Paleo Snacks 2024: 15 Healthy Snacks To Try In Your Paleo Diet

Following a paleo diet involves only consuming foods eaten by our ancient ancestors. The Palaeolithic period ended around 10,000 years ago^[1] with the advent of agriculture. The paleo diet revolves around foods eaten by hunter-gatherers,^[2] including fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, nuts, and eggs. 

If you’re following the paleo diet, you don’t have to eat endless amounts of chicken salad. There’s a long list of delicious paleo snacks you can try to fuel yourself. All it takes is a bit of creativity! 

Below, you’ll discover 15 of the tastiest and healthiest paleo snacks and paleo snack recipes.

Healthy Paleo Snack Ideas You Should Try

The best paleo snacks are delicious, healthy, and easy to make. Alongside your favorite paleo supplements, these easy paleo snacks provide a wealth of nutrients. They’re packed with healthy fats and important vitamins and minerals. 

If you’re following the paleo diet to lose weight and want help in the meal planning department, these snacks go great alongside a weight loss meal delivery service. 

Check out the 15 healthy paleo snack ideas below and add your favorites to your paleo meal plan. 

1. Baked kale chips.
2. Hard-boiled eggs.
3. Beef jerky.
4. Apple slices with almond butter.
5. Guacamole and carrot sticks.
6. Oven-roasted almonds.
7. Cucumber slices with tuna.
8. Fresh fruit.
9. Salmon with greens.
10. Olives.
11. Sweet potato toast.
12. Coconut and cocoa protein shake.
13. Bacon-wrapped dates.
14. Smoked salmon roll-ups.
15. Cherry tomatoes with basil.

Baked Kale Chips

Kale has reached superstar status among superfoods, and for good reason. This leafy green offers high calcium, iron, selenium, and copper levels.^[3] Kale also contains B vitamins, vitamin C, and beta-carotene.

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Next, tear your kale leaves into chip-sized pieces. Wash them thoroughly and spread them evenly across the baking tray. 

Drizzle olive oil or coconut oil over the kale and sprinkle with salt. Place the kale into the oven for 30 minutes. Let it cool and enjoy! They’re an ideal alternative to chips when eating paleo.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs are quick and effortless. Not only are they convenient, but they provide good levels of protein.^[4] You’ll also receive vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12 with every bite.

Beef Jerky

If you’re looking for an easy protein-for-a-paleo diet choice, then try beef jerky. This delicious snack provides an impressive 33.2 grams of protein^[5] per 100-gram portion. 

Opening up a pack of beef jerky requires no preparation. You can carry a bag around with you for a snack any time, including during your commute to work.

If you have the choice, go for grass-fed beef jerky. Research shows that grass-fed beef has a more favorable fatty acid profile^[6] and high levels of anti-inflammatory omega-3s.

Apple Slices With Almond Butter

Eating whole apples causes a greater feeling of fullness^[7] than drinking apple juice. This could help to delay hunger and help with weight loss. And almonds? Research shows almond consumption helps to lower signs of inflammation^[8] in the body.

Guacamole And Carrot Sticks

Are you ready for another simple yet delicious paleo-friendly savory snack? Guacamole and carrot sticks are a perfect match. Together, they’re delicious yet filling, preventing you from going overboard. This option will also win you over if you’re taking a weight loss supplement to get in shape.

The avocados in guacamole can help you manage your waistline. Research shows that those who eat avocados regularly have a lower risk of becoming overweight.^[9] Additionally, carrots’ compounds can influence gut health^[10] and benefit the gut barrier.

Oven-Roasted Almonds

These tasty nuts are a good source of vitamin E.^[11] They also deliver minerals, including calcium and magnesium. 

To make this tasty paleo snack, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread almonds across a baking tray and roast for 15 minutes. Then, toss in a bowl with olive oil or coconut oil and salt to taste. Roast again for an additional two minutes and let cool.

Cucumber Slices With Tuna

Cucumber slices with tuna make a great paleo-friendly snack on warm summer days. Tuna contains 23.3 grams of protein per 100 grams,^[5] making it a great post-workout food for muscle-building. 

