If you‘re like me, you want to eat healthy without sacrificing all flavor and enjoyment. For years, I struggled to stick to strict diets that restricted entire food groups and left me unfulfilled. Then I discovered the primal/paleo movement and brands like Primal Kitchen that offer products to make healthy eating delicious. Keep reading for my honest review of how Primal Kitchen tasted and performed after a month eating mostly primal.
What is Primal Kitchen?
In case you‘re new to the brand, Primal Kitchen makes condiments, sauces, proteins and meals based around the primal or paleo diet. This way of eating focuses on whole, unprocessed foods – especially plants and animals – while avoiding grains, dairy, legumes and refined sugar.
It was founded in 2017 by Mark Sisson, a leading voice in the primal community from his Mark‘s Daily Apple website. In 2019, food giant Kraft Heinz acquired Primal Kitchen but kept Sisson on to continue creating tasty, diet-appropriate products.
Here’s an overview of what they sell:
- Condiments & sauces: mayo, ketchup, salad dressings, cooking sauces
- Fats & proteins: collagen, bone broth powder, nut butters
- Snacks: bars, trail mixes
- Frozen meals
Next I‘ll share my experience sampling all these products over a month-long primal challenge.
My 30-Day Primal Kitchen Challenge
I‘ll admit the primal or “caveman” concept sounded extreme initially. Could I really give up some of my staples and favorite treats? But the focus on meat, vegetables and real-food ingredients made sense overall.
The turning point was discovering brands like Primal Kitchen that ensured I still enjoyed my meals. I compiled a range of their products and tried following a mostly primal diet for 30 days supported by their foods.
Here’s a quick look at some Primal Kitchen items that filled my pantry:
| Product | Details |
|---|---|
| Avocado Oil Mayo | Their OG mayo, rich & creamy |
| BBQ Sauces | Sweet & tangy, 0g added sugar |
| Ranch Dressing | Thick, cooling dip for veggies |
| Lemon Turmeric Vinaigrette | Zesty dressing with anti-inflammatory turmeric |
| Collagen Peptides | Vanilla & chocolate flavors |
| Almond Butter | Coarse nut butter with sea salt |
| Chicken & Veg Bowl | Frozen meal with riced cauliflower |
Armed with these tasty backups, I felt ready to go primal! Overall it was very doable, and I quickly noticed improvements like more stable energy, better digestion and increased mental clarity.
Here’s the scoop on how satisfied and nutritious these Primal Kitchen items kept my meals.
Reviews of Top Primal Kitchen Products
I ended up trying nearly all of Primal Kitchen’s offerings in my own cooking, on salads or solo as snacks. Here are some in-depth reviews of my absolute favorites:
Primal Kitchen Mayo
No shocker that Primal Kitchen started with mayo – it’s an ideal canvas for their healthy swap of refined vegetable oils with creamy avocado oil rich in heart-healthy fats. I’m a self-proclaimed mayo addict, even buying those giant Costco tubs. But the difference I noticed with Primal Kitchen was next level:
- Richer texture: Super smooth and velvety from the avocado oil
- Brighter flavor: Sweeter and tangier without bitterness
- More delicious: Their Chipotle Mayo was unreal!
I used it daily in chicken salad wraps, on burgers and as a base for creamy dressings. The only tricky part was not going overboard – it’s that irresistible!
NUTRITION PER 2 TBSP:
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | 15g | 0g | 0g |
Lemon Turmeric Salad Dressing
Beyond condiments, Primal Kitchen makes amazing dressings and marinades. My favorite was the Lemon Turmeric – so bright and packed with health perks:
- Potent anti-inflammatory: Features curry powder and turmeric
- Immunity booster: Fresh lemon juice with vitamin C
- Low carb & sugar: Only 2g net carbs per serving
I tossed it on everything from salads to grilled chicken and veggies. It transported boring meals to fresh and exotic with zero added sugar.
