Serbian Spread, Mahamarra, and Amatriciana!

Happy Monday to you!

This is essentially a "Parte Dois" (Gosh, do I wish I could speak Portuguese!) to my second post about the wonderful, inimitable Green Life Market...

It's been about a little more than a month since I have visited this store. I am so happy I went again, because it was so fun to enter the market as a better informed Paleo enthusiast. I had a solid idea of what ingredients I wanted and needed to suit my diet. Julie was not there today, but this gave me a chance to evaluate ingredients on my own and look through the various options. 

Just like the first time, my mind was completely blown! I like to think of myself as a creative soul, but whoever has created the various brands and recipes featured at Green Life takes the (gluten-free) cake on creativity! I could not believe my eyes as I scanned the aisles. I came across ruby-colored pomegranate chips, "pretty in pink" Himalayan salt, coconut milk-based green tea ice cream, apricot oil, quail eggs, and masala chai-flavored kale chips. While aspects of my frontal lobe immediately told me, "Girl, you need to try ALL of this," my level-headed prefrontal cortex advised me, "Pause, think about your budget, and get only what you need." I decided to listen to my PFC and use executive function to determine a rough budget. Considering the higher prices, but also the fact that I just got a paycheck from the cafe, I decided that 30 dollars would be my aim. 

So, what did I end up purchasing? Here's the list:

• Mahamarra (a red pepper, walnut dip and a Middle Eastern classic)- As this had no chick peas or other legumes, I decided to try it! 
  

• Avocado Tuna Salad- I love avocado and I love tuna! No mayo made it an easy decision...

• Chicken Curry with Beets (and potatoes)- I got to try a sample of this. From the taste and looks of it, it seems to be a sort of medley of ground chicken kofte kebob (with possibly cilantro), beets, potatoes, red onions, and curry. The sweet lady at the counter spoke little English, so when the guy told her to put no potatoes in it, she mistakenly did quite the opposite! I tried to avoid them as I ate my late lunch. 

• Napa Valley Bistro's Amatriciana with Pancetta & Sauteed Onions- If I see pancetta (Italian bacon), in any way, shape, or form, I immediately am drawn to it! I have Giada DeLaurentiis and Maya (and her awesome mushroom recipe!) to thank for that...Anyways, this not-pasta sauce is named after the quaint town of Amatrice in Italy. It is based on a recipe from ancient Rome. It is considered All Natural, No Added Sugar, and No paste. Can't wait to splash this on some turkey meatballs (I want to try Jessica Alba's recipe!) 
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• R.W. Knedsen Family's Very Veggie (Low-Sodium)- I love Bloody Mary's and I love sipping on some V8 when "up in the air" (still need to see that movie). I usually dump salt, pepper, lemon, and tabasco into my cocktail (or I guess I need to start calling it mocktail)...but I am going to try my best to have it plain with some ice! 

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• Granny's Secret Authentic Home Style Hot Ayvar (roasted red pepper spread)- The ingredients of this traditional Serbian spread are red peppers, cayenne peppers, sunflower oil, vinegar and salt. Sounds awesome to me! 
  

• TRUE lime's Lime, Garlic, & Cilantro seasoning (Salt-free)- Many Paleo-ers say that an easy substitution to salt is spices and herbs. I am a little hesitant, because I flavor essentially all of savory dishes with salt, but I am going to try to enjoy some skin-less chicken with just this seasoning and see what happens...

The total cost of all these items was a bit over 30 dollars. Keep in mind that I decided to eliminate the date sugar (9 whole dollars for a half-filled bag!), spinach pesto crackers, quinoa chips (so apparently, it is 100% a grain), and lavender soap once the (patient!) lady rang up all the items. 

