When eating paleo, protein is a priority. Jerky makes a great protein snack for post-workout fuel, to satisfy hunger between meals or for healthy, on-the-go snacking just about any time! As jerky’s popularity has grown, so have the flavors and types of meat. Besides beef, look for chicken, pork, bison, elk, venison, turkey, salmon and more. Jerky gives you more nutritional bang for your buck. It’s made with lean cuts of meat so it will dry out properly. This makes it a healthy protein choice because it’s low in saturated fat. Paleo jerky has many nutritional benefits over conventional jerky—without sacrificing taste. For example, the sugar content of paleo jerky is usually 2 grams or less, whereas conventional jerky ranges from 5–9 grams of sugar per ounce.

Benefits of choosing paleo jerky over conventional jerky

• Lower in sugar
• Lower in sodium
• All-natural ingredients
• No artificial colors or flavors
• Higher meat quality standards (grass-fed, organic, hormone-free)

How do you know which jerky to choose?

Here’s what to look for on the nutrition facts label:

• Serving size: 1 oz. (about 28 grams)
• Less than 400 mg. of sodium
• Less than 5 g. of sugar
• 9 g. of protein or more
• Nitrate- and MSG-free; no artificial flavors or colors (i.e. caramel color)
• Paleo or Paleo Friendly certification logos
• 

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This article was brought to you by our friend, Jill West, RDN, at Caveman Foods.

Coconuts are one of our favorite island-fresh, nutty fruits because they’re packed full of flavor and brimming with good-for-you nutrients. But what are coconut aminos? And why would you want to add them to your shopping basket, let alone food? Are they paleo-friendly? Let’s find out!

Mystery Sauce

Packaged in a bottle, coconut aminos contain just two ingredients, coconut sap and sea salt. Yep, that’s it! Not only is it paleo-friendly, it’s also gluten- and soy-free making it a great addition to your pantry. Coconut sap is extracted from cut stems and the resulting material is full of potassium, vitamin C, B vitamins and 17 amino acids. Add that to the fact that coconut aminos have a similar and slightly sweeter taste than soy sauce with about one-third less sodium—and that’s tasty news indeed.

Say what?

Oh! And by the way, coconut aminos don’t taste like coconuts! But what can you use this savory-sweet sauce for? It’s a terrific substitute for soy sauce—a non-paleo-friendly condiment since it’s made from a legume. So feel free to use it in any recipe you’re converting to your paleo lifestyle. Or, try these easy recipes below for an amino boost that can’t be beat!

Paleo Salmon Cakes

 

Thai Beef and Broccoli Soup

 

Slow-Cooker Tangy Pineapple Shredded Beef

When it comes down to it, eating a paleo diet is simple—embrace your inner cave-dweller self! Seriously though, paleo is about eating real, nutrient-dense foods that would have been hunted or gathered before the agricultural revolution. That means veggies, fruits, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil, coconut oil, and ghee. You don’t need any exciting products to eat this way, just a great produce section and a quality meat department. But these paleo products make eating primally way more fun and easy. From Sunday morning pancakes to bacon on all things, take this list of the top paleo products at Sprouts next time you head to the store and stock up!

Vital Proteins® Collagen Peptides

A favorite supplement in the paleo world, collagen peptides are high-quality, high-protein amino acids derived from grass-fed gelatin. Loved as a protein supplement, collagen peptides are amazing for your hair, skin, nails, as well as muscle support when exercising. They’re tasteless, too, and won’t affect texture in most recipes, so load up!

Sprouts Coconut Date Rolls

Two ingredients, one big impact! These coconut date rolls are naturally sweet and so dangerous. After a couple bites, you’ll abandon all thoughts of conventional candy bars.

Rxbars®

So perfect for keeping in your purse, desk or gym bag, Rxbars® are high in protein without any undesirable fillers or weird ingredients.

SO Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

For that occasional sweet indulgence, this coconut milk “ice cream” is sweetened with monk fruit extract and is totally dairy-free. It has more additives than you’ll want to include in your diet on a regular basis, but it’s great for an occasional dairy-free, sugar-free treat.

Sprouts Organic Bone Broth

Loaded with protein, collagen and other nourishing amino acids, bone broth is a staple in paleo diets for its nutrient-rich properties. Another plus? Bone broth helps to maintain a healthy gut and is great sipped like tea or used in place of chicken stock or broth in recipes.

Sprouts Coconut Cream

A staple in probably every paleo diet, coconut cream—the solid white part in a can of coconut milk—gives recipes a dairy-free richness and creaminess. Sprouts Coconut Cream is affordable and loaded with the solid cream, making it a must for any primal pantry.

4th & Heart Ghee Butter

The richness of butter without the lactose? Yes, please! Bonus points: this ghee is grass-fed and seasoned with mineral-rich Himalayan pink salt.

Farmhouse Culture Gut Health Products

Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut,” and this guy would be a big fan of Farmhouse Culture gut health products. From Garlic Dill Pickle Gut Shots (that you drink like a shooter) to Smoked Jalapeño Kraut and Taqueria Mix Fermented Vegetables, support your gut with these delicious fermented products, loaded with healthy bacteria.

