The Best Dairy-Free Paleo AIP Cheese - Tapioca Cheese! (Nut-Free, Vegan option) — The Curious Coconut (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat cheese on an AIP diet? ›

The diet eliminates foods that are commonly thought to trigger inflammation, such as gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, seeds, nightshade vegetables, and processed foods.

Melted tapioca cheese - the best dairy-free Paleo AIP cheese! Easy to make vegan, too. Tapioca cheese looks, feels, and acts just like fresh mozzarella. It has a mild flavor that works both as a topping for pizza and other savory dishes, and even in some dessert recipes as well!

Nutritional yeast is used as the “parmesan” making them AIP, Paleo, Whole30, and Keto!

In particular, goat cheese contains A2 casein, with an anti-inflammatory effect for the human body. Crumbled goat cheese can be added to salads, pizzas and eggs.

An AIP diet avoids all processed foods, alcohol, additives, refined sugars, coffee, tea, oils, and certain medications. In the elimination phase, a person will also avoid foods such as grains, legumes, dairy, eggs, and nightshade vegetables, but they may reintroduce these later.

Hard cheeses such as cheddar, colby, Swiss, mozzarella and Monterey Jack “are virtually lactose-free,” Cifelli explains. Additionally aged cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano are virtually lactose free. At less than 1 mg lactose per 100 grams even the Italian Ministry of Health allows it to be labeled as such.

Generally, unprocessed potatoes of all types can be part of a paleo diet. Similarly to grains, which are off-limits on paleo, potatoes are starchy and rich in carbohydrates. However, potatoes are actually a type of starchy vegetable that grows underground, known as a tuber ( 2 , 3 ).

Many people on a paleo diet today also include some sources of full-fat dairy, such as butter, cream, yogurt or whole milk. It's ideal if the dairy you eat or drink is from grass-fed cows. People who have dairy allergies or sensitivities don't need to include it in their diet.

Many paleo followers wonder if bananas are paleo because of their higher sugar content. They are considered paleo. One medium banana has 113 calories, 2 grams of fiber and 26 grams of carbohydrates. Bananas are an unprocessed, whole food with a good source of potassium.

What fruits are paleo? ›

Fill up your cart with any and all vegetables; from broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and carrots to lettuce, kale, and avocado…the list goes on and on! Of course, any and all fruits are welcome on the paleo diet including apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and more.

Coconut milk: Coconut milk offers a unique flavour and is a good source of healthy fats. It contains lauric acid, known for its antimicrobial properties, which might be beneficial for those with autoimmune conditions. Nevertheless, coconut milk is also high in saturated fats, so moderation is key.

Apples, berries, citrus fruits, melons, stone fruits, and winter and summer squashes are all AIP compliant, just remember to avoid all nightshades!

Foods to Avoid

The AIP Diet eliminates nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, dairy, eggs, food additives, nightshade family vegetables, and processed foods such as processed vegetable oils and processed sugars during the elimination phase of the diet.

Dairy: People with autoimmune diseases may want to stop drinking or eating any type of animal milk, such as cow's, sheep's, and goat's milk, and foods that derive from them, such as cheese, butter, cream, and dairy-based protein powders and supplements.

All dairy foods including milk, cheese, and yogurt, as well as dairy proteins, like whey and casein, were found in several systematic reviews to be anti-inflammatory or to have a neutral effect on inflammation. Learn more about dairy's role in fighting inflammation here.

Legumes & Beans

Core AIP excludes all beans and legumes like chickpeas, green beans, peanuts, peas, soybeans and all soy derivatives like tofu and soy sauce. Modified AIP excludes peanuts, soybeans and all soy-based foods and products, but allows beans and other legumes.

Examples of foods you can eat while on the AIP diet include: Vegetables that aren't nightshade vegetables like cucumbers, spinach, sweet potatoes and zucchini. Fresh fruits like apples, oranges, mangos, strawberries, bananas and blueberries.