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I just wanted to update you on my diet journey in general. I decided to do a 40 day challenge that was a strict version of Paleo. That means no cheat days! After some thought, I decided there are two things I simply cannot restrict in my life. I love coffee, and I cannot have it black. I really have to flavor it. Unfortunately, dairy (even if it is fat-free skim) and sugar (agave, brown sugar, and granulated sugar...all forbidden!) are not supposed to be used. What's even harder is that sugar-free syrups are frowned upon, too. My quick solution was date sugar, but after realizing how pricey it is, I decided that a "spoonful of sugar" is going to have to get the medicine down. Maybe in time, I can slowly cut down on sugar and maybe have a slightly sweetened black coffee. The second thing that I just cannot do without is soy sauce! If I go for sushi with a friend, and I order two hand-rolls with no rice (seaweed, salmon, and avocado), I can't muster up the strength to deny the lovely soy sauce as an accompaniment. I am going to continue using the green capped-one, which is low-sodium. 

Another (somewhat frustrating update): Remember my incentive system? I am sad to say that I haven't gotten that manicure yet. I was three pounds away from visiting the nail salon, but I gained 4 pounds! Thankfully, I have shaved those pounds off. But, I am still back to needing to lose those 3 stubborn pounds. I am a bit impatient, so I don't like it when I don't achieve results. I am hoping and praying that those trendy gray nails grace this keyboard at the end of this week! P.S. Got the Zumba job, so I can't wait to get those Zumba leggings once I achieve the weight loss! 

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Sorry, I just had to get some Brian Austin Green in this shot (although, I'll forever be a Dylan McKay gal)

Jack...killing it on the dance floor! #dancingwiththestars

Jessica Biel....being awesome. NBD

Some fun facts about celebrities who are pursuing Paleo (including Jack Osbourne, Jessica Biel, and Megan Fox): 

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/08/19/10-celebrities-and-athletes-touting-benefits-paleo-diet-150948

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THANKS in advance :)

Last, but not least, I am trying to put together a post that is all about advice (regarding weight loss, health and wellness, fitness, and healthy eating). What I need (and would greatly appreciate!) from YOU, the reader, is to message me, text me, or email me (arlene.pereira.23@gmail.com) your advice. It can be one short phrase that you live by, something you learned from Chris Powell, or inspirational quotes that alway push you to challenge yourself....anything and everyone that you think WORKS! 

You can choose to remain anonymous in terms of the blog publication; I would just ask that you say "Anonymous, Age". If you don't mind providing your first name, than feel free to indicate that. 

I really hope I can collect some great advice! I will probably ask my family, friends, and coworkers to contribute, too! 

Anyways, thanks SO much for reading! I hope you have a fantastic week :) 

A smiling face is half the meal- Latvian Proverb

Sincerely, 

Arlene

Works Cited:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100921151009.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefrontal_cortex
http://paleononpaleo.com/paleo-quotations-health-1/

Paleo with Pizzazz!

Hello!

Before I start this post, I would just like to thank those who have been reading this blog! It means so much to me that you are taking time out of your busy day to take a glance at my journey with the Paleo diet! OBRIGADA ("Thank you" in Portuguese)!

This post is all about adding some PIZZAZZ ( defined by Merriam-Webster as "a quality or style that is exciting and interesting") to my Paleo diet!

In my last post (please read if you haven't yet! It informs you about the philosophy behind the diet), I mentioned that I would create a meal plan for this week. It is now Thursday, and I have no plan to show you :( There is something about creating a meal plan that feels odd to me. If you look at my planner (which I still call a homework organizer!), you will see that I carefully plan out my every move. This, along with constant lesson plans, makes it kind of a chore to also create a meal plan.  Another thing is it is really time-consuming to plan 6 smalls meals a day for 7 days (42 slots!). Lastly, it leaves room for frustration. If I don't follow it to a T, I might beat myself over it!

So, instead, I will offer up some recipes for myself and anyone else who would like to try out a delectable piece of Paleo!

These recipes are a mix of my own and other Paleo enthusiast's ideas. Before listing the ingredients, I will let you know where I got the recipes!

ENJOY!

STUFFED SRIRACHA MUSHROOMS
(First inspired by my cousin Maya's original creation...putting a Paleo twist to it!)



