Paleo Convenience Foods @ Whole Foods

I am currently running a 14-Day Paleo Challenge at Pura Vida Fitness Club in Denver, Colorado, and I've had a lot of questions about Paleo convenience foods so I've put together this blog to show you what's available at Whole Foods Market. My plan is to publish some additional blogs on Paleo convenience foods that can be purchased online, as well as staple Paleo pantry items, so be on the lookout for those!

What are we looking for when it comes to Paleo convenience foods? 

No Refined Sugar (100% Maple Syrup, Honey, Date Sugar + Coconut Sugar ARE Paleo)

No Wheat or Grains (Coconut Flour, Almond Flour + Cassava Flour ARE Paleo)

Only Real, Whole Ingredients (No Additives + No Stabilizers)

No Dairy (Coconut Milk, Cashew Milk, Almond Milk + Other Nut Milks ARE Paleo)

No Industrial Seed or Vegetable Oils (Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil + Palm Oil ARE Paleo)

Paleo also emphasizes the highest quality ingredients, including:

Produce: Organic

Animal Products: Organic + Pasture-Raised + Grass-Fed (for beef products) + Wild (for seafood)

Canned + Jarred + Packaged Foods: Organic

Let's start with ... 

Veggies:

Whole Foods Veggie Noodles:

You can find spiralized veggie noodles in the refrigerated produce section of Whole Foods. Just sauté these noodles in avocado oil and add your favorite Paleo sauce (see below)!

Whole Foods Pre-Cut Veggies:

You can find several combinations of pre-cut veggies in the refrigerated produce section of Whole Foods. Sauté or roast these veggies with avocado oil and sea salt for a quick Paleo side dish!

Sauerkraut, Kimchi + Other Fermented Vegetables:

Loaded with good bacteria, fermented vegetables are excellent for gut health and should be part of your daily diet!

Brand: Farmhouse Culture

Farmhouse Culture carries organic sauerkraut + kimchi

Farmhouse Culture Sauerkraut (Garlic Dill Pickle):

Ingredients: Organic Green Cabbage, Organic Cucumbers, Organic Garlic, Organic Dill, Sonoma Sea Salt

Farmhouse Culture Kimchi (Spicy Wakame Ginger):

Ingredients: Organic Napa Cabbage, Organic Daikon Radish, Organic Carrots, Organic Leeks, Sonoma Sea Salt, Organic Ginger, Organic Garlic, Organic Chili Powder, Organic Date Sugar, Organic Wakame

Brand: Ozuke

Ozuke carries organic kimchi + other fermented veggies

Ozuke Kimchi (Napa + Garlic):

Ingredients: Organic Napa Cabbage, Organic Onion, Organic Ginger, Organic Garlic, Organic Chile Powder, Organic Cayenne Pepper, Organic Paprika, Sea Salt

Brand: Wildbrine

Wildbrine carries organic sauerkraut + other fermented veggies

Pickles:

Pickles make a nice snack, and you can add them to a sandwich, burger or salad. My preferred brand is Hee Haw Pickles - they have dill pickles, garlic pickles and even sweet pickles that sweetened with honey!

Brand: Yee Haw Pickle

Ingredients (No Frills Dills): Cucumbers, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Dill

Ingredients (Honey Sweet Stackers): Cucumbers, Water, Vinegar, Honey, Salt, Mustard Seed, Onion, Tumeric

Proteins:

Smoked Salmon:

Smoked Salmon is a great protein option that can be eaten straight out of the packaging (it does not need to be cooked), just make sure that it does not contain sugar

Brand: Whole Catch

Cold Smoked Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon

Ingredients: Sockeye Salmon, Salt, Natural Hardwood Smoke

Canned Salmon + Tuna + Sardines + Anchovies:

Brand: Wild Planet

Sustainably caught and it's superior quality make Wild Planet the best brand on the market for canned salmon, tuna, sardines + anchovies. Their sardines + anchovies also come in several different sauces (marinara, olive oil, etc.)

Here's a recipe for my Homemade Paleo Mayonnaise which is great for making tuna- or salmon-salad!

Paleo Hotdogs:

Brand: Applegate Organics

These are my go-to for camping and BBQ'ing!

Ingredients: Organic Grass-Fed Beef, Water, Contains Less than 2% of the Following: Sea Salt, Organic Spices, Organic Dehydrated Garlic and Onion, Organic Paprika, Celery Powder

Paleo Sausages:

Brand: Applegate Organics

Applegate Organics carries several flavors of sausages that are Paleo-friendly - just check the label to make sure there is no sugar or other non-Paleo ingredients. Remember that processed meats should be eaten in moderation: about 2 to 4 servings per week.

