The paleo diet is gaining more and more popularity because of its effectiveness not only in terms of weight loss but also in boosting overall health and wellness. Some studies show that the diet regime can be effective in lowering cardiovascular risk factors and other diseases.
It’s based on one seemingly simple principle: to eat like our ancestors from the Paleolithic age would eat. And considering that was over 12,000 years ago, you already know that a lot of the foods we consume in the modern day are off the table.
The Paleo Diet CEO, Trevor Connor, says that there are three main foods safe to eat when observing paleo. These are fruit, meat, and vegetables. While that sounds easy enough to follow to satisfy three meals a day, talking about snacks is a whole different ball game.
If you’ve been scratching your head thinking about what snacks you can enjoy on paleo, you’ve come to the right place. We list high-protein paleo snacks that are safe (and tasty!) for your paleo lifestyle.
The paleo diet aims to mimic how our ancestors ate before all the processed food, sugar additives, and preservatives were invented. It mainly focuses on the consumption of the fundamental food groups that were gathered or hunted by our ancestors—meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.
Although the diet regime has evolved to suit modern nutritional needs, nutritionists are adamant that it’s still the simplest approach to healthy eating. The main benefit lies in the consumption of nutrient-dense foods. Paleo snacks are often packed with protein, as well as healthy fats and other essential nutrients—basically everything our bodies need to function optimally.
High-protein paleo snack foods have been linked to numerous health benefits, from improving energy levels and digestion to supporting overall physical health and well-being.
High-protein paleo snacks can be easy to identify—if you know what to look for. Generally, they’re anything that fits within the framework of the Paleo diet: whole, unprocessed, high-protein foods.
Some key ingredients you’ll commonly find in high-protein paleo snacks include:
Preparing a paleo meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner can be as simple as putting together a chicken salad and calling it a day. But when it comes to snack foods, you might find it to be more of a challenge.
You want something quick and satisfying, but most of the options you have that meet that criteria are off the table. Experts will tell you that common snack foods like chips, granola bars, and crackers are all no-nos in the paleo diet, violating the rule of exclusively consuming whole, unprocessed foods.
That’s not to say that finding or whipping up your own paleo snacks is impossible. There are plenty of paleo-friendly alternatives that are just as delicious and even more nutritious. High-protein paleo snacks are nutrient-dense, packed with protein, healthy fats, fiber, and other essential nutrients to keep you satiated and maintain your energy levels throughout the day.
The paleo snack ideas we listed here are nutritionist- and paleo-dieter-approved. They’ve been tried and tested by experts and paleo dieters, old and new, and proven to be simple, tasty, and most importantly, suitable for your paleo diet routine.
Whether you’re looking for something to munch on while working or to fuel your workouts, you’ll find these snacks to be the perfect, healthy option.
Paleo jerky bites are made from meat seasoned with spices and then baked or dehydrated until they’re chewy in texture. They’re grab-and-go snacks that are easy to enjoy and help curb your hunger between meals.
While there are packed jerky bites that are paleo-friendly, you can also make your own with your choice of meat sliced into thin strips or cubes, spices, and olive oil. Marinate the meat in your spices for 2-4 hours, then dehydrate or bake in the oven.
Simple, tasty, and nutritious, nut and seed energy bars are paleo dieters’ go-to snacks. They’re made of natural ingredients, primarily nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, which means they’re abundant in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. A bite of these energy bars can keep you full and energized throughout the day.
There are plenty of nut and seed energy bars in grocery store shelves. Whipping up your own can be easy too. Choose your nuts—think almonds and cashews, pulse them in a food processor and mix with pumpkin and sunflower seeds and dried fruit. Pour the ingredients in a mixture of coconut oil and almond butter and leave to firm in a baking dish.
If you’re looking for something plain and simple, you can’t go wrong with boiled egg and veggie packs. They’re incredibly easy to make, perfect for meal prep. Nutrition won’t be a problem either. Combining the protein from eggs with the fiber and essential vitamins from veggies, you’ll have a balanced and healthy option for a quick and light snack.
Making this high-protein paleo snack is as easy as gathering hard-boiled eggs and your choice of veggies. Baby carrots, cucumber slices, celery sticks, and cherry tomatoes are popular options. Place them in a small container or zip-lock bag and enjoy whenever and wherever! Some paleo dieters even pack a container of their favorite paleo-friendly dip for extra flavor.
So you don’t have to scamper around, rushing to make your paleo snacks when you feel hungry in between meals, we recommend planning your snacks and preparing them in advance. Meal planning will help save you time during the week and also keep your paleo diet on track.
For effective paleo snack planning, start by laying out your plan. Choose 3 to 5 different snacks to prepare for the week then gather your ingredients. On weekends or when you have the most free time, batch-cook your snacks.
After you’ve whipped up enough for the entire week, divide your snacks into individual portions using containers or ziplock bags. Label them and store them appropriately. Most paleo snack foods can last days on the kitchen counter and up to a week in the fridge.
Every week, switch up your snacks to keep things exciting. A good snack rotation will keep you from getting bored with your options and help you sustain your paleo diet for the long term.
To ensure your paleo snacks are well-balanced and conducive to your diet regime, you need to be mindful of your portions. When planning your snacks, nutritionists recommend combining nutrient-dense whole foods that can supply your body with protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
Always have protein as the base of your snack, whether that’s egg, meat, or poultry. Eat non-starchy vegetables on the side for your fiber supply. Lastly, don’t forget to load up on nuts and seeds for an adequate supply of healthy fat. If you want, you can also add fruits to the mix for extra nutrition.
TLDR: Focus on adding variety to your paleo snacks.
Meal planning is a great way to stock up on paleo snacks and ensure you have enough to keep your diet on track throughout a busy week. However, since the paleo diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods, many of them are perishable.
When meal prepping, make sure you’re storing your prepared snacks properly to keep them fresh and safe for consumption. Use airtight containers to keep moisture and air out and prevent spoilage. Seasoned paleo dieters label their containers with the preparation date to help keep track of freshness.
Here are some storage tips for different types of paleo snacks:
The paleo diet may be restrictive, making it challenging to find the right snacks. But with a little creativity and the right ingredients, we guarantee you can stick to paleo while enjoying delicious and nutritious snack foods.
The key is to know how to substitute common, processed snacks with paleo-friendly alternatives. Here are some substitutions seasoned paleo dieters make:
To eat as our Paleolithic ancestors did, you need to know how to choose the right snacks (pork rinds snack) that will provide fuel to your body while staying within the confines of the diet regime.
While the paleo diet does eliminate a lot of the common snack foods you reach out for, you still have plenty of options—as long as you know the key ingredients suitable for your diet and your health.
