What can I not eat on an animal-based diet?

December 25, 2025 •

4 min read

While proponents suggest an animal-based diet, consisting primarily of meat and other animal products, can offer health benefits, it requires the strict elimination of many food groups. Understanding precisely what can I not eat on an animal-based diet is crucial for adherence and managing nutritional needs.

Quick Summary

An animal-based diet eliminates almost all plant-based foods, including grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. Strict followers also avoid processed foods, industrial oils, and refined sugars.

Key Points

Eliminate All Grains and Legumes: This includes wheat, rice, corn, beans, and lentils, as well as products made from them, like bread and pasta.
Avoid Most Vegetables and Fruits: While some variations allow low-toxin produce, most vegetables, high-sugar fruits, and nightshades are prohibited.
Cut All Processed Sugars and Artificial Sweeteners: Any form of refined sugar, corn syrup, or artificial sweetener is restricted to reduce inflammation and blood sugar spikes.
Say No to Industrial Seed Oils: Vegetable oils like canola, soybean, and sunflower are forbidden in favor of animal fats like tallow or butter.
Restrict Plant-Based Beverages: Drinks derived from plants, such as coffee, tea, and fruit juice, are typically eliminated from the diet.
Be Mindful of Dairy Choices: High-lactose dairy, like milk and soft cheeses, is often avoided, though some variations permit small amounts of low-lactose items.
Focus on Whole, Animal-Derived Foods: The diet centers exclusively on meat, eggs, and selected dairy products, making ingredient sourcing critical.

The animal-based diet is a dietary approach that focuses on consuming meat, eggs, and dairy products, with some flexibility for specific plant foods in certain variations. It stands in contrast to the stricter, zero-carb carnivore diet, which excludes all plant matter entirely. For those considering this eating pattern, knowing the restricted foods is as important as knowing what's permitted. The primary reason for eliminating many plant-based foods is the theory that they contain natural compounds, often referred to as 'anti-nutrients,' that can cause inflammation or interfere with nutrient absorption in sensitive individuals.

Plant-Based Foods to Eliminate

For many following an animal-based diet, the majority of the plant kingdom is off-limits. This is often the most challenging adjustment for newcomers, as many common staples are removed from the menu entirely.

Grains and Legumes

All grains and legumes are typically avoided. This includes staples of many modern diets and is a key distinction from other low-carb plans. The elimination is driven by concerns over lectins, phytates, and gluten content, which some believe can cause digestive issues or inflammation.

Commonly excluded items:

Grains: Wheat, rice (brown and white), corn, oats, barley, quinoa, and millet.
Legumes: Beans (black, kidney, pinto), lentils, chickpeas, and peanuts.
Grain-based products: Bread, pasta, cereal, and other flour-based products are prohibited.

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are often a staple in ketogenic or paleo diets, but are almost always excluded from animal-based plans. These items contain phytates and other compounds that some argue are problematic for digestion.

Commonly excluded items:

Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, and macadamia nuts.
Seeds: Chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.

Most Vegetables and Fruits

This is where some variation in the animal-based diet occurs, but generally, the majority of vegetables are avoided. The more restrictive carnivore-style approach eliminates all plant matter, while more moderate animal-based plans may include low-toxin, low-glycemic fruits like berries and certain non-starchy vegetables. However, some vegetables, particularly leafy greens and nightshades, are consistently restricted due to antinutrient content.

High-antinutrient vegetables to avoid:

Kale, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts.
Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants (nightshades).

Fruits to avoid (strict versions):

Apples, bananas, oranges, and other high-sugar fruits.

Processed and Industrial Foods

A core tenet of most animal-based diets is the elimination of highly processed and unnatural foods. This is often cited as a significant health benefit, regardless of other dietary choices.

Industrial Vegetable and Seed Oils

These oils are a major component of the Standard American Diet but are strictly forbidden. The rationale is that these highly processed fats can drive inflammation.

Oils to avoid:

Canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, and grapeseed oil.

Refined Sugars and Artificial Sweeteners

Any form of refined sugar or artificial sweetener is off the table. This is based on the philosophy of avoiding unnatural substances that can cause blood sugar spikes and inflammation.

Sweeteners to avoid:

Table sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and all artificial sweeteners (e.g., sucralose, aspartame).

Beverages to Restrict

While water and bone broth are encouraged, most other beverages are made from plants and are therefore off-limits.

Commonly restricted beverages:

Alcohol (beer, wine, liquor).
Coffee and tea (plant-derived).
Fruit juice and sodas (sugar content).

Animal-Based vs. Standard Diet: A Comparison

To highlight the radical shifts required by this diet, the table below compares food restrictions with a standard, unrestricted eating pattern.


Food Category	Animal-Based Diet	Standard Diet
Grains & Legumes	Strictly eliminated.	Staple foods, often encouraged.
Most Vegetables	Largely excluded; limited low-toxin options in some versions.	Encouraged as a foundation of a healthy diet.
Nuts & Seeds	Completely eliminated.	Considered healthy sources of fats and nutrients.
Processed Sugars	Strictly eliminated, including artificial sweeteners.	Found in a wide range of common foods and beverages.
Industrial Oils	Excluded due to inflammatory properties.	Widely used in cooking and processed products.
Key Beverages	Restricted to water, bone broth; some herbal teas.	Includes coffee, tea, juice, and alcohol.

Conclusion: Navigating the Restrictions

Adhering to an animal-based diet necessitates significant and careful elimination of many common foods. The core restrictions include all grains, legumes, and industrial seed oils, with most versions also excluding nuts, seeds, and most vegetables and fruits. For many, the most important rule is the complete avoidance of refined sugar and ultra-processed foods. While this restrictive approach might align with some health goals, it can also lead to nutrient deficiencies, particularly fiber, and carries risks like high saturated fat intake. It is crucial to consult a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before starting such a restrictive diet to ensure all nutritional needs are met and potential risks are understood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most vegetables are avoided due to their plant-derived compounds, but more moderate versions of the diet may allow small amounts of low-toxin vegetables and low-fructose fruits. However, stricter forms like the carnivore diet forbid all vegetables.

No, because coffee and tea are made from plants, they are typically restricted. The diet's proponents recommend sticking to water and bone broth for hydration.

No, nuts and seeds are generally excluded due to their anti-nutrient content and plant-based nature. This includes popular choices like almonds, walnuts, and chia seeds.

No refined sugars or artificial sweeteners are permitted. Some variations of the diet, however, might allow for natural sweeteners like raw honey in limited quantities.

Industrial vegetable and seed oils, such as canola, soybean, and sunflower, are strictly prohibited. The diet advocates for cooking with animal fats like tallow, lard, or butter instead.

No, alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the animal-based diet, as they are often derived from plant sources like grains or fruits.

While some followers avoid dairy completely, moderate versions of the diet may permit low-lactose options like aged hard cheeses, butter, and heavy cream. High-lactose items like milk are typically excluded.