Ok, so after one week on Paleo, I figured it's about time for an update. To catch up those who aren't following, Kevin and I are trying to go Paleo for 30 days. We have a Paleo guide/ cook book. It has a 30 day meal plan for any dietary needs. We picked the 30 day meal plan for digestive health. We started on Sunday the 12th after we got back from Mexico. After the first day, Kevin noticed more differences than I did. But both of us felt a little bit better. Honestly though, there haven't been too many significant changes (probably because these diet changes aren't too different from what we were already eating). My completion seems slightly better but I don't really feel any more energized. I do however miss chocolate.
So, after a week, Kevin and I started discussing what changes would be permanent. The reality for us is that paleo is pretty strict and not always conducive to our life style. It's hard being out and about and still eating. It is also difficult since on Tuesday nights our Small Group has dinner together and Wednesday nights we have dinner with our community group. And since most people don't really read the ingredients list in their food (and you kind of sound like a tool when you ask), this becomes challenging. And we aren't really ready to be the people that bring food every where. The other issue is that as much as I love cooking, I am not a fan of cooking 2-3 meals per day. We are both in agreement that cereal makes mornings much easier. And I am not a huge fan of no nights off from cooking.
I have also been having some stomach issues that makes me think I might be allergic to something in our new diet... I mean... lifestyle. Most likely I think it is eggs but I am not sure. Time will tell, but something is making me feel nauseous after eating every now and again.
So for a more permanent solution, Kevin and I have decided that our best decision is probably going to be to go mostly paleo and continue in our regular pattern of slowly evolving our diet to eating better over time. Once this 30 days is up, we are planning to allow organic cereal back into our mornings and to be more lenient in our "cheating" to the tune of about once a day, though trying not to make it a whole meal, just a portion. We are hoping that over time, just as it has already happened, foods that make us feel bad get omitted. It's not that we don't think Paleo is a good choice, we just aren't in a place to fully commit.
But most importantly, we are planning on doing an allergy test and optimal nutrition evaluation. We want to make sure we cut out any foods we are allergic to, and adding back things we are missing. We think it is probably the best start to actually changing our diet to meet our health needs. On another note, this is one of my new favorite desserts.
I call it...
Orange Dreamsicle Sorbet
Ingredients:
10 peaches (approx)
1/2 cup Orange Juice
1 teaspoon vanilla (shout out to +Jordan Wiley for the idea)
2 teaspoons of honey (optional)
Directions: Blend in a food processor (I use my nutri-bullet). Freeze or eat immediately. Approx 1 serving. (Note: The goal with Paleo is to avoid processed and refined foods. Try to stay as natural as possible with your ingredients if you are trying to maintain Paleo too!)