Update on the Paleo Experiment

I haven't updated this blog in a very long time. Between traveling to Ireland, wrapping up a job at a restaurant, focusing on interviews for an internship and schoolwork, life has been beyond hectic.

First off, Ireland. Talk about a land of potatoes and pub food - it's yummy comfort food, but after a few traditional dishes, I was more than happy to have a night of sushi and a night of Korean food. I had some Guinness and Kilkanney while I was there, and it was all fine and fabulous, but I also snacked on Lara Bars, beef jerky and fruits when available. Traveling and staying paleo is incredibly difficult (especially when scrounging in hostels while backpacking), but I managed fairly well and still had indulgent meals while traveling. There was one time, though, when I was just so excited to have a hamburger - I was really craving red meat.

But even though things have been hectic, that doesn't mean that I've given up on my paleo ways. Absolutely not! I've managed to create a sort of set eating schedule, and find ways to afford my meat-centered diet. I've made modifications to the paleo diet slowly over the last few months, and it's been working well for me.

For one, I've been eating Ezekiel bread - so named because the recipe is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ezekiel. He lived on it in the desert for something like 2 years (my Old Testament knowledge is a bit fuzzy on some things). It's completely lower-GI and made with no artificial ingredients.

http://www.foodforlife.com/sprouted-grain-difference/ezekiel-4-9.html

My mom complains that it goes bad too fast, but I don't have that problem with it. I've been making sandwiches with it and taking them to school with me every day - I go through a loaf in about a week. I've also re-introduced peanut butter into my diet, and I buy the Trader Joe's all natural nothing-added chunky kind. Combined with either organic preserves or organic raw honey, it makes a great sandwich. I'll admit, at first, the bread took a bit of getting used to (different tastes, textures from other breads) but now I've come to like it. And it's really helped me with my budget - eating two meals a day centered around meat was just killing me at the grocery store.

So basically, when I leave home every day in the mornings, I pack a sandwich, a piece of fresh fruit (usually an apple), some dried fruit, sometimes a banana and a Lara Bar. Between 10 am and 5 pm, this is what I eat.

I've also started switching breakfast and dinner. What exactly does that mean? It means that I eat the bulk of my protein and calories by 8 AM in the morning. I've only been doing this for a few weeks, but I love it. Since I only eat a little fruit and a small bit of protein for dinner, by the time I wake up in the morning, I'm hungry. Since I eat protein and veggies for breakfast, instead of carbs and sugar, I haven't needed caffiene or apple cider at all recently to get a pick-me-up. My energy levels stay fairly consistent throughout the day.

So, just a small recap - here's an average day:

Breakfast: 8 oz steak, steamed green beans, organic milk.
Lunch/Snacks: PB&H Ezekiel bread sandwich, dried fruits, apple, banana, Lara Bar
Dinner: Orange, Mango, Kiwi and Strawberry Smoothie with Organic Egg White Powder

The problem is, sometimes for dinner you really are more hungry. I'll have another apple or a small piece of cheese to tide me over until morning, but I really try to go to bed on a mostly empty stomach. I find that I sleep better, and I have an easier time getting up in the morning, because I really want my breakfast!

Knock on wood, but re-introducing any of these foods into my diet hasn't brought back the horrible headaches or problems with my feet, etc. I even have the occasional glass of wine or cup of coffee if the afternoon has been particularly long and tiring. I've found some herbal teas that I like every now and then. In short, I'd say I'm about 70% strict paleo, 20% modified paleo, and 10% cheater-non-paleo (for those nights when I really, really want Thai food or a small box of Hot Tamales). It's working - I feel good, I'm maintaining a healthy weight, and that's the point, right?