Ingredients:
2 packages of medium-sized mushrooms (you can choose your favorite kind)
A package of fresh baby spinach leaves
1 bulb of garlic
4 tbsp Marinara sauce
2 tbsp Sriracha sauce
1 small package chopped Pancetta (Trader Joe's has the perfect sized package)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup almond meal
A bit of butter (or ghee)

What to Do:
So, this is a favorite recipe of mine! When I went to California senior year of high school, my first cousin Maya created the most amazing stuffed mushrooms ever! She put together goat cheese, Sriracha,  pancetta, and garlic. Since then, I love making them! I made it for my cousin Sheila's Oxford friends, my adorable Indian cousin Danny, and my cousin's graduation party.

From the good ole London days! The mushrooms before they were stuffed with the decadent non-Paleo goat cheese mixture!

To make it Paleo, I eliminated the creamy goat cheese and added in spinach and marinara sauce. First, remove stems from the mushrooms; make sure to save the stems because they will be incorporated in the stuffing. Next, chop some fresh garlic. Then, splash some cooking olive oil to a pan. Saute the baby spinach together with the garlic. After a few minutes, add the pancetta to the sauteed mixture. Set the oven to 350 degrees. While that is coming together, squeeze the Sriracha into Marinara sauce. Mix it and heat it up for a minute it or so in the microwave or on the stove. Finally, mix the sauteed spinach, garlic, and pancetta with the marinara mixture and mushroom stems. Line a cooking tray with foil (for easy clean-up) and stuff mushrooms; add a mixture of almond meal/butter to the tops of the mushrooms. Drizzle a bit more of olive oil over the entire cooking tray and bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

JAMAICAN CHICKEN CURRY

From left to right, my Nana, Mom, and me in 2008--Tahitian style!

(Courtesy of my lovely mom! Note: If you ever want amazing Indian curries or even an occasional Thai green curry, talk to my momma or my nana [or my nana's equally talented sisters]. Thankfully, coconut milk is a welcome ingredient--and often a substitution--in Paleo recipes!)

It is "Throwback Thursday"! So, I thought I would include this picture of me making the Jamaican curry for the first time in London...my mom had emailed me her recipe from New Jersey! P.S. Highly questioning my Spring 2011 fashion-sense.

Ingredients:
2 yellow onions
2 tsp cooking olive oil
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp ginger paste
1 1/2 tbsp curry powder
Touch of hot water
1 package of chicken (any cut you like)
1 can of unsweetened coconut milk
Dash of salt (optional)

What to do:
In a pot on medium heat, fry the onions (sliced fine). Then, add the garlic and ginger paste. Fry on low heat for a few minutes. Next, add the curry powder. Continue to fry and stir on low heat for about 5 minutes. Add a touch of hot water and then add chicken and the coconut milk. Allow flavors to blend and chicken to cook fully; this will take about 20 more minutes. If you are obsessed with salt, feel free to add a little to the mix. Enjoy!

PALEO PESTO SALMON
(I was first inspired to try this recipe after having Uncle Richard's (a family friend) version at a family party. After loading pesto and an Asiago/Parmesan/Pomano shaved blend [from T Joe's] to the top of my version, I decided to make a few adjustments so that a Paleo dieter can eat this!)

Thanks "girlmeetsnourishment.com" for this rather apt photo!

Ingredients:
Fresh salmon filet (or use defrosted salmon for a more affordable option...tastes just as good!)
1 whole lemon
5 thin green chilies 
1 bulb of garlic (more or less depending on your preference)
1 tbsp of cooking olive oil

For the Basil Pesto (courtesy of Quick & Easy Paleo Comfort Foods by Julie and Charles Mayfield):
2 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves (packed)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 cloves garlic, peeled
Salt and freshly group black pepper, to taste

What to do:
Saute chopped green chilies with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Remove hot chilies from oil. Line a cooking tray with foil and spread chopped and peeled garlic evenly. Pour chili-infused oil over garlic. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Next, roll lemon (thanks Giada DeLaurentiis for the tip!) and squeeze over the salmon. Using gloves or a spatula, make sure lemon is pressed into the salmon. After that, make your Paleo-approved pesto concoction by putting all ingredients in a food processor (Note: no parmesan included!). Now it's time to put all the components on the filet. First, goes the pesto (since fish is already soaked in lemon juice). Next, goes the roasted garlic. Last, goes the green chili. 
If you absolutely must, and you are not following the Paleo diet religiously, go ahead and scatter some Parmesan shavings on the top or even part-skim mozzarella (if you don't tell, I won't tell!). 

