7 Paleo Swaps to Make, Like Now

Looking for Paleo substitutions for some of your fave fit-foodie eats? Like protein bars? English muffins? Salad dressing? Chocolate? Yeah, me, too. And here are seven that we’ve recently been sent that are rocking my LIFE. (And, remember, Paleo also means gluten-free!)

7 Paleo Substitutes to Love

Chocolate bar: Yes, you could just eat plain chocolate or cacao, but what if your chocolate had extras in it, like 15 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber, and it was low sugar? Yeah, that’s exactly what the Primal Kitchen Dark Chocolate Almond Bar is. A little fruity, pretty chewy and a lot chocolaty, this bar even boasts grass-fed collagen, which, if you’re Paleo-minded, you get really excited about.

Granola: Granola or trail mix could just be dried fruit and nuts and be totally Paleo, but let’s be honest, how exciting is that? EPIC’s Hunt & Harvest Mixes are anything but boring though. These combine grass-fed, organic beef jerky with dried berries, nuts and seeds. Choose from fun flavors like Coconut Carnivore (beef jerky and toasted coconut), Berry Blossom (beef jerky, mulberries, goji berries, cacao and almonds), Honest Harvest (beef jerky, almonds, Brazil nuts, pecans and pistachios), Mountain Medley (beef jerky, almonds, pecans, macadamia nuts and apples) or — our fave — Bacon Lust (uncured bacon bites, cashews, cranberries, sweet potato and jalapeno). Never a boring bite there.

Protein bars: If “protein bar” means chalky and boring to you, say hello to Caveman Foods Primal Bars and prepare to have your world rocked. With no sugar alcohols or whey, these bars (Blueberry Pepper is our fave flavor) are savory, filling  and filled with chicken, broth, fruit, honey and spices. We know it sounds weird, but these are DELICIOUS — and 18 grams of protein per 150-calorie bar!

English muffins: When you think “going Paleo,” you probably don’t also think “English muffins,” but it exists! And topped with a little of your fave nut butter, it’s pretty darn good. Mikey’s Muffins are made with basically just eggs, almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda and some seasoning or stevia. Toast them, top them, eat them.

Jerky: Think that most jerky is Paleo? Think again. A lot of commercial jerky is filled with fillers, preservatives and all kinds of other non-cavepeople stuff. But KivaSun’s jerky has none of it. Made from bison, it’s dried meat that’s antibiotic- and hormone-free, and there are no nitrates or MSG. Plus, it’s tasty.

Salad Dressing: Homemade salad dressing is still one of our fave things, but when you need a salad in a hurry, a pre-made dressing can be awesome. And the Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard Vinaigrette is kind of making our salad dreams come true. Its flavor is on point — sweet and tangy — but so are its nutritionals. With no binders, emulsifiers or gums, it’s pretty much just avocado oil, vinegar, mustard, spices, honey and lemon. So, um, pretty much exactly what you’d make it with at home.

Protein powder: There are definitely more Paleo protein powders out there these days, but our fave of late is The Perfect Paleo Powder. Because it is kind of perfect. Made with no artificial sweeteners or chemicals, a serving of it gives you 27 grams of protein, 3 grams of prebiotic dietary fiber and 1,000 milligrams of omega-3s. And it all comes from organic whole food sources — like beef powder, salmon powder, flaxseed and kale. And the Cacao flavor tastes DELICIOUS and blends up so well and creamy with some nutmilk, veggies and fruit.
Other bonus Paleo substitutes you’ll love that we’ve already covered? Mayo. And chocolate peanut butter cups. Oh, yeah. —Jenn