The carnivore diet has been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to improve health, lose weight, and boost energy levels.
The premise of the diet is simple: eat only animal products, including meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, and avoid all plant-based foods.
While this may seem extreme, proponents of the carnivore diet argue that it can be a sustainable and healthy way of eating, as long as it’s done correctly.
However, starting a carnivore diet as a beginner can be daunting, especially if you’re used to a diet that includes a variety of plant-based foods.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 tips for starting a carnivore diet as a beginner.
By following these tips, you’ll be better prepared to start a carnivore diet and experience the potential benefits it can offer.
Carnivore Diet For Beginners
TIP #1: Do Your Research
Research is critical before starting any new diet because it helps you make informed decisions about your health and well-being.
Proper research helps you understand the benefits and risks of a particular diet, as well as any potential side effects or risks. It also enables you to identify trustworthy sources and avoid misinformation.
By conducting thorough research, you can develop a personalized and sustainable eating plan that meets your unique nutritional needs, preferences, and lifestyle.Â
When researching the Carnivore Diet, look for reputable sources. These sources could be doctors, but they could also be long-term Carnivore eaters who have had success with the diet.
Some excellent starting resources include the below books, which are a must-read when starting the Carnivore Diet.
TIP #2: Plan Your Meals
There are 2 main reasons to plan your meals on the Carnivore Diet, especially when beginning:Â
Maintaining satiety and eating enough.
Yes, it sounds crazy to think that on a diet of fatty meat you might not eat enough, but it can be true. Fat and protein as macronutrients are very satisfying, and leave you full for a long time. You might not eating enough. Planning meals helps you to ensure you are consuming enough.
This is especially important in the beginning. Being full and satisfied is the number 1 trick to reducing cravings and sticking to the diet.
Meeting nutrient requirements.
A well-planned carnivore diet can provide all the essential nutrients required by the body.
The essential nutrients we need include macronutrients (protein and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).
Planning meals can help ensure that you consume a variety of animal products to meet your nutrient needs.
As an example, the 3 day Carnivore Diet meal plan below plans for many different meats, targeting different fat to protein ratios and different vitamins and minerals.
Sample 3 Day Carnivore Diet Meal Plan
Day 1
- Eggs and Bacon
- Â T-Bone
- Chicken Wings
Day 2
- Eggs and sausages
- Â Rib-eye steak
- Pork Belly
Day 3
- Ham and Cheese Omelet
- Â Lamb Chops
- Beef brisket
There are several things to consider when creating your Carnivore Diet meal plan. Read our top 5 considerations for meal planning on the Carnivore Diet here.
TIP #3: Don't Be Afraid Of Fat
Fat is an essential macronutrient that provides the body with energy, insulation, and support for cell growth and development. In the context of a carnivore diet, fat plays an even more critical role, as it serves as the primary source of energy and provides necessary nutrients for the body to function correctly.
The Carnivore Diet completely removes (and for good reason) low-quality, hyper-processed fats, such as hydrogenated oils and industrial seed oils. These are highly inflammatory and are to be avoided at all costs.
The fats we eat on the Carnivore Diet are solely animal fats. It’s essential to source and consume high-quality animal fats, such as grass-fed beef tallow, pastured pork lard, and butter.
We like this beef tallow and duck fat from Epic Provisions, when we don’t have any fat in the house. These fats are excellent for frying eggs. And of course, butter.
It is important to be consuming fat at every meal, and not just lean protein. This can take several forms:
- Eating fatty meat
- Eating leaner meat with butter on the side
- Adding fat trimmings (fried up to crispy perfection in a pan or an air-fryer, yum!) as a side dish
Fat is the primary source of calories on the Carnivore Diet, so eat up!
TIP #4: Start Slowly (or not)
This one is a mixed bag. Some people like to jump all in and rip the band-aid off, and others like to start slower and dip their toe in the water first.
Starting slowly is advisable because it can allow your body to adapt easier. Starting all at once, particularly if your body is not accustomed to eating a lot of meat and fat, can lead to “digestive issues.”
How to start the carnivore diet slowly? Start by making breakfast carnivore, and no morning snacks. The next week, add a carnivore lunch and remove any afternoon snacks. Finally, make dinner carnivorous, et voila! You’re eating a Carnivore Diet.
Don’t want to start slowly? That’s okay, jump all in. Just be prepared that your body may suffer some quick side effects. The saying “don’t trust a fart” exists in the Carnivore community for a very good reason – consider yourself warned.
You can also have a read of our article about Carnivore Diet Side Effects to help prepare yourself.
TIP #5: Focus On Nutrient Density
When it comes to nutrient density, there’s an awful lot of chatter in the Carnivore community about liver and other organ meats. The truth is, most long-term carnivores don’t eat them, and they’re just fine.
The assumption that liver and organ meats are required can be off-putting for most, and we’re here to tell you it’s okay if you don’t eat it. If you like it, and want to eat it, great! If you don’t like it but think you have to eat it, you can feel comfortable not eating it at all.