Ingredients (Sweet Italian): Organic Chicken, Organic Turkey, Sodium Lactate (from Beets), Contains Less than 2% of the Following Ingredients: Sea Salt, Organic Spices, Organic Fennel, Organic Garlic

Paleo Bacon:

Brand: Wellshire Farms

Nearly every bacon on the market has sugar in it, EXCEPT this awesome Paleo bacon by Wellshire Farms! You'll be able to recognize it easily with the Paleo labeling! 

Ingredients: Pork, Sea Salt, Spices (Black Pepper, Fenugreek, Nutmeg, White Pepper, Mace, Allspice)

Jerky:

Paleo Jerky is a great high-protein snack option, and something I always take with me when I travel

Brand: Epic

Epic has some really delicious jerkys, "meat bars," and even bacon bits that you can add to your salad or other Paleo dishes! Make sure to read the labels as some of their products do contain sugar

Ingredients (Uncured Bacon Jerky): Uncured Bacon (no nitrates or nitrites added) (Pork, Sea Salt, Vinegar, Celery Powder), Natural Pork

Brand: The New Primal

My other favorite brand for Paleo jerky is The New Primal. It's very moist + flavorful!

Ingredients (Spicy Grass-Fed Beef Jerky): Grass-Fed + Grass-Finished Beef, Pineapple Juice, Coconut Aminos, Honey, Lemon Juice, Apple Cider Vinegar, Jalapeño Peppers, Cayenne, Smoked Sea Salt, Garlic, Onion, White Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Ginger, Black Pepper 

Lunch Meat:

Lunch meat is one of those foods that invariably contains sugar, stabilizers and even wheat (!!), but Whole Foods carries several brands that are clean! 

Try out this recipe for a great grab-and-go lunch option: Collard Green Sandwich Wraps

Brand: Diestel Ranch

Some of their lunch meats contain sugar, so be sure to read labels! 

Ingredients (Fresh Roasted Turkey Breast): Organic Turkey Breast

Brand: 365

Whole Foods' in-house lunch meat is pretty clean, but check labels for sugar!

Ingredients (Applewood Smoked Turkey Breast): Organic Turkey Breast, Water, Organic Distilled White Vinegar, Sea Salt, Organic Honey

Brand: Applegate Organics

Applegate Organics has several clean lunch meats, but read labels for sugar and stabilizers (carrageenan)

Ingredients (Organic Roast Beef): Organic Beef, Water, Contains Less Than 2% of the Following: Salt, Organic Pepper

Healthy Fats:

Nut Butters: 

Nut Butter can make a great snack, especially when paired with fruit or veggies, but because it's so calorically dense (and so easy to overeat!!), limit yourself to 1-2 TBSP per day. Also make sure you read labels, because a lot of nut butters will contain added sugar

Brand: Whole Foods 

Whole Foods has these very cool "make it yourself" almond butter machines!

Ingredients: Dry Roasted Unsalted Almonds

Brand: Artisana 

Artisana has some of the best nut butter on the market with a lot of variety (Almond Butter, Walnut Butter, Cashew Butter, etc.) and they even have individual serving size packets that are great for traveling!

Ingredients (Raw Almond Butter): Organic Raw Almonds

Brand: Life of Riley 

This is artisan nut butter at it's best - I love this brand! They have more traditional nut butter flavors, as well as delicious blends!  

Ingredients (Almond Butter): Roasted Organic Almonds, Organic Flaxseed, Almond Oil, Sea Salt

Nut Milks:

You definitely want to avoid the boxed nut milks as they have way too many additives/stabilizers. Luckily, Whole Foods carries a couple of clean, Paleo-Friendly nut milks that can be found in their refrigerated section!

Brand: Forager

This Cashew Milk is as clean as it gets and they even have a chocolate flavor!

Ingredients (Original): Cashew Milk (Filtered Water, Cashews), Dates, Cassava Root, Salt

Fruits:

Dried + Freeze-Dried Fruits:

You can find many brands for dried + freeze-dried that only contain fruit (it's best to avoid dried fruit that's made with oil, and you definitely don't need added sugar)

Brand: Just Tomatoes  

Just Tomatoes has several types of organic freeze-dried fruit (Peaches, Bananas, Mangoes, Blueberries, etc.)

Just Tomatoes (Organic Just Bananas)

Ingredients: Freeze-Dried Organic Bananas

 Brand: Made in Nature

Made in Nature has several types of organic dried fruit, in including pineapple + plums

Made in Nature (Pineapple)

Ingredients: Organic Dried Pineapple

Brand: Fruit Bliss 

Organic Dried Apricots + Other Dried Fruits

Brand: Steve's Paleo Goods 

Organic Dried Cranberries + Organic Dried Mangos + Other Dried Fruit

 

Brand: Nature's All

Organic Dried Bananas + Strawberries

Apple Sauce + Fruit Blends:

These make great on-the-go snacks for quick energy!

