paleo recipe

The Autoimmune Protocol Diet (AIP diet) has proven to be healing for those dealing with serious inflammation and gut irritation. The hardest part: finding delicious, AIP friendly snacks that can keep you on the right track towards relief. Here is our curated list of AIP snack ideas we tested and loved.

When you're craving snacks...

Having autoimmune disease can really shift your perspective on snacking.  It was easy for me to feel negatively towards all snacking food because of the way that conventional snacks used to make me feel, which was terrible.  However, you can enjoy homemade treats on AIP while still promoting gut healing. Plus, snacks are good for the soul.

It wouldn’t be right to give you snack ideas and not include something wrapped in bacon.  These Bacon Wrapped Peaches are perfectly sweet and savory, and only last about five minutes in my house.  If it is warm enough outside, I like to throw these on the grill for a little extra smokiness. They make the best brunch appetizer for everyone; even kids love them!

This Sweet Potato Chip Recipe recipe is incredibly simple and delicious. There are only three ingredients! Just make sure that you use extra-virgin olive oil (preferably organic) to make a more savory chip or use coconut butter to give them a little extra sweetness.

If you have made sweet potato chips a million times (me) and are looking to be a little bit more adventurous, find out if your grocery store has plantains.  Once you make these addicting Baked Plantain Chips, you will be hooked. I like to toss them with diced garlic or turmeric before I bake them to add slightly more spice and nutritional value.

Where there’s chips, there should be dip! Louise at Healing Autoimmune created this Cauliflower Dip that I made for our most recent office party and it was a huge crowd pleaser.  Cauliflower is such a versatile ingredient that can be blended into a wonderful, creamy consistency that seems too good to be AIP.  

When you have a sweet tooth...

Anytime you are following a restrictive diet, you run the risk of feeling deprived. Ultimately, this can lead to a late-night binge. The best thing you can do to combat that: be prepared. That "I'm superwoman and I am stronger than any craving" mentality will not exist in every moment. You're human. These are sweet snack ideas that mimic that creamy, deeply satisfying dessert taste while being dairy free and compliant.

This Blackberry Collagen Popsicles Recipe was created by the trustworthy AIP experts at Autoimmune Wellness. If you are seeking an amazing AIP podcast to follow, theirs is THE best.

Ok, so I know what you’re going to say: these are supposed to be easy recipes and now I have to go buy popsicle molds? Of course not. Unless you are trying to create pinterest worthy pictures, just throw the mixture into a normal ice cube tray, cover it with plastic wrap, and poke some toothpicks through to act as your popsicle stick. They are tart and sweet without any of the added sugar.

You guys! I’ve been looking for a good AIP pie crust recipe for so long.  It seemed like my days of enjoying a good flaky crust were over, until now! The Perfect AIP Pie Crust Recipe was developed by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, Ph.D. at The Paleo Mom.  She uses Otto’s Cassava Flour, which is my AIP gluten-free, grain-free go-to product for baking.

I wouldn’t blame you for eating this pie crust on its own, but if you are looking for a tart, low sugar filling, this strawberry rhubarb filling is just right. The coconut oil really adds a depth of flavor that keeps you going back for more (and more).

When you don’t have time to cook…

In the elimination phase of AIP, it can feel like all you’re doing is cooking.  While it is important to be able to cook yourself healthy AIP recipes, it is equally important that the diet doesn’t take over your life and make you miserable.  Therefore, I’ve added some AIP snacks that you can buy and LIVE YOUR LIFE!

Wild Zora has created a whole line of interesting and compliant snacks and meals for the AIP community.  Their Apple Pork and Mediterranean Lamb meat and veggie bars are both AIP and they are really good to take on the go.  These bars are sort of like jerky, but they have a full serving of fruits and veggies in them, so they are more tender and complex in flavor.  

Rhythm Superfoods makes a bunch of vegetable-based snacks that are simple and so tasty. Their Organic Carrot Sticks are crunchy, salty and aren’t oily like many of the other dried veggie snack companies. While they are my favorite, I have to give an honorable mention to their pickled beet chips, which are unlike any other AIP chip I have tried.

We double check all of our ingredients with Autoimmune Wellness' pantry stocking tool. They make it simple to assure you are prioritizing the ingredients that will make you as successful as possible.

