Paleo Treats: Where To Find The Best Paleo Jerky
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What many people don’t realize about the paleo diet is that, although meat is a big part of the diet, not all meats qualify as paleo.
The paleo diet is focused around consuming things that our ancestors would’ve eaten when they led nomadic lifestyles.
This means that grains are off the menu. That’s because they need cultivation and so only became part of our diets relatively recently.
This doesn’t just go for paleos themselves, but also for all the animals that paleos consume.
What Makes Beef Paleo?
Many paleo followers prefer beef from cattle raised on grass.
This is what the ancestors of today’s domesticated cows would’ve existed on, and not fed any of the grains that cattle are routinely given these days.
Cattle are fed on grains because it’s a cheaper way to get bulk into them. Meat is often farmed intensively with cattle not allowed to graze.
Grass-fed beef tends to be leaner and has somewhat more omega-3 fats than grain-fed beef. The differences in most other nutrients are small, so either can fit a balanced diet.
The best part, in my book, is that cows that are outdoors and consuming grass are far happier and lead far more natural lives. Happy cows means happy meat!
Beef jerky is a favorite treat for many people. However, many brands add sugar, soy sauce or other ingredients that don’t fit a paleo diet.
A few companies offer paleo-friendly jerky made from grass-fed beef. Jerky is also high in sodium, so treat it as a snack rather than a staple.
Where can you find this paleo-friendly treats?
Here are a few of our favorites.
Top Pick: Paleo Valley
Paleo Valley’s Grass Fed Beef Sticks are absolutely delicious.
As the name suggests, the manufacturer makes them with the paleo diet in mind.
The company says its cattle are grass-fed and raised without antibiotics or added hormones.
All the meat used for this paleo jerky is raised in the USA.
The cows are put out to graze on pastures that the farmers rotate, with no chemicals or pesticides used.
There are four different flavours of paleo beef jerky sticks, original, jalapeno, summer sausage and garlic summer sausage.
The company describes them as gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free, with no added sugar. Flavors and ingredients change, so check the current label.
Instead of synthetic curing agents, Paleo Valley uses natural fermentation techniques to help preserve its sticks.
The Best Of The Rest:
Beef Sticks, Sogo Snacks
Sogo snacks pride themselves on the flavor of their beef sticks.
The beef sticks have carried Non-GMO Project verification. That label is about genetically modified ingredients, not hormones or antibiotics, so check the brand’s own claims on those.
Only simple ingredients are in the original flavor stick, with no added sugar.
Grass Run Farms Beef Sticks
These beef sticks are another great option for those on the hunt for the perfect paleo beef jerky.
The brand markets its beef as grass-fed. Check the label for current sourcing and ingredients.
The New Primal Paleo Beef Jerky
If you’re looking for full-on paleo jerky rather than a beef stick or bar, this could be the ideal product for you.
The New Primal makes jerky from grass-fed beef. Check the package for where the beef currently comes from.
For flavor, the recipe has used pineapple juice and honey, along with onion, pepper and ginger. Honey is a sugar, so strict paleo eaters may want to check the label.
There are more paleo beef jerky brands out there, but these are the ones we like.
They’re a convenient source of protein. Because jerky and meat sticks are processed and salty, enjoy them alongside plenty of fresh foods, as Cleveland Clinic recommends building a paleo diet around whole foods.
Sources
- Paleo Diet 101: What You Can and Can’t Eat, Cleveland Clinic
- Diet Review: Paleo Diet for Weight Loss, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
