Let me start by saying that paleo is a personal choice for me. I chose to go paleo because I wanted to eliminate a lot of the processed foods in my diet. I'm not a super-strict, paleo fanatic. I believe if someone wants to be extremely strict with their paleo journey, they can be. Or, if you choose to have certain foods that some may not consider paleo, that's fine, too. I don't judge people on their food choices, so I'd hope people wouldn't judge me on mine.
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Here are a few questions I get asked when I tell people I eat paleo:
(besides the most common one: "what is that?")
"So you can't eat dessert?"
- I can eat whatever I want. There's no almighty-paleo-god who will smite me down if I decide to eat something non-paleo. But I choose my treats wisely. On Thanksgiving, I indulged in cheesecake and just a few hours later, the sugar gave me a massive headache. If I have a friend who says that a particular item is the best they've ever tasted, I'll take a bite. But that doesn't mean I need to finish it. I don't eat mass-produced treats, but if someone makes something homemade, I might take a bite.
"What do you eat, then?"
-Food? This questions confuses me because I eat what everyone eats. I just don't eat the grains, dairy, etc. I still eat meat, chicken, fish, a ton of veggies, and some nuts and fruits. I promise you, I don't feel like I'm missing out, or lacking any nutrients.
"What can you eat when you go out?"
- A little more challenging, but it's easier if you are prepared. I wouldn't go to a pizza joint without eating a meal beforehand. I'm not going to seclude myself from others just because I may not eat something. I would just choose to eat something before going out. That way, if there is no option for me at the restaurant, at least my stomach isn't interrupting everyone's meal with it's gurgling.
- And I heart Jamba Juice as a treat every now and then. Their Orange Carrot Karma is heavenly. Mmmmm.
"Do you miss anything?"
- The only thing I miss every so often is my bowl of oatmeal in the mornings. And to be honest, I may add that back in at some point. I may miss sushi nights, but I always liked sashimi best anyways.
"Can you drink?"
- I do. But I typically stick to wine, or gluten-free ciders. Or, tequlia if I'm feeling wild.
Truly, I didn't do paleo to restrict myself. If I feel like eating something non-paleo, I will. I also know how my body will react to eating specific, non-paleo foods. Excess amounts of sugar gives me a headache. Certain dairy and most grains make my stomach bloat.
When J and I go on our month of travels in February, it's very possible that I'll indulge in some non-paleo items. Especially while we're in Mexico. (But thank goodness for the abundance of teuila!)
I'm not trying to seclude myself, but I do know how to work with moderation now.
Do you have any questions for me about my journey with paleo?
8 comments:
My son and daughter-in-law follow a mostly paleo diet (he more strictly than she). They are both happy with the results and I've got to say that she just finished a healthy pregnancy and got her pre-pregnancy body back very quickly.
I think it's kind of funny and ironic that you get some of the same questions that I as a vegan get (though I bet you don't get the "where do you get your protein" question :-)
debbie@livefromlaquinta.com
I'm in the process of eliminating some things. For me, I think it's whole grains that irritate my stomach. I like that you say you don't HAVE to give up anything :)
I make spaghetti squash for Scott, but the texture weirds me out.
I'm 90% vegetarian at this point...Which I don't know is good or bad.
I dont know that I could incorporate all the meat that goes with paleo, but I need to throw in more veggies.
I'm glad you broke some of this down as I think paleo gets lumped in to this assumption of "oh, you JUST eat protein." As I am gluten-free, I feel your pain in having to sometime answer these questions!
What a great Paleo Q&A! I will have to pass this along to my non-paleo friends.
I eat mostly Paleo except I too indulge a little bit on vacation and occasionally I will have nachos as a treat. But I feel I'm not missing out that much because the foods are all so delicious! When I want a treat, I make a delicious dessert with coconut or almond flour rather than wheat. Tastes better to me anyway! Right now I am doing the 21 Day Sugar Detox and I feel pretty good on it so far!
WHAT UP BABY WHO LOVES SPAGHETTI SQUASH! Completely agree with you! I eat spaghetti squash, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT... It's my comfort food, and I am completely obsessed with it, lol!! Paleo rocks my socks off, been doing it for 10 years now, never felt so good before in my life. And now, I am off to eat a GF/GF bison burger!
I feel like people are very quick to judge how others eat (I am just as guilty when I see how much processed food and salt my friends consume!) But basically, if you eat healthy food and are getting adequate nutrition, there's really no need for discussion, right?
I've dabbled with paleo and got asked similar questions while I was doing it. My number one question was" why? you don't need to lose weight!" to which I would always reply nope, not doing it to lose weight, just wanting to eat healthier. I found it hard to stick to, but I think it did help me feel better when I was good about it. Keep at it!
What's your go-to for pre-workout breakfasts? Did paleo last yr when I could workout (knee surgery) and am getting back to it now - but not sure what good pre-workout fuel is!
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