Category Archives: Food

It’s Friday, would you like some crack?

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The end of the week…Friday, in offices all across the country, there are muffins, bagels and donuts galore. For some stereotypical reason, because we’ve survived the hectic week, we feel we should reward ourselves with this crap.

Here’s another plug for Wheat Belly (see: http://wp.me/p2zSoO-45) for those that haven’t read it yet, but genetically modified grains (thanks Norman Borlaug!) today, have the same effect on your dopamine receptors in your brain as, heavy drugs, which is why we can’t quit consuming them.

Would you like some crack with your coffee this morning?

Paleo ABC’s…or 123’s…

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Here are a couple easy to read Paleo charts and links, that make the Paleo Lifestyle seem a little less overwhelming 🙂

A simple (yet sarcastic) flow chart you can follow with yes or no answers, and interesting insight into the lifestyle: http://www.hivehealthmedia.com/three-simple-steps-to-surviving-the-paleo-diet/

Of course the “whole grain” free pyramid and Sara’s take on the Paleo Lifestyle (look at those fabulous food photos!):http://nourish-and-flourish.net/2012/03/penpals-and-the-paleo-diet/

And a simple graphic of what our plates should look like:It really is not tough, and one thing that I’ve learned through experience is the fewer the ingredients (which makes it easy-peasy!), the more flavorful the dish.

 

Grains…and Skin

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I’m not that excited about posting crappy photos of myself, but it helps make a point, and I’m happy to share so others can see.

Among the many other benefits I’ve realized by removing all grains from my diet (all, not just grains that contain gluten), is clear skin. Not random clear skin, but reliable, consistent clear skin. My neck and chin used to break out so bad, and I’d ask various doctors when I’d see them, the answer was always “well, you’re in your 30’s now, and hormones are changing, etc.” Great, getting older rocks! I thought I was doomed, but quickly realized after removing grains, they were apparently more of a problem for my skin than I knew.

Before (yuck! although, I do love me some kitten kisses):

After:

 

Friday Food Insight

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I’ve really been on a path of improving my health over the past year, which has included a lot of self education so I can make better choices for myself. Disclaimer: I post things like this, to share. Not to try to influence how others eat or make them feel bad about their choices, but to provide information that I’ve found helpful or insightful, in one easy, centralized location. Please don’t confuse my passion for food with criticism. What you decide to do with it, is totally up to you, and furthermore, if it really bothers you, don’t read it 🙂 As with everything, what I like or don’t like, what I eat or don’t eat, is up to me. Same for you. If nothing else, I help one person by sharing knowledge, then I consider that a win. My dad used to tell me with regard to attending business classes or seminars, etc. that if you walk away having learned just one thing, then it was beneficial. Same goes for here.

Here are some pretty interesting things I’ve learned about commercial food today (some might have duplicates, but they each contain unique items too):

10 Weird and Gross Ingredients in Processed Food: http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2009/05/08/10-weird-and-gross-ingredients-in-processed-food/

11 Revolting Things Government Lets in Your Food: http://www.radicalhippie.com/revoltingThings.html

7 Grossest Things in Your Food: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/grossest-things-food/story?id=16824388

18 Things Hiding in Your Food: http://www.cbsnews.com/8334-504763_162-57423146-10391704/gross-grub-18-ingredients-hiding-in-your-food/?tag=back

More concerning for me, are the long term affects this stuff has on our bodies-we weren’t meant to eat this stuff, plain and simple. I continue to be baffled by the lack of regulation and safety from governing bodies on the long term effects of consuming this stuff. Hence my self education.

What do I eat?

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Almost daily, I receive some sort of inquiry into what I eat, what I don’t eat, why I eat what I eat or don’t, recipe and cooking questions, how it affects my type 1 diabetes, etc. so, here is the simplified version for you:

I do eat:

  • Vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Eggs
  • Nuts
  • Oils
  • Meat
  • Seafood
  • Dark chocolate
  • Almond/coconut milk
  • Almond butter
  • Almond/coconut flour
  • Coffee
  • Raw butter/Ghee
  • Fresh herbs
  • Spices
  • Agave/Stevia in the Raw/Raw Turbinado

I don’t eat:

  • Peanuts
  • Corn
  • Beans
  • Rice
  • Soy
  • Pasta
  • Canola/corn/rapeseed oils
  • Yogurt/Cottage Cheese
  • Grain (no wheat, bulgur, rye, oats, etc.)
  • Candy
  • Sweeteners
  • Refined flours/sugars
  • Nothing in a box or with an ingredient list

Simply put, I live the paleo lifestyle. It has been a very slow progression of change over the last year or so, so as not to feel deprived when I remove/eliminate/substitute food. I do not diet. It is a lifestyle. My sister shared this link with me and it is an excellent resource in easily understanding the Paleo lifestyle: http://greatist.com/health/the-ultimate-guide-to-eating-paleo-022012/

What have I learned? What food does to my body, my skin, my hair, my digestive system, my weight, my type 1 diabetes, on and on. It has been fascinating and I’m really passionate about it. I read A LOT, and am always trying to educate myself on how I can be healthier and feel better.

I eat more food than I ever have in my life, I’m constantly eating, and I am the leanest and most fulfilled I have ever been, but more important I feel the best I ever have. I am in no way starving, and while I eat a pretty “small” group of food, the options are endless. A lot of the comments and questions I’ve gotten have been, “wow, that’s an awful lot of food you’ve removed,” or, “what DO you eat?” Individuals seem to get overwhelmed by what I don’t eat, but I try to focus on what I do, and have taken it one step at a time. The first thing I eliminated was black beans-which I ate a lot of before. Then I moved on to corn, dairy, etc. Much to my surprise, the foods I thought would be most difficult, weren’t, and ones I thought wouldn’t be, were. Another learning experience!

Do I splurge? Absolutely. What I splurge on now is a little different than what I splurged on before. Are there times when I cave and eat something I don’t normally, of course! Am I 100% Paleo, 100% of the time? No.  But I sure try and I think that counts for a lot.

Real calories are different.