NUTRITION PER 2 TBSP:
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 6g | 2g | 1g |
Vanilla Collagen Peptides
Collagen is essential for healthy skin, hair, nails and joints as we age. Primal Kitchen makes getting enough each day effortless with their decadent collagen creamers. My favorite was vanilla – it tasted just like a melted milkshake!
I blended it into my morning coffee and also made protein pudding by mixing it with almond milk and cacao powder. With 10 grams of collagen per scoop, it kept my hair, skin and nails thriving all month. Taste and nutrition both totally won me over.
NUTRITION PER SCOOP:
| Calories | Protein | Collagen |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 10g | 10g |
Chicken & Cauliflower Bowl
When I didn‘t meal prep enough fresh food for dinner, these frozen primal meals were a tasty lifesaver. The chicken and cauliflower bowl mixed white meat chicken and riced cauliflower with broccoli, mushrooms and carrot ribbons.
It was an ideal combo of protein and fiber topped with Primal Kitchen’s signature garlic herb sauce. Perfect for staying satisfied on busy nights – I‘d order again!
NUTRITION PER BOWL:
| Calories | Fat | Net Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 290 | 14g | 5g | 27g |
After a full month eating 90% primal/paleo meals anchored by Primal Kitchen swaps, I felt and looked better than I have in years. My energy skyrocketed while joint soreness and brain fog disappeared. And I dropped 8 stubborn pounds to boot!
While their products taste fantastic, the bigger draw for me is how they simplified sticking to a truly healthy diet long-term.
The Health Impact of Adopting a Primal Lifestyle
Let’s run through some of the top benefits I noticed from going primal, backed by research on hunter-gatherer nutrition:
- Sustained energy all day: I no longer got blood sugar crashes thanks to consistent proteins and fats at every meal to keep me fueled. Most experts recommend getting at least 30% of calories from fat on a primal diet.
- Less inflammation: By emphasizing produce, healthy fats and anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric, I had less soreness and puffiness. Mark’s Daily Apple cites studies linking primitive diets to reduced systemic inflammation.
- Healthy digestion: The fiber from vegetables combined with natural fats eased my digestion. Hunter-gatherers ate 100-150 grams of fiber daily, while SAD diets average only 15 grams.
- Mental clarity: Without spikes and dips from carbs and additives, I could focus all day. The Healthline primal diet review also found followers report improved concentration.
- Weight loss: I dropped 8 pounds the first month which researchers attribute to better blood sugar control and hormone regulation. In one study, 38% of primal dieters lost more than 10 pounds.
While the structured nature of primal eating took adjustment at first, making meals more enjoyable with Primal Kitchen shortcuts kept me on track. Now I can’t imagine giving up my newfound energy levels and mental sharpness!
Is Primal Kitchen Worth the Investment? My Verdict
At the start of my journey, I wondered if Primal Kitchenwas simply overpriced trendy health food. Could sauces and frozen meals really provide that much nutrition and enjoyment?
After a month anchored by their products I can firmly conclude yes, Primal Kitchen is absolutely worth it to me. Are their items cheap snacks? No – but for me the boost of sticking to healthy eating thanks to delicious swaps is priceless.
Most comparisons of strict diets like primal find roughly 80% compliance at the 6-month mark compared to just 20% still following conventional calorie-cutting plans. That difference means results versus frustration.
For the increased energy, body composition changes, healthier biomarkers and simply food enjoyment, I happily invest in quality ingredients with Primal Kitchen over junk food. In fact, their products made it sustainable as a lifestyle instead of just a short-term diet.
Everyone has unique budgets and needs. But if you want to stick to clean eating with craveable foods, Primal Kitchen can make all the difference. Fortunately Kraft Heinz provides wider availability and distribution straight to your local grocery store.
I encourage you to give their mayos, dressings and meals a taste to judge for yourself. If you’re searching for convenient nutrition to sustain you on a health crusade, Primal Kitchen won‘t let your tastebuds down.
