It’s so important that you consume the best meat for carnivore diet because almost all your nutrition hinges on the cuts you select. The biggest complaint about this radical shift from traditional dietary norms is that you can end up with nutrient deficiency – but as long as you know what meats to eat on carnivore diet, you can avoid that!
We’ve put together this quick guide to rounding out your carnivore diet plan with whole cuts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with the most delicious, nutritious meat chips you’ll ever try when you feel snackish between meals. Set yourself up for success today.
Key Takeaways
- The carnivore diet involves eating only animal products, which is mostly meat.
- It’s not as simple as eating ground beef for every meal. You need to rotate a ton of cuts to keep things fresh and fill nutritional gaps.
- Chicken, pork, wild game, fish, and organ meats are all essential.
- Carnivore chips are an absolute staple for when cravings strike between meals.
Carnivore Diet Benefits
You’re probably already somewhat familiar with the carnivore diet and how it works. This is pretty much the furthest thing from the traditional American diet, and it flies in the face of something you’ve always been told: too much meat is harmful.
On the contrary, going carnivore can lead to an array of benefits! The idea is that you’re eliminating a lot of food groups that ultimately cause more harm than good. Our digestive systems were never meant to consume gluten, soy, sugar, and all the other nasty stuff that you find in processed foods. Here’s what you could experience on carnivore:
- Effortless weight management: You naturally eat less while on carnivore since everything is packed with protein and healthy fats. You feel full for longer.
- Smoother energy all day long: Carbs can lead to spikes and crashes in energy levels. Your body runs more seamlessly on fat as fuel.
- A healthier inflammatory response: You’re eliminating a ton of foods that can prompt a negative inflammatory response in the body, so you may notice less discomfort and fewer symptoms if you have an autoimmune condition.
There are so many other reasons to go carnivore, too. It simplifies your day-to-day life because there are fewer decisions to make around meal planning. The carnivore diet food list is fairly concise, after all.
Why You Need to Eat the Best Meat For Carnivore Diet
The most common reason people say carnivore is unhealthy is because of nutritional deficiency. Surely you can’t get everything you need from meat alone, right? That’s a loaded question.
Yes – eating just ground beef and chicken for every meal is a one-way ticket to nutrient deficiency. While they’re among the best meat for carnivore diet, they don’t provide everything your body and mind need to thrive. And let’s face it. You’d get bored of the diet fast and wouldn’t stick with it, anyway.
But the animal kingdom does provide everything you need! You just have to know where to find it. For example, fish bring a wealth of nutrients that land-dwelling animals lack. Organ meats bring essential vitamins and minerals you’d never get from muscle cuts.
And for what it’s worth, you don’t have to eat ONLY meat on the carnivore diet. You can also enjoy eggs, which are quite literally a superfood. You may even be able to enjoy dairy (as long as it’s minimally processed, that is).
But since the variety of your meals centers on meat, let’s look at all the meats to eat on carnivore diet below so you can jumpstart this journey!
Our Favorite Meats to Eat on Carnivore Diet For Balanced Nutrition
This isn’t even an exhaustive list of the best meat for carnivore diet. But these are the staples we keep stocked in our fridge/freezer:
- Beef: A powerhouse of essential nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, and zinc. Obviously a great source of high-quality protein and saturated fats, too. Grass-fed beef specifically is higher in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
- Lamb: A nutrient-dense meat that gets overlooked for no reason. An excellent source of protein, rich in vitamins B12 and B3, and loaded with selenium and zinc. You get beneficial fatty acids thanks to its higher fat content, too.
- Pork: Wait, can you eat pork on carnivore diet? Yes! It’s a good source of B vitamins, particularly B1 (thiamine), essential for carbohydrate metabolism – ironic, given the diet’s low-carb nature. Pork also provides bioavailable heme iron and high-quality protein.
- Chicken: Probably the leanest source of protein you’ll regularly consume on the carnivore diet. It gives you essential nutrients like niacin and selenium. We have some amazing carnivore diet chicken recipes so the diet doesn’t have to get stale.
- Turkey: Even leaner than chicken. It’s packed with B vitamins for energy production. Like chicken, it’s also a good source of selenium.
- Duck: A flavorful option when you need a different poultry experience. It’s also richer and higher in fat than chicken or turkey. A good source of iron, B vitamins, and particularly rich in niacin, which supports skin health and metabolic function.
- Fish: A must for heart and brain health, especially oily fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines. They’re super rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Fish is also a great source of protein and delivers vital vitamins like D and B12. Plus, it’s a different culinary experience!
- Shellfish: Oysters, clams, and mussels are nutrient powerhouses. They have a ton of zinc and vitamin B12. Oysters, for example, contain more zinc per serving than any other food.
- Organ meats: Yeah, probably not the most appetizing option. But we’d argue they’re the best meat for carnivore diet. Liver, kidney, and heart all bring you nutrients you won’t get anywhere else. We encourage you to eat organ meats at least a few times a week.
Don’t forget the carnivore diet snacks, though! Our Ribeye chips, Pork chips, Brisket chips, and Steak chips all deliver a tantalizing experience to your taste buds, with a rich umami flavor and an incredible texture. They’re made from just two ingredients: regeneratively raised meat and salt. Add them to your rotation today now that you know what meats to eat on carnivore diet!
