The lion diet is the strictest version of the carnivore diet: it allows only ruminant meat (such as beef and lamb), salt and water. A typical carnivore diet is broader and can include pork, chicken, fish, eggs, other animal fats and, for some people, dairy. In short, every lion diet is a carnivore diet, but most carnivore diets are not lion diets.
Below are the five differences that matter most, a side-by-side table, and how to shop for each way of eating in Australia.
Lion diet vs carnivore diet at a glance
| Lion diet | Carnivore diet | |
|---|---|---|
| Meat | Ruminants only: beef, lamb, goat, bison, venison | All meat, including pork and poultry |
| Fish and seafood | No | Yes |
| Eggs | No | Yes |
| Dairy (butter, ghee, cheese) | No | Optional, depending on the person |
| Cooking fat | Ruminant fat only, such as beef or lamb tallow | Any animal fat: tallow, lard, ghee, duck fat |
| Seasoning | Salt only | Salt, plus herbs and spices for some people |
| Drinks | Water only | Water, bone broth, and for some, black coffee or tea |
| Typical approach | Short-term elimination phase, then reintroduction | Ongoing way of eating |
What are the 5 key differences between the lion diet and the carnivore diet?
1. Which animals you can eat
The lion diet is limited to ruminants: animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, bison and deer. That means beef, lamb, mutton, goat, bison and venison. Some followers include ruminant organ meats, such as beef liver, while stricter versions stick to muscle meat and fat. A carnivore diet allows any animal food, so pork, chicken, turkey, fish and seafood are all on the menu.
2. Eggs, dairy and seafood
This is where most people notice the difference day to day. Eggs, butter, ghee, cheese, fish and seafood are all excluded on the lion diet. On a broader carnivore diet, eggs and seafood are common staples, and many people include butter or ghee. If you are moving from carnivore to lion, these are the foods to remove.
3. Salt, seasonings and labels
Salt is the only seasoning on the lion diet. No pepper, herbs, spices, sauces or rubs. That makes label reading important: many meat snacks that suit a carnivore diet are not lion compatible. Most biltong, for example, is made with vinegar, and some jerky includes sugar or spices. On a carnivore diet, people vary in how strictly they approach seasonings. Our Carnivore Compatibility Guide explains how we rate each product.
Unrefined salt with nothing added. Salt is one of only three foods on the lion diet, so it is worth choosing one without anti-caking agents.
4. Drinks
Water is the only drink on the lion diet, with salt added to food rather than taken as a flavoured electrolyte drink. A carnivore diet is usually more relaxed: bone broth is common, and some people keep black coffee or plain tea. Our carnivore drink guide covers the options in detail.
5. How long people follow it
The lion diet is usually described as an elimination approach rather than a forever diet. It was popularised by Mikhaila Peterson, who has written publicly about following it, and it is typically followed for a set period before foods are reintroduced one at a time to see how they are tolerated. A carnivore diet is more often followed as an ongoing way of eating. Both are restrictive, and published research on them is limited (see this overview from Mayo Clinic Press), so it is worth getting professional advice before starting either.
What can you eat on the lion diet?
- Ruminant meat: beef (steak, mince, roasts, brisket), lamb, mutton, goat, bison and venison
- Ruminant fat: beef or lamb tallow, suet and dripping
- Salt: plain, unrefined salt with no additives
- Water
Some versions also allow ruminant organ meats. Everything else, including pork, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, coffee, plants, sauces and sweeteners, is left out.
How do you shop for the lion diet in Australia?
Most of a lion diet comes from your butcher: beef and lamb cuts with plenty of fat. The pantry side is simple but worth getting right, because a single added ingredient can rule a product out. Three things to check:
- Your cooking fat. Choose tallow or dripping rendered from beef or lamb, with nothing added. Butter, ghee, lard and duck fat suit carnivore but not lion.
- Your salt. Look for salt with no anti-caking agents, iodine additives or sugar (some table salts contain dextrose).
- Your snacks. Check every ingredient. Beef-only products fit, but anything with vinegar, spices, sugar or flavourings belongs on the carnivore side of the line.
Rendered from the suet of grass-fed Tasmanian cattle. A firm, high-melting beef fat for searing, roasting and frying.
If you follow a broader carnivore diet, you have more room: our fats and oils range covers lard, ghee and duck fat, and you can browse carnivore snacks, checking the rating on each one. For a deeper look at cooking fats, read our animal fats comparison.
Lion diet or carnivore diet: which should you choose?
It depends on what you want from it. People who want the simplest possible, most restricted list, usually for a short elimination phase, tend to choose the lion diet. People who want an animal-based way of eating with more variety, including eggs, seafood and different meats, tend to choose a carnivore diet. Many people who try the lion diet later move to a broader carnivore approach as they reintroduce foods.
Whichever you choose, both are restrictive diets. If you have a medical condition, take medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak with your doctor or an accredited practising dietitian before making a big change to how you eat.
Lion diet FAQs
Are eggs allowed on the lion diet?
No. Eggs come from poultry, not ruminant animals, so they are excluded on the lion diet. They are a common part of a broader carnivore diet.
Is lamb allowed on the lion diet?
Yes. Lamb is ruminant meat, along with beef, goat, bison and venison, so it fits the lion diet.
Can you drink coffee on the lion diet?
No. The lion diet allows water only. Coffee and tea are plant-based, so they are left out. Some people on a broader carnivore diet keep black coffee.
How long do people follow the lion diet?
There is no fixed timeframe. It is usually described as an elimination phase, often followed for a few weeks, before other foods are reintroduced one at a time. Anyone considering a restrictive diet should talk to their doctor or an accredited practising dietitian first.
Can you use tallow on the lion diet?
Yes, as long as it is rendered from ruminant fat such as beef or lamb and has nothing added. Butter and ghee are dairy, so they are excluded on the lion diet.
Stock your lion diet pantry
Ruminant fat and unrefined salt, shipped Australia-wide from our NSW warehouse.
Lake Eyre Organic Beef Suet Tallow - 350ml
Organic, grass-fed beef suet tallow from NXGEN Wholefoods, rendered for everyday cooking.
Redmond Real Salt - 284g
Unrefined salt with nothing added. Salt is one of only three foods on the lion diet, so it is worth choosing one without anti-caking agents.
Standard shipping from $10 metro. Check every label against your own approach.