Produce Archives – Choosing Nutrition

If you like to eat your fruits and veggies straight, the paleo diet allows you to do so with ease! However, if you prefer them prepared in various ways, you may run into the problem of added ingredients that are not allowed on the diet. Can you consume okra on the paleo diet, and if so, what ways can you eat it prepared? Okra is paleo-friendly. However, when certain ingredients such as canola oil and vinegar are added to okra in certain products, it can no longer be consumed on the paleo diet because these are not naturally occurring foods. Other paleo alternatives include Green Giant Zucchini Spirals, Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans, and Roland Roasted Eggplant Puree. Let’s dive in to learn about whether okra is healthy, what some of the best okra products are, and what alternatives exist if you want to try different vegetables! Is Okra Healthy? Whether or not you follow the paleo diet, okra is an excellent source of nutrition that can be part of your main dish or a side! You can buy plain okra fresh, canned, or frozen, depending on how you are wanting to prepare it. Okra is technically a fruit, although most people treat it as a vegetable when it comes to cooking. You may also hear it referred to as “lady’s finger.” Okra is considered a low-calorie food that is loaded with vitamins and minerals. This makes it an excellent option for anyone wanting to lose weight, as it can be consumed in large quantities. This allows you to stay full for longer while not overconsuming calories. There is also an average of two grams of natural sugars per serving, meaning this food will not contribute to conditions such as obesity. In addition to being a great weight-loss food, okra contains the following beneficial nutrients: Antioxidants that can help fight certain cancers and support brain and heart health Folate that can reduce certain risks in pregnant women Vitamins A and C reduce the chances of developing conditions like stroke and heart disease Vitamin K1 that aids with blood clotting Okra Nutrition Facts (Paleo) Kroger Southern Style Cut Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 30 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 6g Total sugars: 2g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the Kroger Southern Style Cut Okra: Okra Kroger Southern Style Whole Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 30 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 6g Total sugars: 2g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the Kroger Southern Style Whole Okra: Okra PictSweet Farms Southern Classics Cut Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 35 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 7g Total sugars: 2g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the PictSweet Farms Southern Classics Cut Okra: Okra PictSweet Farms Cut Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 35 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 7g Total sugars: 2g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the PictSweet Farms Cut Okra: Okra PictSweet Farms Southern Classics Whole Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 35 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 7g Total sugars: 2g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the PictSweet Farms Southern Classics Whole Okra: Okra Goya Cut Frozen Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 20 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 4g Total sugars: 2g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the Goya Cut Frozen Okra: Okra Dilek Dried Baby Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 90 Total fat: 0.5g Total carbohydrate: 16g Total sugars: 0g Protein: 5g These are the ingredients in the Dilek Dried Baby Okra: Dried baby okra Okra Products That Cannot Be Consumed On The Paleo Diet: Trader Joe’s Crispy Crunchy Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 220 Total fat: 14g Total carbohydrate: 19g Total sugars: 3g Protein: 5g These are the ingredients in the Trader Joe’s Crispy Crunchy Okra: Okra Rice bran oil Salt Kroger Southern Style Breaded Cut Frozen Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 130 Total fat: 0.5g Total carbohydrate: 17g Total sugars: 1g Protein: 3g These are the ingredients in the Kroger Southern Style Breaded Cut Frozen Okra: Okra Breading (enriched yellow cornmeal, enriched white cornmeal, enriched wheat flour, salt, enriched yellow corn flour, spices, dextrose, monoglycerides) Batter (water, enriched yellow corn flour, corn starch, salt) Talk O’ Texas Crisp Hot Okra Pickles Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 5 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 1g Total sugars: 0g Protein: 0g These are the ingredients in the Talk O’ Texas Crisp Hot Okra Pickles: Okra Water Vinegar Salt Natural spices and flavors Calcium chloride Polysorbate 80 Torn & Glasser Roasted & Salted Vegetable Okra Chips Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 120 Total fat: 2.5g Total carbohydrate: 23g Total sugars: 1g Protein: 2g These are the ingredients in the Torn & Glasser Roasted & Salted Vegetable Okra Chips: Okra Non-hydrogenated canola oil Fructose Sea salt Cajun Chef Pickled Okra Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 5 Total fat: <1g Total carbohydrate: 1g Total sugars: 0g Protein: <1g These are the ingredients in the Cajun Chef Pickled Okra: Okra Distilled vinegar Salt Onions Garlic Mustard seeds Peppers Spices Calcium chloride 1/10 of 1% sodium benzoate (as a preservative) Yellow 5 Healthy Paleo Alternatives to Okra Green Giant Zucchini Veggie Spirals Try this noodle replacement that is loaded with nutrients! Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 15 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 2g Total sugars: 1g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the Green Giant Zucchini Veggie Spirals: Zucchini McCabe Organic Sun-Dried Zucchini If you need an easy and delicious snack, these should be your go-to! Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 40 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 10g Total sugars: 0g Protein: 2g These are the ingredients in the McCabe Organic Sun-Dried Zucchini: Organic zucchini Kroger Cut Green Beans These canned beans can be added to any delicious dish! Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 20 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 4g Total sugars: 2g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the Kroger Cut Green Beans: Green beans Water Salt Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans If you need a quick side dish with a crisp and fresh taste, these green beans are the one! Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 20 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 3g Total sugars: 1g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans: Green beans Water Sea salt Kroger French Style Green Beans This okra substitute is easy to prepare and delicious! Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 30 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 6g Total sugars: 1g Protein: 1g These are the ingredients in the Kroger French Style Green Beans: Green beans Roland Roasted Eggplant Puree This puree is a great choice for dips and sauces! Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 25 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 5g Total sugars: 2g Protein: 0g These are the ingredients in the Roland Roasted Eggplant Puree: Eggplant Salt Citric acid Green Giant Grilled Eggplant This eggplant has no added seasonings, so you can make it your own! Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving): Calories: 50 Total fat: 0g Total carbohydrate: 11g Total sugars: 6g Protein: 2g These are the ingredients in the Green Giant Grilled Eggplant: Grilled eggplant Final Thoughts If you are on the paleo diet, you can have okra, whether it is fresh, frozen, or canned. However, certain prepared okra foods will have additional ingredients that are not allowed on the paleo diet, so it is always vital to read the nutrition label before consuming. Okra is low in calories while being nutrient-rich, making it a great addition to any meal. If you happen not to like okra or not have access to it, eggplant, green beans, and zucchini are great substitutes! Related Questions Is Okra Better Raw Or Cooked? While you can consume okra either way, the less cooked the okra is, the more nutrients your body will receive from a serving. Is Okra High In Fiber? Okra is high in fiber, as eight pods contain an average of three grams of fiber. Is Okra Spicy? Okra is not spicy, and it tastes similar to an eggplant. Is Okra Keto-Friendly? Fresh okra can be keto-friendly, although many okra products contain too many carbohydrates to be consumed on the ketogenic diet. Related Guides Is Yuca Paleo? Is Hominy Paleo? Is Fried Chicken Paleo?