This Paleo grocery list for beginners will help you shop for foods that you know could benefit you and help you avoid those that will harm you.
If you’re ever in doubt as to whether you should include a product in your Paleo shopping list just ask yourself whether a caveman would’ve eaten it and if the answer’s no, then don’t.
Another tell tale sign that an item shouldn’t go on your Paleo grocery list is anything that contains gluten, preservatives, sugar, vegetable oil and so on.
The thing with the Paleo diet is that whilst it offers many health & weight loss benefits, these benefits only kick in if you stick to eating Paleo approved foods.
By eating anything not on the Paleo grocery list you’ll be going backwards when it comes to improving your health and getting into shape.
Protein
- Eggs (free range) – Chicken, goose & duck eggs
- Chicken, Turkey, Duck (free range)
- Fish such as salmon, halibut, hake, shrimp
- Pork loin
- Steak (grass fed)
- Bison
- Venison
- Lamb
- Rabbit
- Bacon
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Sausages
Tip: For cheaper prices, farmers’ markets are a good place to shop for organic fruit & veggies as well as free range chicken, eggs & grass fed beef
Fresh Produce
Vegetables
- Artichokes
- Asparagas
- Avocado
- Broccoli
- Beets
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage (red or green)
- Cauliflower
- Cucumbers
- Chives
- Celery
- Carrots
- Eggplant (aubergine or brinjal)
- Fennel
- Green beans
- Tomatoes
- Lettuce
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Peppers (red peppers & green peppers)
- Pumpkin
- Sweet potato
Berries & Fruit
- Citrus (lime & lemons – oranges are fine if you’re not worried about their high sugar content)
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi fruit
- Melons
- Plums
- Tangerines
- Cranberries
- Rasberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
For the Pantry
- Green tea
- Coffee beans
- Coconut syrup or coconut sugar
- Raw cacao powder
- Vegetable, chicken & beef stock
- Vanilla extract
- Beef jerky
- Tinned sardines & tuna (be careful of the mercury content in tuna)
- Gherkins
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar and/or white wine vinegar
- Sesame oil
- Organic Ghee
- Olive Oil
- Coconut oil
- Coconut milk
- Dijon mustard
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Canned tomatoes
- Canned artichokes
- Coconut water
- Applesauce (unsweetened)
- Raw honey
- Olives
- Almond butter
- Marinara sauce
Note: If you can’t afford or can’t source the organic, free range versions of the items on this Paleo grocery list, it’s still far healthier to just get the non-organic versions than eating pasta, bread and other processed foods
Frozen Foods
- Minced or ground beef (grass fed)
- Bacon
- Lamb chops, shanks or cutlets
- Sausages (grass fed)
- Salmon fillets
- Prawns
- Halloumi cheese
- Pepper strips
- Mixed vegetables (organic)
- Frozen berries & fruit
- Chicken breasts, wings & thighs (free range)
- Green peas
- Greek, full-fat yogurt or coconut yogurt
Fats & Oils
- Coconut oil
- Virgin olive oil, extra olive oil
- Macadamia oil
- Ghee
- Butter (organic)
- Lard
- Avocado
Nuts & Seeds
- Almonds
- Brazil nuts
- Cashews
- Chia seeds
- Chestnuts
- Flax seeds
- Hazelnuts
- Pecan nuts
- Pine nuts
- Macadamia
- Pistachios
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Walnuts
Spices & Herbs
- Basil
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Turmeric
- Rosemary
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Chives
- Dill
- Cinnamon
- Cumin
- Chilli powder & flakes
- Bay leaves
- Black pepper and/or cayenne pepper
- Ground coriander seed
- Mustard seeds
- Tumeric
- Paprika
- Cajun seasoning
Breakfast Cereals
- No
- No
- No
Pastries & Cakes
- Nothing from here
Alcohol
- No beer unless it is gluten free & grain free
- Red wine in moderation as it is has some beneficial properties in that it’s a source of antioxidants like resveratrol which is a part of a group of compounds called polyphenols which act like antioxidants, protecting the body against damage.
Chocolate
- Only choose chocolate that consists of more than 70% cocoa & that which is gluten free – this type of dark chocolate is a good source of iron & magnesium.
It should be noted that the above grocery list is not exhaustive and is meant to be used as a guide.
Putting All These Foods Together…
Start serving delicious Paleo dishes with this fantastic collection of Approved Paleo Recipes & 8-Week Meal Plan here