Yay! It’s Friday! My little brother is getting married in T-32 hours. I am officially old. Welcome to all the new folks! I’m so excited you are interested in Paleo. Browse around the site and look in the archives for answers to all of your Paleo questions.
I’ve been a little bit of everywhere over the past few weeks, from a week-long youth conference to South Carolina and back, life has been hectic to say the least. I have, however, stayed Paleo. Why? Because other food just isn’t “worth it.” It’s not worth the way it makes me feel. It’s not worth the stomach pain, constipation, and bloating. And it sure isn’t worth the temporary intense sweetness.
For your viewing pleasure today are some photos of stuff I eat and how you can make them too!
At Tennessee Teen Institute recently, my go-to snack every day was Justin’s Nut Butter – Maple Almond Butter and some dark chocolate squares. You can’t go wrong with this combination that satisfied my taste buds without throwing in the towel. These convenient to-go packages are available on Amazon.com for purchase or at Kroger’s in Paris if you are local.
Next, we traveled to South Carolina in 90 degree F heat both ways with no air conditioner, which is an interesting story for another time. Clint’s parents were ready and waiting for us, though, with a delicious meal straight from the garden!
I love love love how Clint’s parents are on-board with organic farming, raising beef on pasture and Paleo! It always helps when your family is cognizant of your dietary choices and supportive. One of the most difficult things about Paleo is either friends or family taking our dietary choices for our optimal health as a personal offense and refusing to support us. It makes us dread social gatherings involving food because you know you will get flack for making different choices. This is really a refusal on their part to allow you to live independent of their choices and respectful of your life and I am sorry that we have to go through this sometimes. It is the same with any change, though, whether diet, Christianity, or other lifestyle behaviors. I admire and support those of you who have made the commitment to eat for health and stay solid in the midst of constant criticism from your family and friends. Your results back up your decision and your community at Strong Solutions is here to support you!
I, too, faced such difficulties in the beginning, but they have lessened over time as my family sees that this is truly a lifestyle for us. And it means so much when my mom makes me a gluten-free birthday cake or my dad grills a gluten-free steak.
Some other scrumptious meals while in South Carolina! Grassfed steak from a wonderful farm we visited where I bought some fresh butter and raw grassfed milk, which is apparently legal to sale “for human consumption” in South Carolina as opposed to Tennessee. In the above picture, I’ve mixed a ton of cinnamon in with my raw milk.
I love dessert! When I eat dessert, I always make sure it is gluten-free because it’s better for my body!
Thanks to Laura for the gluten-free graham cracker recipe from www.livingwithout.com that I modified for ease and simplicity! If you know me, you know I like quick and simple recipes!
Cinnamon Gelato
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup raw or low-pasteurized milk (or just use cream)
- 3-4 egg yolks, slightly beaten
- 1/4-1/2 cup raw honey, maple syrup, or date sugar
- 2-3 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- Over medium heat, combine cream, milk, yolks, sugar and cinnamon in a saucepan. Whisk until thick. Add vanilla. Remove from heat and chill for 3-4 hours OR give an ice bath until cool. Put in ice cream maker and follow directions. Optional: let ripen (i.e., put in freezer) for 3-4 hours to harden. Serve and enjoy!
Almond Meal Graham Cracker Goodness!
- 2 1/4 cups almond meal
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. arrowroot powder
- stick of butter, sliced into pats
- 3 Tbsp. honey (optional)
- In a mixing bowl, mix dry ingredients well. Mix in butter by hand until evenly distributed and consistent throughout. Add honey and form into a ball. Put in fridge for 30 min. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Either between two pieces of wax paper or split two gallon size ziplog bags open, roll out dough until 1/4 inch thick or desired thickness. Remove top piece of covering carefully. Holding bottom piece, flip onto cookie sheet. Poke holes in dough with fork. Bake for 10-15 min or until brown. If edges start to burn, cover with tin foil. Allow to cool. Cut into squares. Enjoy! Note: goes especially well with the cinnamon gelato!
I don’t know about you, but none of these meals look boring or bland because Paleo ISN’T boring or bland. It’s colorful, flavorful and delicious!
What have you prepared lately?
Comment below!
I am confused I thought you said no corn. There is corn on the cob on that plate.
Hi Jan! Very observant! You are correct. I did say ‘no corn’ which is an important step for at least the first 30 days. This time allows your intestines and body to heal so you can “test” foods later on to see if you handle them well or not. Corn has similar intestine-irritating substances as wheat, not to mention the high starch factor.
What I often see, especially in the South, is people jump on board with Paleo, eat corn at every single meal for their “vegetables”, and then wonder why they are not experiencing results. To honestly give Paleo a real shot, it is very important to work the system for 30 days, cut out all poisonous foods, and see what happens.
The corn pictured is a “splurge” for me. While others cheat with ice cream, brownies or cake, I eat corn occassionally. As I mentioned in the post, we were traveling and visiting my in-laws. We were so excited that they were respectful of our dietary choices that an ear of corn is rather insignificant when it could have been breaded chicken, creamy gravy, and bread.
What you’ll find with Paleo is that there is flexibility between people. It’s not a rigid “you must do this or die” system (except for cutting out gluten grains and sugar). Instead, it is a lifestyle that enhances your life through making the best possible decisions for your health, your relief, and your body. For instance, I can handle beans every once in awhile, while I know some who cannot without severe pain.
Please don’t be discouraged at this statement! There are good reasons for ‘no corn’ but if you decide to stick with Paleo (which, of course, you should!), you’ll find there is a lot of freedom and lee-way!
Hope this helps! Please don’t hesitate to ask any other questions.
-Gerilyn
*** Anyone else have a comment or experience that you can share to help out? If so, please share!