Practically Carnivore

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  • How I Stock My Practically Carnivore Kitchen (and Still Avoid Cooking)

    When you hear “carnivore diet,” you might picture sizzling ribeye steaks, elaborate meal prep, or piles of pork rinds turned into “carnivore bread.” Sounds fun if you love cooking. But me?

    I’ll be honest: I hate cooking.

    I don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. I don’t want to test fancy recipes. And honestly, I don’t even want that much variety.

    So if you’re here for gourmet carnivore recipes, this isn’t that kind of blog.

    But if you’re looking for a simple, practical kitchen setup that keeps you fed without taking over your life, you’re in the right place.

    My Core Staples (From ButcherBox)

    I keep my freezer stocked with the basics. Nothing complicated, just the foods I actually eat all the time:

    • Steak → I rotate between filet mignon and NY strip. I’ll thaw one overnight — or, if I forget, I’ll cook it straight from frozen.
    • Hamburgers → A lifesaver. They go from freezer to pan to plate in minutes. No fuss.
    • Bacon → Obvious. Bacon is always in my freezer.
    • Breakfast sausage → Quick, filling, and one of my go-to morning staples.

    That’s it. Four basics. They cover most of my meals without me having to think too hard.

    👉 Pro tip if you hate cooking too: Frozen burgers are your best friend. You can literally toss them into a hot pan while you’re answering emails, and by the time you finish, lunch is done.

    My “Quick Fix” Helpers

    Because sometimes even cooking a steak feels like too much. That’s when I lean on quick fixes:

    • Vital Proteins collagen protein → Perfect for when I want a meal replacement shake. No prep, no cleanup.
    • Beef gelatin + coconut water + electrolytes → I mix this up as a light, hydrating protein boost. Kind of like a DIY jello snack without the junk.
    • BodyBio electrolytes → These keep my energy up, especially since I don’t always get enough electrolytes from food alone.
    • Redmond Real Salt → My non-negotiable seasoning. Simple, clean, and mineral-rich.

    These helpers keep me from reaching for random snacks or overcomplicating meals.

    The Extras I Sometimes Use

    Now here’s where the “practically” part of Practically Carnivore comes in. My kitchen isn’t 100% meat-only. I like a few extras that make life enjoyable — and I don’t feel guilty about it.

    • Base Culture Keto Bread → Sometimes I want a slice of bread with my bacon or sausage. Not carnivore-pure, but convenient when I’m craving it.
    • Vegetable soup → I keep it simple with low-histamine veggies like carrots, zucchini, and potatoes. A warm bowl of soup feels like comfort food.
    • Blueberry ice cream → This one surprises people. I make it with just three ingredients: organic coconut cream, blueberries, and a little coconut sugar. With my Cuisinart ice cream maker, it’s done in minutes. Simple, refreshing, and worth every bite.

    Why My Kitchen Is So Simple

    I don’t stock 40 different items. I don’t experiment with recipes I’ll only make once. My kitchen is set up for ease, not Instagram.

    Here’s why:

    • I work. I don’t have time for elaborate cooking projects.
    • I value routine. Eating the same basics doesn’t bother me — it actually makes life easier.
    • I hate waste. Buying things “just in case” leads to food that sits in the freezer until it gets tossed.

    “The truth is, I’d rather spend my time working, living, or enjoying life than cooking complicated meals. My kitchen reflects that.”

    Tips If You Hate Cooking Too

    If you’re like me and want to keep carnivore (or practically carnivore) simple, here are a few things that work:

    • Stock frozen meats. ButcherBox makes this easy. Frozen meat means no food waste, and you can cook it even if you forget to thaw.
    • Pick your top 4–5 staples. Build your kitchen around the foods you eat most often. Don’t waste money on “maybe” items.
    • Use quick fixes. Collagen, electrolytes, and simple hacks keep you on track without effort.
    • Keep it boring (if you like boring). There’s nothing wrong with eating the same few meals on repeat. In fact, it makes life a lot easier.

    The Bottom Line

    Stocking a carnivore kitchen doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t need every cut of meat. You don’t need to learn how to turn pork rinds into pizza crust. And you don’t have to spend hours cooking every week.