SIMPLE SALAD
Ingredients:
2 tomatoes
1 cucumber
1 red onion
2 avocados (or 1 if you prefer)
2 pieces of grilled chicken (cubed)
1 whole lemon
1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped cilantro


What to do: Chop veggies (whichever way you like), add chicken, combine squeezed lemon and EVOO for your dressing, and top with fresh cilantro, salt, and pepper! Fast, easy, and totally Paleo-friendly! Note: I prefer it without lettuce or greens, but if you want to add volume and more greens, go for it! Stay away from iceberg lettuce, as it has very little nutritional value.

LAMB BURGERS
(The absolute first Paleo recipe I ever tried...they are to die for! Courtesy of Quick & Easy Paleo Comfort Foods by Julie and Charles Mayfield)

Ingredients: 
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
2 large egg yolks
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
Zest of 1 lemon (or freshly squeezed lemon juice)
I tbsp minced fresh mint
2 tsp minced fresh rosemary
1 tsp minced fresh oregano
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of salt

What to do: Combine egg yolks, onions, garlic, lemon, mint, rosemary, oregano, salt and pepper in a bowl. Then, add the lamb to the mixture and mix thoroughly. After that, form lamb into about 6 patties. Grill the burgers for approx. 4 minutes on each side (or less if you like your meat medium-rare...like I do!). Enjoy plain or with some lettuce, tomato, and red onion rings.

Again, thanks a million for reading! Share will friends and spread the Paleo love! 

One last thing before I go. I thought I'd have some fun and provide some incentives to expedite (healthily, of course!) the weight-loss process. (Update: 12 pounds down!)

-15 pounds: Manicure (Dark grey nail polish) 
-20 pounds: new Nike Free Run sneakers (courtesy of my Greenberry's cafe paycheck)
-25 pounds: new Zumba leggings (hopefully by then, I will have had killed the audition I have tomorrow and be teaching a class of my own in the area!!)
-30 pounds: a new pair of Lucky jeans (Size 8...or maybe 6!!) 

LEGGOOOOOOOOOOO!

Paleo Persistance: Inspiration from those Wise Hunter Gatherers!

Hello everyone,

I hope this post finds you doing well!

      I have had quite an interesting week, as I have been really sick. Being sick kind of threw me off in terms of maintaining the Paleo diet. While I lost 2 pounds, in addition to the 8 pounds lost through Paleo, I was left empty with no appetite or energy to carefully plan my meal choices. I'm not going to deny it...losing your first 10 pounds is super exciting! However, because of the circumstances, I allowed myself to take a break from Paleo and eat whatever I needed to gain back strength. After 3 days of eating pizza, pasta, and other grains and dairy, I did understandably gain 2 pounds. I am fine with that; I can work with being 8 pounds lighter.

      Enough about the digits, it's time to get back into the primal swing of things! Before discussing some recipes and new ideas, I wanted to provide the philosophy behind the Paleo diet (something I did not do in my "Introduction"). The Paleo lifestyle resembles that of an early hunter gatherer. During the Paleolithic era, also called the Old Stone Age, men and women had to actively obtain meat, fish, berries, plants, and nuts. There was no Mickey D's to drive by or Hungry Man packaged meals to purchase. By having to forage for food, the Paleolithic man needed to be active and even chase after animals every so often. Talk about really earning your food!

      There were absolutely no grains available in fields. In fact, milling stones were only introduced around 10,000 to 15,000 years ago in the Middle East (Crayhon). Rice came into play about 7,000 years ago in India and China.  If you look at life on earth from a distance, the advent of the agricultural revolution occurred at the tail end of human existence. You are looking at two-million-years of no grains versus 15, 000 years of including grains in our diet. At least for me, that is hard to fathom; we live in such a carb-rich world.

