I lost 100 lbs on the carnivore diet, and today I’m sharing the exact foods that helped me do it. If you’re wondering what to buy, what to cook, and/or how to stay satiated on carnivore, this post is for you!
Beef, pork, eggs, and butter are the staple foods that keep my PCOS and insulin resistance under control, and allow me to lose weight effortlessly.
Beef
Beef is the foundation of my carnivore diet. It’s about 80-90 percent of what I eat.
When I was first losing the weight, I would literally alternate between steaks (either ribeye or New York strip), ground beef (typically grilled hamburgers), and chuck roast cooked in the crockpot for every meal, along with liberal amounts of butter. I still find that the most satisfying way to eat.
The following cuts are my favorites and the ones I eat most frequently.
Ribeye Steaks
Ribeye is my favorite food, hands down. It’s got a perfect fat to protein ratio, it’s delicious, and it’s truly satisfying. I think a ribeye steak is one of the most perfect foods humans can eat.
I know they’re expensive. Not everyone can afford to eat ribeye steaks every day of the week – me included. I typically eat them once or twice a week these days. I purchase thin-cut ribeyes from Walmart and grill them (my preferred method of cooking meat). But you can cook them in a cast iron pan, air fryer, or whatever you like.
I always top mine with butter for extra fat and satiety.
New York Strip Steaks
If ribeye isn’t in the budget, New York strip steaks are my next choice. They’re a little leaner, but still flavorful and satisfying. Plus, they’re less expensive.
Just like with ribeye, I prefer to grill thin-cut New York strip steaks. I’ve also cooked them in the air fryer with good results before. Though nothing can beat grilling in my opinion. Don’t forget to top them with butter. You’ll need the extra fat!
Ground Beef
Ground beef is my daily go-to for carnivore meals. It’s delicious when prepared correctly, easy on the budget, and versatile. I buy either pre-made hamburger patties for grilling or ground beef in bulk.
One of my staple budget meals is ground beef browned in a skillet, seasoned with salt and onion/garlic powder, and served with a couple fried eggs. I also love to grill hamburgers and eat them with melted cheese and bacon, or just plain topped with butter.
Chuck Roast
When I know I won’t have time to cook or I’m just tired of steaks and burgers, I pull out the crock pot and slow-cook a chuck roast all day. It makes a ton of food for very little effort, it’s inexpensive, and it’s fatty and delicious.
I put an entire roast in my crockpot with no additional liquid. Season all sides with salt and any other seasonings I feel like using. Then, I cook it on low for 6-8 hours. Once it’s done, it should fall apart and melt in your mouth! I like mine topped with butter and coarse salt.
Pork
Some people avoid pork completely on the carnivore diet, while some people eat only bacon. Pork may or may not work for you. Everyone is different, and some people tolerate pork better than others.
There are a few types of pork I personally eat and that work for my body, including bacon, sausage, and bone-in pork chops.
Bacon
Bacon is a necessity for me. I eat it several times per week and keep all the rendered fat to cook other foods in. I especially love scrambled eggs cooked in bacon fat!
My favorite bacon is Applegate Farms No-Sugar Uncured Bacon, but I’ve eaten plenty of bacon cured with sugar. The amount of sugar used is negligible, and it doesn’t seem to affect me adversely. If I’m on a budget, I’ll eat store-brand bacon. I just try to get something with 0 carbs per serving, if possible.
Sausage
I love pork sausage, but it can be difficult to find without added sugar. I recently found the Great Value Premium Pork Sausage roll (Wal-Mart store brand) has zero sugar and zero carbs! I’ve been using this one, and it’s great!
Many pre-made smoked sausages, bratwurst, Italian sausage, links, patties, etc. have added sugar. I can’t find ANY at my local stores that are sugar-free. I would eat them occasionally if I could. When I lived in Colorado, there was a brand called Mulay’s at Natural Grocers. They make Italian sausage, bratwurst, and probably more with no sugar.
For now, I settle with the pork sausage roll. I’ll make sausage patties and cook them to eat for several days. Or, sometimes I’ll brown a pound of sausage and add some eggs to make a scramble.
Bone-In Pork Chops
I like bone-in pork chops occasionally for variety. They’re inexpensive and really tasty, but on the leaner side. I always eat the fat, but I top mine with extra butter too.
I like to liberally season my chops and grill them, fry them in a skillet in butter, or bake them in the oven. They’re good no matter what you do – as long as you don’t overcook them.
I don’t find pork as satisfying as beef, so I only eat chops once in a while. But they’re a good, economical choice if you just want something different for a change.
Eggs
I eat eggs almost every single day. They are a staple food for me – nutritious, delicious, and inexpensive (compared to meat anyway). They’re a good source of fat, protein, choline, and a host of other vitamins and minerals.
I like them scrambled, fried, or hard-boiled. But you can’t go wrong with eggs, no matter how they’re prepared. If you can tolerate them (some people have allergies), I’d recommend making eggs a central part of your carnivore diet.
Butter
Butter gets its own category because it’s that important. One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting the carnivore diet (and a reason many people fail) is not eating enough fat. Carnivore is a high-fat diet.
Without butter, I don’t think I’d get enough fat. I top my meat with it and cook everything in it – well, that and bacon grease. I even eat it plain if the mood strikes me.
Keep it Simple
I also want to remind you to KEEP IT SIMPLE, especially when you’re first starting out and fighting cravings for junk food.
There’s no need to complicate your life with recreations of old comfort foods. You don’t need carnivore pancakes or carnivore bread or carnivore pizza.
Well, okay. Maybe we can make an exception for meatza…
But, the point is, you should focus on fresh meat, eggs, and butter. Get used to not having those old carb-laden comforts.
Personally, eating a “carnivore pancake” only pisses me off and makes me want a real pancake even more. Carnivore versions of non-carnivore foods don’t ever satisfy those cravings for me and usually lead to even worse cravings.
Salt your food generously. Use seasonings if you like (as long as they don’t contain sugar).
Grill your meat. Fry it in a pan. Sear it. Bake it in the oven. Cook it in the slow cooker or Instapot. No recipes or instruction needed beyond basic cooking techniques.
Good luck out there!
