Anytime you get an animal that can be eaten whole, it’s a pretty safe bet that it’s Paleo-friendly. By consuming the entire animal, you get the benefit of all the nutrients contained in those tasty organs. Organs are the most nutritious part of an animal, but we (at least in Western societies) have gotten away from eating those parts of the animal. We tend to stick to the muscle meat which, although nutritious, can’t match the vitamin and mineral content of the inner animal. For those who can’t get their hands on organ meats (or just can’t stand the taste of liver) shellfish are an excellent way to get those nutrients.
Clams as a Versatile Food
Clams are particularly versatile. You can sauté them in a little butter and garlic, mix them up in a clam chowder, or just slurp them right out of the shell and enjoy them raw. Any way you choose to eat them, you get the benefit of this animal’s vitamins A, B12, selenium, magnesium, iron, and selenium.
Mark Sisson has a whole post on why we should all be eating shellfish.