Carnivore Fats & Oils Guide
23 items classified under standard Carnivore guidelines.
How do fats & oils fare on the Carnivore diet? The answer depends on whether the food comes from an animal. This guide breaks down all 23 items in this category with their classification, nutritional data, and the reasoning behind each status.
Quick Reference
| Food | Status | Calories (per 100g) |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Tallow | Allowed | 198kcal |
| Butter | Allowed | 717kcal |
| Duck Fat | Allowed | 136kcal |
| Ghee | Allowed | 876kcal |
| Heavy Cream | Allowed | 340kcal |
| Lard | Allowed | 902kcal |
| Avocado Oil | Not Allowed | 884kcal |
| Canola Oil | Not Allowed | 900kcal |
| Coconut Oil | Not Allowed | 895kcal |
| Cooking Spray | Not Allowed | 792kcal |
| Flaxseed Oil | Not Allowed | 884kcal |
| Grapeseed Oil | Not Allowed | 884kcal |
| Margarine | Not Allowed | 579kcal |
| MCT Oil | Not Allowed | 884kcal |
| Olive Oil | Not Allowed | 900kcal |
| Palm Oil | Not Allowed | 134kcal |
| Peanut Oil | Not Allowed | 900kcal |
| Safflower Oil | Not Allowed | 900kcal |
| Sesame Oil | Not Allowed | 884kcal |
| Shortening | Not Allowed | 884kcal |
| Sunflower Oil | Not Allowed | 900kcal |
| Vegetable Oil | Not Allowed | 862kcal |
| Walnut Oil | Not Allowed | 884kcal |
Classification Breakdown
6 Allowed — These fats & oils are an animal-derived food that fits the carnivore framework. 17 Not Allowed — These are a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes.
Carnivore ranges from "lion diet" (beef, salt, water only) to versions including dairy, eggs, and coffee.
Allowed Fats & Oils (6)
Beef Tallow
AllowedAt 198kcal calories per 100g, Beef Tallow falls into the Allowed category under Carnivore guidelines. The classification reflects that it is an animal-derived food that fits the carnivore framework. Nutritionally, it also delivers 14.7g protein and 14.9g fat per serving. Among the 23 items in this category, beef tallow sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Heavy Cream at 340kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Butter
AllowedWith 717kcal calories per 100g, Butter earns a Allowed classification on Carnivore. This means it is an animal-derived food that fits the carnivore framework. It also contains 81.1g fat and 643mg sodium, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Margarine and Cooking Spray for calories, ranking 6 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salted | 717kcal | 0.9g | 81.1g | 0.1g | 0g |
| Unsalted | 717kcal | 0.9g | 81.1g | 0.1g | 0g |
Duck Fat
AllowedWith 136kcal calories per 100g, Duck Fat earns a Allowed classification on Carnivore. This means it is an animal-derived food that fits the carnivore framework. It also contains 18.7g protein, which may factor into overall meal planning. Among the 23 items in this category, duck fat sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Beef Tallow at 198kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Ghee
AllowedGhee is classified as Allowed on Carnivore, with 876kcal calories per 100g. This means it is an animal-derived food that fits the carnivore framework. It also contains 99.5g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Vegetable Oil and Avocado Oil for calories, ranking 9 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Heavy Cream
AllowedWith 340kcal calories per 100g, Heavy Cream earns a Allowed classification on Carnivore. This means it is an animal-derived food that fits the carnivore framework. It also contains 36.1g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Among the 23 items in this category, heavy cream sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Margarine at 579kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Cream | 340kcal | 2.8g | 36.1g | 2.8g | 0g |
| Light Cream | 195kcal | 3g | 19.1g | 3.7g | 0g |
Lard
AllowedAt 902kcal calories per 100g, Lard falls into the Allowed category under Carnivore guidelines. It is an animal-derived food that fits the carnivore framework. Beyond the primary classification, lard also provides 100g fat per 100g. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Sunflower Oil at 900kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Not Allowed Fats & Oils (17)
Avocado Oil
Not AllowedAt 884kcal calories per 100g, Avocado Oil falls into the Not Allowed category under Carnivore guidelines. It is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Beyond the primary classification, avocado oil also provides 100g fat per 100g. Within this category, it falls between Ghee and Flaxseed Oil for calories, ranking 10 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Canola Oil
Not AllowedCanola Oil is classified as Not Allowed on Carnivore, with 900kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Nutritionally, it also delivers 100g fat per serving. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Coconut Oil at 895kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Coconut Oil
Not AllowedCoconut Oil is classified as Not Allowed on Carnivore, with 895kcal calories per 100g. This means it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. It also contains 99.1g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Walnut Oil and Canola Oil for calories, ranking 17 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin (unrefined) | 892kcal | 0g | 99.1g | 0g | 0g |
