The animal-based diet is growing in popularity as more people seek nutrient-dense, whole-food nutrition inspired by ancestral eating patterns. Unlike modern diets that rely heavily on processed foods, this approach prioritises high-quality animal foods while selectively incorporating low-toxicity plant ingredients.
At its core, the animal-based diet focuses on Grass-fed, regeneratively raised meats, nutrient-dense organ meats, raw dairy & honey, and organic fruits.
Understanding the Animal-Based Diet Food Pyramid
Unlike strict carnivore diets that eliminate all plant foods, the animal-based diet allows some low-toxicity plant-based ingredients, ensuring flexibility while maintaining a focus on animal-derived nutrition. The framework is built on:
- Grass-fed, regeneratively raised meats for high-quality protein and healthy fats.
- Organ meats for a naturally occurring source of essential micronutrients.• Wild-caught seafood for omega-3 fatty acids.
- Raw dairy (for those who tolerate it) as a source of naturally occurring enzymes and probiotics.
- Low-toxicity plant foods, such as fruits, raw honey, & some fermented plants to complement the diet.
The exclusion of grains, legumes, vegetables with high anti-nutrients (such as oxalates, nightshades, & lectins) and processed foods is based on reducing exposure to anti-nutrients & inflammatory compounds, while focusing on foods that provide bioavailable nutrition.
Nutritional Priorities of an Animal-Based Diet
A well-structured animal-based diet focuses on nutrient-dense foods, particularly those rich in essential vitamins and minerals that are often lacking in modern diets. Ruminant meats, such as beef and lamb, are particularly valued for their balanced fatty acid profiles and complete protein content. Fatty cuts are favoured for their energy density, while organ meats such as liver, heart, and kidney provide concentrated sources of essential micronutrients.
Wild-caught seafood, particularly fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, offers omega-3 fatty acids that support cardiovascular and cognitive health. Dairy products, when sourced from pasture-raised animals and consumed in raw or fermented forms, provide enzymes and probiotics that are often lost during pasteurisation.
Selective plant foods such as seasonal fruits, raw honey, and certain fermented non-sweet fruits offer additional antioxidants and digestive benefits. The goal is to prioritise high-quality, unprocessed ingredients that contribute to a well-rounded nutrient intake while eliminating modern dietary stressors.
The Essential Role of Organ Meats
For generations, organ meats have been a valued part of traditional diets across cultures. Unlike muscle meats, which are primarily a source of protein, organs contain a broad range of dietary nutrients. These cuts were often prioritised in ancestral eating, contributing to a diverse and varied approach to food.
Liver – Contains vitamin A (retinol), B12, iron, riboflavin and copper, making it one of the most nutrient-dense animal foods.
Heart – Natural source of CoQ10, a compound found in organ meats.
Kidney – Provides one of richest natural sources of selenium & riboflavin. Plus contains B12 and DAO Enzymes.
Spleen – One of the richest sources of heme iron, the most bioavailable (easily absorbed) form of iron found in animal foods.
Lung – A lesser-known organ, included in traditional dishes for its unique profile of B12, selenium, proteins and enzymes.
Despite their long-standing inclusion in traditional eating, organ meats have become less common in modern diets. Once widely consumed and valued for their contribution to whole-animal eating, they are now often replaced by more familiar cuts. However, renewed interest in nose-to-tail nutrition has led more people to explore these foods as part of a diverse, whole-food diet.
As people revisit ancestral eating practices, organ meats remain an important part of culinary traditions worldwide, offering a way to incorporate a broader range of animal foods into meals.
A Sample Seven-Day Animal-Based Meal Plan
This animal-based meal framework showcases the variety and flexibility of the diet while incorporating nutrient-dense foods, including recipes that make organ meats easy and enjoyable to consume.
Note - This meal plan incorporates both fresh & freeze-dried organ meat options. For those that love the flavour of fresh beef organs, small portions of these can be interchanged with our Freeze-dried beef organs range. If you're anything like us, you'll enjoy fresh organ meats once or twice a week in recipes, then choose the convenient freeze-dried capsule option as a baseline on most other days.