Eating Paleo should lead to less inflammation and more healing, not anxiety.  You do not need to spend a fortune to follow the Paleo diet at home. These recipes include cheap and easy paleo meals for beginners and experts alike.

When you want to cozy up with a bowl of soup…

This Orange Ginger Butternut Squash Soup recipe by Caroline at Olive You Whole is Paleo, Whole 30 and budget friendly. Not to mention: it’s DELICIOUS.  
While butternut squash soup pretty much always pleases, the addition of orange and ginger make it a much more refreshing bite that is more appropriate as we approach springtime.  It gives you the feeling of eating comfort food without the guilt. Plus, most of the ingredients, like olive oil, garlic, ginger, orange juice, and chicken broth are common pantry items that you likely won’t have to hit the grocery store for.

When all you want is chicken wings that you can never have at a restaurant…

Bone-in chicken wings in restaurants that don’t appear to be breaded are usually coated lightly in flour.  Thankfully, Dr. Sarah Sarah Ballantyne, Ph.D., AKA Paleo genius and recipe goddess behind The Paleo Mom, made this simple and delicious Honey-Garlic Chicken Wings recipe so you don’t spend another dinner munching celery and longing for wings.

Chicken wings are often very affordable at the butcher in your local grocery store.  I always ask them to separate the drumsticks from the two-bone pieces for me to make my life easier. This is my favorite Paleo chicken wing recipe because it gives you the nice crispy skin that you crave and the flavors are lighter than the usual buffalo wing, so you don’t leave dinner feeling weighed down.

When you are in need of leafy greens...

Let’s face it: it’s not often that I crave a salad, but after whipping this one together I found myself thinking about it a few days later.  So, I figured I would share the love and report back on this super simple recipe that takes way less than the 30 minutes I normally allow for putting dinner together for my family.

What you will need:

• 1 Large Sweet Potato
• Mixed Greens (preferably with dark greens like spinach, kale and arugula that have greater proven health benefits. But hey, if you all you have is iceberg lettuce, go with that)
• ⅓ Red Onion
• 1 Lemon
• ¼ Cup Olive Oil
• ½ Cup Dried Cranberries or Raisins
• Sea Salt
• Pepper
• 1 Cup Herbs (I used dill because I love the tang that it adds, but if you have cilantro or basil lying around the house, they will work)
• 1-2 Large Avocados (depending on your preference)
• Wild Zora Meditteranean Lamb Bar

1. Stab your sweet potato many times with a fork so that it has holes evenly dispersed around the peel. Cover with olive oil and sea salt and wrap in aluminum foil. Place it in the microwave for 6-8 minutes until tender.
2. While the sweet potato is cooking, place greens in a large mixing bowl.  The amount really depends on how many leaves you’re looking to eat or share, up to you!
3. Slice your red onion into long, thin strips and add to salad.
4. Cut avocado into cubes and add to salad.
5. Pull apart herbs by hand and leave them in larger pieces, no need to dice them finely.
6. Add dried cranberries.
7. Remove sweet potato from microwave and peel back aluminum foil. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes.  Then, cut the sweet potato into cubes and add to salad.
8. Cut up the Mediterranean Lamb bar into small cubes and sprinkle over the top as a healthy "bacon bit" option!
9. Pour olive oil and juice from lemon over the salad, and add salt and pepper to taste.
10. Mix, mix, mix and enjoy!

This salad has a clean balance of fiber from the leafy greens, whole food sourced carbohydrates from the sweet potato and healthy fats from the olive oil and avocados.  It’s a healthy and yummy salad you (and your wallet) won't regret adding to your weekly rotation. I usually whip up a huge batch of it on Sunday nights and add it as a nutrition-packed side for multiple dinners; it makes my meal planning much simpler.

When you are craving a burger…

This Sassy Southwest Paleo Slider by Trina at Paleo Newbie will fulfill your longing for a juicy, fast food burger without saddling you with the drive-through shame.

Other than the sauce (that is delicious but optional), it only takes five simple and affordable ingredients to make this meal.  The one place to splurge is in buying quality ground beef that is grass-fed and free-range. There is a misconception that meat only has to be organic to be safe for you, your family, and the environment, but there is so much research that says otherwise.