    You just need foods you like, that fit your lifestyle, and that you’ll actually eat.

    For me, that means steak, burgers, bacon, sausage, collagen, salt, electrolytes, and a few extras like soup or blueberry ice cream.

    For you, it might look different — and that’s okay. The point isn’t to be perfect. The point is to be practical.

  • What It Means to Be Practically Carnivore (And Why I Don’t Follow the Rules 100%)

    When people talk about the carnivore diet, it usually sounds… intense. Only meat. Only animal products. No cheats, no exceptions. You’re either in, or you’re out.

    But here’s the thing: that’s not me.

    I’m not 100% carnivore — and honestly, I don’t want to be.

    Practically Carnivore is about taking carnivore principles and bending them into something real, flexible, and livable. It’s not about perfection. It’s about practicality.

    How I Got Here

    About two years ago, I decided to try the carnivore diet.

    I have histamine intolerance and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) — and at the time, I was reacting to most fruits and vegetables.

    A lot of people were talking about how carnivore helped them with their food sensitivities, so “going all meat” seemed worth a shot.

    And wow — that first week was incredible. The brain fog lifted. I felt lighter, calmer, sharper. I thought: Okay, this is it. This is the fix.

    But then… fatigue hit me like a brick wall. Walking up the stairs felt like running a marathon. I was exhausted all the time.

    I talked to a friend who’s a nutritionist, and she suggested that electrolytes could be the issue. So I added BodyBio E-Lyte (aff link) into my routine — I chose it because it didn’t have sugar, artificial flavorings, or loads of salt (I was already getting enough from Redmond’s Real Salt (aff link)).

    Two of my Essentials

    Within days, my energy was back. Like flipping a switch.

    Problem solved… or so I thought.

    Missing the Foods I Loved

    Here’s the truth: carnivore is simple, but it can also be limiting.

    After months of eating only meat, I started missing foods I actually enjoyed. So I slowly began adding vegetables back into my meals.

    Here’s the funny part: if you gave me the choice between a filet mignon and a big salad, I’d pick the salad every time. (Though honestly, my favorite is to cut up the filet and toss it onto the salad — bonus points if there are fries, like the steak salads I used to get in Pittsburgh.)

    These days, my diet looks like this: mostly meat, some vegetables, always adjusted for how my body feels. If my histamine symptoms flare up, I pull back to only meat for a while — and that helps me reset.

    For me, carnivore is the reset button I can always rely on — but I don’t stay stuck there forever.

    What “Practically Carnivore” Really Means

    So what does it mean to eat practically carnivore?

    For me, it’s simple: I adapt what I eat to how I feel — not to someone else’s rules.

    Mostly animal-based. Meat, butter, and sometimes eggs.

    Some plants — but carefully. Like my homemade vegetable soup with low-histamine veggies (carrots, zucchini, potatoes).

    Flexibility. A way of eating I can actually stick with.

    Practically Carnivore isn’t about strict rules. It’s about building a version of carnivore that actually works for you.

    Why I Don’t Follow the Rules 100%

    There are a few reasons I’ll never be “strict carnivore only”:

    Preference. I love vegetables. A crisp salad or hearty soup makes me happy — and that counts too.

    Sustainability. Strict carnivore feels like a sprint. Practically Carnivore feels like something I can live with long-term.

    My body. Histamine intolerance means some foods are hit-or-miss. Sometimes veggies work, sometimes they don’t.

    Strict carnivore works for some people. For me, it works best as a foundation I can build on and adapt.

    An Invitation

    If you’ve ever felt pressured to do carnivore “perfectly” or guilty for wanting something different, this space is for you.

    Here on Practically Carnivore, I’ll share:

    • What I actually eat (the good, the messy, the in-between).

    • The products and kitchen tools that make life easier.

    • How I adjust when things get tough (like histamine flares).

    I’m not here to preach. I’m here to share what practical carnivore looks like in real life.

    Because at the end of the day, there isn’t one right way to do this. There’s only the way that works for you.