When I first came across Paleo, I didn’t see it as some diet trend. What stood out to me was that it’s really just going back to how humans are supposed to eat. We aren’t designed for boxes of processed food or bottles of seed oils. Our biology was shaped by real food, by nature, and when we get back to that, everything changes.
This isn’t about chasing a six-pack or losing a few pounds before summer. Paleo is about how you live every single day. It’s energy, clarity, skin, sleep, mood, and resilience. Every choice you make around food either builds your body up or drags it down. Once you clean things up and start fueling yourself the way nature intended, you realize that health isn’t complicated. It’s built into you.
So if you’re new to Paleo, here’s my food list for 2025. Not because rules matter, but because these are the foods that work with your body, and the ones you should leave behind if you want to feel alive again.
What to Eat on Paleo in 2025
Animal-Based Staples
Meat is the foundation. It has always been the foundation. Beef, lamb, bison, venison — they are loaded with protein, iron, B vitamins, and minerals your body can actually use. Don’t be afraid of fat either. Tallow, butter, and ghee are stable and nourishing. And if you really want to level up, start bringing organs into your diet. Liver, heart, kidney. These are not just “extras.” They are the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. Eggs are another essential — pasture-raised when you can find them.
Seafood
Your brain and hormones run on omega-3s. Wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, and anchovies provide the fats your body thrives on. Shellfish like oysters and mussels are mineral-rich foods that most people today are completely missing.
Raw Dairy (if your body tolerates it)
Not all dairy is equal. Industrial dairy is junk, but raw, full-fat dairy is a whole different story. Raw milk, raw cheese, and full-fat kefir or yogurt are loaded with enzymes, probiotics, and fat-soluble vitamins. They can be incredibly healing for those who tolerate them.
Fruit and Honey
Carbs aren’t the enemy, but the right carbs matter. Seasonal fruit and raw honey are what our ancestors reached for, not refined sugar. Think mangos, berries, bananas, pineapple. Think raw honey as a clean fuel source. These are carbs that actually work with your metabolism.
Other Essentials
Salt is not the villain. Your body needs minerals to function, and mineral-rich salts like Redmond Real Salt or Celtic sea salt are game changers. Bone broth is another staple. It delivers collagen, glycine, and nutrients that repair your gut and strengthen joints. Fresh herbs and simple spices can round things out without irritating your system.
What to Avoid
This is the stuff that takes your health away from you piece by piece.
Seed oils like canola, soybean, corn, safflower, sunflower, and grapeseed are at the top of the list. They oxidize easily, drive inflammation, and mess with your metabolism. Grains like wheat, oats, corn, and rice are cheap carbs loaded with antinutrients that irritate the gut. Legumes — beans, lentils, soy, peanuts — all bring compounds that block nutrient absorption and stress digestion. Industrial dairy is another one to drop. Low-fat, pasteurized, processed dairy does more harm than good. And of course, refined sugar and ultra-processed foods are everywhere in the modern world. They’re addictive, empty, and designed to make you sick. If it comes in shiny packaging with twenty ingredients you can’t pronounce, it doesn’t belong in your body.
Common Questions I Get
Do you really need organs? The answer is yes, but start small. Even a little bit once a week makes a massive difference.
What about coffee? It’s not really Paleo, but some people handle it fine. The key is to watch how it affects your sleep, stress, and recovery.
How many carbs do you actually need? That depends on your body. Some thrive low-carb, while others feel best adding fruit and honey. Pay attention to how you feel, not to strict rules.
Is Paleo the same as carnivore? No. Carnivore removes almost all plants. Paleo keeps fruit, honey, and sometimes raw dairy on the table. It’s more flexible while still cutting the modern junk.
My Perspective
For me, Paleo is not a 30-day challenge. It’s not a temporary “diet.” It’s a way of living that puts you back in rhythm with how humans were designed to eat and live. When you build your meals around meat, fruit, salt, and whole fats, and when you cut out the fake food, you start to feel a shift. Energy comes back. Your brain feels clear. Your body actually recovers instead of dragging through the day.
This isn’t about restriction. It’s about freedom — freedom from cravings, from energy crashes, from the cycle of eating junk and feeling like junk. Paleo is getting our bodies back to the perfect health they were designed to experience.
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