CARNIVORE DIET FOODS LIST

The carnivore diet foods list might seem pretty obvious on the surface but the devil is in the details. In this guide you'll learn why carnivore is high fat, what foods are a good source of fuel and micro nutrients, what foods to eat and what foods to avoid.

INTRO | FOODS TO EAT | FOODS TO AVOID | DRINKS | MACRO BREAKDOWN | FAQ | RECIPES, & MEAL PLANS

What foods can I eat on the carnivore diet?

If you're coming from a keto diet then you'll more than likely be accustomed to eating a higher fat diet and understand how the body utilizes fat for fuel. If a low carb diet is new to you, you might still feel as though fat is something you should avoid. After all, that's what the mainstream science says.

But a true carnivore needs fat. In fact, a carnivore needs just as much, if not more of their calories from fat than protein. That means that while steaks are certainly on the menu, sources of animal fat should be too.

WHY THE BODY NEEDS FAT
Our ancestors almost certainly ate a mostly animal diet and the best source of energy from an animal is the fat. It's possible to get energy from protein too but this process, called gluconeogenesis, is costly.

Almost every cell in your body is made from or supported by fat molecules so it stands to reason that by eating fat, we're supporting the natural mechanisms of our body.

When our ancestors ate a high carb diet it was typically from eating seasonal fruit. In return, the fruit plant gets a mechanism to spread their seed. Seasonal fruit is designed to fatten an animal up so it can survive the winter on little to no food by stimulating insulin production and therefore fat storage.

HOW TO SWITCH TO FAT AS A SOURCE OF FUEL
While the body can run on both fat and carbohydrates, fat is the preferred source of fuel for almost every mechanism in the body but the body will only switch to fat if carbohydrate supplies are low.

To reduce carbohydrate supplies you need to reduce carbohydrate consumption. In doing so, your body will begin to make the switch.

But the switch to a carnivore diet isn't easy for everyone so it's important to keep a few things in mind:

1. Lower carbohydrate intake as quickly as possible. Going in and out of ketosis is very difficult on the body and mind.
2. Eat as much non-carbohydrate food as you need to. You'll find you naturally get full and stay full for long periods of time.
3. Once you feel more fat adapted, it's OK to reduce fat consumption to meet your goals. Eat less fat to lose weight and eat more fat to gain.

CARNIVORE Diet Food List

MEAT
Any type: Beef, pork, lamb, game, poultry, etc. Ideally choose organic or grass-fed meats.

ORGANS
Organs are an acquired taste but are an essential part of a well formulated nose to tail diet. Try to include beef heart, beef liver, chicken liver, chicken liver, kidneys and brains.

EGGS
All kinds of eggs from most birds. Choose organic where possible

FISH AND SEAFOOD
Choose fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines or herring are great, and might even have health benefits due to high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Other seafoods include scallops, shrimp, squid, swordfish, tilapia, trout and tuna.

DAIRY
Choose full-fat options where possible, like real butter, full fat cream, sour cream, Greek yogurt and high-fat cheeses. Try to limit regular milk, reduced fat and skim milk as they contain a lot of sugar.

FATS AND OILS
For cooking, use butter, duck fat, ghee, lard, schmaultz, chicken fat, suet and tallow.

Foods to Avoid on the Carnivore Diet

While it might seem quite obvious that any food that isn't an animal are foods to avoid while on the carnivore diet, there are also some animal foods that you should limit or avoid.

PROCESSED MEATS
Process meats are typically low in nutrition and high in chemicals.

LOW FAT MILK
Low fat and skimmed milk is generally high sugar. Limit it to a few drops in your coffee or tea if you need to.

SEASONING & SAUCES
While it's not uncommon to season a steak with salt, thyme or even paprika, going too heavy on seasoning and sauces can cause digestive issues for those with a sensitive stomach.

CARNIVORE Drinks

WATER
Water should be your first choice where possible. If you think you'll struggle with water intake, consider sparkling water.

BONE BROTH
Broth from the bones of any animal can create a warm and soothing drink.

