Paleo: 5 Reasons You Should Try It
While it might not “break the internet” the same way, there’s still a lot of talk about the emerging Paleo community. I started incorporating Paleo recipes into my life about a year ago. Here are the reasons the average person, like me, ought to give it a go:
Recently I went off a long, strong Paleo kick for reasons of convenience due to a hand injury. Even though I didn’t go crazy buying processed food at the grocery store, I still picked up a few items here and there that were easy to make—and easy to open! My weekly grocery bill was about $15 to $20 more expensive than usual. You’d also be surprised how many meals you can get out of a cart with fruits and vegetables.
Paleo eliminates processed foods, but allows a wide variety of wholesome vegetables and fruits (among many, many other things) to choose from. I like to think since you’re “limited” on ingredients, you’re emancipated from a lot of processed easy-eating meals. Time management in the kitchen improves. If you’re eating fresh food, meal planning is inevitable—but a good thing. Paleo frittatas made ahead make hectic mornings a lot less stressful.
Some recipes are quick and easy to make, such as the two-ingredient breakfast pancakes. All you need to do is mash a banana, mix well with a beaten egg, and cook it in a pan—and it takes you all of 5 minutes. It would take at least twice as long to make pancakes from scratch or packaged batter. For me, the sooner I can eat breakfast, the better!
A few people in my life inspired me to try Paleo, and they all have one thing in common: they like to cook. More ingredient-diverse Paleo recipes introduced me to foods I never gave a chance, like beets. I’m eating more types of vegetables because I had to expand my palate. Many recipes are also vegetarian-friendly and conversely, you can eat (and modify as needed) many recipes out of a vegetarian cookbook. I can’t eat fish due to an allergy, but a glance at any Paleo fish recipe can make your mouth water (and mine break out in hives).
The popularity of Paleo means that technology needs to follow it. Paleo Nom Nom, Healthy Out, and MyFitnessPal are great tools to track your food. Realistically speaking not everyone has the time to track every meal of every day. I’ve done it in spurts with MyFitnessPal and even when I don’t use the app, I find myself more conscious of my intake. Paleo Nom Nom helped me tremendously when I need to know “yes/no” in terms of what was considered Paleo. There are tools, as well as a huge online community, that can give you feedback, recipes, and other helpful fitness tips.
Fad diet? Nope! It’s not a fad, and it’s not a diet. It’s actually more considered a lifestyle, as opposed to a temporary (or permanent) set of rules and recipes. If you’ve ever seen the Paleo “lists” of foods and exclusions, it’s easy to see how it encompasses a life change.
Admittedly I don’t follow Paleo 100%. For me it’s more of 75/25. The 25% consists of going out and occasionally enjoying pizza, pasta, and trying other foods when I travel abroad. Compared to my diet before eating Paleo, that 25% reflects not only a fraction of what it used to be, but also dons the moderation factor. I enjoy food now, instead of binging. I stopped treating pizza like it’s my last meal on the planet. For those who are strictly 100% Paleo, I commend your commitment.
Sian Babish is a writer from New Jersey. Before tearing up the floor in Zumba classes, she was kicking sky-high as a third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She also enjoys cooking, Jeopardy!, and stand-up comedy. Sian uses her skills to give back by volunteering as a career mentor and resume writer. She is also the author of Medical Authorizations Made Easy, published in May 2015 on Amazon.com. Follow @sianbabish on Twitter.
1. It’s not as expensive as you would think.
Recently I went off a long, strong Paleo kick for reasons of convenience due to a hand injury. Even though I didn’t go crazy buying processed food at the grocery store, I still picked up a few items here and there that were easy to make—and easy to open! My weekly grocery bill was about $15 to $20 more expensive than usual. You’d also be surprised how many meals you can get out of a cart with fruits and vegetables.2. Short on time? No problem.
Paleo eliminates processed foods, but allows a wide variety of wholesome vegetables and fruits (among many, many other things) to choose from. I like to think since you’re “limited” on ingredients, you’re emancipated from a lot of processed easy-eating meals. Time management in the kitchen improves. If you’re eating fresh food, meal planning is inevitable—but a good thing. Paleo frittatas made ahead make hectic mornings a lot less stressful.
Some recipes are quick and easy to make, such as the two-ingredient breakfast pancakes. All you need to do is mash a banana, mix well with a beaten egg, and cook it in a pan—and it takes you all of 5 minutes. It would take at least twice as long to make pancakes from scratch or packaged batter. For me, the sooner I can eat breakfast, the better!
3. Got some free time? Get creative.
A few people in my life inspired me to try Paleo, and they all have one thing in common: they like to cook. More ingredient-diverse Paleo recipes introduced me to foods I never gave a chance, like beets. I’m eating more types of vegetables because I had to expand my palate. Many recipes are also vegetarian-friendly and conversely, you can eat (and modify as needed) many recipes out of a vegetarian cookbook. I can’t eat fish due to an allergy, but a glance at any Paleo fish recipe can make your mouth water (and mine break out in hives).
4. Apps? Yep, they’ve got that.
The popularity of Paleo means that technology needs to follow it. Paleo Nom Nom, Healthy Out, and MyFitnessPal are great tools to track your food. Realistically speaking not everyone has the time to track every meal of every day. I’ve done it in spurts with MyFitnessPal and even when I don’t use the app, I find myself more conscious of my intake. Paleo Nom Nom helped me tremendously when I need to know “yes/no” in terms of what was considered Paleo. There are tools, as well as a huge online community, that can give you feedback, recipes, and other helpful fitness tips.
5. Even if you don’t adopt it 100%, it’s worth incorporating into your life.
Fad diet? Nope! It’s not a fad, and it’s not a diet. It’s actually more considered a lifestyle, as opposed to a temporary (or permanent) set of rules and recipes. If you’ve ever seen the Paleo “lists” of foods and exclusions, it’s easy to see how it encompasses a life change.
Conclusion
Admittedly I don’t follow Paleo 100%. For me it’s more of 75/25. The 25% consists of going out and occasionally enjoying pizza, pasta, and trying other foods when I travel abroad. Compared to my diet before eating Paleo, that 25% reflects not only a fraction of what it used to be, but also dons the moderation factor. I enjoy food now, instead of binging. I stopped treating pizza like it’s my last meal on the planet. For those who are strictly 100% Paleo, I commend your commitment.
About the Author
Sian Babish is a writer from New Jersey. Before tearing up the floor in Zumba classes, she was kicking sky-high as a third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She also enjoys cooking, Jeopardy!, and stand-up comedy. Sian uses her skills to give back by volunteering as a career mentor and resume writer. She is also the author of Medical Authorizations Made Easy, published in May 2015 on Amazon.com. Follow @sianbabish on Twitter.
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