I love the above quote. I also love the idea of doing the best with what you have at that moment in time. I'd say that we all do our best right to be healthy and do our best to dish up healthy food for our loved ones? Since I started my little blogging lifestyle a week ago, god was it only a week ago, it feels like forever, I have had such awesome positive response and the number one question I have been asked is 'where do I start?' Primal lifestyle encompass exactly that, the lifestyle, but it seems that the easiest and quickest way to make improvements starts with food.
So I've been giving it some thought and I've come up with these three ideas for you and which ever one sings to you the most, do that one. One of my Perth friends B messaged me to say that after reading my blog she feels inspired to start a detox. B had been on a low calorie low fat diet plan, lost 15 kilos (wowee) but is slowly putting the weight back on, having constipation, getting headaches and generally feeling like she wants to boost her body up again. I loved the way B said she is "all up for a healthier way but [I] don't want to get all freaky if you know what I mean". I totally get that. If you have a generally healthy lifestyle and want to make some gentle small improvements try this slow and steady approach:
Slow & Steady & not at all freaky ideas:
- avoid food with an advertisement
- avoid food that comes in a packet
- avoid anything low fat
- avoid fast food and processed food such as chips, crackers and rice cakes due to their high content of dangerous trans fats, processed or rancid fats, excess carbs and chemical additives
- eat seasonally, shop locally
- buy whole food (think normal stuff like carrots and celery as opposed to chia seeds and mesquite!)
- swap to cheaper cuts of grass fed organic meat or free range meat
- swap to grass fed organic dairy or raw dairy (hunt around, it's out there)
- when in a supermarket , shop the outside aisles e.g. the fresh produce
- stick to the "Clean Fifteen" when shopping and avoid the "Dirty Dozen" or buy them organic or try growing your own?
- eat more fat (grass fed butter, lard, tallow, ghee, coconut oil, olive oil, macadamia and walnut oil for example)
- limit stimulants such as coffee and avoid after mid day
- reduce alcohol or switch to GF beer and organic preservative free wine
- ditch refined sugar
- quit smoking (duh)
There are a few other suggestions around lifestyle worthy of a post of their own but that gives you a few ideas that may bring some benefit to your life and that you may feel like having a bash at?
Moderate & a bit freaky ideas:
Ok this is for you if you have heard some of the benefits of the paleo/primal lifestyle and keen to try them but quitting grog, cakes and the odd slice of bread is a deal breaker for you and the family. This is also a good one if you have kids and need to serve up 'normal' food that will actually be consumed. This is sort of where we are now as a family. We've found a middle ground of 'hey we can live like this forever now and not feel like we can't eat out or socialise ever ever again'. Stick to the suggestions outlined above but go one step further and
- ditch wheat and never look back. Wheat is a majorly genetically modified frankengrain and not necessary for good health. For more info you could read Wheat Belly. In fact you can ditch all the 'healthy wholegrains".
- reduce gluten, there are loads of wholesome gluten free alternatives out there, don't do what I did at first and buy gluten free stuff in packets, its full of crap and may make you fat and diabetic! Stayed tuned for pimped up 'normal' recipes such as spag bol and rogan josh. If you love bread, try a spelt sourdough, the fermenting process greatly reduces the gluten content. I have a recipe coming...
- reduce grains such as rice and oats, try cauliflower rice instead of rice for example
- be happy with an 80/20 approach and enjoy life
Life changing and full on freaky stuff
Maybe your lifestyle is making you sick, like mine was. If so I recommend you consult a professional ideally natural therapist such as a naturopath to help guide you through this rather massive shift in eating habits. Also if you have a medical condition such as diabetes, consult with someone in the know first. If you are feeling gross, at the end of your tether, or are feeling super motivated and up for challenge:
- do the whole30 click the link read all about it and the book It Starts With Food is a great insight into food and what it really does to us
- follow a paleo lifestyle which involves eliminating GRAIN, LEGUMES, DAIRY, SUGAR & ALCOHOL
- give Sarah Wilson's I Quit Sugar 8 week plan a try
Which one will you chose I wonder?
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