And what about cucumbers? Well, they’re filled with antioxidants^[12] that help to reduce DNA damage. Animal studies also show that cucumbers could help to lower blood sugar.^[13]

Fresh Fruit

Fresh fruit is another staple of the paleo diet. Alongside vegetables, fruit intake can help to reduce common health conditions,^[14] including heart disease and stroke. 

Salmon With Greens

Do you want to get a quick snack on a break at work? Healthy and simple, salmon and greens will do the trick. First, make a bed of salad using spinach and arugula tossed in salt and olive oil. Spinach is high in anti-inflammatory compounds,^[15] and arugula contains nitrates that lower blood pressure.^[16]

Top your greens with some smoked salmon and drizzle with lemon juice. This fish is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that help to combat chronic diseases.^[17]

Olives

Olives are delicious, healthy, and an ideal quick paleo-friendly snack. Many types of olives are available, such as Nyons, Thassos, and Picholine.

Whatever type of olive you choose, you’ll still treat your gut to the beneficial bacteria^[18] found in this fermented food. Olives are also a source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds.^[19]

Sweet Potato Toast

Mashed, roasted, or boiled sweet potatoes are tasty. But have you ever used this food as a toast substitute? It sounds strange, but it works! Simply slice a sweet potato into quarter-inch-long slices. Place them in the toaster at the highest setting and toast them twice.

Next, add whatever topping appeals to you most. Banana and peanut butter works well, and so does avocado. Sweet potatoes are a nutritious addition to a paleo diet plan and are high in vitamin A.^[20]

Coconut And Cocoa Protein Shake

After lifting weights or going for a run, nothing quite hits the spot like a protein shake. Put 4 ounces of coconut milk, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, and a dash of sea salt into a blender. Add honey to taste, and you have yourself a tasty and nourishing drink. 

Coconut milk products are largely fortified^[21] with vitamins A, D, and B12. Cocoa also adds benefits to this blend, such as chemicals that are linked to improved mood.^[22]

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

If this sounds rather abstract, just think bacon and maple syrup! Pit your dates and cook up some bacon. Wrap them with bacon and use wooden skewers to keep them from unraveling. 

Prepare yourself for an explosion of flavor. 

This delicious combination could soon become your favorite paleo-approved snack. Not to mention, dates are a good source of calcium,^[23] iron, magnesium, and zinc.

Smoked Salmon Roll-Ups

Smoked salmon roll-ups take around 10 minutes to prepare, but they’re worth it. Cut your salmon up to the desired size. Next, thinly slice cucumber and red onion. Place these ingredients onto your salmon, along with some capers. Roll them up and keep them together using skewers.

This paleo snack tastes as good as it looks. The mixture of flavors is a perfect combination, and the salmon provides a good protein-hit. 

Cherry Tomatoes With Basil

Are you looking for a light and low-calorie paleo-approved snack? Place some cherry tomatoes into a bowl, final slice some basil leaves, and scatter them onto your tomatoes. Cut up and add a couple of cloves of garlic, drizzle with olive oil, and toss.

Tomatoes are high in lycopene, a chemical research suggests protects the heart.^[24] Basil adds an aromatic punch and helps to improve oral health.^[25]

What Foods To Avoid On Paleo Diet

The paleo diet involves eating only foods consumed by our hunter-gatherer ancestors. Some aspects of the diet are healthy but involve eating lots of meat. Some scientists are concerned about its health profile, as too much meat may increase the risk of heart disease. 

Overall, the foods to avoid on the paleo diet include:

• Grains
• Legumes
• Processed foods
• Refined sugar
• Highly processed meats
• Artificial sweeteners

Always speak to a doctor or registered dietitian before starting a new diet to evaluate the pros and cons.

The Bottom Line

The paleo diet is a relatively strict way of eating that mimics the eating habits of our ancient ancestors. Research suggests that it can help with weight loss and muscle gain. However, the cholesterol content could be high, which could harm health. 

Although it restricts several food groups, diet followers have plenty of choices when it comes to snacks. The 15 options listed above include sweet fruits, smoked fish, bacon, and various vegetables. 

These snacks don’t take long to make and are packed with key nutrients. Try them all out to decide which ones you like the most.

---