Carnivore Diet Food List

On a carnivore diet you eat only animal products: beef (ribeye, ground beef, chuck roast), pork (bacon, pork belly, chops), poultry (chicken thighs, turkey, duck), fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel), eggs, organ meats (liver, heart, kidney), and animal fats like butter, tallow, and ghee. Some people also include dairy like hard cheese and heavy cream.

All plant foods are excluded: vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and vegetable/seed oils. Sugar, honey, and all sweeteners are also off the list. The only seasoning most strict carnivore dieters use is salt.

It depends on your approach. Strict carnivore excludes dairy. Many follow "carnivore with dairy" and include butter, ghee, hard aged cheeses, and heavy cream. If you tolerate dairy well (no bloating or skin issues), it adds variety and extra fat to your diet.

Beef is the staple — especially fatty cuts like ribeye, chuck roast, and 80/20 ground beef. Ruminant animals (beef, lamb, bison) are preferred because they have the best fatty acid profile. Organ meats like beef liver are essential 1-2 times per week for complete nutrition (vitamins A, B12, iron, and K2).

If you eat nose-to-tail (including organ meats), most people don't need supplements. Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium) are important in the first few weeks of adaptation. Some add fish oil for omega-3s if they don't eat fatty fish regularly. Vitamin D supplementation may be needed if you have limited sun exposure.