Eating liver and organ meats seems to have turned into an opportunity to shill expensive and overpriced products, such as liver pills. If you’d like the research behind why you don’t need them, we highly recommend these interviews by Nutrition With Judy (Why Eating Liver May Not Be Good, and How Liver Got Me Sick On A Carnivore Diet)
So what is nutrient dense on the Carnivore Diet? MEAT!!!!!
That’s it really. We’ve been told for so long that meat is so bad for us, that it almost seems impossible to think that it is actually very nutrient dense, but it is.
Meat and animal products contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids in abundance. Meat and animal products are much more bio-available to our digestive system, meaning we extract more vitamins and minerals from meat than anything else.
Don’t believe us? Don’t believe that meat is incredibly nutrient dense? You don’t have to. This book explains plenty with several visuals and graphics to illustrate just how healthy meat is.
Top Tip for Nutrient Density: Eat the Rainbow! No, not veggies obviously, eat the carnivore rainbow.Â
Make sure your Carnivore Diet has plenty of variety in meat. Different meats (beef, lamb, pork, chicken, etc.) all have varying levels of nutrients. While you might favor one meat mostly, do try to work in a couple of different meats every now and again.
TIP #6: Stay Hydrated
Carnivore Diet for Beginners Hot Tip: when cutting out all carbohydrates, your body will likely release excess water weight. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you are staying hydrated.
This does not mean guzzling a gallon of water every day, rather, this just means make sure you’re drinking plenty of water.
Most beverages are eliminated on the Carnivore Diet, so you may find yourself drinking less overall. Just make sure you are replacing those drinks with water, drink plenty when you’re thirsty and you’ll be fine.
We recommend having a good water filter in your home. Doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, just a simple Brita water filter will do. It’s just our preference not to drink straight from the tap. Of course, feel free to go fancy and expensive to ensure the cleanest drinking water possible, but that’s beyond the scope of this blog.
TIP #7: Consider Supplements
Most people would assume that several supplements are needed when adopting the Carnivore Diet. (You’re not eating vegetables!!!! You’ll get scurvy and die!!!!)
Yes, we’ve heard it all before and if you’re eating a well-balanced, nutrient-dense Carnivore diet (see Tip #5) then you’ll know that you are getting all the requirements you need.
The one supplement that people in the Carnivore community do seem to love though, is electrolytes.Â
You may choose to use these in combination with Tip #6, as these can help you stay hydrated and mix in easily with water. The brand most favored and trusted in the community as being a clean source of electrolytes is LMNT.
You don’t need electrolytes though, you just might find them useful in the transition period.
Another option that we’re a huge fan of is just making some good old-fashioned home-made broth. Our personal favorite is chicken broth. We keep all the bones from the chicken wings and roast chickens we eat and pop it all in the slow cooker for 12 hours once there are enough bones.
Add a bit of high-quality salt and you’ve got a nourishing, tasty, home-made electrolyte drink.
TIP #8: Listen To Your Body
When starting the Carnivore Diet, listening to your body is critical. Â
Your body will undergo an adaptation phase (read more about side effects here) as it detoxes all the plant matter and fiber out of your system. Â
Headaches are not uncommon, and you may choose to supplement with some electrolytes to assist. Digestive “urgency” can also occur, and you may use this as a sign to eat leaner meat for a time period until this calms down.
You may find that you are less hungry than normal and don’t want to eat much. This is also okay.
But listen to your body and try to figure out what it’s telling you. Mild symptoms and side effects might guide you to take certain actions.
On the other hand, if you start suffering any serious symptoms or side effects, you should probably find a doctor or dietary professional for assistance (preferably one who is well-versed in the Carnivore Diet, or the keto diet at the very least).
TIP #9: Find Support
It can be really difficult following this way of eating and this lifestyle because it is so against the grain for so many.
A support group is an excellent resource for reaffirming your decision and motivation, and for finding answers to questions you have along the way. There are many Facebook Carnivore groups to be found. Some of these are global and some are more local.
If you can find a local group, having a regular meat-up is a great way to stay motivated and on track.
TIP #10: Don't Give Up
The Carnivore Diet has some wild success stories on the internet about people curing almost every health problem under the sun.
What’s even more wild is the speed at which they often see results.
However, this is not the case for everyone. You did not get sick or gain 100 pounds in 90 days. Why would you expect to reverse all that in the same time frame?
The Carnivore Diet is an excellent elimination diet to improve one’s health but IT. TAKES. TIME.
So give yourself and your body the time it needs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, starting a carnivore diet as a beginner can be a significant lifestyle change, but it may also bring potential health benefits. By following the top ten tips we’ve outlined in this article, you can be better prepared to make the transition to a carnivore diet and stay on track.
Remember to do your research, plan your meals, focus on nutrient density, and find support. Additionally, be mindful of your body’s signals, stay hydrated, and consider incorporating supplements where necessary. Finally, do not give up easily, as the adjustment period can be challenging.
While a carnivore diet may not be suitable for everyone, it can offer a viable and sustainable way of eating, provided that it’s done correctly. By incorporating these top ten tips, you’ll be able to start a carnivore diet as a beginner with confidence and achieve success in your health goals.
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