CARNIVORE
Foods to eat
The Carnivore Diet includes only animal products and excludes all other foods.
Specifically, someone on the Carnivore Diet can eat:
| Meat: | beef, chicken, turkey, organ meats, lamb, pork, etc. |
| Fish: | salmon, mackerel, sardines, crab, lobster, tilapia, herring, etc. |
| Other animal products: | eggs, lard, bone marrow, bone broth, etc. |
| Low-lactose dairy (in small amounts): | heavy cream, hard cheese, butter, etc. |
| Water |
Foods to avoid
All foods that do not come from animals are excluded from the Carnivore Diet.
Restricted foods include:
| Vegetables: | broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, green beans, peppers, etc. |
| Fruits: | apples, berries, bananas, kiwi, oranges, etc. |
| High-lactose dairy: | milk, yogurt, soft cheese, etc. |
| Legumes: | beans, lentils, etc. |
| Nuts and seeds: | almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, etc. |
| Grains: | rice, wheat, bread, quinoa, pasta, etc. |
| Alcohol: | beer, wine, liquor, etc. |
| Sugars: | table sugar, maple syrup, brown sugar, etc. |
| Beverages other than water: | soda, coffee, tea, fruit juice, etc. |
What is a Carnivore Diet?
The Carnivore Diet is a restrictive diet that only includes meat, fish, and other animal foods like eggs and certain dairy products.
It excludes all other foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds.
Its proponents also recommend eliminating or limiting dairy intake to foods that are low in lactose - a sugar found in milk and dairy products - such as butter and hard cheeses.
The Carnivore Diet stems from the controversial belief that human ancestral populations ate mostly meat and fish and that high-carb diets are to blame for today's high rates of chronic disease.
Other popular low-carb diets, like the keto and paleo diets, limit but don't exclude carb intake. However, the Carnivore Diet aims for zero carbs.
How to follow the Carnivore Diet
Following the diet involves eliminating all plant foods from your diet and exclusively eating meat, fish, eggs, and small amounts of low-lactose dairy products.
Foods to eat include beef, chicken, pork, lamb, turkey, organ meats, salmon, sardines, white fish, and small amounts of heavy cream and hard cheese. Butter, lard, and bone marrow are also allowed.
Proponents of the diet emphasize eating fatty cuts of meat to reach your daily energy needs.
The Carnivore Diet encourages drinking water and bone broth but discourages drinking tea, coffee, and other drinks made from plants.
It provides no specific guidelines regarding calorie intake, serving sizes, or how many meals or snacks to eat per day. Most proponents of the diet suggest eating as often as you desire.
Sample menu
Here's a five-day sample menu for the Carnivore Diet: (click the button to view menu)
