As someone who has struggled with my weight for years, I’m always interested in trying new diets and lifestyle changes to help me lose those stubborn extra pounds. Recently, I decided to give the animal-based diet a try, after hearing many positive reviews from friends and family.
This diet, sometimes called the carnivore diet, focuses on getting the majority of your calories from animal foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy while limiting fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.
People choose them for various potential benefits like weight loss, reduced inflammation, more energy, improved mental clarity, and more.
In this “What I Eat in a Day” blog post, I’ll take you through a typical day of eating on the animal-based diet, outline the types of foods I’m eating more of, and share some of the benefits I’ve experienced over the past couple months of following this way of eating.
Whether you’re considering the diet yourself or just curious to learn more, hopefully, you’ll find the details here helpful. Now let’s get into what foods make up my menu during an average day eating an animal-based diet.
Breakfast
For breakfast, I typically start my day with eggs, the ultimate animal-based protein. My go-to breakfast is a veggie-free omelet filled with cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and some salmon.
This gives me a hearty dose of protein and healthy fats to keep me feeling energized and satisfied all morning long. I also like to enjoy a black coffee on the side.
Lunch
By midday, it’s time to refuel. Lunch for me on this diet is often a spinach salad topped generously with grilled chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, crumbled feta, and ranch dressing. I limit my vegetable intake overall, but small amounts of leafy greens are allowed.
This lunch gives me another solid serving of protein from both the chicken and eggs. When I’m dining out for lunch, a simple burger with no bun and a side salad is a great option too.
Snacks
Moving into the afternoon, I must continue getting enough protein and nutrients while limiting carbohydrates. A great snack that fits the bill is beef jerky and cheese sticks.
This combination delivers a boost of protein and sodium to hold me over before dinner. Jerky makes for the perfect on-the-go snack too. I just always have to be careful not to overindulge!
Dinner
For my last major meal of the day, I aim for a balanced dinner featuring protein, vegetables low in carbs, and a healthy fat. One of my favorite dinners on this diet is a chicken stir fry made with chicken breast, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, and green onions sautéed in olive oil and coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
I serve it with a side salad dressed in olive oil and red wine vinegar rather than sugary bottled dressings. The abundance of chicken and veggies cooked in healthy fats keeps me feeling satisfied through the evening.
Dessert
I have quite the sweet tooth, so I’m always thrilled to enjoy a sweet treat, guilt-free, after dinner each night! My go-to’s are frozen yogurt topped with a few raspberries, dark chocolate squares made with heavy cream, or a mug cake made with almond flour, eggs, coconut oil, and unsweetened cocoa powder. All delicious and animal-based diet approved!
Benefits Of animal-based diet
I’ve experienced numerous benefits since switching to an animal-based way of eating. Here are some of the top perks:
Weight Loss: By focusing on foods high in protein and healthy fats while limiting carbs and sugars, I’m able to burn stored fat for fuel more efficiently. This has resulted in shedding 15 unwanted pounds. Eating this way helps regulate hunger hormones and cravings too.
Reduced Inflammation: Without all the processed grains, sugars, and seed oils, my systemic inflammation has declined significantly. This means less joint pain, better digestion, clearer skin, and an overall enhanced sense of health.
Improved Mental Clarity: Without the energy crashes from carb-heavy meals, I have consistent blood sugar levels and enhanced focus each day. I no longer experience brain fog or fatigue in the afternoons. My productivity and concentration have improved significantly.
Increased Energy: Between the abundant proteins and healthy fats I consume, my energy remains elevated from morning to night. I have the endurance to power through my errands and workouts without needing sugary drinks.
Better Sleep Quality: Eating this nutrient-dense diet gives my body what it needs to fully rest and recover each night. I fall asleep faster, stay asleep through the night, and wake up feeling refreshed.
As you can see, centering my diet around high-quality animal proteins has impacted my health in so many positive ways. My body functions at a high-level thanks to the optimization I’ve achieved eating this way for the past couple of months.
Animal Based Diet: My Final Thoughts
If you’re considering giving it a try yourself, I recommend doing your research beforehand about the right foods to eat, proper supplementation if needed, and understanding the transition process. Have patience with yourself as your body gets accustomed to this way of eating too!
The only downside is that dining out and traveling can be a bit tricky when you’re eliminating food groups. There are also environmental concerns around meat production. Still, this diet has helped me overhaul my health and break lifelong struggles with my weight.
I never imagined I could not only survive but thrive eating a carnivore diet centered around animal proteins. But the proof is in the results – losing fat, feeling energized, clear skin, and an overall enhancement to my health.
My quality of life on the animal-based diet makes sticking to those juicy ribeyes and egg omelets so easy. What changes have you implemented in your nutrition that have enhanced your health? I’d love to hear from you!
