What's Cooking When You're Eating Paleo? Let's Discuss!
Hi everyone. I can't even believe people are actually reading this blog...lol! I'll do my best to keep it accurate and informative for you, but remember, I'm no expert. I'm just very fortunate to have people in my life who are, and help me every step of the way.19 days in on this journey, and I feel great. Not even one headache since I began eating this way. No joint pains. No bloating. I sleep well. I wake up with energy. And losing 12 pounds is the icing on the cake. All this in just 19 days. I don't want to put all of my eggs in one basket, but I feel like I will be very successful if I continue to stick to it, which incidentally isn't all that hard to do. I dread cooking. I'm not good at it. I never have been. I cook basics, in a basic way. Going Paleo, I knew I was going to have to step up that game. Thanks to the internet, my NomNomPaleo app on my iPad, and an awesome cookbook entitled Everyday Paleo by Sarah Fragoso which a great friend was kind enough to lend me, my culinary skills are improving. I'm no chef, but I'm getting better. I'm in Whole Foods pulling up recipes I want to try on my iPhone, and standing in front of the spices like a lost puppy. Turmeric? I don't even know what that is. Cumin? I've heard of it - I think.... Once you have an idea of what you want to make, find some appealing recipes and gather all of these "new-to-me" ingredients, the cooking part is easy. Last Saturday morning, I cooked for hours - mostly readying myself for the week. I even used turmeric! I'm surprised at how much I actually DON'T mind the cooking, even though I'm not great at it - but I'm getting better!
So what kinds of things can you cook when you're eating Paleo? You probably feel like the menu is so incredibly limited especially after reading the last entry, but the truth is you can really cook up a storm! If you just allow yourself to be a little creative and think of different ways to use things, you'll be surprised at what you can make that is delicious, nutritious, and totally Paleo. Meat is a big part of this diet, and I don't enjoy beef or pork. I've got chicken, turkey, and fish as my mainstays. Grilled chicken comes in very handy for me - I throw it in salads, eat it with my vegetables of choice, eat it hot, eat it cold - it's very versatile. Ground turkey is another favorite of mine. You can make hamburgers, meatballs, chili, or throw it on top of a salad. I even saw a recipe for zucchini lasagna using ground turkey...I will have to try that. Turkey bacon from Trader Joe's has quickly become a favorite of mine, too. Fish can be easier than you think, too. Remember, I am no gourmet chef, but even I whip up some meals that look impressive. One of my favorite fish dishes is tilapia and asparagus in the crockpot. So easy. So quick (only 2 hours!). So delicious. And let me tell you that leftovers are my best friend. Dinner for a couple of nights, or lunch the next day - leftovers are a very welcome sight.
Eggs are another big part of my diet recently. I don't think I've ever eaten so many eggs in my life, but I'm not hating it. You can make eggs a ton of different ways, and throwing in all sorts of vegetables, they never have to be boring. Eggs are great at all times of the day, too, and a quick and easy meal for those times when you just have no time at all. I've always liked eggs, but now, I think I love them!
The meals aren't such a big challenge anymore. I feel like I've got a handle on it. I'm in a routine, and I find that very, very helpful. For the snacks and in-between meals (which, I have to be honest with you, I'm not doing all that much of at all), I just grab a piece of fruit, some cashews, some celery with almond butter. No big whoop.
I've found a few great blogs online that help out with this Paleo thing. One is PaleOMG, and the other is Taylor Made It Paleo. Just seeing other people's ideas, recipes, successes, failures, and reading about their Paleo journey is so...I don't know...therapeutic, I guess. You feel like someone is in it with you. PaleOMG has tons of great recipes, and if you have a little bit of a sweet tooth, Taylor Made It Paleo is a great site (but remember, your sugar intake, although from natural sources, should be limited). Both of these women have a great sense of humor, too (which is probably why I love reading their blogs). I have also seen a cookbook that is going to be released on Amazon on July 30th entitled Against All Grain by Danielle Walker. Feel free to buy it for me if you'd like (kidding, kidding). She also has a blog under the same title, and it is also very, very informative. Reading success stories gives me motivation to keep at it. I love it when people succeed! Reading about their struggles and failures isn't as fun, of course, but reminds me that I'm not the only one. I'm in good company, and I should not give up hope. We all have good days, we all have bad days. I've worked too hard to quit, and I know that, but sometimes it's nice to have a reminder.
One last thing - with all this cooking and "chef-ing" as I call it, there is one tool that is so valuable to me - my Ninja! The Ninja QB1004 - it's a professional blender and food processor, and OMG, it's INCREDIBLE! It's under $60, and it gets better reviews than the $400 VitaMix. I use it daily - I make smoothies, chop vegetables, nuts, fruits, you name it! And it is so easy to clean! If you're going to be "chef-ing", you're going to want to get yourself a Ninja. Believe me!
That's all for now. If you have any great links, recipes, stories, etc., PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE! This is a place to shoot the Paleo breeze. Let's chat!
Peace. Paleo. Progress.
Kerry