Brand: 365

Ingredients: Organic Apples

Brand: Mama Chia (Strawberry Banana)

Ingredients: Hydrated Organic Chia Seeds (Water, Organic Chia Seeds), Organic Banana Puree, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate, Organic Strawberry Puree, Organic Beet Puree, Organic Natural Strawberry Flavor, Organic Berry Flavor, Citric Acid

Salad Dressings + Condiments:

Salad Dressings:

Brand: Tessemae's

Tessemae's carries great Paleo-friendly salad dressing and sauces 

(just make sure you read the labels as some of the salad dressings have soy in them)

Tessemae's Balsamic Salad Dressing:

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Organic Balsamic Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Garlic, Mustard (Water, Mustard Seed, Vinegar, Salt, Spices), Sea Salt

 Tessemae's Zesty Ranch Salad Dressing:

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Spices, Garlic, Organic Mustard (Organic Vinegar, Water, Organic Mustard Seed, Salt, Organic Tumeric, Organic Spices), Sea Salt

Condiments:

Paleo condiments are easy to make, but these are great to have around when you're short on time!

Tessemae's Honey Mustard Sauce:

Ingredients: Mustard (Water, Mustard Seed, Vinegar, Salt, Spices), Organic Honey

Tessemae's BBQ Sauce:

Ingredients: Date Puree (Water, Organic Dates, Lemon Juice), Tomato Puree (Tomatoes, Salt), Organic Balsamic Vinegar, Filtered Water, Mustard (Water, Mustard Seed, Vinegar, Salt, Spices), Sea Salt, Organic Coconut Aminos, Spices, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder

Tessemae's Ketchup:

Ingredients: Tomato Puree (Tomatoes, Salt), Date Puree (Water, Organic Dates, Lemon Juice), Filtered Water, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sea Salt, Lemon Juice, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder

Tessemae's Mayonnaise:

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Cage-Free Eggs, Organic Mustard (Organic Mustard Seed, Salt, Organic Tumeric, Organic Spices), Apple Cider Vinegar, Distilled Vinegar, Sea Salt, Lemon Juice

Brand: Coconut Secrets

Coconut Secret has some amazing stir fry sauces that are Paleo-Friendly (made from coconut)!

Coconut Aminos is the perfect soy-free replacement for soy sauce - you can add to a veggie + protein stir-fry for some great flavor, or take it with you in a small container when you go out to sushi!

Ingredients (Coconut Aminos): Organic Coconut Tree Sap, Sea Salt

Coconut Secret Garlic Sauce!

Ingredients: Organic Coconut Sap, Organic Garlic, Sea Salt, Organic Ginger, Organic Cayenne Pepper

Coconut Secret Teriyaki Sauce!

Brand: Primal Kitchen

This is the perfect store-bought Paleo Mayonnaise, made by Primal Kitchen which is Mark Sisson's new company 

Ingredients: Avocado Oil, Cage-Free Eggs, Organic Egg Yolks, Organic Vinegar, Sea Salt, Rosemary Extract 

Brand: Steve's Paleo Goods

Steve's Paleo Goods carries some great Paleo condiments, including Ketchup, Peach BBQ Sauce, Maple Mustard, Steak Sauce, Ginger Cilantro + Sriracha Sauce! 

Brand: Cucina Antica

Cucina Antica carries delicious tomato sauces that are sugar-free! Try out their Marinara Sauces, Pizza Sauce, La Vodka Sauce, Arrabbiata, or Puttanesca! For a quick meal, pour these sauces over sautéed veggie noodles or Paleo pasta (see below)!

Ingredients (Tomato Basil Marinara): Imported Italian San Marzano Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Fresh Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Salt, Basil, White Pepper, Black Pepper

Crackers + Chips:

Plantain Chips

These are my absolute favorites, and because they are made with Palm Oil, they are 100% Paleo! Try dipping these with fresh guacamole!

Ingredients (Sweet Plantain Chips): Ripe + Sweet Plantains, Palm Oil

Kale Chips

Brand: Kale Krunch

There are a lot of Kale Chips on the market and this is definitely a good brand that has Paleo-friendly options. But be sure to read the labels because some flavors have soy in them!

Ingredients (Cheezy Chipotle): Organic Kale, Red Bell Peppers, Organic Cashes, Organic Sesame Seeds, Organic Lemon Juice, Nutritional Yeast, Organic Chia Seeds, Smoked Salt, Organic Coconut Palm Sugar, Organic Chipotle, Organic Paprika

Cracker Cookies

Brand: Foodie Fuel 

Foodie Fuel has several flavors of sweet Paleo crackers: Cinnamon Ginger, Coconut Vanilla, Butter Toffee + Swiss Chocolate! 

