• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Pure and Simple Nourishment
  • About
    • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
    • My Food Philosophy
    • Press and Publications
    • Contact
  • Free Resources
  • Recipes
    • Holidays
      • Fall
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Breakfast
    • Main Course
    • Dessert
    • Sauces and Dips
    • Side Dish
    • Drinks
    • Vegetables
    • Snack
    • Meat and Fish
    • Recipe Wrap-Ups
    • SCD
    • GAPS
    • Whole30
    • AIP
    • Vegan
    • Paleo
    • Dairy-Free
    • Gluten-Free
    • Low FODMAP
    • Refined-Sugar-Free
  • Health
    • Health Information
    • Book Club
  • Nutrition
  • Beauty
    • Beautycounter
    • Skin Care
  • Fitness
    • Fitness Information
    • Weekly Workouts
  • Favorites
    • Books
    • Tools
    • Skincare
  • Work With Me
    • Services
    • Skin Care Quiz
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Health Information
  • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
  • Services
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Health Information
    • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
    • Services
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×

    Home » Health Information

    Carnivore Diet Food List

    Published: Jul 12, 2021 · Modified: Feb 6, 2023 by Erin Carter · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    2664 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    • Tweet
    Carnivore diet food list

    Here you will find a carnivore diet food list to help you learn what you can and can't eat on a carnivore diet. I've also included a printable PDF with the foods that are allowed and not allowed to be eaten on a carnivore diet so that you can easily reference it at any time.

    A piece of steak on a cutting board with the title "the carnivore diet food list" over top.

    What is the carnivore diet?

    Before we get to the carnivore diet food list, I wanted to give you a quick introduction as to what the carnivore diet is, as it has been gaining popularity in the last few years. The carnivore diet is where you only eat foods that come from animals, and avoid any foods that come from plants. It sounds pretty extreme, but this elimination diet has many positive reviews and testimonials. People who try it say it helps with many different health problems and that it can help with many things including weight loss, blood sugar regulation, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, mood, energy, sleep, digestive issues, focus and more. Of course, like any other diet or nutrition changes, before considering the carnivore diet, be sure to discuss it with your doctor and other healthcare practitioners.

    The carnivore diet is based on the idea that our ancestors evolved eating mainly meat and fish, and that the high intake of carbohydrates and plant based foods that is common now is responsible for many different health issues and diseases.

    It is also based on the idea that the high intake of plants that is often recommended is not ideal for health. Plants naturally produce a number of different chemicals and compounds to help protect themselves from pray including things like oxalates, salicylates, phytic acid or phytates, lectins, and more. It's felt that these chemicals and compounds can be harmful to the human body, so by avoiding them by avoiding plant foods your health will improve.

    The carnivore diet is different from other elimination diets or low carb style diets such as paleo (although by definition a paleo diet isn't actually a low carbohydrate diet) or keto, in that the carnivore diet aims for a zero carbohydrate intake. So even though the goal of a carnivore diet isn't to put your body in ketosis, this would happen naturally given the lack of carbs on the diet.

    A carnivore diet is basically a combination of an extreme ketogenic diet, and elimination diet, both of which can help with various health problems. However, it should be noted that so far there have been no studies examining a carnivore diet to help prove or disprove any of the health claims associated with it.

    By removing plant foods, carnivore diets contain little or no:
    • FODMAPs
    • Oxalates
    • Lectins
    • Phytates
    • Glycoalkaloids
    • Salicylates

    And this is the reason why this diet is often cited to be so helpful for many different chronic health conditions and digestive issues.

    In order to follow a carnivore diet, you need to stick to animal-based foods. But, not all animal products are allowed on a carnivore diet, so in this post I've included a carnivore diet food list that outlines which foods are allowed, and which foods aren't allowed on a carnivore diet to make following this type of diet that much easier.

