Is Seaweed Paleo Friendly? (Yes, Here’s Why)

Are you wanting a delicious, affordable, crunchy snack? Whether you are watching a movie at home or are late for work, roasted seaweed is something you can easily grab with no preparation. If you are adhering to the Paleo diet, you may be wondering if seaweed is Paleo. 

Seaweed is Paleo and a great snack option on any diet. There are many brands to choose from and a variety of flavors. While its containment of iodine is one of its greatest benefits, it’s essential not to go over your daily intake. If you’re needing a Paleo snack alternative, try Primal Kitchen Collagen Protein Bars or Paleovalley Beef Sticks.

If you do not want it plain, you can also throw it in a soup or salad or make homemade sushi with it; there are so many recipes for you to try! Let’s explore the endless variety of seaweed flavors!

Is Seaweed Healthy?

Seaweed is very healthy! No matter the flavor or brand you prefer, one serving is almost guaranteed to be low in calories with minimal to no sugar, making it a great option for anyone wanting to lose weight. 

Also, there is usually 0 to 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving, which allows someone to snack on it while on the ketogenic diet without breaking them out of the state of ketosis.

In addition to being weight loss friendly, seaweed is very nutritious. The most well-known nutrient that it contains is iodine, which is vital for keeping your thyroid functioning optimally. High amounts of antioxidants and vitamins such as A, B12, C, E, and K are present also.

What Makes Seaweed Paleo?

If you are on the paleo diet, you are consuming what the cavemen would have been able to eat, considering the resources they had access to. This includes fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.

With seaweed being a vegetable of the sea, it can a snack or part of a meal while not taking you off the paleo diet. It is a great addition because of its high amounts of calcium per serving – one of the highest nutrient deficiency risks of the diet.

Seaweed Nutritional Facts

While there are many brands out there, SeaSnax, Gimme, and Annie Chun’s are a few of the greatest when it comes to seaweed snacks! 

Check out some of their signature flavors and learn about essential nutrition facts, as well as what ingredients are used to spice up the flavor of the seaweed.

SeaSnax Original Roasted Seaweed Snack

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 15
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 0 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 0.3 g

These are the ingredients in the Original Roasted Seaweed Snack:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt

SeaSnax Spicy Chipotle Roasted Seaweed Snack

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 15
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 0 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 0.3 g

These are the ingredients in the Spicy Chipotle Roasted Seaweed Snack:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt
• Organic ground chipotle 

SeaSnax Onion Roasted Seaweed Snack

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 15
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 0 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 0.3 g

These are the ingredients in the Onion Roasted Seaweed Snack:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt
• Organic granulated onion

SeaSnax Wasabi Roasted Seaweed Snack

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 15
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 0 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 0.3 g

These are the ingredients in the Wasabi Roasted Seaweed Snack:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt
• Natural wasabi flavor

Gimme Sea Salt Roasted Seaweed

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 25
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 1 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Sea Salt Roasted Seaweed:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic sunflower oil
• Sea salt

Gimme Teriyaki Roasted Seaweed

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 25
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 2 g 
• Total sugars: <1 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Teriyaki Roasted Seaweed:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic sunflower oil
• Organic sesame oil
• Organic teriyaki powder (organic tamari soy sauce [organic soybeans, salt], organic maltodextrin, organic cane sugar, organic onion, organic garlic)

Gimme Wasabi Roasted Seaweed

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 25
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 1 g 
• Total sugars: <1 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Wasabi Roasted Seaweed:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic sunflower oil
• Organic teriyaki powder (organic tamari soy sauce [organic soybeans, salt], organic maltodextrin, organic cane sugar, organic onion, organic garlic)
• Natural wasabi flavor

Gimme Sushi Nori Roasted Seaweed

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 5
• Total fat: 0 g
• Total carbohydrate: 1 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Sushi Nori Roasted Seaweed:

• Organic seaweed

Gimme Toasted Sesame Roasted Seaweed

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 25
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 1 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Toasted Sesame Roasted Seaweed:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic sunflower oil
• Salt
• Organic toasted sesame oil

Gimme Sea Salt & Avocado Oil Roasted Seaweed

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 25
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 1 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Sea Salt & Avocado Oil Roasted Seaweed:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic avocado oil
• Sea salt

Gimme Extra Virgin Olive Oil Roasted Seaweed

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 25
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: <1 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Roasted Seaweed:

• Organic seaweed
• Organic extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt
• Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)

Annie Chun’s Organic Wasabi Seaweed Snacks

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 25
• Total fat: 1.5 g
• Total carbohydrate: 1 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Organic Wasabi Seaweed Snacks:

• Organic Seaweed
• Organic Sunflower Oil
• Organic Sesame Oil
• Salt
• Organic Sugar
• Organic Dextrose
• Organic Rosemary Extract (Organic Rosemary Oleoresin, Organic Olive Oil)
• Natural Flavor
• Wasabi Powder

