6 Perspectives of Paleo
I couldn't resist jumping on the bandwagon & creating what I think are the 6 perspectives of Paleo.
The 6 Perspectives of Paleo – Why Everyone Thinks You're Doing It Wrong
One of the more entertaining aspects of adopting a Paleo lifestyle is discovering just how wildly misunderstood it is. As soon as you tell someone you’re “doing Paleo,” it’s like a Rorschach test — everyone projects something completely different onto you.
I created the meme above to highlight the six most common perspectives people seem to have when they hear the word “Paleo.” It's funny because, well, it's painfully accurate. Let’s break it down, shall we?
1. How My Friends Think I Eat: Two Sad Lettuce Leaves on a Plate
To some of your mates, “Paleo” is just the trendy diet where you nibble on leaves and pretend to enjoy it. You must be starving, surely? When they see you pass on the burger bun or opt for sparkling water instead of a beer, they imagine your entire life has become a joyless parade of rabbit food.
This perception comes from the conflation of “healthy eating” with restriction — and from a culture that’s been told for decades that fat is bad and salads are the only path to thinness. What they miss is that Paleo meals are often hearty, satisfying, and rich in flavour and nutrients.
2. How My Family Think I Eat: The Government Food Pyramid Reimagined
Family members, especially older generations, often visualise Paleo through the lens of conventional dietary guidelines. They picture a colourful plate with grains, fruit juice, and maybe a dollop of low-fat yoghurt. If you try explaining that grains are out and full-fat is in, you might be met with raised eyebrows and concerned questions about cholesterol.
Many families still regard the food pyramid or MyPlate model as gospel. When you disrupt that with your pasture-raised eggs, organ meats, and coconut oil, it challenges long-held beliefs — and that can be confronting.
3. How Society Thinks I Eat: Like a Caveman, Possibly with a Club
To the general public, “Paleo” often gets written off as some primal cosplay where you swing a club and gnaw on raw meat while wearing a loincloth. There’s a strange tendency to take the term literally and imagine Paleo people living like our ancient ancestors in every sense — never mind the advances in cooking, nutrition, and food sourcing.
This view often stems from misunderstanding. Paleo isn’t about mimicking cavemen exactly — it’s about eating real, whole foods our bodies evolved to thrive on, while ditching modern, industrialised food products. It’s not about “eating like a caveman,” it’s about eating in a way that aligns with human biology.
4. How the Media Think I Eat: Meat, Meat and More Meat
Mainstream media loves extremes, and when it comes to Paleo, the meat obsession angle makes headlines. Paleo gets lumped in with keto or carnivore, and suddenly it’s all about steak, bacon, and giant hunks of beef. Balanced meals full of vegetables, herbs, fermented foods, and nourishing fats don’t make for good clickbait.
Sure, Paleo does encourage meat — but it’s about quality over quantity. We’re talking grass-fed, free-range, ethically sourced meat as part of a diverse, colourful plate that also includes vegetables, healthy fats, herbs, and bone broth. Media portrayals rarely show that side of the story.
5. How I Think I Eat: Instagram-Worthy Paleo Perfection
Then there’s your own perception. You imagine yourself whipping up stunning rainbow salads, grilled meats with vibrant herbs, and coconut-milk panna cotta topped with fresh berries. You plan to meal prep every Sunday, spiralise zucchini, ferment your own kraut, and always have bone broth on the go.
You picture Paleo perfection. But…
6. How I Actually Eat: Bacon. A Lot of Bacon.
Reality check. Some days it’s just bacon. Or leftover steak from dinner. Or a bunch of nuts and an emergency boiled egg. Life gets in the way of perfection, and that’s fine.
The beauty of the Paleo lifestyle is that it’s flexible and forgiving. It’s not about eating picture-perfect meals or living up to some Instagram ideal — it’s about making better choices, one meal at a time.
So, What Is Paleo Really About?
If you strip away the memes, misunderstandings, and media hype, Paleo is incredibly simple:
- Eat real food: meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, and natural fats.
- Avoid processed foods, grains, industrial seed oils, refined sugar, dairy (unless tolerated), and legumes.
- Sleep well, move naturally, get outside, manage stress, and live intentionally.
In short, it’s a lifestyle that encourages health through ancestral principles, not a rigid list of rules.
Why This Matters — Especially in Australia
In Australia, where supermarket aisles are stacked with ultra-processed convenience foods and healthy eating still revolves around Weet-Bix and skim milk, Paleo challenges the norm. It asks us to question the way we’ve always done things — and to pay closer attention to how food affects our health.
From autoimmune conditions to metabolic syndrome and food intolerances, many Australians are discovering that simply removing modern foods and returning to a more natural diet can have a dramatic impact on how they feel, sleep, think, and move.
Let’s Redefine What Healthy Looks Like
Maybe you don’t eat like a caveman. Maybe you’ve got bacon in your fridge and fermented carrots on the bench. Maybe you fast sometimes. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you have days where your Paleo “perfect” is a bit more relaxed.
That’s ok.
Paleo is a journey — one that’s personal, flexible, and ultimately about living better. If you're curious, the best way to understand it is not by googling another list of forbidden foods — but by trying it for 30 days, listening to your body, and seeing how you feel.
Over to You
How do people respond when you say you eat Paleo? Do you get confused stares, concerned lectures, or enthusiastic curiosity? Have you noticed these same six reactions in your own life?
Drop your story in the comments — or tag a fellow Paleo friend who gets it.
Let’s keep the conversation going and continue busting myths about what Paleo really is — and what it isn’t.
Love this! 🙂
Thanks Turbo-Grok!
Awesome! I would switch the last two pictures though. Natural bacon is so expensive! I rarely eat it =P
Good Morning
I have recently been diagnosed with an immune disorder , Reticular Lichen Planus, not much is known about it and no cure as far as Specialists I have had the pleasure of visiting.
My Naturopathic docotor immediately changed my diet to allow my immune system a chance to reboot or balance itself.
I removed all foods difficult for the body to digest including many that cause inflammation etc… and it turns out I am left with a diest very similar to the Paleo lists. LOL
Truth be known I feel much better, lost some weight and water( my body was retaining!)
and have kept the reticular Lichen Planus from spreading or getting worse.
I found your website from a recipe on Pinterest quite by accident but it is now one of my favourites.
Thank you
Lorraine