🐮Day 1
Meal 1: 3 ghee-fried eggs with a nutrient dense smoothie (try a mix of raw milk or kefir blended with honey, bananas, & berries). Serve with a side of 30-50g of cooked organic beef liver or include a serving of beef organs from Cell Squared’s freeze-dried beef organs capsules range 10-20mins before eating.
Meal 2: Grass-fed beef burger patties with grated aged cheddar & pickles on top. Pair with a handful of diced fruit or berries.
Meal 3: Beef Ribeye (or your favourite steak cut) cooked in organic ghee.
🐮 Day 2
Meal 1: Scrambled eggs with freeze-dried Beef Liver Powder or Beef Organ Powder mixed through, cooked in ghee. Pair with a side of sliced apple with raw honey drizzled over.
Meal 2: Grass-fed Porterhouse Steak cooked in ghee (this is one of our personal go-to lunches as you can dice it up, pop it in a container to easily take it in your lunchbox to eat cold at work).
Meal 3: Pan-cooked ground beef mince with grated parmesan cheese, 2 egg yolks, & sea salt flakes mixed through.
🐮 Day 3
Meal 1: 3 Boiled eggs with a serving of Cell Squared Beef Spleen & Liver Capsules (or any of your preferred Beef Organs Capsules) and butter-blended coffee (AKA: Bulletproof Coffee).
Meal 2: Diced lamb with a side of avocado & sliced cheese (another great option to pack in your lunchbox to eat cold at work).
Meal 3: Medium-rare grilled Ribeye with roasted marrow bones.
🐮 Day 4
Meal 1: Pasture-raised bacon & eggs fried in ghee. Serve with a handful of organic blueberries and side of diced fresh beef organs or 1 serve of Cell Squared’s Beef Spleen & Liver Capsules (or any of your preferred Beef Organs Capsules)
Meal 2: Yoghurt bowl (plain yoghurt, raw honey, diced fruits) with 3 boiled eggs.
Meal 3: Lamb loin chops cooked in ghee, with a side of diced cucumber, avocado, grapes & feta salad drizzled in raw honey
🐮 Day 5
Meal 1: Small sandwich steak with 2 fried eggs, a handful of berries.
Meal 2: Ground beef mince & beef organs burger-patties with grated parmesan melted over. Serve with a side of smashed avocado (if you can’t get your hands on fresh beef organs, simply mix a tsp of Freeze-dried Beef Organs Powder through the patty mixture instead or take a serve of your favourite beef organs from Cell Squared’s Freeze-dried beef organs capsule range before your meal.
Meal 3: Lamb steak cooked in ghee with 2 butter-stuffed dates
🐮 Day 6
Meal 1: Animal-based pancakes made with banana, eggs & Beef Organs Powder, served with a dollop of full-fat plain yoghurt.
Meal 2: Diced Lamb skewers with a plain yoghurt dipping sauce (we like mixing plain yogurt, sea salt flakes, & grated cucumber). If you have access to fresh organic beef heart, try adding some diced pieces onto the skewers, otherwise take a serve of Cell Squared’s Beef Heart Capsules 10-20 mins before eating.
Meal 3: Pan-cooked ground beef mince with grated parmesan cheese, 2 egg yolks, & sea salt flakes mixed through.
🐮 Day 7
Meal 1: Pan-cooked ground beef mince cooked in ghee, with diced bacon & pickles mixed through. Plus 1 serve of your favourite freeze-dried beef organs from Cell Squared’s Freeze-dried beef organs capsule range.
Meal 2: Small sandwich steak with 2 fried eggs, diced cheese, & a handful of grapes.
Meal 3: Roast leg of lamb, cooked in ghee and sea salt flakes (perfect for leftovers to eat the following week). Serve with a side of roasted pumpkin topped with raw honey & crumbed feta.