Annie Chun’s Organic Sesame Seaweed Snacks

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 25
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 1 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Organic Sesame Seaweed Snacks:

• Organic Seaweed
• Organic Sunflower Oil
• Organic Sesame Oil
• Sea Salt
• Organic Rosemary Extract (Organic Rosemary Oleoresin, Organic Olive Oil)

Annie Chun’s Organic Sea Salt & Vinegar Seaweed Snacks

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 25
• Total fat: 1.5 g
• Total carbohydrate: 2 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Organic Sea Salt & Vinegar Seaweed Snacks:

• Organic Seaweed
• Organic Sunflower Oil
• Vinegar & Sea Salt Seasoning (Organic Maltodextrin, Organic White Distilled Vinegar, Sea Salt, Organic Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Organic Dextrose)
• Organic Rosemary Extract (Organic Rosemary Oleoresin, Organic Olive Oil)

Annie Chun’s Organic Sea Salt Seaweed Snacks

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

• Calories: 30
• Total fat: 2 g
• Total carbohydrate: 1 g 
• Total sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g

These are the ingredients in the Organic Sea Salt Seaweed Snacks:

• Organic Seaweed
• Organic Sunflower Oil
• Sea Salt
• Organic Rosemary Extract (Organic Rosemary Oleoresin, Organic Olive Oil)

Healthy Paleo Snack Alternatives to Seaweed

Paleovalley Original Beef Sticks

These beef sticks could be a great addition to your paleo diet when you need a quick protein source on the go! With only 70 calories per stick, yet 6 grams of protein, they are a no-brainer! Eating enough protein every day is vital for keeping up your energy and feeling full.

Ingredients:

• 100% grass fed beef
• Water
• Unprocessed sea salt
• Organic dextrose from tapioca (used to initiate the fermentation process)
• Celery juice
• Organic black pepper
• Organic red pepper
• Organic garlic powder
• Organic coriander
• Lactic acid starter culture from non-GMO beets
• Dye-free beef collagen casing

Nutritional Facts:

• Calories: 70
• Fat: 5 g
• Carbohydrates: 0 g
• Sugar: 0 g
• Protein: 6 g

DNX Grass Fed Bison Jamaican Style Bar

Another fantastic protein source is DNX’s meat bars. Ranging in flavors from raspberry and uncured bacon to sweet potato pecan, everyone has a choice. The average bar is only 100 calories with 11 grams of protein. Each bar also contains less than 5 grams of sugar!

Ingredients:

• Grass fed bison
• Organic medjool dates
• Organic inulin (blue agave)
• Powdered egg whites
• Organic grated coconut
• Organic Jamaican spice blend (organic spices, [including paprika])
• Organic dehydrated vegetables (including garlic, onion, horseradish, and green bell pepper)
• Sea salt
• Organic dehydrated orange peel
• Natural smoke flavor (water and natural flavor)
• Organic spice extract
• Organic sunflower seeds
• Encapsulated citric acid
• Organic sweet potato powder
• Organic sacha inchi powder
• Organic spices
• Organic moringa oleifera powder
• Celery juice powder (celery powder, sea salt)

Nutritional Facts:

• Calories: 100
• Fat: 2.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 8 g
• Sugar: 4 g
• Protein: 13 g

Primal Kitchen Chocolate Hazelnut Collagen Protein Bars

Chocolate Hazelnut is one of many delicious flavors that Primal Kitchen offers in their bars! Pumpkin seeds, grass-fed collagen, hazelnuts, prebiotic fiber (from cassava root), and almonds are the only ingredients, making this snack choice healthy and nutritious. 

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Grass-fed hydrolyzed collagen
• Hazelnuts
• Prebiotic fiber (from cassava root)
• Almonds
• Coconut flakes
• Honey
• Natural flavors
• Water
• Unsweetened chocolate
• Coconut oil
• Organic fair-trade cocoa powder
• Himalayan pink salt
• Monk fruit extract
• Tocopherols
• Macadamia nuts
• Cashews

Nutritional Facts:

• Calories: 230
• Fat: 16 g
• Carbohydrates: 13 g
• Sugar: 3 g
• Protein: 15 g

Final Thoughts

If you are on the paleo diet, utilizing seaweed as a snack is a great idea! The crunchy food provides you with various nutrients while leaving out the calories, carbohydrates, and sugar.

SeaSnax, Gimme, and Annie Chun’s provide many different flavors, ranging from avocado oil to wasabi, at almost every grocery store for your convenience. So next time you are shopping, be sure to keep an eye out for them; they can satisfy your hunger cravings with no meal prep necessary!

Related Questions

Is Seaweed Vegan?

Seaweed is an excellent choice for vegetarians and vegans.

Is Seaweed Gluten-Free?

Seaweed is gluten-free until flavorings such as soy sauce and teriyaki sauce are added.

Is Seaweed a Vegetable?

Seaweed is a vegetable of the sea!

Is Seaweed Good For You?

Yes, seaweed contains high amounts of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins.

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