivore Diet Food List

Carnivore Diet Food List – Nuts and Seeds

It’s easy to think that the fats and high protein content in nuts and seeds are ideal for a carnivore diet. However, this is not the case; nuts and seeds are suitable for a ketogenic diet but not a carnivorous diet.

And although your body gets a substantial amount of calories from nuts and seeds, these are primarily carbs rather than fats.

So stay away from nuts and seeds if you’re on a zero-carb carnivore diet because they will mess up your metabolism.

4. Rice and Pasta

Rice and Pasta

As appealing as pasta and meatballs sound, it’s not a proper meal if you’re on a zero-carb diet. The entire dry weight of spaghetti is rich in carbs, and rice is no different.

If it’s a couple of weeks before day one of your zero-carb diet, start cutting off plant foods because it will help your body adapt better to your imminent carnivorous diet.

Sample 7-Day Carnivore Meal Plan

Day 1

  • Breakfast: Hard-boiled eggs and Tuna
  • Lunch: Pork shoulder steak
  • Snack: Sardines
  • Dinner: Ground beef patties

Day 2

  • Breakfast: Feta cheese omelet
  • Lunch: Shredded chicken with bacon
  • Snack: Original beef jerky
  • Dinner: Ribeye steak

Day 3

  • Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and chicken livers
  • Lunch: Turkey burgers
  • Snack: Steak bites
  • Dinner: NY Strip Steak

Day 4

  • Breakfast: Poached eggs and bacon
  • Lunch: Grilled chicken tenders
  • Snack: Tuna
  • Dinner: Lamb rack and bone broth

Day 5

  • Breakfast: Bacon and eggs
  • Lunch: Chicken breast and bacon
  • Snack: Pork rinds
  • Dinner: Prime rib cut

Day 6

  • Breakfast: Lamb omelet
  • Lunch: Beef liver
  • Snack: Hard-boiled eggs
  • Dinner: Roasted chicken and bone broth

Day 7

  • Breakfast: Chicken breast and bacon
  • Lunch: Bison Burger
  • Snack: Sardines
  • Dinner: Pork chops

Tips to Consider If You Intend to Starting a Zero-Carb Diet

Hot Drinks Are Appropriate

A cup of tea or coffee is not a bad idea to spice things up a little. However, ensure you take your coffee or tea without adding any sugar.

Red Meat Should Be Cooked to Medium-Rare

When cooking your red meat, cook it to medium-rare because when it is partially cooked, you take in intact proteins. This will give you the maximum health and dietary benefits.

Fewer Snacks

For the duration of your zero-carb diet, if you feel hungry and want to have a snack, eat actual food more often or take larger portions.

If You’re an Athlete, Be Patient

If you’re an athlete, it will take your body a couple of months to adapt to this extreme diet.

On the other hand, if you’re a high-performing athlete, your zero-carb diet might need to be reviewed by a professional to meet your body’s needs.

Benefits of The Carnivore Diet

Weight Loss

Like keto, a zero-carb diet lets you lose weight quickly because you change your body’s primary energy source from carbs to fatty acids.

When you adapt to fat (ketosis), your metabolism can use dietary fats and body fat as fuel.

Reduced Inflammation

Inflammation can be aggravated when you consume foods rich in carbs. Therefore, being on a carnivore diet could mean fewer aches and pain since it’s a zero-carb diet.

Increased Testosterone Levels

Consuming healthy fats leads to optimal hormonal function, such as testosterone. Therefore, your testosterone levels will improve massively if you’re on a carnivore diet.

Final Thought

To sum it all up, the Carnivore Diet is particularly about what you can and can’t eat. However, it’s relatively easy to follow, given the simplified menu.

You can plan your meals for the week in just a few minutes and then compile a grocery list that suits your custom meal plan.

So, if you’re considering a zero-carb diet, you must change your life.

See Also

1200 Calorie Diet Plan

7 Day Intermittent Fasting Diet Meal Plan

Master Cleanse Recipe

Printable 500 Calorie Meal Plan

3 Day Cleanse to Lose Belly Fat

7 Day Cabbage Soup Diet Plan

Current Version
October 15, 2021
Written By
Damla Sengul
March 20, 2024
Updated By
Guido Forti