Paleo Foods

Tonight we lucked out and had some friends over for dinner.  As many who are living the Paleo Lifestyle soon learn, a lot of people don't understand all that is involved.  My buddy who likes to poke fun at Paleo, saw my food list I had made on my fridge door.  He started reading off the random things we can eat.  As we all laughed about the silly combinations we can make up, it made me think about how much this list helped me when I first started.  So I thought I would share it!

The food pyramid shows how a Paleo lifestyle balances the amounts of different foods.  The list below is a quick laundry list of what you can eat...there are a lot of things missing.  It has really helped me plan out meals.

Hope this helps you!

MEAT


Branzini    Chuck Steak     Halibut
    
Red snapper



Salmon     Scallops          Swordfish
    Abalone

Bass
     Bluefish     Chicken     Clams

Cod     Crab     Crayfish     Eggs

Extra Lean Hamburger     Flank Steak

Game Hen     Goat meat     Herring    Lean veal

Lobster     London broil     Mussels
     Oysters

Pork     Rabbit meat     Rockfish     Sardines

Shark     Shellfish     Shrimp     Striped bass

Tilapia 
Trout
     Top Sirloin Steak
     Tuna
    Turkey breast




FRUITS

Avocado
    Apple     Apricot     Banana

Blackberries     Blueberries     Boysenberry     Cantaloupe

Carambola     Cherimoya     Cherries     Cranberries

Guava     Gooseberries     Grapefruit      Grapes

Honeydew     Kiwi     Lemon      Lime


Lychee     Mango     Nectarine     Orange

Papaya     Passion Fruit     Peaches     Pears

Persimmon     Pineapple    Plums     Pomegranate

Raspberries    Rhubarb     Tangerine     Watermelon

VEGETABLES

Artichoke     Asparagus     Peppers     Parsley

Seaweed    Beet     Broccoli    Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage    Carrots
    Cauliflower    Celery

Collards
    Cucumber     Dandelion     Eggplant

Endive     Green Onions      Kale     Lettuce

Mushrooms    Mustard Greens     Parsnip
      Pumpkin


Purslane
     Radish      Rutabaga
     Spinach

Squash (all kinds)     Swiss Chard     Tomatillos      Tomato

Turnip Greens      Sweet Potatoes     Leeks

NUTS AND SEEDS


Almonds     Brazil Nuts     Cashews      Chestnuts

Hazelnuts      Macadamia Nuts      Pecans      Pine Nuts

Pistachios (unsalted)     Pumpkin Seeds     Sesame Seeds

Sunflower Seeds    Walnuts

Paleo Brownies

Today is Ash Wednesday and I keep reading about people looking for something to give up for Lent.  What are you giving up for Lent? What about going Paleo for Lent?  It would be giving up something and doing something great for your body.  I think that I if I came home today and told my partner that I was going to give up something for lent this year, he may have a little problem with it.  Because if I give up something that would mean he would have to too.  I’m not one who can have something in the house and not eat it.  So all of the tempting yummy foods I see have to stay at the grocery store.

 The first time I made this recipe below it was to bring into work for a side by side Paleo vs Non-Paleo brownie treat.  I had tried not to buy cocoa powder before because I knew once I did, the chocolate treats would start coming.  I’m very proud of myself, I have not resorted to mixing the cocoa powder with everything.  We are still fairly new on the Paleo lifestyle and my chocolate cravings are not always the easiest to manage.

Paleo Brownies

½ cup unsweetened applesauce  or 1/4 melted coconut oil (I use oil)

½ cup high-quality cocoa powder

2 Eggs

1/2 cup light agave nectar

1/2 cup raw honey

1 cup almond meal or flour 

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

¼ teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or 1 teaspoon vanilla plus 2 teaspoons peppermint extract)

Optional: ½ cup chopped macadamia nuts or chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In one mixing bowl, whisk the eggs until lighter in color. Add the other liquid ingredients to this bowl. In a second mixing bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Mix.  If you are adding nuts or chocolate chips, mix them in at the end. Pour into lined baking pan. Pick up the pan and drop forcefully on the counter or table 3-4 times. This gets the air bubbles out of the batter.  Bake in the center of a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the brownies are set. I use a muffin tin so they are easier to pack for lunches, bake 8-12 minutes.

Introduction

I started a Paleo Plan challenge one month as a way to help my partner learn to eat healthier and live a cleaner lifestyle.  I also benefitted greatly by the new way of eating.  Now we are hooked!  The first month though, our grocery bill was TRIPLE want we normally spent.  I was shocked with how expensive Paleo could be.  I started to research ways people saved money while living a Paleo lifestyle.  I didn't see exactly what I was looking for and I was starting to be concerned we couldn’t afford to stay eating Paleo.  Yet over the last few weeks, I have found a way to stay on a budget and afford this way of eating.  I am incredibly excited to share these simple techniques with people and hopefully you will share yours with me.