This was originally a “A sneak peek” article for my next upcoming re-branded accompanying manuscript / book. But I decided to overhaul this into an up-to-date thought piece. Live-It-Forward, AW. 

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Are they feasible?  In my view….most probably not.

Carnivores or commonly touted as zero-carb have been over the last good two decades, have gathered traction that they are “affordable” way of healthy eating. Or is it?

Hence I’m presenting various reasons why ~  they’re both disadvantageous to the wallets.

1. Obviously, they’re expensive.

Not just expensive. But dire.

We’re standing now, in October 2026 amidst oil crisis. Everything sets and stems from oil. Agriculture RUNS on oil. Every calorie is dependent on this.

And obviously, it’s no brainer, that every meat we see on the aisle has not been anywhere near “affordable”. At least for quite few years ever since I started SKD back since 2015-2016.

$11 – $14 for beef mince 80/20 for 1 kilogram probably nets only about two (2) meals. I’d be lucky if I can spot a short dated version these days under $5. This costs anywhere between at least $15 to AUD$20 “per day” of initial cost investment just for procuring the whole meats. Not including other things – eggs, and sources of calcium needed.

Given just how dire the oil crisis gets. I’d probably guesstimate everything amounting to at least  $150.00AUD per week is needed. Hence, 150 / seven = you’ll need to spare $20 to $22 AUD just on the conservative side to feed yourself.

2. Just how much meat do we “need”, really?

Across the “influencers” landscapes today (and many years prior) consume anywhere between 2 to 3 pounds of meat per day. That is only a conservative estimate, to reach adequate satiety.

This translates to at least that is, bare minimum – 900 grams to 1.25 kilograms of meat, of any chunks, and edibles representing a single meal . Equating to 2,100 ~ ish kaclories .

But that ~ is still without additional fats and/or allowable condiments to factor in for cooking.

What about my glorified mixed beef bones? Aren’t those enough as is?

Sadly – not to a full extent.

Whilst I am perfectly content and lucky to secure $3.5o to $4.50 for generous 3 to 4kg bag of various cuts from shanks, necks and ribs one still have to account for the fact you’ll need to eat a lot. And remember, that it is more or less restricted towards fats ratios. Perfect obviously if one needs to reach ketogenic ratios of 70f/30p , I concede that much in my video. But not, from practical standpoint – when and where you need to account for the overall protein.

Of course  we have other meats or so that I am likely signalled. Poultry(s), eggs and bacon. But they too, adds to the budget. $5.00 if I’m lucky for whole bird (short-dated). Realistically at least $8. A two kilogram whole bird indeed may suffices a hungry carnivore; yet if only for a day.

Eggs likewise, exclusively for choline – goes anywhere between $8 to $10 for larg(er) packs of 18. 12 eggs would easily vapour in a carnivore kitchen for making carnivore friendly dessert.

And/or ice cream for that matter….leading us to the next checklist of necessities that one may even have to break the laws. We’re talking about dairy here – Cheese, creams, yoghurts  etc.

3. And… not including supplementation

I still advocate eating organ meats. For a very long time I thought I’d be immune from supplementation . But not so.

The most recent finding that I felt convincing – are B vitamins and dare I say of recent year – Vitamin C.

My stack over the last four five years have been consistently these : Magnesium, Vitamin E, D, K2 Mark 4 / Mark 7, COQ10, Betaine HCL + Pepsin, Creatine (arguably not needed but may change my mind as I get older) and glycine.  Of course when it comes to supplementation I’d rate some much more vital, as in survival like “vital” – order of importance. That might be Betaine HCL Pepsin, Magnesium and K2; as bare minimum. Yes, I am foregoing Vitamin D here as  my thoughts on this have somewhat changed. More on that as separate write up.

I should also add K / potassium here. Potassium chloride at least for safeguarding many years of heart palpitation(s) and excess dehydration. Obviously don’t add stupid tablespoon amounts here and there. Otherwise you will feel your heart beat slowing down. And that – is very  dangerous. 

Water soluble vitamins are obviously, a given eventuality in carnivore.

I always believed in the concept of limited survivability. That we can indeed “make-do” for however strict exclusion protocols there is, carnivores included. But how long would that be? One month? Two months? or even a week? Before one can notice something or many things compounds itself as “off”?

4. Jumping on the bandwagon? Good luck.

Cheat days, off-the-rails….these are not what “influencers” these days typically willing to talk about.

