Thursday, January 21, 2010

Is This "Good" For Me!?

As, I mentioned previously, I decided to experiment with Paleo back in September (2009). I love to cook and have an equally matched passion for "healthy" eating, so after reading a little background on the "diet" I decided to give it a go. After just a few weeks of clean eating, I was hooked and decided to make this a part of my everyday routine. With that being said, I knew that I wouldn't be satisfied with a plate of meat/seafood and vegetables on a daily basis...so, I decided that I would create/recreate a few recipes to keep my taste buds stimulated.

I make an effort to eat a variety of fresh vegetables, choose only wild seafood, organic, free-range meat, and most recently Omega-3, cage-free eggs. I try to limit my fruit and nut intake (I do notice a negative change in my skin when I consume too many nuts) and only on occasion do I eat a food item outside of what would normally be recommended. I am able to do this because I have mixed in some variety and because the food that I'm eating tastes good and makes me feel/perform better.

With that being said, I was creating an alternative to corn tortilla chips for a fellow CrossFitter gone Paleo and came up with this recipe. My husband and toughest critic, Scott, gave them his seal of approval so I sent them to the gym for a test run. But before he left he asked, "So...this is good for me!?". To this I responded, "No. They're not good for you, but they're not bad for you...if eaten in moderation"...the keyword, "Moderation". Many nuts and seeds are packed with good fats, vitamins, and nutrients, when consumed "sparingly". Just as fruits, carrots, beets, and other higher-glycemic food items should be consumed sparingly, if at all, sometimes when you're craving something sweet, I'm thinking it better to eat a sweet, crunchy carrot or apple, rather than a highly-processed candy bar...

So, the points I'm trying to make are these:
  1. Think of it as a lifestyle change, not a "diet.
  2. Know that if this is a drastic change from your usual way of eating, you are likely to experience "detox"-like side effects...stick with it!
  3. Don't think that just because you're not eating "junk", you can consume primarily fruits and nuts (i.e. Paleo Muffins, Paleo Waffles, Paleo Bread, and Paleo Chips) and experience positive results...these food creations are great treats, but should be consumed as such...a "treat".
  4. Get creative and think of the many food items you can enjoy, not the items you can't have.
  5. Read this and listen to your body.

1 comment:

jencereghino said...

Sort of...I feel a little differently, in that I don't feel if you are going to incorporate Paleo (or "clean") eating into your daily life (not simply for a 30+ day "Challenge"), it has to be an all or nothing approach. I think that for most "Westernized" eaters, an incremental "cleansing" is necessary, and that as with CrossFit, or any other intense workout program, you don't just throw someone who's never worked out into "Fran" RXd and expect them to be able to accomplish it, not experience negative side effects, and then stick with the program.

Scott, for example, has seen great improvements by following the Paleo guidelines, but still chooses to incorporate dairy into his diet. This is a HUGE change in his once highly-processed eating habits, and one that works for him. I chose to eliminate all recommended foods and will occasionally eat foods not normally recommended. This is what works for us.

I want my food to nourish/fuel me, but I also want to have fun preparing it and eating it (desires I assume that the "cavemen" didn't share). The message that I was trying to convey was similar in that I don't feel that these "Paleo" food items (or mass quantities of fruit in place of vegetables, for that matter) should be consumed on a regular basis, but I disagree in that I feel they can be a creative and flavorful way to incorporate/introduce this lifestyle into your life and to share alternatives with others.

So, with that being said, I do my best to eat within the Paleo guidelines (and am feeling amazing because of it) and will continue to do so, but on occasion I want to get a little more creative in the kitchen...so, I do. You have to do what works for you and enjoy it, if you are going to stick with it.

Thanks for the link and the comments BJ!

BTW...my grandparents used to buy those exact "cigarettes" for the grandkids...yeah, nice.