The paleolithic diet, also known as the paleo diet, the caveman diet, or the stone-age diet is a meal plan that predominately relies on eating foods that were available to humans during the paleolithic era. To explain it more simply, think lean meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts. These are all foods that were accessible by hunting and gathering. The paleo diet also limits grains, legumes, and dairy products and certainly excludes processed foods and sugar.
While this may seem like a limiting diet there are many delicious foods you can still eat. Creating healthy and delicious paleo lunches or treating yourself to paleo desserts can be easy but it’s the snacks that always get us! After all, one unhealthy snack can set us into a downward spiral. So to help prevent that, we have compiled a list of delicious and crave-worthy paleo-approved snacks that you’ll actually want to eat! We’ve made sure to include a combination of sweet and savory ideas so that you can quench any craving.
Are you craving cookies? We’ve got you covered! This delicious paleo cookie dough recipe is quick and easy. It’ll surely quench your sweet tooth craving without sacrificing your healthy eating habits.
These cookie dough bites have a bold flavor of lemon and they are sweetened with honey. Keep in mind this recipe yields 12 servings which means you’ll have plenty to snack on all week long!
https://www.plentyandwell.com/post/paleo-lemon-cookie-dough-bites PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: PLENTY AND WELL
Nuts are an excellent nutritious snack. They contain fiber, protein, and healthy fats all of which a part of a healthy diet. This recipe adds a few flavors to make a handful of mixed nuts just a little bit more exciting!
If you love sour cream and onion potato chips, you’re going to love this onion and chive flavor! You may find that your body ends up craving these flavored nuts instead of chips too. The best part is that this snack requires 5 minutes of hands-on time as well as just 5 ingredients.
https://healthylittlepeach.com/recipe/onion-chive-mixed-nuts/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: HEALTHY LITTLE PEACH
Muffins make great on-the-go snacks. Unfortunately, many store-bought and restaurant-made muffins are loaded with sugar and often can be as unhealthy as a donut! This delicious muffin recipe is infused with pumpkin flavor and is paleo compliant.
These muffins require only 5 minutes to prep and are full of healthy ingredients such as pumpkin puree, almond butter, a banana, and collagen peptides. They’re also full of fragrant flavor thanks to ingredients such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
https://paleoglutenfree.com/recipes/gluten-free-paleo-pumpkin-protein-muffins/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: PALEO GLUTEN FREE EATS
Energy balls are great snacks that can help tide you over until your next meal. These energy balls are full of healthy ingredients that will keep you energized throughout your day.
This snack requires just 5 healthy ingredients which include, pistachios, dried cranberries, dates, honey, and chia seeds. Not only is this a sweet and delicious snack but the ingredients will provide you with essential vitamins and minerals.
https://paleogrubs.com/cranberry-pistachio-honey-bites PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: PALEO GRUBS
Hummus is an excellent snack, however, legumes should be limited on the paleo diet. With that in mind, this recipe skips chickpeas altogether and instead makes this hummus out of roasted cauliflower. You’ll also need a few traditional hummus ingredients such as tahini, garlic, and lemon juice.
Along with garlic, you’ll also need a dash of cumin and salt and pepper to enhance the flavor further. Garnish the hummus with olive oil, and seasonings and serve it with a plate of fresh veggies.
https://eatthegains.com/paleo-cauliflower-hummus-whole30/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: EAT THE GAINS
Everyone’s favorite restaurant appetizer gets a healthy makeover with this recipe! This dip is traditionally loaded with dairy which isn’t paleo-friendly but this recipe proves with a few substitutions you can indulge guilt-free.
The creamy texture is achieved with a paleo-friendly mayo, full-fat coconut milk, and ghee grass-fed butter. The creamy texture isn’t quite enough to make this recipe taste authentic but once you add nutritional yeast you’ll get to enjoy that familiar cheesy flavor. Finally, enjoy the dip with fresh veggies, sweet potato chips, or almond flour crackers.
https://whatmollymade.com/healthy-spinach-artichoke-dip/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: WHAT MOLLY MADE
Air fryer buffalo cauliflower tots are the perfect snack, especially when you find yourself craving buffalo wings. The air fryer will help achieve the perfect crispy “fried” texture.
In addition to the texture, these cauliflower tots are also flavored with a tangy buffalo sauce that makes this snack over the top delicious. They will taste delicious on their own but they also pair perfectly with a homemade avocado dressing.
https://www.wholesomelicious.com/air-fryer-buffalo-cauliflower-tots/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=558011436_20590798_319085 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: WHOLESOMELICIOUS
Egg salad is a crowd-pleaser. It serves well at parties, potlucks, and can certainly be a delicious snack. This recipe puts a fun twist on a traditional egg salad recipe by adding a creamy and nutritious avocado.
This simple salad packs a ton of flavor and contains healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Enjoy the salad by the spoonful or scoop it into a lettuce wrap, your choice!
https://downshiftology.com/recipes/avocado-egg-salad/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_content=smartloop&utm_term=14075102 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DOWNSHIFTOLOGY
The next time you find yourself craving fried onion rings, be sure to try this paleo-friendly recipe! These onion rings have a battered coating made from crushed plantains and cassava flour. They’re lightly seasoned with garlic powder and black pepper.
