What is the paleo diet?

The paleo diet encourages you to "eat like a caveman,” following the food pattern of humans during the Paleolithic era more than 2 million years ago. Instead of prepackaged, processed food, you eat whole foods you could hunt, fish, or gather. Eating a diet that emphasizes whole foods may help you lose weight, improve health, and reduce your risk of chronic disease.

How do I know if the paleo diet is right for me?

If you’re thinking of trying the paleo diet to improve health or lose weight, talk to your primary care provider first. They can help you decide if the high-protein, moderate- to low-carb diet is a good fit for your lifestyle and health. Health and nutrition experts consider the paleo diet a fad diet that may be hard to follow long-term because it eliminates two food groups, grains and dairy. Omitting major sources of essential nutrients, like fiber and calcium, may also place you at risk of developing nutritional deficiencies.

What can you eat on the paleo diet?

Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, berries, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and some root vegetables like sweet potatoes are the foundational foods for the paleo diet . Eating like a caveman means filling your plate with foods you can hunt, fish, and gather. That means whole foods, not processed foods. Think plain fish filets instead of breaded fish sticks. The paleo diet discourages the use of salt and most types of added sugar; but you’re allowed small amounts of honey. You must also cut out all grains, dairy products, and legumes on the paleo diet.

What is the difference between paleo and keto?

Nutrition professionals consider the paleo and keto diet fad diets because they eliminate food groups and have strict rules. However, they each take a different approach. On the paleo diet, there’s no need to count calories or measure portions. When following the keto diet, you need to count and track carbs and measure food in order to stay in ketosis, which is when your body burns fat for energy.

What are the benefits of the paleo diet?

One of the key benefits of the paleo diet is that it encourages you to eat more whole foods, including fruits and vegetables. It also discourages processed foods, which are a major part of the modern diet and a main contributor to weight gain and chronic disease. Researchers investigating the health benefits of the paleo diet have found that eating like a caveman may help with weight control and management of chronic disease. It may also lower blood triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and body fat. However, larger, longer studies on the paleo diet are necessary to prove these health benefits.

The 8 Best Paleo Snacks of 2022

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Commerce Photo Composite — Verywell Fit / Amelia Manley

Snacking is an important part of any eating plan, including the paleo diet. Snacks provide energy in between meals and before workouts and prevent you from getting so hungry that you overeat at your next meal. The best paleo snacks are made with whole ingredients, between 200 to 300 calories, packed with fiber, and low in sodium.

Reviewed & Approved

Our top pick is NICK'S STICKS BY WENZEL'S FARM 100% Grass-Fed Beef Snack Sticks because they're made from high-quality ingredients and are packed with protein. We also love Jack's Link's Beef Snacks Sticks because they're filling and affordable.

It can also be helpful to look for prepackaged snacks, so you don't have to worry about portioning them. Prepacked snacks are also great for taking on the go. We researched various options, considering their ingredients, nutritional value, convenience, labels and certifications, availability, and price.

Here are the best paleo snacks.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

NICK'S STICKS BY WENZEL'S FARM Beef Snack Sticks at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Jack Link's Beef Snack Sticks at Amazon

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Best for On-The-Go:

DANG Coconut Chips at Amazon

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Best Bar:

Caveman Foods Paleo-Friendly Nutrition Bar at Amazon

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Best Non-Meat Snack:

Wildway Granola at Amazon

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Best Jerky:

Krave Jerky Beef Jerky at Amazon

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Best Sweet:

Crispy Green Crispy Fruit at Amazon

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Best Gluten-Free:

LÄRABAR Gluten Free Bar at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For

4.8

https://www.amazon.com/Nicks-Sticks-100-Grass-Fed-Snack/dp/B00QU781RG/

Courtesy of Amazon

What do buyers say? 81% of 2,000+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

We like Nick’s Sticks because they are a simple, cured meat snack packed with nutrients. Each pack comes with two sticks made of 100% grass-fed beef without any antibiotics, gluten, hormones, nitrates, soy, MSG, or sugar—it’s simply the good stuff. Each two-pack of Nick’s Sticks features 120 calories, 10 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, and 375 milligrams of sodium.