When you want to throw something in the slow cooker in the morning…

This Smokey Paleo Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is a tried and true favorite of mine. Michele from Paleo Running Mama is the master of easy paleo recipes that will make you feel like a pro in the kitchen and have your family drooling.

She adds coconut aminos in her recipe, but I usually skip that and use coconut oil that I have around my house.  I love to put this in my favorite coconut flour tortilla with spinach and topped with a slaw of red onions, green apples, and lemon juice.

For the fish lovers out there…

There is a common misconception that you can’t eat fish on a budget, but I’m here to tell you that buying frozen salmon is a great way to save money and enjoy cooking fish at home!

This Baked Honey Mustard Salmon recipe by Krista at Joyful Healthy Eats is a showstopper.  It has a deep, flavorful crust that is sweet, salty and bright.  Salmon is one of the cleanest sources of protein and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that decrease inflammation and lower blood pressure. Generally, I pair this salmon recipe with roasted asparagus or zucchini sauteed in garlic.

Throwing a party for you and your friends that follow the Paleo diet shouldn't mean less tasty snacks.  Here are 3 delicious Paleo recipes so you can be the hero of any allergy-restricted party.

1. Chili Garlic Arugula Paleo Flatbread

Yes, you heard it right: Paleo flatbread! This recipe is unbelievably easy recipe and makes a fluffy, nutty and flavorful base to support any of your favorite toppings. 

1. Make the flatbread itself first.  The recipe comes from the Bob's Red Mill, and uses their trusty Paleo flour.  I refuse to use anything else, it's SO easy to use.  The recipe is for pizza crust, so to modify it for a flatbread, cook it at 350° for 12-15 minutes and remove.

2. While the Paleo flatbread base is baking, start cutting up and preparing all of the delicious toppings:

• 2 Tbsp diced garlic (or more, I always support more garlic)
• 1/4 small red onion cut into long, thin strips
• 1 Wild Zora Chili Beef bar, cubed
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1-2 cups organic arugula
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 Tbsp sea salt

3. 2 minutes before the bread is finished, pull it out and pour half of your extra virgin olive oil over it, and then spread the diced garlic all over it.  Put back in the oven for the final couple minutes.

4. Remove your beautiful, Paleo bread from the oven and let cool for just 3-4 minutes.

5. Add your toppings and drizzle the rest of the olive oil over the top. Make sure to take pictures of your highly photogenic Paleo flatbread that will have your primal friends swooning. 

Plus, don't feel constrained by our toppings! Add what you want, and check here to make sure it's Paleo compliant.

2. 5-Minute Shishito Pepper Recipe

This Paleo, gluten-free snack idea will take you a few minutes to make, and even less time for your friends to devour.  Most people haven't heard of these flavorful little peppers, but they are available in most grocery stores.  

 All you are going to need is:

• 1 bag shishito peppers
• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2-3 tsp sea salt
• 1 lime (or two if you're feeling really zesty)

 3. Paleo Avocado "Caprese" Skewers

Oh Caprese salad, the perfect combination of creamy, salty, acidic and herbaceous. In one bite you get everything you could ever want...but if you're Paleo, the traditional mozzarella cheese is nothing but a daydream.

So, I went on the hunt to find the perfect Paleo substitute and the answer is: AVOCADO OF COURSE! We are not worthy of such an amazing, velvety fruit.

I've also added some meat to the equation, so these are your grandma's Caprese skewers that have received a huge Paleo facelift.

You will need: 

• Toothpicks
• Sliced tomatoes
• Sliced ripe avocados
• Basil in it's full leafy from
• Wild Zora Chili Beef bars cut into squares
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt

I don't know what kind of party you're throwing, so scale the amounts of each ingredient accordingly. Or make 40 for yourself, no judgment!

It couldn't be easier...

1. Slice the tomatoes, avocados and Wild Zora bars so that they are similar sized pieces.

2. Pick the basil leaves off of the stem and leave them whole.

3. Stab the toothpick through the tomatoes, avocados, chili beef bars, and basil leaves in whichever alternating order feels good to you.

4. Drizzle olive oil over the skewer and sprinkle with salt.

That's it! Your friends will thank you for your thoughtfulness towards their Paleo diet, you have created completely Instagram worthy party food and you can impress everyone by saying 'Caprese' and 'Shishito' every time you walk them through your colorful Paleo food spread. Win, win, win!

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