| MCT Oil | 862kcal | 0g | 100g | 0g | 0g |
Cooking Spray
Not AllowedCooking Spray is classified as Not Allowed on Carnivore, with 792kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Nutritionally, it also delivers 78.7g fat per serving. Within this category, it falls between Butter and Vegetable Oil for calories, ranking 7 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Flaxseed Oil
Not AllowedAt 884kcal calories per 100g, Flaxseed Oil falls into the Not Allowed category under Carnivore guidelines. It is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Beyond the primary classification, flaxseed oil also provides 100g fat per 100g. Within this category, it falls between Avocado Oil and Grapeseed Oil for calories, ranking 11 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Grapeseed Oil
Not AllowedGrapeseed Oil is classified as Not Allowed on Carnivore, with 884kcal calories per 100g. This means it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. It also contains 100g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Flaxseed Oil and MCT Oil for calories, ranking 12 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Margarine
Not AllowedMargarine is classified as Not Allowed on Carnivore, with 579kcal calories per 100g. This means it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. It also contains 65g fat and 694mg sodium, which may factor into overall meal planning. Among the 23 items in this category, margarine sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Butter at 717kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
MCT Oil
Not AllowedMCT Oil is classified as Not Allowed on Carnivore, with 884kcal calories per 100g. This means it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. It also contains 100g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Grapeseed Oil and Sesame Oil for calories, ranking 13 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Olive Oil
Not AllowedAt 900kcal calories per 100g, Olive Oil falls into the Not Allowed category under Carnivore guidelines. It is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Beyond the primary classification, olive oil also provides 100g fat per 100g. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Canola Oil at 900kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Virgin | 884kcal | 0g | 100g | 0g | 0g |
| Light/Refined | 884kcal | 0g | 100g | 0g | 0g |
Palm Oil
Not AllowedWith 134kcal calories per 100g, Palm Oil earns a Not Allowed classification on Carnivore. This means it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Among the 23 items in this category, palm oil sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Duck Fat at 136kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Peanut Oil
Not AllowedPeanut Oil is classified as Not Allowed on Carnivore, with 900kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Nutritionally, it also delivers 100g fat per serving. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Olive Oil at 900kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Safflower Oil
Not AllowedWith 900kcal calories per 100g, Safflower Oil earns a Not Allowed classification on Carnivore. This means it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. It also contains 100g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Peanut Oil at 900kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Sesame Oil
Not AllowedWith 884kcal calories per 100g, Sesame Oil earns a Not Allowed classification on Carnivore. It is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Beyond the primary classification, sesame oil also provides 100g fat per 100g. Within this category, it falls between MCT Oil and Shortening for calories, ranking 14 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Shortening
Not AllowedWith 884kcal calories per 100g, Shortening earns a Not Allowed classification on Carnivore. This means it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. It also contains 100g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Sesame Oil and Walnut Oil for calories, ranking 15 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Sunflower Oil
Not AllowedWith 900kcal calories per 100g, Sunflower Oil earns a Not Allowed classification on Carnivore. This means it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. It also contains 100g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Safflower Oil at 900kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Vegetable Oil
Not AllowedWith 862kcal calories per 100g, Vegetable Oil earns a Not Allowed classification on Carnivore. It is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Beyond the primary classification, vegetable oil also provides 100g fat per 100g. Within this category, it falls between Cooking Spray and Ghee for calories, ranking 8 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Walnut Oil
Not AllowedAt 884kcal calories per 100g, Walnut Oil falls into the Not Allowed category under Carnivore guidelines. The classification reflects that it is a plant or plant-derived product, which carnivore excludes. Nutritionally, it also delivers 100g fat per serving. Within this category, it falls between Shortening and Coconut Oil for calories, ranking 16 of 23.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central