Paleo Challenge

I have a student researching and writing about the Paleo diet this summer, and I am teaching a"Diet Theory" course this fall that includes the diet.  Although I have made fun of most diet theories in the past, when done right, the Paleo diet is pretty great. It  can help people avoid allergy, intolerance, and chronic inflammation-provoking foods while providing a plethora of nutrient dense options.

In a nutshell, a "Paleo Dieter" eats as a hunter-gatherer from the Paleolithic era would, focusing on nuts, seeds, fruits, veggies and meats while avoiding   legumes, grains, dairy, and sugar. I love the theory (this is simple, clean eating at its best!),  but think the practice can become a little difficult for the average person, who lives a hectic on-the-go lifestyle and doesn't prepare the majority of his or her meals from scratch.  It can also be difficult in terms of cost, as grains and beans are pretty cheap sources of nutrition, whereas high quality fruits, veggies, and meats can be on the pricey side.

Furthermore, some people end up eating a super high fat diet when they "go Paleo", trading in whole grains for baked goods made with almond and coconut flour, and use the diet as an excuse to devour pounds of bacon and burgers.  These foods should be eaten in moderation on any diet.  If non  starchy veggies, fresh fruit, and lean meats act as the "every meal foods", the Paleo diet is a nutrient rich, minimally processed diet with few empty Calories. That gets my. Seal of approval!

 I actually have been recommending a Paleo-ish diet for my weight loss clients for years, but have always focused on removing foods or food groups one at a time rather than all together (I.e. removing dairy or wheat for a week or two and "crowding in" fruits, veggies and lean meats). Some clients seem to do really well on dairy and quinoa and oats, while others find that taking these foods out is a better choice.    Using this methodical approach, I have found some great results including decreased cravings, less bloating, quicker recovery time, fat loss, and more energy among my clients.

Some clients choose to eat a mostly Paleo lifestyle, but need a few treats a week, such as ice cream with a friend, fetuccini Alfredo at grandma's, or a scone from a favorite bakery.  Some people just aren't meant to be food nazi's and rebel both mentally and physically when they are told they "can't" have something.  Typically, I fall in to the "moderation" category with my own diet.  Living without margaritas and sushi and  ice cream is a bit too restrictive for me.  I also enjoy my Greek yogurt, gluten free Canyon Bakehouse bread and Food Should Taste Good multigrain chips on a daily basis :-). 

But then, on my trip to Olympia for a conference,  I ended up eating a purely paleo diet for 6 days due to lack of other options: I have celiac disease and there were no gluten free grains, and dairy choices included sugary yogurt and processed cheese, neither of which were vey appetizing.  So my days included eggs and fruit for breakfast, salad with lots of meat and veggies for lunch, fruit and nuts for snack, meat, roasted veggies and salad for dinner, and a glass of wine to finish off the day....and I felt AWESOME! I needed less sleep, I was able to sit through many hours of meetings each day, and woke up at sunrise each day excited to complete intense crossfit and running workouts!  By then end of my trip, I thought, "There might be something to this Paleo thing".

However, I am going to go back to my old ways and indulge in any (gluten free) culinary delight I choose in Seattle, Portland and LA.  It's my honeymoon, and that's a time to savor every moment, and not a time to inflict dietary restrictions on myself!

Since I am going all out with this CFE (crossfit endurance) program, I am going to go for it 100 percent and take a "Paleo Challenge" for the month of August, removing all added sugar, grains, legumes, and dairy from my diet.  After the 30 days, if the results are great, I will think about limiting some of my grains, treats and dairy on a consistent basis....but I'm sure going to miss my Ice cream visits with the cows at Cook Farm these next 30 days!  I will document my eating habits and share some recipes along the way!