     Yes, we as humans have changed through time, but not enough to require a different, grains-based diet. Grains in general have lectins, which are anti-nutrient proteins. Lectins, also found in legumes, provoke antibodies to attack them, as they look like other parts of the body. Antibodies end up attacking your own body, too! This can lead to autoimmune problems. Lectins are also no friend to the walls of your intestines. They can encourage "leaky gut". Lectins can never fully be ostracized as they are stable in heat, and resistant to enzymatic activity (Paleo Plan).

     Then there is phytic acid, another anti-nutrient. Phytic acid binds to key elements in your intestine and cause them to leave the body...this is not good! Anemia is an example of a negative ramification of iron loss due to phytic acid. The big surprise here is that large amounts of phytic acid are found in nuts and seeds...I promise to research this more! Fishy business that nuts and seeds are so welcome in the diet. For now, know that phytates can be removed through soaking, fermenting, and sprouting.

      Add gluten and insoluble fiber that can damage the cells of the GI Tract...and you've got a pretty solid argument against the inclusion of grains in your diet.

     Now that I've beaten poor Mr. Grains to the ground, I should move on to the importance of real foods and thus, the need to stay away from processed foods. Overly processed foods contain preservatives and unnatural additives. Antibiotic-free meat and organic options are always a better pick; the less chemicals involved, the better. The original "Hungry Man" did not use any of this to embellish his meal.

     So, after finding out more about the roots of the Paleo diet and sharing my findings, it is important to adapt these core values to today's environment. There is no way I'm putting on a Tarzan-style dress on and going out into my backyard to chase down an animal way faster than me! Or jumping into a lake to stab a salmon with a sharpened wooden rod. All silliness aside, it's important to be practical and figure out what will work in today's societal landscape. Let's be real--we have food processors, ovens, microwaves, and toaster ovens. These can all aid in expediting the preparation process.  I have no qualms about purchasing raw almonds, pre-cut butternut squash, and chocolate bars from my local Shop and Stop. Everything organic can be super pricey. I will eat apples, strawberries, and bell peppers even if they belong to the "Dirty Dozen," which is a list of twelve produce items that are commonly contaminated with pesticides (Environmental Working Group).

     As it is getting late (ok, more realistically I really want to chillax to some Arrested Development after a long day of work), I will leave you with this information and discuss recipes at another time. I think I will make my next post about my meal plan for next week (week of the 17th of February), once I am fully back on track and slim enough to envision donning a modern day Tarzan-esque dress ;)

Thanks so much for reading!
Arlene

References (taking advantage of this informal format and not going to do this APA-style...college has tired me out!):
http://www.mercola.com/article/carbohydrates/paleolithic_diet.htm
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/04-27/phytates/
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/03-30/why-no-grains-and-legumes/

Paleo Perfection!

Hello again!

I am back and here to tell you some of the amazing things I have discovered over the last few days! I was strolling the aisles of Trader Joe's as I have done many times before, but this time I had to ignore the ficelle (half baked) bread that was calling my name and look away from the fridge that housed my favorite rice pudding. Instead, I headed for the baking section, in hopes of finding almond flour. As I approached the area, I was disappointed to find no such thing. Instead, were the usual baking mixes that the former-me loved to purchase. Walking down the rest of the aisle, towards the exit, I came across coconut oil on my right! This was totally allowed in my diet. While I was expecting a milky liquid, it looked like some type of solidified white mayonnaise. A bit confused, I was interrupted by another customer. "I am on that diet, too," she told me. I did not know how she knew what diet I was on, only to realize that my Paleo cookbook was loosely hanging on my shopping cart handle. I was so excited to meet someone else who was also doing the diet. She said, "I know the coconut oil looks odd, but it melts as soon as you drop it on the pan. Sunflower oil is also great for frying". Then, she offered me the best advice I could have asked for..."You should go to Green Life Market on Rt. 23 N...if you go in there and mention paleo, the guys won't let you touch anything that isn't!" With that statement, I thanked her, and ran out of TJ's on to my next stop. 