    Carnivore Diet Food List

    Foods to Eat on a Carnivore Diet:

    • Meat - this includes any type of unprocessed meat including beef, lamb, pork, game meats, chicken, turkey, etc.- you would need to avoid processed meats like hot dogs and deli meats which include fillers, sugars and other ingredients which aren't allowed on a carnivore diet.
    • Fish - any type of unprocessed fish such salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, crab, scallops, shrimp etc.
    • Other animal products including eggs, bone marrow, lard, bone broth (made without vegetables), etc.
    • Full fat and low lactose dairy products (in small amounts) including butter, heavy cream, ghee, hard cheese, etc.  - ideally raw dairy is preferred on a carnivore diet
    • Seasonings including salt, black pepper, herbs and spices. Be sure to avoid any seasonings with sugars or carbohydrates.
    • Water

    Foods to Avoid on a Carnivore Diet 

    • Fruit
    • Vegetables
    • High-lactose dairy products such as soft cheese, milk, yogurt, etc. 
    • Legumes
    • All additives including but not limited to, nitrates, artificial flavours, natural flavours, nitrites, MSG, etc.
    • Nuts and seeds
    • Imitation meats or plant based meats
    • Grains
    • Alcohol
    • Sugars
    • Beverages other than water

    In order to do the carnivore diet properly, you need to follow a nose-to-tail approach. This means that you are including organ meats in your diet to ensure that you are getting adequate vitamins and minerals. If you don't include organ meats you could become deficient in various vitamins and minerals. And in extreme cases even develop problems like vitamin C deficiency or scurvy. As I mentioned before, the carnivore diet is an extreme elimination diet so it needs to be approached with caution.

    You also want to ensure that the meat and fish you are eating are naturally raised. This means pasture raised meats (ie. grass fed and grass finished beef) and wild fish. Because of this, the carnivore diet can be rather expensive to do and not everyone could afford to do it properly. If you are not familiar with the differences between naturally raised meat and factory farmed meats I've written about it before in my post The Biggest Mistake You Can Make On The Paleo Diet.

    Carnivore diet shopping list:

    If you are thinking of trying a carnivore diet, I've created a handy printable PDF carnivore diet shopping list or carnivore diet food list for you.

    To get the list simply leave your email below and it will be sent to your inbox.

    Carnivore diet meal plan:

    If you are thinking about trying a carnivore diet, I highly encourage you to discuss it with your doctor first, as there are some people where this type of diet may not be ideal depending on your underlying health conditions, the medications you take etc. I also encourage you to do more research before just starting it on a whim. My favourite resource for the carnivore diet is the book The Carnivore Code by Dr. Paul Saladino. His book is full of great information, studies explaining how plants and plant chemicals can be harmful to our health, and he does a great job of really breaking down the science behind this diet.

    But if you are thinking about trying a carnivore diet and aren't sure what you could even eat on a diet like this, here is a sample 3 day carnivore diet meal plan:

    Sample Carnivore Diet Meal Plan

    Day 1
    • Breakfast: Steak and eggs
    • Lunch: Salmon and fried duck
    • Snack: Bacon
    • Dinner: Ground beef patties
    Day 2
    • Breakfast: Eggs with bacon
    • Lunch: Tuna and hard boiled eggs
    • Snack: Sardines
    • Dinner: Bone broth and roasted chicken
    Day 3
    • Breakfast: Chicken livers and scrambled eggs
    • Lunch: Turkey burgers
    • Snack: Hard boiled eggs
    • Dinner: Roasted salmon

    Looking for more ideas on what to eat on the carnivore diet? Be sure to checkout my free 14 day carnivore diet meal plan!

    You'll note that on a carnivore diet, counting calories and macros is not recommended. Portion sizes will also vary depending on the person. The goal is to eat when you are hungry, and finish eating when you are full.

    I hope you found this helpful! If you have tried a carnivore diet please share your experience in the comments. I would love to hear from you!

    Frequently asked questions:

    Can you drink coffee on a carnivore diet?

    Nope. The true carnivore diet only allows water. However, many people eat a more flexible carnivore diet where they will add beverages like coffee or tea.

