On our journey to optimal health and fitness, we’ve realized that the fuel we give our bodies plays just as important of a role as exercise. Having been fitness and health buffs testing out paleo diet, we appreciate its simplicity and alignment with the dietary habits of our ancestors. If you’re thinking of trying out this diet or are an experienced paleo eater looking for new ideas, a top-notch cookbook may be what you’re looking for. Below is a list of our top paleo cookbook recommendations that have helped revolutionize our eating habits.
What is the Best Paleo Diet Books for Beginners?
You are here to find the Best Paleo Diet Books for Beginners and we did all the necessary research to make life just a little bit easier for you. With so many options and products available, we narrowed the selection down for you to the absolute best 5 paleo deit books for beginners and reviewed why they’re worth your time and money.
We have also compiled a list of main things to consider before buying beginner paleo diet books which you can find later on in this article, together with some helpful FAQs. So let’s get started with the list of Best Paleo Diet Books for Beginners.
1. Paleo for Beginners
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Number of Recipes: 114 Experience Level: Beginner Equipment required: Standard |
Paleo for Beginners by John Chatham is a best-selling paleo cookbook with over 150,000 copies sold. One of the attributes that make this book so popular is that the author provides a simple 7-day plan to introduce newbies to the caveman diet and transition them. The book highlights bits of advice and tips on avoiding some of the challenges that new paleo practitioners may face, ensuring success in incorporating the recipes into their diet. The author is a highly acclaimed health and diet writer with several other healthy eating books under his belt. However, this book falls short with the lack of color pictures and general inconsistencies with its formatting. However, many who’ve tried the recipes found them tasty and could easily transition into the new healthy eating lifestyle. The cookbook is ideal for people who need to maintain healthy eating and increase their energy level. Weight loss is another attractive feature that this book offers, and to improve results, we recommend these exercises to complement your paleo diet.
Paleo for Beginners also features 114 delicious recipes for every meal with a helpful list of paleo-friendly food and an extensive restricted food list. The recipes have simple instructions to follow with easy-to-prepare ingredients for beginners. However, some readers who’ve tried the recipes noted that the measurements were not reliable, and they ended up burning and wasting food.
Pros
- Great beginner paleo cookbook for newbies
- Ingredients are readily available
- Simple recipes that are easy to prepare
- Provides helpful information on successful transitioning
Cons
- Does not include color pictures of the recipes
- Some reviews say that the measurements are unreliable
2. Quick Prep Paleo
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Number of Recipes: 75 Experience Level: Intermediate Equipment required: Standard |
The Quick Prep Paleo by Mary Smith is a cookbook filled with easy and quick whole food recipes that take just 15 minutes or less to make. The book includes 75 delicious recipes with beautiful color photos for inspiration. You can use different cooking methods like instant pots, slow cookers, and single-pot meals.
Mary Smith, the author, is known for her popular Instagram page, Mary’s Whole Life, which offers tasty recipes for people with food allergies.
What’s great about this cookbook is that the recipes are fast to prepare and serve, making it perfect for busy individuals or families with young kids who don’t have much time. The best part is, you don’t need to be on a specific diet to enjoy these meals – they’re suitable for everyone. The recipes are also family-friendly, so you won’t have to cook separate meals for the kids.
Pros
- Every recipe has a color photo
- Quick and easy recipes
- Minimal prep required
- Perfect for quick meals
Cons
- Not many recipes
- Some reviewers say the recipes are unoriginal
3. The Paleo Cookbook
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Number of Recipes: 300 Experience Level: Beginner Equipment required: Standard |
The Paleo Cookbook is a great resource for people starting the caveman diet or wanting healthier meals. It has 11 chapters with 300 exciting recipes using simple ingredients from various cuisines like Italian, Mexican, Chinese, French, and Asian. The instructions are easy to follow, but there are only a few black and white pictures, which may be disappointing to some.
The book covers breakfast, lunch, main dishes, salads, soups, snacks, and beverages. While it advises avoiding some foods like root vegetables, it includes recipes with carrots, sweet potatoes, and homemade condiments like mayonnaise. The meal plans appeal to many, even if they’re not fully into the paleo diet. It’s great for those needing to change their eating habits for health reasons. And you can also shed some weight by replacing certain foods with cleaner options, like using cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. You can find some additional healthy substitutes for your cheat meals in some of our other articles!
Pros
- Recipe instructions are easy to follow
- Ingredients used are easily available
- Nice collection of diverse and international recipes
- Offers nutritional information and other cooking tips
Cons
- No color photos
- Some reviewers say a few recipes are bland
4. Nom Nom Paleo
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Number of Recipes: 100 Experience Level: Beginner to Expert Equipment required: Standard |
“Nom Nom Paleo” is a lighthearted, whimsical cookbook adorned with delightful cartoon graphics. This cook book’s unique design makes cooking a fun and exciting experience. Whether you’re a seasoned paleo expert or a beginner, this cookbook caters to all with mouthwatering photos that inspire and encourage you to try out the recipes. Authored by Michelle Tam, an enthusiastic cook and professional nutritionist, this cookbook is an extension of her award-winning blog. Her unique book maintains a distinctive and informal format that appeals to many. The recipes boast flavorful influences from Asian cuisine and are presented in a relatable manner, complete with step-by-step photos and charming comic-style cartoons. Most meals in the book are budget-friendly and suited for cooks of all skill levels, and are easily adaptable to dairy and gluten-free diets. While the cookbook encourages healthy eating, it’s worth noting that some recipes feature expensive ingredients like fresh mussels. Also, a few may require professional kitchen equipment not readily available to all home cooks.