Additionally, the onion rings are not fried, but instead, achieve their crispy texture by baking them in the oven. Finally, serve the onion rings with a paleo dip of your choice.
https://unboundwellness.com/baked-onion-rings/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=702015772_28093868_495360 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: UNBOUND WELLNESS
These chocolate muffins will surely quench any chocolate or sweet tooth craving. The decadent flavor is provided by ingredients such as cocoa powder, and maple syrup.
You’ll only need about 8 minutes of hands-on time to prep these muffins as well as a few staple ingredients that you’ll most likely already have on hand. This recipe also yields 12 mini muffins so share them with your family or keep them all for yourself, we don’t judge!
https://paleoglutenfree.com/recipes/avocado-chocolate-paleo-muffins/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: PALEO GLUTEN FREE
These chicken poppers may make a great appetizer for a party but they do make a great snack too. Filled with healthy ingredients such as sweet potatoes and chicken this healthy snack will surely fill you up.
Additionally, these poppers are filled with delicious flavors such as onion and garlic. Dip the poppers in homemade guacamole or your favorite paleo-friendly sauce.
https://unboundwellness.com/sweet-potato-chicken-poppers-paleo-aip-whole-30/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: UNBOUND WELLNESS
Who knew fudge could be considered healthy! Bite into a decadent, soft piece of fudge guilt-free with this recipe.
This fudge is free of refined sugar, dairy, and gluten yet it will still quench a sweet tooth craving. This is because the fudge is sweetened with raw honey and is full of decadent flavor thanks to almond butter and dark chocolate chips.
https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/paleo-almond-butter-chocolate-fudge/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: PALEO RUNNING MOMMA
Ice cream can be enjoyed all year round, unfortunately, ice cream’s main ingredient is cream. While traditional ice cream is not paleo-friendly, this recipe proves that with a few ingredient substitutions you can still enjoy a sweet treat like ice cream while following the paleo diet!
A few ingredients you will need are full-fat coconut milk, dates, and pecans. With the help of an ice cream maker, you’ll have this ice cream ready to eat in no time!
https://www.realfoodwithjessica.com/2019/05/20/paleo-butter-pecan-ice-cream/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: REAL FOOD WITH JESSICA
This recipe proves that you don’t need grains to enjoy granola. Instead, this recipe uses ingredients like whole flax seeds, almond slices, pumpkin seeds and more.
This granola is sweetened with maple syrup and has a dash of cinnamon for added flavor. You’ll also love that this granola comes together in about 30 minutes.
https://www.fearlessdining.com/crunchy-homemade-paleo-granola/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FEARLESS DINING
These tuna stuffed avocados may be the perfect afternoon pick me up you’ve been searching for. Avocados are rich in healthy fats, while tuna is full of protein and together these ingredients will not only satisfy your palate but will help satiate you too.
To make the tuna salad, you’ll need a paleo-friendly homemade mayonnaise, however, this mayo only takes about a minute to make with the help of an immersion blender. Additionally, the salad contains red onion, chives and a dash of salt and pepper for added flavor.
https://downshiftology.com/recipes/tuna-stuffed-avocados/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_content=smartloop&utm_term=17725378 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DOWNSHIFTOLOGY
Enjoy applesauce with a twist! This recipe combines fresh apples with blueberries and a few other ingredients to make this delicious snack.
This healthy treat is bold in color and flavor. The fruit is already naturally sweet but with the addition of coconut sugar, it’ll be even sweeter.
https://oursaltykitchen.com/blueberry-applesauce/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: OUR SALTY KITCHEN
It’s hard to resist chips and dip, unfortunately, many store-bought dips are loaded with dairy and other processed ingredients. So the next time you have a craving, be sure to give this paleo French dip a try.
The base of this dip is paleo mayonnaise, cashews, and coconut cream while the flavors come from onion, garlic, and chopped chives. Store-bought potato chips are not paleo-friendly, so instead enjoy this dip with fresh veggies or homemade chips such as kale chips or sweet potato chips.
https://40aprons.com/paleo-french-onion-dip-vegan/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: 40 APRONS
You don’t need refined sugars to make sweet and delicious banana bread! This recipe uses the natural sweetness of bananas to provide that wonderful sweet flavor.
This bread also utilizes vanilla extract and cinnamon for added flavor. Finally, the banana bread is loaded with dark chocolate chips to make this an irresistibly good snack.
https://thebananadiaries.com/best-paleo-banana-bread/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE BANANA DIARIES
Another delicious snack to try is this paleo cranberry orange bread. It’s important to use coconut flour to help this bread remain grain-free. Rest assured, this bread still has a wonderful fluffy texture that you will love.
This bread is full of bright and bold flavor thanks to freshly squeezed oranges, fresh cranberries, and raw honey. Share this snack with your family and they’ll be amazed that it’s paleo-approved!
https://www.thedishonhealthy.com/2016/12/22/christmas-paleo-cranberry-orange-bread/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE DISH ON HEALTHY
Who else craves delicious salty fries from time to time? The next time a craving strikes don’t head to the drive-thru, but instead make a batch of these healthy sweet potato fries.
They’re cooked in an air fryer to achieve that wonderful fried texture you love, but without all the added oil. The fries are also seasoned with garlic powder and a dash of salt and pepper.
https://healthylittlepeach.com/recipe/crispy-air-fryer-sweet-potato-fries/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: HEALTHY LITTLE PEACH