Ingredients (Cinnamon Ginger): Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Almonds, Organic Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds (Pesticide-Free), Organic Mesquite Powder, Organic Cinnamon Powder, Sea Salt, Organic Flavors 

Brand: Go Raw

Go Raw has both sweet + savory Paleo-friendly crackers. My favorite flavor is the carrot cake cracker cookies!

Ingredients (Carrot Cake): Coconut (Unsulphured), Sprouted Sesame Seeds, Carrots, Dates, Nutmeg 

 Cookies + Granola + Energy Bars:

Cookies

Brand: Coco-Roons 

These Paleo cookies definitely hit the spot when I have a sweet craving!

Ingredients (Vanilla Maple): Dried, Unsweetened Coconut, Almond Flour, Unfiltered Maple Syrup, Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil, Vanilla Extract, Himalayan Crystal Salt

 Granola

Brand: Steve's Paleo Goods

Steve's Paleo Goods carries some great grain-free granola, and they even have a nut-free variety! They sell it in larger bags as well as small pouches for traveling!

Ingredients (Cinnamon): Raw Almonds, Shredded Coconut, Raw Pumpkin Seeds, Raw Walnuts, Raw Pecans, Raw Sunflower Seeds, Coconut Oil, Honey, Cinnamon

Granola Pouches: Chocolate Pineapple; Tropical; Original; Bacon, Eggs + Coffee; Pumpkin; Dark Chocolate Espresso

Brand: Wholly Bites

Another Grain-Free Granola to try, with flavors like: Ginger Snap Clusters, Apricot Pecan Clusters + Cacao Nibs Clusters

 Ingredients (Ginger Snap Clusters): Organic Coconut Flakes, Organic Dates, Honey, Pecans, Coconut Oil, Pumpkin Seeds, Cashews, Organic Flax Seed, Vanilla Extract, Ginger, Cinnamon, Sea Salt, Nutmeg, Clove

Energy Bars

Brand: WB Kitchen

I first sampled these bars at the Paleo(fx) Conference in Austin, Texas last year. They are really tasty - definitely one of my favorite energy bars out there! (FYI: it looks like they're going to be changing their labeling soon to "Ona")

My favorite flavor is Honey Nut!

Ingredients (Honey Nut): Raw, Unfiltered Honey, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Pecans, Shredded Coconut, Coconut Milk, Coconut Oil, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt, Cinnamon

 Specialty Paleo Items:

Pancakes!

Brand: Birch Benders

These are my husband's go to treat when he's feeling lazy! You literally just add water to make the batter and fry them up in just minutes! 

Ingredients: Cassava Flour, Organic Coconut Flour, Almond Flour, Eggs, Leavening, Salt, Monk Fruit, Spice. 

Just add water!

Pasta!

Brand: Cappello's

Paleo pasta - what?! That's right! You pasta lovers are in for a real treat! Cappello's can be found on the frozen food section, where they carry Gnocchi, Fettuccine + Lasagna Sheets!

TV Dinners!

Brand: Noble Savage/Grandcestors

Paleo TV Dinners are pretty awesome! I found these in both the frozen section as well and the refrigerated section of Whole Foods. I have it on good authority that "Not Yer Momma's Meatloaf" is delicious!

Brand: Just Add Eggs

This frozen food section find was pretty exciting for me - pre-cut and seasoned veggies that you can store in your freezer until you are ready to cook them! Just toss the in a pan with oil until they're cooked through and add eggs!

Ingredients (Rocky Mountain Skillet): Sweet Potatoes, Bell Peppers, Onions, Kale, Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary

Paleo Wraps

Brand: Paleo Wraps

I haven't tried these, but it seems like you could make some pretty cool dishes (like maybe some spring rolls?! Yum!)

Ingredients: Coconut Meat, Water, Unrefined Coconut Oil

Paleo Yogurt

Last, but not least, I found some Paleo yogurt options for my dairy people out there!

Brand: Co Yo

Not all coconut based yogurts are clean (adding sugar and other additives), but I was pretty happy with this one!

Ingredients (Mango): Coconut Cream, Mango (Mango Puree Concentrate, Water, Natural Flavor, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Sodium Citrate), Stevia, Tapioca, Pectin, and Probiotic Cultures

Ingredients (Chocolate): Coconut Cream, Chocolate (Organic Raw Cacao, Apple Juice Concentrate), Stevia, Tapioca, Pectin, and Probiotic Cultures

 Brand: Chia Pod

This is probably more like a pudding than a yogurt, but if you like that cold, creamy texture of yogurt this will probably do the trick!

Ingredients (Mango): Chia Seeds, Coconut + Real Mango

Ingredients (Coffee Bean): Chia See Gel (Chia Seeds, Water), Coconut Milk, Cold Brew Coffee, Coconut Palm Sugar, Camu Camu Powder

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