Green Life Market is way farther down Rt. 23 N than I had expected, but it was worth it. I don't think I have ever come across a market that offers so much produce and products that fit into a healthy/diet lifestyle! The guys introduced me to one of their coworkers Julie, who was a Paleo expert. She showed me everything I needed to see. Among the presentations were Paleo Pizza crust, Super Green Guacamole, Almond Thins, Coconut Bread, and Colby Jack Goat Cheese. As I looked around while Julie wrote down some websites to go to, I was simply astounded by the variety of healthy foods that were available. From fresh nut butter to fermented tea to "breakfast balls" (dates, almond butter, cranberries, chia seeds), they had everything under the sun.  As Julie rang me up, she offered me some tips:

• Be really strict during your first 30 days
• No soy milk...it's a legume AND it can increase your risk for breast cancer if it is in your family history
• No flavored seltzer...flavor with citrus instead (lemon/lime)
• If you're on a budget, stick to meat and veggies
• Use date sugar instead of granulated or brown sugar (or honey/maple syrup)

I wanted to share with you some of my purchases...so far, I am really loving them!

• Organic Coconut Butter (plan to use a bit of it with blanched hazelnuts and 85% dark chocolate to make "Not Nutella" (Quick & Easy Paleo Comfort Foods by Julie and Charles Mayfield)
• Almond Thins (made of almond flour, flax, and spices)...perfect for dipping into guacamole 
• Miracle Noodle Angel Hair (Zero Calories, Soy Free, Gluten Free, Cholesterol Free, Vegan)...some say nothing in life is for free so I am a bit dubious; although, Julie said they were amazing! I have yet to try them but will let you know
• For dessert: Miracle Tart (Chocolate Raw Almond Butter...made with coconut oil)...it's amazing! I have one little pie piece at a time (it's the size of a homemade cupcake top)...really satisfies my sweet tooth. 
• Super Green Guacamole: The usual with the addition of spinach and something else that starts with a s (I'm so sorry, I can't remember!)
• Organic Lemon Super Cookies (organic coconut, sprouted organic sesame seeds, organic dates, organic lemon oil): These are not bad...I don't think they can replace Girl Scout Lemon Coolers...but they will have to do! These Gluten Free, Wheat Free, and Nut Free cookies are in really small rounds so it is easy to portion control. 

I must also share with you the websites Julie suggested I go to. I have not fully explored these websites, but from the cursory glances, they look quite awesome! PaleOMG seems to be humorous as well! Anyways here is what she gave me:

Check Out:

Google these blogs!

• Mark's Daily Apple
• PaleOMG (side note [by Arlene]: She writes about Mindy Project in one of her posts...SOLD.)
• Nomnompaleo

Read!

Chris Kresser: "Personal Paleo Code" (It's new and amazing!)

Websites for Food

• Steve's Paleo Goods

Restaurants!

Hu Kitchen (Manhattan)

GREEN LIFE MARKET! (Butler, NJ)

Lastly, the Tortilla-less Soup turned out to be really tasty! I think the key was the fresh lime and cilantro. I must admit I am a salta-holic (which is no ally to the Paleo diet)....so I might have added a dash (or three!) to the broth. I'm working on it!

As I end this post, I can tell you that I am six pounds lighter (from when I started)! Although many say you lose 15 pounds in two weeks on the Paleo Diet, I am in no hurry (well, until April...for my cousin, Ania's wedding in London!)

Cheers!

Arlene

Introduction

Hello all!

My name is Arlene and about a week ago, I decided to start the Paleo(lithic) Diet. Why? Well, I had been attending Personal Trainer sessions two times a week, substitute teaching for Zumba in four gyms, and going to the gym on my own for cardio for about 3 months...yet, I struggled to lose weight because of my eating habits. Each time I met with my personal trainer (who is awesome by the way!), I guiltily confessed the food and drinks I consumed. At the end of every session, I would leave with a renewed sense of purpose and discipline. However, due to student teaching stress and other responsibilities, I would lose my focus and eat something way too unhealthy.