Carnivore Diets, just like any other holistic dietary exclusion protocols, are not made a flip switch in a day. Although they’ve been marketed heavily as such.

You’d need years understanding your own self, your own intake of foods, journalling them, your effects sensitivity, your binge triggers, and not including your lifestyle factors – to analyse, to sift and reconcile.

I would dare also unless if you do not have enough to cover the food budget $150 AUD per week – you’d sooner or later have to contend with intermittent fasting.

Good luck trying to intermittent fast for the first time if you have had no prior discipline, no conscious habits, no prior knowledge and acquaintance – to changes of your own daily motions.

Simply changing “Food” is not something that instantly changes you – your life likewise – a “flip switch”. I’d dare say, if you are not willing to change, even to as nuanced as changing the size of utensils to low carbohydrate eating >> – then you firstly need to revise your expectations.

My channel is more about self-accountability inbetween macronutrient cycling to meet realms of Economics, by practicing scarcity.

Hence Cyclical keto + Intermittent fasting have taught me much over the fact that going off the rails, on top of the adherences and transitionary ~ all came from gradual understanding and accepting of you, yourself – as the “patient”.

5. Zero / near zero plant based diets – probably much harder to maintain. 

I must admit I have not yet practiced,  zero plant based diets. I’d wager such is even harder. Not marginally. But significantly.

First and obvious concern, vegetable oils and spreads remains a gamble to one’s own health and therefore should not be considered. Since Omega N6 PUFAs may not be healthful in chronic amounts, obviously. Olive oils these days run for at least $20 for 1.5 litre. A far cry from 2015-2020 era of $5-$6 per litre.

You’d need additional iron, vitamin B12,  and other fat solubles D3, E, K2, COQ10 that are defenitely absent among plant foods. How are you getting these from food, alone?

Then, the concern of protein. Obviously. Legumes and beans are off the pantry.  besides if used sparingly as Buffer Proteins as I allude to in recent video. But then again, that breaks the law of Zero Carbs. And that includes – zero fibre.

So What do we have? pea protein isolates/concentrates and TVP. The latter might not be appetising but it is at least readily and easily prepared. Just boiled water will do on top of condiments. Be prepared however for their very high oxalates. And you guessed it – dietary calcium intake is so far the only protective insurance against oxalates as oxalates bind with calcium before they reach to the kidneys (bypassing / blocking absorption through bloodstream via pylorus / small intestine); hence instead excreted through stools.  

So what do we do? What if you cannot eat dairy? You have to get special calcium supplements. You “might” get away with by making DIY Calcium Citrate from egg shells. But you have to willingly adhere to Ovo-Vegetarian.

After all, what would you do with all those boiled eggs? Throw them out? 

Meanwhile, pea protein isolates / concentrates are extremely dry, and notoriously as such requires heavy amount of other adjunct / accompanying ingredients to make it worthwhile. Again, I have no idea what else other than peanut butter, to make these palatable. And before then also – that already breaks the zero carb law. 

Peanut butters / nut butters are also exceedingly expensive – they’re also on the dry side already potentiating exceeding thirst response.  This – is no joke, coming from someone who can easily down a quarter of a jar of peanut butter. But just wait for it. The extreme thirst is and can be quite aggressive.

So what fluid mediums then can you think of that complements this? Other than water – that also provides palatable diversity? I couldn’t think of any. Other than incorporating yoghurts and/or liquid whey from DIY yoghurt. making. But then again – beware they too have some lactose if you are seriously lactose intolerant.

And then wait –  we have to deal with “condiments“. I don’t know of any other condiments that are of 1) zero carbohydrate. 2). plant based derived. Other than soy sauce and coconut aminos.

But that is it. Truly. That is it. I could not think of anything else.

So, no. Sadly, Carnivore / ZC diets is likely not compatible.

Let’s recite the positives. Carnivores are probably “better” and more applicable than plant based ZC equivalents. The latter I’d be seriously concerned for their much more restrictions because all plant matter are carbohydrates first in the majority of their structures, no exception (or at least extremely few that I’m not aware of).

I am not saying that this is impossible. But highly improbably at best, were survivability came to question.

Let me first of all disclaim that I am “diet-agnostic”. At least given by my years of of CKD+IF approach. Those kindly interested on this are welcome to view my thoughts here and here.

But in the meantime, I do gracefully wish anyone best of luck, should they can and maintain their way of eating within ZC spheres. I cannot see and do not see how this is in anyway financially and metabolically – sustainable.

Live-It-Forward,

AW™.