“Is protein powder Paleo?” This is one question we get repeatedly, and it’s almost always followed by, “can you recommend some brands?” This post aims to clear up the confusion for you. First things first, let’s assume that we all understand that, even though cavemen did not have access to protein powder, that doesn’t mean we CAN’T eat it in our modern world. The whole “eat everything a caveman would” is so mid-2000s, right? That being said, not all protein powders are created equal. And, we don’t advocate for all of the protein in your diet coming from protein powder. It’s always a good rule of thumb to get the majority of ...

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We’re going to dive into the deep, dark world of Paleo-friendly sugar. We get a lot of questions about this topic. And for a good reason - it can be confusing. What is Paleo-friendly sugar? I don’t know about you, but when I first started the Paleo diet, I spent hours and hours learning all I could about it. This included recipe hunting. And, of course, as I sought out recipes,  I found all kinds for Paleo cookies, cakes, brownies...the whole gamut. For a beginner, this was confusing. Many resources claimed that the Paleo diet is a sugar-free diet. But these dessert recipes included ingredients like coconut sugar, honey, maple ...

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Head cheese might just be the most misleading name for a food ever. Let me go ahead and tell you that there is no cheese involved. The “head” part of the name rings true, though - the use of that term comes from the fact that a whole pig’s head is used to make this stuff. What Is Head Cheese? Traditionally, head cheese is a cold cut that comes from the meat of a pig’s (or sometimes a calf’s) head. Nowadays, when pig’s heads aren’t so easy to come by, pig’s feet are commonly used. This part of the pig houses collagen from the skin, joints, and tendons which lends to nourishing qualities. Are There Health Benefits? Many people tout drinking ...

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Can you eat butter on the Paleo diet? Cavemen didn't do that. I’m going to be honest here - sometimes, the whole “eat as a caveman would…” does more harm than good. I’m not going to go into the specifics as to why that logic is flawed - Google can easily tell you that. But, while eating as our ancestors did is a good guideline to follow, I think it can divert focus away from our ultimate goal which is eating for HEALTH. The Big Question One question that we get often is regarding butter. Is butter technically Paleo? It is a dairy product, so no it’s not. Did cavemen eat butter? Nope, they sure didn’t. Regardless of this, though, we ...

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Rice: Is it Paleo? Is rice Paleo? So you know that grains are a no-go on the Paleo diet. Still have questions about that? Be sure to check out our guide on grains to familiarize yourself of the “why.” But what about rice? Is that technically a grain? Can you eat rice while following a Paleo diet? Rice is a grain First things first. Rice is a grain. Plain and simple. Again - read all about why grains are excluded on the Paleo diet if you don’t know the reasoning behind it or if you need a refresher. Ok, now that we have that out of the way, we can get into the more nitty gritty. Even though it is a grain, more and more Paleo ...

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What’s the deal with green beans? I know what you’re thinking…how can a site dedicated to all things Paleo even include recipes with green beans – a legume! Aren’t legumes forbidden? What is this madness?! Green beans are a legume Give me a second to explain. Yes, green beans are indeed a legume. And, yes, legumes are not “Paleo.” That being said, green beans fall into a gray area of Paleo – kind of like grass-fed butter or fermented yogurt. We like what Michelle from Nom Nom Paleo says about green beans on the Paleo diet: “Before anyone gets on my case about whether green beans are Paleo, I eat them when they’re in season because ...

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