    What is the difference between carnivore and keto?

    A carnivore diet eliminates all foods from plants and only allows you to eat food from animals. By doing so it naturally eliminates all carbohydrates and would put you into ketosis. It is basically an extreme version of a keto or low carbohydrate diet which limits, but does not entirely omit the amount of carbs that you can eat, with the goal of getting your body into ketosis.

    Where can I get more information about the carnivore diet?

    I highly recommend the book The Carnivore Code by Dr. Paul Saladino. It is the best resource I have found so far and is full of really great information.

    Other information you will want to read:

    • Why grains are not healthy
    • Is there mercury in your mascara? 
    • Is there benzene in your sunscreen? 
    • How to choose safe cookware
    • Are candles toxic?

    More Health Information

    • A collage of vitamin C serums with the title The Best Non-Toxic Vitamin C Serums above it.
      The 20 Best Non-Toxic Vitamin C Serums
    • A glass bowl with baking powder and a teaspoon in it with the title Is Baking Powder Gluten Free over it.
      Is Baking Powder Gluten Free?
    • A piece of cut steak on a ceramic slab with the title Carnivore Diet Meal Plan over it.
      Carnivore Diet Meal Plan
    • A collage of face masks with the title The Best Non-Toxic Face Masks on it.
      The Best Non-Toxic Face Masks for All Skin Types

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julie Ealey

      September 11, 2022 at 5:56 am

      . how can I get the printable list?

      Reply
      • Erin Carter

        September 26, 2022 at 6:21 pm

        Sorry I had a temporary tech glitch. You should be able to enter your email now and it will be sent to you. Thanks for your patience!

        Reply
        • Kim Wolfe

          October 27, 2022 at 5:51 am

          I have been on carnivore for 2 weeks! I have never felt this good in my life! I'm 60yrs old and rather sedentary and now have loads of energy, arthritis is diminishing. My goal is 90 days, but I don't want to go back to my tired, achy old ways! I have been following several Drs and carnivores on YT. Check out Dr. Ken Berry

          Reply
          • Erin Carter

            October 28, 2022 at 6:16 am

            That's amazing it's working so well for you!

            Reply
    2. Frank Liszka

      September 26, 2022 at 4:56 pm

      Please send me the list.

      Reply
      • Erin Carter

        September 26, 2022 at 6:15 pm

        Sorry there was a temporary tech glitch. If you put your email in the form it should be sent to you now.

        Reply
    3. Stephanie

      October 28, 2022 at 1:29 am

      Would love the list

      Reply
      • Erin Carter

        October 28, 2022 at 6:15 am

        If you put your email into the form in the post it will be sent to you.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Dr. Erin Carter wearing a floral dress in her kitchen.

    Hi everyone! My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialities in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Air Fryer Hash Browns
    • A bowl of protein baked oats topped with melted chocolate with a spoon in it.
      The Best Protein Baked Oats
    • An omelette with chicken, spinach, tomato and cheese in it on a plate.
      Chicken Omelette
    • Two soft boiled eggs in the shell that have been cut in half.
      Soft Boiled Eggs in Microwave

    Healthy Main Dishes

    • A piece of Mahi Mahi cooked in an air fryer on a plate.
      Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
    • A bowl of mango chicken curry topped with white rice and garnished with cilantro.
      Mango Chicken Curry
    • A bowl of paleo curried butternut squash soup garnished with flowers and fresh parsley.
      Paleo Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    • A plate with a cut up steak on it covered in chimichurri sauce.
      The Best Denver Steak
    • Blackened Mahi Mahi
    • A pan filled with tuna fried rice with chop sticks on top.
      Tuna Fried Rice

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    Some of the links on this website are affiliate links whereby we make a small percentage if you purchase the product through that link. It does not cost you anything extra and helps us keep this website running. As an Amazon associate we earn a small percentage from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Pure & Simple Nourishment

    2664 shares
    2664 shares