Sold in six-packs, Nick’s Sticks are ideal for paleo, keto, and Whole30 diets because they focus on lean meat and not much else. They are also certified gluten-free. They're individually packaged, so you can keep them in your drawer, your glove compartment, or your backpack for when hunger strikes after the gym or in the afternoon.

https://www.target.com/p/jack-link-s-original-beef-sticks-10ct-35oz/-/A-53660068

Courtesy of Target

Beef sticks are a popular and easy snack for anyone on a paleo diet, but they can get expensive if you're eating them often. Luckily, Jack Link’s makes tasty beef sticks at a very low cost making it an ideal snack for kids and adults alike.

Sold in 10 packs, these sticks are made of 100% beef and packed with nutrients. These beef sticks have 5 grams of protein, 130 calories, 11 grams of fat and 340 milligrams of sodium per stick. These snacks are a great option for athletes and anyone who wants to boost their protein intake. Heads up: these beef snacks include some sugar, salt, and corn syrup, and may include wheat or soy. It's important to note that most nutritionists do not advise a diet high in processed meats, like beef jerky, as they often contain nitrates and are associated with health risks. It is best to keep these caveats in mind for your overall health and enjoy in moderation.

Amazon

Not all of the best paleo snacks are meat-based. DANG Toasted Coconut Chips offer a fun and tasty snack that is completely compliant with paleo diets. Made only with coconut and sea salt, this snack is simple and delicious. You can snack on these chips on their own or add them to another meal or snack, such as a salad or fruit.

With a serving size of one ounce, DANG toasted coconut chips have 2 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, 1 grams of sugar, 200 calories, and 17 grams of fat. Made with Thai coconuts, these snacks are also free of preservatives, gluten, GMOs, and soy. An added bonus: they're also vegan, so they would be a good option for people who eat a pegan diet.

Caveman Foods Paleo-Friendly Nutrition Bar

Amazon

Caveman Foods Nutrition Bars contain only paleo-friendly ingredients, such as almonds, sunflower seeds, cashews, palm oil, cocoa, and salt. Each bar has 220 calories, 15 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of sugar, 5 grams of protein and 20 milligrams of sodium.

Caveman bars are aptly named to attract paleo fans, but it’s not just marketing—they’re really a great option. These bars are perfect for outdoor exercise and post-workout snacks, and help meat-hungry paleo followers get a more complete nutritional balance in their diets. The gluten-free bars are sold in 12 packs with flavors such as cherry nut, caramel cashew, cashew almond, almond coconut, and dark chocolate.

Wildway Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free Granola

Amazon

Paleo diets are almost always high in meat, fish, and eggs. However, not everyone wants to snack on jerky. Granola also provides a great boost of protein and nutrients that is paleo-compliant and a tasty snack. Wildway Granola is one of the best options out of all the paleo snacks for its nutrition profile and deliciousness.

Wildway Granola contains no wheat, oats, or corn—no filler, all paleo. It comes in a variety of flavors, too, like banana nut, apple cinnamon, coconut cashew, vanilla bean, and ginger. Whichever one you choose, all are made with paleo-friendly ingredients including dates, apples, sunflower seeds, cashews, walnuts, coconut, and pumpkin seeds, among many others.

Courtesy of Amazon

Krave offers some of the best jerky out there for snacking. The resealable bag and variety of flavors make this a fun snack for Paleo eating, as well as for road trips. Krave can be healthier than many other snacks and cheaper than many other jerkies.

It's made with simple ingredients including beef, cane sugar, spices, and gluten-free soy sauce. Each ounce has a whopping 8 grams of protein with only 90 calories, 380 milligrams of sodium, and 1.5 grams of fat.

Crispy Green Crispy Fruit Freeze-Dried Fruit

Amazon

These freeze-dried fruit snacks are conveniently portable for a sweet, on-the-go treat that works well for those following a paleo diet. You can enjoy flavors such as apple, pear, tangerine, pineapple, and banana, among others.

These snacks are great for paleo eaters as well as kids. Vegan, kosher, gluten-free, dairy-free and non-GMO, the Crispy Green snacks are also free of additives and added sugar.

Amazon

Larabars are a popular gluten-free snack that are known for their simple ingredients and delicious flavor combinations. Free of soy, dairy, and GMOs, these bars are an ideal snack for paleo fans. Sold in a variety of packs, you can find more than two dozen flavors of Larabars ranging from classics like chocolate chip to peanut butter and jelly or banana bread.

