The Paleo Journey....

I am still hanging in on my new diet journey!!! Here are few photos of meals this week:

From Everyday Paleo:

Chicken Paleo “Sandwich”

2 giant portobello mushrooms, stems and gills (underside of the cap) removed

1 cup cooked chicken, shredded

1/4 cup grilled onions

3 slices bacon

1 cup fresh arugula

2 tbsp Paleo Mayo

2 tbsp olive oil

In a large skillet heat the olive oil and add the mushrooms, starting with the caps up. Cook on each side for about 5 minutes, until the mushroom softens and starts to turn golden on top. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and slather each side with the paleo mayo, pile on the chicken, onions, bacon and arugula, put the two mushrooms together like a sandwich and dig in. Of course the possibilities are endless with this sandwich idea – my next one will probably be turkey, avocado, and cucumber!!

Paleo Spaghetti:
ingredients for sauce:
1 lb ground beef
1/4 lb ground heart (optional)
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 14 oz can diced or crushed fire roasted tomatoes
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
2 tsp dried oregano
pinch of dried rosemary, optional
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes
1 tsp sea salt

Heat the olive oil and brown the ground beef, onions, and garlic over medium heat. Add all the remaining ingredients. Bring to a bubble, partially cover and simmer on low heat for 35 minutes.

ingredients for "noodles":
1 medium spaghetti squash

Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Put in a microwave safe container, cover, and cook on high for 10 minutes in the microwave. Leave covered for 10 minutes. Remove squash and string with a fork.

If you don't want to use the microwave (this is one of the few things I actually microwave because it's so much easier than the alternative), I would recommend steaming over roasting for this particular dish.

Veggies and Salmon cooked in coconut oil, with pepper, and I squeezed some lemon on it :)

Going Paleo....

I am easing my way into the Paleo Lifestyle.. Here is what is for dinner tonight:

Spice Rub Crock Pot Chicken

1 5-6 lb free range organic chicken - giblets removed, rinsed, and patted dry with paper towels

1 white onion sliced

1 tsp sea salt (optional)

2 tsp paprika

1 tsp cayenne

1 tsp white pepper

1 tsp poultry seasoning

1 tsp garlic powder

Cover the bottom of the crock pot with the sliced onions. Mix all spices in a small bowl and then rub the spice mixture all over the whole chicken. Place the spiced chicken on top of the onions in the crock pot, cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours (depending on your crock pot). No need for any liquid, the chicken will cook in it’s own juices. Make sure you spoon the onions and a little bit of the juices over the chicken when you serve it. I served my chicken with our favorite brussel sprouts, steamed for 5 minutes and then sauteed with a little olive oil, dried dill, garlic powder, and pepper.

Enjoy!

This is from Everyday Paleo by Sarah Fragoso ...
Might I add this has been a great resource and wonderful cookbook as I am learning and embracing this new way of eating.. More to come..

What is Paleo? Why am i doing this?

Here is the basics:

From Robb Wolf's FAQ:

The Paleo diet is simple yet remarkably effective for fat loss and halting or preventing a number of degenerative diseases. To reap the benefits of the most effective nutritional strategy known, one need simply build meals from the following:
•Lean proteins (ideally) grass fed meat, free range fowl and wild caught fish
•Seasonal fruits and vegetables
•Healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, and coconut oil

Our 30 day challenge is the true test of the Paleo diet. Regardless of your fitness or health goals, you WILL look, feel and perform your best on the Paleo diet. Give it a shot and let us know how you do.

For most people the fact the Paleo diet delivers the best results is enough. Improved blood lipids, weight loss and reduced pain from autoimmunity is proof enough. Many people however are not satisfied with blindly following any recommendations, be they nutrition or exercise related. Some folks like to know WHY they are doing something. Fortunately, the Paleo diet has stood not only the test of time, but also the rigors of scientific scrutiny
http://robbwolf.com/faq/

Why am I doing this? This diet is known for working wonders in MS!!

Autoimmunity by Robb Wolf!

Autoimmunity is a process in which our bodies own immune system attacks “us.” Normally the immune system protects us from bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. The immune system identifies a foreign invader, attacks it, and ideally clears the infection. A good analogy for autoimmunity is the case of tissue rejection after organ donation. If someone requires a new heart, lung kidney or liver due to disease or injury, a donor organ may be an option. The first step in this process is trying to find a tissue “match”. All of us have molecules in our tissues that our immune system uses to recognize self from non-self. If a donated organ is not close enough to the recipient in tissue type the immune system will attack and destroy the organ. In autoimmunity, a similar process occurs in that an individuals own tissue is confused as something foreign and the immune system attacks this “mislabeled” tissue. Common forms of autoimmunity include Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, and Vitiligo to name only a tiny fraction of autoimmune diseases. Elements of autoimmunity are likely at play in conditions as seemingly unrelated as Schizophrenia, infertility, and various forms of cancer. Interestingly, all of these seemingly unrelated diseases share a common cause: damage to the intestinal lining which allows large, undigested food particles to make their way into the body. This is called “leaky gut and the autoimmune response”


So it's not easy nor will it be fun when I crave sugar, gluten, and other things I can't eat.. but eventually I will feel better and not want it anymore! I have included my first paleo meal I cooked :