About Paleo

Most simply, Paleo is a diet/lifestyle that supports optimal health. Although it's not a historical reenactment, Paleo is based on the idea that we are the healthiest when we mimic the diet of our hunter/gatherer ancestors.

Personally, I have never felt better since eating Paleo. My energy is through the roof, my skin has cleared up, and I sleep like a little baby.

The best thing about the Paleo lifestyle is that you don't have to count calories, measure portions, or worry about how many times you can eat in one day. Eat when you are hungry, don't when you're not...simple as that! As long as you stick to the "YES" foods, and avoid the "NO" foods, you will be good to go!

NO Foods
  • Processed foods
  • Grains
  • Legumes (including peanut)
  • Soy
  • Dairy
  • Added Sugar
  • Alcohol
  • White potatoes
  • Vegetable Oils
YES Foods
  • All animal proteins
  • Vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Fat (avocados, coconut, olive oil)
  • Nuts and seeds (in moderation)
Looks like a not of NO's right? Don't focus on that! Think about the huge variety of real food that is out there: steak with wilted spinach and garlic, chicken kabobs with grilled pineapple, veggie omelets, every tropical fruit you could imagine, the possibilities are really endless! Hopefully this blog will help you get some great ideas to incorporate into your home!

I know this sounds overly simple. It kind of is! Whole, real, nutritious, unadulterated food is what your body wants! Processed, chemical-laden, sugar-rich foods make your body sad.

Gina's Top 5 Paleo Tips
  • Clean house: this is not a new concept. get everything out of your house that is not Paleo so you are not tempted. Give it away, donate it, just don't keep it around! You will have moments of weakness and its better to cheat with a handful of macadamia nuts and a square of dark chocolate than with an entire pint of ice cream or bags of Doritos
  • Prepare: For me, cooking and trying new recipes is a hobby. Chopping vegetables and mixing spices is relaxing to me and I look forward to cooking dinner. I understand that is not the case for a lot of people. It takes a lot of time to cook, and if you don't make time to prepare, you are likely stray from Paleo. Take a few hours Sunday night to prepare for the week. Bake some chicken breasts, brown some ground beef, chop and cook some vegetables so you have some healthy things prepared for the week. When you get home late from work, you will be happy you did this. Just heat whatever looks good to you up and enjoy! If you are a big snacker, be sure to keep plenty of Paleo friendly options nearby.
  • Expand Your Spice Repertoire: It always gets on my nerves a little when people say that Paleo is boring. There are literally hundreds of spices out there and incorporating them into your meals will make you and your taste buds happy. Try Alepo pepper, curry powder, cinnamon, fresh herbs, have fun experimenting and finding new tastes.
  • Get Involved with Coconut:  To me coconut is the perfect food. Coconut oil is my primary cooking oil because it stands up better to high heat than olive oil does, and I love the flavor. Buy a jar of coconut oil because you will see it a lot in my recipes
  • Don't Give Up: When you are first getting started, especially if you do a 30 day challenge (see below) your may feel like complete and utter crap the first week you try it. Stick with it! This is just your body detoxing. After the initial shock to your body, I promise you will start to feel better than ever before!
Since I am not licenced to dole out nutritional advice, I'm going to point you to some of the experts. These resources have helped me tremendously when I have nutritional questions.

Robb Wolf: Great FAQ section with shoping lists and more details about the Paleo lifestyle. His book was also the first one I read that is a wonderful intro to Paleo.

Whole9Life: The best way to get into Paleo is to dive in head first. Here you can find extensive information about the 30 day challenge as well as a great blog. I also love their seasonal produce guide.

Mark Sisson: Primal/Paleo wealth of information and articles



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