Hail Merry Products

You’ll be shocked at how seriously indulgent these paleo treats taste. From Caramel Sea Salt Bites to Dark Chocolate Tarts, Meyer Lemon Cups and Chocolate Almond Butter Cups—luckily, there’s no guilt to these paleo desserts.

Sprouts Frozen Organic Riced Cauliflower

Cauliflower rice at your fingertips. Sprouts Frozen Organic Riced Cauliflower makes paleo “rice” beyond quick and easy.

Birch Benders Paleo Pancake & Waffle Mix

Pancakes can still be part of your paleo menu! Having a bag of this paleo pancake mix in the pantry is great when you want to make pancakes in a pinch. They’re light, fluffy and totally paleo.

Pederson’s Natural Farms Bacon and Sausage

Destined to go down in history—bacon and the paleo diet are a classic couple! Pederson’s Natural Farms makes a sugar-free paleo version you’ll want need in your fridge at all times. Check out their smoked sausages, breakfast sausages and chorizo too.

Sprouts Grass-Fed Beef

Leaner, more nutrient-rich, and more ethically-minded, Sprouts Grass-Fed Ground Beef is fresh, never frozen, hormone-free, raised in open pastures, and never administered antibiotics. Richer in omega-3s than grain-fed, Sprouts grass-fed beef is a must for any paleo diet.

Sprouts Market Corner Deli Carnitas

Dinner is served … in about a minute or two! Fully cooked and totally paleo, simply reheat these carnitas and serve over cauliflower rice and a quick guacamole. Or try these carnitas in lettuce tacos or over a bed of romaine topped with salsa! However you like it, this dish is great to keep on hand for super-quick, flavor-packed weeknight dinners.

Cheryl Malik is the blogger behind 40aprons.com

Unless you’ve been living in a cave like, well, a true caveman, you’ve undoubtedly heard the buzz about the paleo diet. This way of eating is becoming more and more popular, thanks to its healthy nutrient-rich foods and the elimination of commonly allergenic foods. High in protein, healthy fats, fiber and complex carbs, the paleo diet is definitely worth a shot if you’re looking to eat clean and feel great. It might feel intimidating to dive in! Follow these steps to easily start a paleo lifestyle without feeling overwhelmed.

Learn the Guidelines

The paleo diet is quite simple: you eat the foods we ate as hunter-gatherers, before the agricultural revolution. That means plenty of vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, and poultry, meat and seafood. There’s no need to count your calories, but instead, focus on getting plenty of produce, healthy fats and protein in your meals. Avoid dairy (though some people eat grass-fed butter or even cultured yogurt, and ghee—clarified butter—is an exception), legumes (including peanuts), grains, and processed sugar. A lot of people who follow a paleo diet avoid white potatoes, but there’s no strict rule about them either way. Our article, Stocking a Paleo Pantry, goes into detail about many of the items you can and can’t have on a paleo diet, and it’s a great reference when you’re unsure of a sweetener, fat or flour.

Create a Recipe Bank

Once you’ve learned the paleo guidelines, you might feel like you can’t eat anything you ate from your past! Luckily, the next step to going paleo will totally dispel that myth (and will have you craving paleo cupcakes!). Head to Pinterest and create a Paleo Recipes board. Start searching for paleo recipes and pin anything and everything that looks good. Pinterest will adapt to your new searches and show you more and more paleo recipes. You’ll find paleo breakfasts and dinners and treats and drinks—almost anything you could possibly think of! It’s nearly impossible not to get excited about these new dishes on your horizon, and you’ll think less about the beans you’ll miss and more about the coconut waffles you can’t wait to make. And, having tons of delicious recipes at your fingertips makes meal planning and getting dinner on the table easy—simply reach for your smartphone!

Stock Your Pantry

Trying to stick to a paleo diet without plenty of paleo ingredients in the house is a recipe for disaster. When you decide it’s time to go primal, fill your pantry with the paleo foods you need to make the dishes you want. Our article, Stocking a Paleo Pantry, outlines these must-haves, from condiments and those healthy fats, to flours and sweeteners. With a well-stocked pantry, you’ll be able to whip up whatever you’re craving, making it easy to switch-over to a paleo diet. While you’re at it, check out the Top Paleo Products at Sprouts, and get ready to load up that cart with delicious, caveman-inspired foods that’ll make your life easier!

Get Support

Let’s be honest, as fantastic as a paleo diet can make you feel, it can be hard to do it alone! Try to find a buddy to make the switch with you—bonus points if you can get your spouse and family on board! If not, no need to throw in the towel, there are plenty of resources on the internet to help you find the support you need when going paleo. Facebook groups make it easy to find like-minded people who are either converting to a primal diet with you or who have been paleo for a while. Either way, they’ll be fantastic resources when you have questions, want to know if your “carb flu” is really real or need a great recipe for paleo carrot cake. Search for the paleo Facebook group that’s right for you and get to know a new community of culinary cavemen!  

Cheryl Malik is the blogger behind 40aprons.com