COFFEE
Black coffee, coffee with cream or coffee with milk are all fine. Just keep in mind that cream comes with extra calories that you may not account for when trying to lose weight.

TEA
Tea with a drop of milk or cream is OK. Green tea with no milk is better.

Carnivore Food Macros

Remember, protien is easy to find on the carnivore diet, but due to fat fear generated by the media, it's pretty tricky to find fat, your main source of energy. Check out this guide to carnivore food macros to get a head start.

LEARN MORE: CARNIVORE DIET MACRO CALCULATOR

Beef (per 4 ounces/113 grams)

.	Fat	Protein	Carbs
Beef, ribeye steak	20	22	0
Beef , porterhouse steak	20	24	0
Beef, ground 85%	16	20	0
Beef chuck	5	25	0
Beef, liver	4	24	4
Beef, sirloin steak	12	37	0
Beef, skirt steak	14	22	0
Beef, boneless stew meat	12	20	0
Beef, heart	4	20	0

Poultry (per 4 ounces/113 grams)

	Fat	Protein	Carbs
Chicken, rotisserie	12	22	0
Chicken, drumstick	8	22	0
Chicken, thigh	9	20	0
Chicken, liver	4	20	0
Chicken, breast	3	20	0
Chicken, wing	8	12	0
Duck, whole	7	20	0
Turkey, dark meat	6	24	0
Turkey, breast	4	32	0

Pork (per 4 ounces/113 grams)

	Fat	Protein	Carbs
Pork, chops	16	28	0
Pork, ground	20	24	0
Pork, pulled	4	14	0
Pork, bacon	37	37	0
Pork, ribs	32	24	0
Pork, roast	12	24	0
Pork, shoulder	20	20	0
Pork, tenderloin	6	20	0

Seafood (per 4 ounces/113 grams)

	Fat	Protein	Carbs
Salmon	12	24	0
Sardines	12	28	0
Shrimp	4	28	0
Mackeral	10	22	0
Mussels	2	12	4
Oysters	12	22	4
Scallops	1	28	0
Squid	2	18	4
Swordfish	6	22	0
Tilapia	4	24	0
Trout	8	24	0
Tuna	2	28	0
Octopus	1	16	2
Lobster	1	24	0

Dairy (per Ounce/28 Grams)

	Fat	Protein	Carbs
Cream heavy	11	2	2
Cream cheese	10	2	2
Milk, full-fat	8	8	10
Mozzarella cheese	6	6	0
Parmesan cheese	7	10	0
Swiss cheese	8	8	1
Cheddar cheese	9	7	0
Brie cheese	8	6	0
Cottage cheese	1	4	1
Feta	6	4	1
Sour cream	6	1	1
Yogurt, Greek	8	20	7

Fats & Oils (per tablespoon)

	Fat	Protein	Carbs
​Suet (1 oz)	26	0	0
​Tallow	14	0	0
​Lard	14	0	0
Butter	12​	0	0
Duck Fat	12	0	0
Ghee	12	0	0

Carnivore Diet Food FAQ

DO I NEED TO TAKE ELECTROLYTES?
If you feel OK, no. You won't need any additional electrolytes. If you feel as though you're getting the flu (keto flu), you may need to add more salt to your diet.

IS GRASS FED REALLY BETTER THAN GRAIN FED BEEF?
It's still too early to say. If you can afford grass fed beef and you're concerned about animal welfare, it could be a good option for you. If you can't afford it, you can get the same benefits from grain fed meat. There's also some research to suggest that grain fed, while nutritionally inferior, is more environmentally friendly due to the processes being more efficient.

ISN'T CARNIVORE EXPENSIVE?
When you consider how much you consume and how much you waste compared to the price of a standard American diet, the carnivore way of life can be much less expensive. All of the money you would have spent on various fruits and vegetables will be available to spend on meat, eggs and dairy.

DON'T I NEED FIBER?
No. In fact, there is currently zero evidence that fiber aids digestion in anyway. In fact, most research seems to suggest that a low or zero fiber diet actually helps people with symptoms of IBS, like stomach upset, gas, diarrhea or constipation.