What to Look For in a Paleo Snack

Ingredients

When looking for snacks for your paleo diet, always look at the list of ingredients. You want to know what’s in your snack before eating. Choose snacks made from whole foods, like beef, chicken, fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, or vegetables, and try to steer clear of snacks made with added sugar.

Calories

The paleo diet focuses on eating certain types of foods, not calories. However, eating too many calories, even when they fit your meal plan, leads to weight gain. A healthy snack should have about 200 to 300 calories.

Fiber

You may have a hard time meeting your daily fiber needs when following the high-protein, moderate- to low-carb paleo diet. Fiber helps control hunger and improves bowel health. Look for snacks that provide 20% or more of the daily value for fiber.

Sodium

Salt is not allowed on the paleo diet, but paleo-approved snacks may be a source of sodium. Select snacks that provide 5% or less of the daily value for sodium.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the paleo diet?

The paleo diet encourages you to "eat like a caveman,” following the food pattern of humans during the Paleolithic era more than 2 million years ago. Instead of prepackaged, processed food, you eat whole foods you could hunt, fish, or gather.
Eating a diet that emphasizes whole foods may help you lose weight, improve health, and reduce your risk of chronic disease.
How do I know if the paleo diet is right for me?

If you’re thinking of trying the paleo diet to improve health or lose weight, talk to your primary care provider first. They can help you decide if the high-protein, moderate- to low-carb diet is a good fit for your lifestyle and health.
Health and nutrition experts consider the paleo diet a fad diet that may be hard to follow long-term because it eliminates two food groups, grains and dairy. Omitting major sources of essential nutrients, like fiber and calcium, may also place you at risk of developing nutritional deficiencies.
What can you eat on the paleo diet?

Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, berries, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and some root vegetables like sweet potatoes are the foundational foods for the paleo diet. Eating like a caveman means filling your plate with foods you can hunt, fish, and gather. That means whole foods, not processed foods. Think plain fish filets instead of breaded fish sticks.
The paleo diet discourages the use of salt and most types of added sugar; but you’re allowed small amounts of honey. You must also cut out all grains, dairy products, and legumes on the paleo diet.
What is the difference between paleo and keto?

Nutrition professionals consider the paleo and keto diet fad diets because they eliminate food groups and have strict rules. However, they each take a different approach.
On the paleo diet, there’s no need to count calories or measure portions. When following the keto diet, you need to count and track carbs and measure food in order to stay in ketosis, which is when your body burns fat for energy.
What are the benefits of the paleo diet?

One of the key benefits of the paleo diet is that it encourages you to eat more whole foods, including fruits and vegetables. It also discourages processed foods, which are a major part of the modern diet and a main contributor to weight gain and chronic disease.
Researchers investigating the health benefits of the paleo diet have found that eating like a caveman may help with weight control and management of chronic disease. It may also lower blood triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and body fat.
However, larger, longer studies on the paleo diet are necessary to prove these health benefits.

Best Overall: NICK'S STICKS BY WENZEL'S FARM 100% Grass-Fed Beef Snack Sticks

Best Budget: Jack Link's Beef Snack Sticks

Best for On-The-Go: DANG Keto Toasted Coconut Chips

Best Bar: Caveman Foods Paleo-Friendly Nutrition Bar Dark Chocolate Almond Coconut

Best Non-Meat Snack: Wildway Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free Granola

Best Jerky: Krave Jerky Beef Jerky

Best Sweet: Crispy Green Crispy Fruit Freeze-Dried Fruit

Best Gluten-Free: LÄRABAR Gluten Free Bar Apple Pie

The 8 Best Paleo Snacks of 2022

Treat yourself on the Paleo diet with NICK'S STICKS Beef Snack Sticks

Reviewed & Approved

Best Overall: NICK'S STICKS BY WENZEL'S FARM 100% Grass-Fed Beef Snack Sticks

Best Budget: Jack Link's Beef Snack Sticks

Best for On-The-Go: DANG Keto Toasted Coconut Chips

Best Bar: Caveman Foods Paleo-Friendly Nutrition Bar Dark Chocolate Almond Coconut

Best Non-Meat Snack: Wildway Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free Granola

Best Jerky: Krave Jerky Beef Jerky

Best Sweet: Crispy Green Crispy Fruit Freeze-Dried Fruit

Best Gluten-Free: LÄRABAR Gluten Free Bar Apple Pie

What to Look For in a Paleo Snack

Ingredients

Calories

Fiber

Sodium

Frequently Asked Questions