You see, food is one of my loves in life. I love to cook, bake, and eat! Nothing makes me happier than having my nana's sorpotel, spending time with all my siblings and parents while relishing my dad's famous steak and basmati rice, trying out a recipe from Paula Deen or Giada De Laurentiis, or grabbing a breakfast-for-dinner at a local diner. Dieting and eating healthy becomes a huge feat when food is such a joy. Food doesn't just satiate my appetite, but it satisfies my soul (maybe that's why they call it soul food...).

Anyways, back to why I chose the Paleo Diet. First off, I decided that I needed something clear cut. I did not want any gray areas that would allow me to bend the rules and do what was convenient for me. My plan to lose weight required a more strict design that would leave no wiggle room. Secondly, I love meat. I don't think I could ever be a vegetarian or even give up meat for Lent, like my father does. The Paleo diet allows for red meat, game, poultry, and pork. The diet prefers you choose grass-fed kinds. Thirdly, the Paleo diet has a long list of foods you CAN eat. Yes, you can't have dairy, gluten, wheat, legumes, refined salt and sugar, alcohol, and processed food and oils...but it is easy to overlook this when you are allowed to have eggs, seafood, avocado, coconut milk, beef, lamb, veggies and fruit (serve as carbs), honey, olive oil; the list goes on!

Another unofficial feature of the Paleo diet is that you can customize it to your lifestyle. For example, you are allowed to have certain types of cheese (in moderation) and bacon. However, because I really want to lose weight, I have decided to cut those out. I allow myself to have something off the list every so often, but it has to be in a very small amount. This means that once in a while, I will treat myself to one Hershey's kiss or nonfat Greek yogurt.

I will admit that there are challenges. Initially, I was so excited to take a step in the right direction, that I did not fully realize what I would be cutting out of my life. I am a bread-and-butter type of gal when going out to restaurants, a wheat-toast-with-butter fan at diners, and a cream-of-mushroom advocate for casseroles. You definitely need to be creative when thinking about meals you can eat. There is one issue that I worry about: when and if I stop doing the Paleo diet once I lose enough weight, will I gain all the weight back with the consumption of carbs and dairy? Another concern...how do I maintain a budget when the diet calls for organic foods and grass-fed meats? I think this is where my customizing comes in...while I will try to look for affordable unprocessed foods, I will also consider what is feasible.

My first step in pursuing this diet was to purchase a recipe book at my favorite place: Barnes and Noble. I chose an illustrated and user-friendly book called Quick & Easy Paleo Comfort Foods by Julie and Charles Mayfield. Since then, I have made delicious (bun-less) lamb burgers with rosemary, oregano, and mint. I am planning to make Tortilla-less Soup today, hoping it will last me several days.


With a craving for meatloaf and a plan to use the food in the fridge, I created a sort of turkey bake on Saturday. I cooked ground turkey with yellow onions and red pepper flakes. Meanwhile, I baked turkey bacon with a bit of brown sugar and maple syrup. Then, I made a bbq sauce which was inspired by Food Network's Neely's. It was a mix of ketchup, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, hot sauce, mustard, onion powder, and A1 sauce. I coated the turkey and onion with this concoction and then layered the turkey bacon on top. I then baked it for 20 minutes. While I don't think I will ever get used to the potent taste of ground turkey (to me, it's very turkey-ish), the bbq sauce kind of masked the ground turkey. It made for an excellent leftover the next day.

So, through this blog, I hope to share my achievements, challenges, struggles, and recipes with you. While I hope that friends and family read this, a main motive for doing this is to keep myself accountable. I genuinely want to stick to this diet and see results. Because of the Paleo diet and exercise (spin class, elliptical, personal training), I have lost 3 pounds so far. Not a lot, but it's a start!

Wish me luck!

Sincerely,
Arlene