Pros
- Recipes are delicious and suitable for all skill levels
- All recipes have step-by-step graphics to follow
- Ingredients are budget-friendly and easy to find
- Meals can easily be adapted as needed
Cons
- Some recipes may need use of specific cooking appliances
- Some recipes may be more complicated and take lots of time
5. The One-Pot Paleo Cookbook
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Number of Recipes: 100+ Experience Level: Beginner Equipment required: Slow Cooker, Sheet Pan, Skillet, Pressure Cooker |
The One-Pot Paleo Cookbook is a fantastic option for those looking to eat healthy without spending too much time in the kitchen. The book offers nutritious recipes that can be prepared in just 15 minutes using simple cooking vessels like instant pots, skillets, and sheet pans.
Shelby Law Ruttan, the author, is an experienced cook with a focus on clean eating. The cookbook contains 100 recipes divided into six categories, suitable for various diets, including paleo. These are her family’s favorite recipes, and the book provides advice on essential ingredients and cooking equipment. It also shares useful information on how these recipes can promote a healthy lifestyle and weight loss.
On the downside, most of the recipes don’t have pictures, which some people may not prefer. While the collection is easy for anyone to follow, advanced cooks or those familiar with the paleo diet might find them less inspiring, as they may already know similar recipes.
Pros
- Recipes are quick and easy to prepare
- Offers additional health and weight loss tips
- Clean formatting
- Measurement index and ingredient lists included
Cons
- Contains few photos
- May be too simple for advanced cooks
Verdict
To sum up, out of the top 5 Best Paleo Diet Books for Beginners, our absolute top pick is Paleo for Beginners.
If you have the money, you can go for Quick Prep Paleo which is our premium pick.
However, there’s nothing wrong with going for the budget option, which we found to be the Nom Nom Paleo.
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
What You Should Know Before Buying paleo deit books for beginners
Experience
When choosing a paleo cookbook, consider your experience level on the paleo journey. If you’re just starting out, opt for a book with detailed explanations and guidance. However, if you’re already an experienced paleo devotee, look for a cookbook that skips the basics and delves into more advanced techniques and recipes. By selecting a cookbook that aligns with your experience, you’ll ensure it serves you well and meets your specific needs.
Equipment
While we all love a nice simple recipe, some recipes require extra equipment on hand to be made properly. Consider whether the recipes in a cookbook need any special equipment that you don’t already have, like a pressure cooker or air fryer. From there, you can decide if you would rather choose a different cookbook or purchase the necessary equipment to try something new!
Ingredients
When considering a paleo cookbook, consider the ingredients used in the recipes provided. Are they ingredients you can easily access, or that you already have in your pantry? You should also consider any allergies you have. If a cookbook has many recipes that cannot have allergens substituted out, you may want to choose a different book. Cookbooks using ingredients you’re familiar with and enjoy will tend to be your best choice.
Questions and Answers About paleo deit books for beginners
What is paleo diet?
The Paleo diet mimics the diet of early humans during the Paleolithic era. It focuses on whole, unprocessed foods like meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds while avoiding dairy, grains, and processed foods. The idea is to eat like our ancestors to promote better health and avoid modern diet-related issues. If cavemen couldn’t eat it, it isn’t a part of the diet.
Can you exercise on paleo diet?
Yes, you can definitely exercise on the paleo diet. In fact, we highly recommend you do! Our ancestors got their exercise in while hunting for food. Nowadays, we get it by taking a walk or hopping on an exercise bike. Try to get in at least 2.5 hours of exercise per week, and look for opportunities to get more active during the week.
Is paleo expensive?
How much the paleo diet costs you depends on your shopping habits and food choices. However, it can be more expensive than a regular diet due to high-quality ingredients like organic meats and wild-caught fish. It can also be harder to maintain fresh produce, as it will spoil faster than processed foods. Focusing on simple, whole foods, cooking at home, and meal prepping can help reduce your costs each month.
What you can eat on paleo?
The Paleo diet includes natural, whole foods like lean meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and healthy fats. It avoids dairy, grains, legumes, processed foods, refined oils, and sugary treats. If your ancient human ancestors couldn’t have it, neither can you.
Is the paleo diet sustainable?
Compared to other diets, paleo is actually very sustainable. Paleo relies only on whole foods and eliminates processed foods and dairy, making it more sustainable than diets including these types of foods. The balance between meat and plant sources also helps keep the diet sustainable, with most paleo diets relying on a ratio of 40% meat to 60% vegetables.