ANIMAL-BASED SNACK IDEAS
The beauty of this diet is you don't often feel the urge to 'snack', but when the feeling strikes (or perhaps you don't feel like a huge meal), here's a few suggestions to get you through to your next full meal:
- Butter-stuffed Dates
- Oysters
- Sliced cheese with grapes
- Plain yoghurt with honey
- A boiled egg & banana
- Sliced cheese with honey
- Animal-based Ice Cream
- Animal-based Panna Cotta
This seven-day plan highlights the versatility of animal-based eating while showcasing real, practical meals using nutrient-dense organ meats. By incorporating recipes that blend organ meats seamlessly into familiar dishes, the diet remains both accessible and enjoyable.
How Cell Squared Makes Nose-to-Tail Eating More Accessible
At Cell Squared, we are committed to providing high-quality, whole-food nutrition sourced from 100% Australian Certified Organic beef organs. Our products offer a convenient way to incorporate nose-to-tail eating into modern lifestyles, making traditionally valued organ meats more accessible.
Beef Organ Powder – A powdered blend of liver, heart, lung, and spleen, offering a versatile nose-to-tail approach to include a range of organ meats in everyday meals.
Beef Liver Powder – A single-organ option featuring beef liver, often regarded as one of the most nutrient-dense foods.
Beef Liver Capsules – A simple tasteless/convenient way to consume nutrient-dense beef liver, sourced from grass-fed and regeneratively raised cattle.
Beef Kidney Capsules – Sourced from 100% grass-fed kidney, available in a capsule format for ease of use.
Beef Heart Capsules – Featuring beef heart, a food traditionally consumed for its unique nutritional composition.
Men’s Innate Energy – Beef Organ Multi Capsules – A combination of liver, kidney, and spleen, offering a selection of organ meats for Men's dietary needs in a convenient format.
Beef Spleen & Liver Capsules – A blend of spleen and liver , designed for those looking to increase their dietary iron & B12 intake.
For those exploring nose-to-tail eating, our range provides a way to enjoy organ meats in capsule or powder form, making it easier to include these traditional foods in modern meals.
FAQs: Understanding the Animal-Based Diet
Q. How does the animal-based diet compare to other ancestral diets like Paleo or Carnivore?
A. The animal-based diet prioritises animal-derived foods such as meat, organs, eggs, and raw dairy, while allowing limited, low-toxicity plant foods like fruits and honey. It differs from Paleo, which includes nuts, seeds, and tubers, and Carnivore, which eliminates all plant matter entirely. This balance allows for nutrient-dense animal products while incorporating select carbohydrate sources.
Q. Why are beef organ meats considered an essential part of an animal-based diet?
A. Organ meats such as liver, heart, and kidney contain a broad range of dietary nutrients not commonly found in muscle meats. For example, beef liver provides vitamin A (retinol), B12, and copper, while beef heart contains CoQ10 and the beef spleen has heme iron. These foods have been consumed in traditional diets worldwide, valued for their diverse nutrient composition.
Q. Why does the animal-based diet include raw dairy but exclude grains and legumes?
Raw dairy is included because it contains enzymes, probiotics, and naturally present nutrients when sourced from grass-fed animals. On the other hand, grains and legumes are excluded due to their antinutrient content, such as lectins and phytates, which can interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption.
Q. What role do fruits play in an animal-based diet compared to other carbohydrate sources?
A. Fruits serve as a natural carbohydrate source with minimal antinutrients, unlike grains or legumes. They provide energy through fructose while also offering antioxidants and fibre, making them a more digestible option within the animal-based framework.
Q. How can someone transition to an animal-based diet without feeling overwhelmed?
A. A gradual approach works best - increase your intake of grass-fed meats and raw dairy while slowly reducing processed foods. If fresh organ meats feel unfamiliar, start with freeze-dried organ powders or capsules. Over time, phase out grains, legumes, and processed sugars to allow for a smooth transition into an animal-based lifestyle.
