I admit when I first started Paleo, I had no clue what I was doing. I simply read what Paleo was and omitted the food groups that aren’t Paleo. Out went the breads, pastas, rice, processed foods and sugar.
I even omitted the healthy fats. At that time, I just didn’t know any better. I jumped right in without doing any substantial or worthy research.
My first menu items consisted of white chicken breast, lots of standard greens, a variety of tomatoes, egg plant and peppers. I didn’t eat butter or margarine, as I was still avoiding fat at this time because it was what I was always taught. The only fat I turned to was olive oil, and that was simply because I had heard such great things about what it would do for my health. Even then, I limited the amount I placed on my sides.
So, at that time, many of my meals consisted of white chicken breast, olive oil and some awfully prepared vegetables.
Did I mention, I have never really been a chef? My meals use to consist of canned goods such as soups, spaghetti o’s, frozen dinners, chicken pot pies and the occasional spaghetti or Asian-inspired rice dish.
And coffee. Always coffee – with sugar and creamer.
In short, I was completely lost and had no idea.
I did, however, feel a great difference, anyway, just from giving up the pastas, breads, sugars and rice.
But then, I started reading more about Paleo and educating myself just our of curiosity and the desire to find more recipes. Did I mention that I ate white chicken breast?
It was during my research that I began to enlighten myself about the wonderful variety of food options I really had available to me, and I was in awe.
Slowly, I began to add variety as I read more and more about Paleo and what it meant to follow the lifestyle. At times, when I am limited on time or fail to plan my meals, I tend to fall back on certain foods as my go-to’s but they include a wider variety than they once did.
And even as we speak, I am researching adding more variety as it is so important o ward off food boredom, ensure a variety of nutrient intake (oh, so important!) and ensure I don’t over or under-do any one nutrient.
I work hard to ensure my meals are nutritionally balanced in macro and micro nutrients.
If you’d like to know more, do some research, or just get in touch! I’d be happy to help you on your own Paleofied Journey!