Here is a list of Paleo friendly foods that our great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandparents would have enjoyed. Think its just nuts and berries? Nope!

Below, you will find a list of Encouraged foods, and – although they are allowed – foods that should be kept in moderation.

This list was obtained from the book Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain (Wiley and Sons, New York 2002 pages 104-112)

Encouraged Foods

NOTE: animals typically considered fatty meats, when raised free range and/or grass fed may be acceptable as they will be much leaner, and their omega 6 omega 3 ratio more favorable (lower 6)

Lean Meats
Lean beef, Flank steak, Top sirloin steak, Extra-lean hamburger (no more than 7% fat, extra fat drained off), London broil, Chuck steak, Lean veal, Any other lean cut, Lean pork, Pork loin, Pork chops, Any other lean cut

Lean poultry
Chicken breast, Turkey breast, Game hen breasts, Eggs, Chicken (go for the enriched omega 3 variety), Duck, Goose

Other meats
Rabbit meat (any cut), Goat meat (any cut)

Organ meats
Beef, lamb, pork, and chicken livers, Beef, pork, and lamb tongues, Beef, lamb, and pork marrow, Beef, lamb, and pork “sweetbreads”

Game meat
Alligator, Bear, Bison (buffalo), Caribou, Elk, Emu, Goose, Kangaroo, Muscovy duck, New Zealand cervena deer, Ostrich, Pheasant, Quail, Rattlesnake, Reindeer, Squab, Turtle, Venison, Wild boar, Wild turkey

Fish
Bass, Bluefish, Cod, Drum, Eel, Flatfish, Grouper, Haddock, Halibut, Herring, Mackerel, Monkfish, Mullet, Northern pike, Orange roughy, Perch, Red snapper, Rockfish, Salmon, Scrod, Shark, Striped bass, Sunfish, Tilapia, Trout, Tuna, Turbot, Walleye, Any other commercially available fish

Shellfish
Abalone, Clams, Crab, Crayfish, Lobster, Mussels, Oysters, Scallops, Shrimp

Fruit
Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Banana, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Carambola, Cassava melon, Cherimoya, Cherries, Cranberries, Figs, Gooseberries, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew melon, Kiwi, Lemon, Lime, Lychee, Mango, Nectarine, Orange, Papaya, Passion fruit, Peaches, Pears, Persimmon, Pineapple, Plums, Pomegranate, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Star fruit, Strawberries, Tangerine, Watermelon, All other fruits

Vegetables
Artichoke, Asparagus, Beet greens, Beets, Bell peppers, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Collards, Cucumber, Dandelion, Eggplant, Endive, Green onions, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard greens, Onions, Parsley, Parsnip, Peppers (all kinds), Pumpkin, Purslane, Radish, Rutabaga, Seaweed, Spinach, Squash (all kinds), Swiss chard, Tomatillos, Tomato (actually a fruit, but most people think of it as a vegetable), Turnip greens, Turnips, Watercress

Nuts and Seeds (obviously unsalted)
Almonds, Brazil nuts, Cashews, Chestnuts, Hazelnuts (filberts), Macadamia nuts, Pecans, Pine nuts, Pistachios, Pumpkin seeds, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, Walnuts

Foods to be Eaten in Moderation

Oils
Olive, avocado, walnut, flaxseed, and canola oils (use in moderation—4 tablespoons or less a day when weight loss is of primary importance)

Beverages
Coffee, Tea, Wine (two 4-ounce glasses; Note: Don’t buy “cooking wine,” which is loaded with salt), Beer (one 12-ounce serving), Spirits (4 ounces)

Paleo Sweets
Chocolate 85% cocoa and higher, Dried fruits (no more than 2 ounces a day, particularly if you are trying to lose weight), Honey, Maple Syrup (pure), Nuts mixed with dried and fresh fruits (no more than 4 ounces of nuts and 2 ounces of dried fruit a day, particularly if you are trying to lose weight), Sweet Potatoes, ***and I’m adding this last one myself: ICE CREAM!!! Enjoy 4 flavors of dairy free Purely Decadent ice cream (made with coconut milk) including coconut, vanilla bean, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip