I've recently had a few friends ask me about the Paleo lifestyle, and because I'm a Paleo advocate, this excites me. I've had to explain the diet and what to buy over and over again so I decided to post a little beginner's guide. This way in the future I can direct any new comers to this post and they'll have most if not all of the info they'll need to decide whether or not they'd like to make this lifestyle change. Yes that's right, it's a lifestyle change. If you go into this thinking its just another diet, then the likelihood of you failing is going to be higher. I usually suggest that everyone gives it at least 30 days. That's 30 days of commitment to eating Paleo, and NO cheating. After the 30 days I want you to evaluate how you feel. What are the changes you've noticed in your energy levels, sleeping habits, eating habits, weight, and muscles. If after the 30 days are over you feel like you "NEED" to "cheat" then do, and monitor how you feel. I guarantee you won't feel good afterwards. Some side effects of "cheating" that I noticed are headaches, nausea, stomach pains, gas and diarrhea. Sounds pleasant right? Not so much. I went into Paleo thinking I was only going to do it for 30 days, but it changed my life. After the 30 days were up I felt so great that I never wanted to eat "conventionally" again. Of course I have eaten those awful grains and processed foods from time to time at social gatherings and what not, but I assure you I curse myself every time. It not so hard to become committed to a lifestyle change when reverting back to bad behavior causes you to be sick. Some may see these "cheating side effects" as inconvenient but I love them. They keep me on target and remind me why I stopped eating those foods to begin with. So 30 days...give it a shot. You won't be disappointed. If after 30 days of committed Paleo eating you do not feel better, stronger, lighter, and more energized than please message me and let me know. I honestly do not know a single person who gave it their all and did not like the results. So without further ado, here is my beginner's guide to eating Paleo.
Paleo
What to eat
- Meats
- Beef (preferably grass-fed and organic)
- Poultry (preferably pastured and organic)
- Pork (preferably organic)
- Fish/seafood (preferably wild caught or sustainable farm raised)
- Wild game
- Eggs (preferably pastured and organic)
- Vegetables (preferably organic)
- Fruits (preferably organic and in moderation)
- Nuts and Seeds (in moderation)
- Healthy fats
- Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (preferably organic)
- Ghee or Clarified Butter
- Animal fats
- Water, Coffee, and Tea (coffee and tea should be taken black)
What NOT to eat
- Grains (including corn)
- Dairy
- Legumes
- Gluten
- Soy
- Sugar
- Processed Foods
- Other oils (canola oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil)
- Peanuts
My Paleo household staples
- Organic chicken breast- I try to buy organic pasture farm raised when I can
- Organic grass-fed ground beef
- Wild caught shrimp and sea scallops
- Wild caught salmon and tilapia
- Organic pork chops
- Organic bacon- I try to buy fresh organic farm raised when I can
- Organic eggs- I buy organic pasture raised when I can
- Organic broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, onions, romaine, spinach, kale, collard greens, zucchini, green beans, and eggplant.
- Organic bananas, apples, raspberries, lemons, and dates
- Raw honey
- Organic ghee
- Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
- Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Raw almonds- I soak them and use them to make homemade almond milk
- Dry roasted almonds (eat by themselves, mixed in trail mix, or make your own almond butter)
- Unsweetened coconut milk
- Dry roasted unsalted cashews, walnuts, and hazelnuts
- Organic garlic and ginger
- Organic unsweetened cocoa powder
- Organic fair trade coffee and tea
- Himalayan pink sea salt
- Seasonings and spices
The meats and produce I've listed under my "staples" aren't the only ones you can eat. They just happen to be the ones that I buy the most. If you're wondering why I choose organic, pastured, and grass fed meats and produce, here are a couple of articles explaining this choice. Educate yourself on where your food comes from and it could save your life.
There are SO many great Paleo food bloggers out there who have fantastic recipes and websites. A few of my favorites are
Marks Daily Apple has a wealth of information. Any time I have a question regarding anything to do with Paleo I go there. It helped me a lot when I first started out.
I hope this beginners guide was helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. If you embark on the Paleo journey then I hope you are successful and fall in love with this lifestyle as I have. Its so simple! Just eat REAL food and stay away from processed foods, grains, dairy, gluten, sugar and legumes. Happy eating!
No comments:
Post a Comment