Paleo Update: Top 3

First of all, let me apologize for my extended absence. I've been meaning to sit down and fill you in on this Paleo experience, I really have! Unfortunately, this combination of being busy, unable to pull my thoughts together, and guilty for cheating several times have kept me away. Shame, shame. There's my confession, so now let's get to the good stuff!

Sometimes Paleo sucks. There's really no other way to say it. Like I stated here, carbs are definitely one of my favorite things. Avoiding them (mostly) has been difficult. But thankfully, there are many talented cooks and bloggers eating grain and dairy free. I've relied heavily on their recipes to make this diet somewhat enjoyable. Three of our favorites so far have been this fish chowder (with a few alterations), this pumpkin chili, and this chocolate pudding! So, so good!

*Side note: this post is taking me FOREVER to write because I'm constantly having to stop to get this naughty pup off the couch!

You won't regret giving any of these recipes a try, regardless of your grain and dairy intake! They're all delicious! The chocolate pudding has more of a fudge-like consistency once refrigerated. It's amazing as a dip for strawberries! Happy Paleo eating! :)

Paleo

Fad diets are not my thing. Now get this: I am (reluctantly) ditching grains, legumes, sweets, and dairy for a Paleo diet of lean meat, nuts, eggs, fish, and tons of vegetables and fruit. This weekend, Hubby and I are starting a 30 day Paleo challenge at our CrossFit gym. We've been doing some research on this eating style, and we really like what we've been learning. Want to learn more? Others can definitely explain it better than I, so look here and here. In my opinion, Paleo isn't a fad diet because it's a lifestyle that can be kept for a lifetime. I'm all about a "diet" that lets me eat until I'm satisfied.

My reservations come from a strong love of all things sweet and packed with carbohydrates. No cereal or oatmeal? Seriously? Skipping cheese and yogurt is going to be difficult, too. I don't think I'll miss milk too much because I can still drink unsweetened vanilla almond milk, which is 10 times better than cow milk! I'm really excited to start this eating plan. This high-protein lifestyle is supposed to provide tons of energy, which meshes really well with CrossFit. Honestly, I'm still kind of skeptical that I'll be able to keep this up past the 30 days. But the nice thing is that occasional grains and dairy aren't going to kill me. The idea is to mix up the food pyramid. Paleo claims that meat, fish, and eggs belong at the base of the pyramid rather than carbohydrates like bread, grains, cereal and pasta.

What are your thoughts? Any wisdom from Paleo-eaters? Carb-lovers?