Basic Guidelines for Paleo Eating
It all started when…
Discovering that my diet played a huge role in how I was feeling led me to begin eating a Paleo patterned diet. This way of eating drastically improved my health. Once I began eating Paleo, I started writing my own recipes and cooking them for my family.
For me, eating Paleo means eating food that my body recognizes as real. Unprocessed ingredients are key. The more pure the ingredients the better I feel & the healthier I become. Pure food is like fuel to my body. Eating processed packaged food really slows down the nourishing ability of what we consume & creates internal problems that often don't get recognized until external symptoms appear.
HERE ARE SOME BASIC GUIDELINES FOR EATING PALEO...
Eat grass-fed, pastured meat & wild caught seafood
Eat healthy fats, such as avocados, nuts, seeds, olives, coconut oil & olive oil
Eat free-range, organic eggs
Eat tons of vegetables
Eat a couple of fruits per day
Eat organic as much as possible, it really does make a difference in your body
Eat treats made with natural sweetens such as honey, maple syrup, stevia, coconut sugar, monk fruit, date syrup & whole or pureed fruits - keep in mind, treats should be an occasional enjoyment
WHAT SHOULD I AVOID?
Avoid grains
Avoid refined sugars
Avoid processed meats
Avoid Legumes, Soy & Corn
Avoid Dairy
Avoid refined & processed foods, especially those made with GMO ingredients
Avoid peanuts & peanut butter
IS PALEO DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW?
The answer is simple. NO. Many people think it will be difficult to follow a Paleo lifestyle in a modern, fast paced world, but the truth is that it is easy & frankly, it is getting easier. With many more companies creating Paleo foods that are made in small batch quantities with quality, organic ingredients, it is becoming much easier to follow a whole foods approach to eating.
Choosing to eat Paleo {whole foods} consistently, takes a decision and a determination. Start off slow by removing processed ingredients, grains, and dairy. Then refine your new lifestyle by removing any fluff items that may contain some of the Paleo avoidance items such as soy & sugar. Set a goal to eat five vegetables per day, two fruits per day & a serving of quality protein at each meal. Add in healthy fats at each meal as well. As you become more comfortable with your decision you will also become more comfortable with making whole foods choices over quick, processed choices.