Paleo Cookbook For Dummies (29 page)
Read Paleo Cookbook For Dummies Online
Authors: Kellyann Petrucci
Veggie loafs
Veggie “sausage” links
Responding to doubters and naysayers
“People think I'm crazy for eating this way. What do I tell them?” It stupefies me that people think it's “weird” that your diet consists of real foods. Yet processed, denatured frankenfoods made up of scary, unpronounceable stuff are the norm, so you'll probably have to deal with someone in your life questioning your food choices.
Nothing can make you feel more deflated than when you start getting in the swing of living Paleo and are ambushed with negativity about being on some “strange diet kick.” The best way to diffuse all the pressure surrounding the issue of your food choices is to remain positive, smile when approached, and most importantly, be grounded in why you're doing what you're doing. You're not going to carry any influence whatsoever if you get preachy, frustrated, or annoyed at people coming head to head with you.
Living Paleo is a new paradigm for a lot of people, and adjusting to this mindset takes time. Holding back when you're really excited about something is tough, I know. But let people come to you when they're ready. The best thing you can do is provide people with your walking testimonial of transformation. When you start looking and feeling your best, don't be surprised if the same people razzing you are the same people that come up to you and say, “How do I start with this Paleo thing?” You can practically set your watch to it. Let your improved lab results or athletic performance, changed appearance, and your renewed energy be the topic of discussion. Talk about the amazing foods you get to eat and how Paleo cooking has gotten you back in the kitchen.
Remember:
Tread very lightly when backing up your food choices to others by citing “the science behind Paleo.” You had better know your stuff like nobody's business because someone is bound to pull out a counterargument based on her view on science, and, well, these discussions can get ugly.
I love the "Nutrition in 60 Seconds" pitch that Dallas and Melissa Hartwig ofhttp://whole9life.comcame up with in their book
It Starts With Food
(Victory Belt Publishing). Check out this fantastic elevator pitch and see whether it resonates with you:
“We eat real food â fresh, natural food, like meat, vegetables, and fruit. We choose foods that are nutrient-dense, with lots of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, over foods that have more calories but less nutrition. And food quality is important â we are careful about where our meat, seafood, and eggs come from, and we buy organic, local produce as often as possible.
“This is not a âdiet' â we eat as much as we need to maintain strength, energy, and a healthy body weight. We aim for well-balanced nutrition, so we eat both plants and animals. We get all the carbohydrates we need from vegetables and fruits, while healthy fats like avocado, coconut, and olive oil provide us with another excellent source of energy.
“Eating like this allows us to maintain a healthy metabolism and keeps our immune system in balance. It's good for body composition, energy levels, sleep quality, mood, attention span, and quality of life. It helps eliminate sugar cravings and reestablishes a healthy relationship with food. It also works to minimize our risk for most lifestyle-related diseases and conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and autoimmune conditions.”
I have intestinal issues, and vegetables bother me. Can I still do the Reset?
Yes! You just need to modify a bit until your intestinal strength builds up. Low-grade intestinal ailments such as bloating, discomfort, or gas are often a signal that you need to nourish and rebuild your intestinal wall. You may have to cook your vegetables thoroughly, at least until your body transitions. You want all the fiber content the veggies provide, but you also want to almost predigest them as much as possible by chopping them into small pieces and chewing them well. Adding veggies to slow cooker dishes, soups, or stews also makes the produce easier to digest. Hold off on the raw vegetables until your body's intestinal walls start to heal and fresh, healthy cells start moving in. Eat very little fruit (raw or cooked) until your body has fully transitioned into its healing phase. Stay away from dried fruit altogether for a few months until your intestines have the digestive strength.
If you have a more serious condition such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a few foods may cause these inflammatory intestinal conditions to become irritated. Apply the same suggestions for cooking and eating vegetables in the preceding paragraph. You may also want to avoid any fruit that you can't peel because the exterior of the fruit may cause too much roughage for your body to handle until the healing phase gains traction.
You should also avoid nuts, seeds, and all nut butters, especially if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulosis, or similar inflammatory disorders. The size and shape of the nuts and seeds are very irritating to inflammatory pockets in the gut.
I have an autoimmune disease. Can I do the Reset?
Yes. If you have an autoimmune disease â such as MS, colitis, arthritis, Crohn's disease, diabetes, psoriasis, lupus, Graves' disease, or alopecia â many Paleo foods can naturally and dramatically reduce inflammation and any symptoms you may have.
However, some of the Paleo-approved foods may be a bit irritating to you, so listen to your body and remove the following if necessary:
⢠Eggs (whole and egg whites)
⢠Nightshade foods: tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, and spicy foods or spices â curry powder, crushed red pepper, chili powder, cayenne, and so on
⢠All dairy products (including clarified butter or ghee)
⢠Nuts and seeds
I have a chronic disease. Can I do the Reset?
Any chronic disease, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, or blood sugar issues, is perfectly suited for resetting for a Paleo diet.
The only dietary modification here is in the case of people with diabetes. Please go slowly. Give your body time to adjust to the changes and recalibrate. Start transitioning by trading off one unhealthy meal (such breakfast) for a healthier Paleo meal and work your way up to all three meals and snacks. Be sure to create balanced meals, and make sure you are getting enough food.
I highly recommend that you work closely with a health care provider who knows you and your situation. Talk to her before you even start so you can work together as a team to adjust your insulin dose or oral medication to accommodate your new eating habits. You'll find you're going to amaze the entire office!
