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Whether you are just starting out with eating Paleo, or have been eating that way for years, here are some things that can help simplify eating Paleo.
#1: Focus on what you CAN eat. Yes, there are lots of foods you need to avoid while you’re eating Paleo, but there are LOTS of foods you can have, so it helps to start
#2: Don’t try to be perfect. There’s no such thing as a perfect diet, and trying to strive for that can lead to burnout and feeling bad about yourself. So, set a goal with how closely you want to follow Paleo. If you’re doing it for health reasons, you may need to adhere to it more closely, say 95% of the time. Or maybe you’d like to lose weight and can eat Paleo 80% of the time to meet your goal. Give yourself a little wiggle room and grace to not be 100% perfect with eating Paleo.
3#: Be prepared to cook from scratch. While there are lots of great Paleo products you can buy, you are likely going to have to cook from scratch at least part of the time. Make sure you have the kitchen tools you’ll need to tackle cooking- things like a good set of knives and cutting boards, and things that can make cooking from scratch easier, like a food processor,
#4: Find some convenience options for those busy days. You may not always have time to cook from scratch, and having some products you can fall back on can help you not fall off the wagon and end up in the drive-thru line. Frozen chopped veggies make a great side dish- just heat and serve. Thrive Market has lots of great soups, sauces, and side dish options you can just heat and serve. Buying some frozen, precooked meats can be helpful as well. There are a few options for Paleo frozen meals at most grocery stores, so those can be a great choice as well for those days you just don’t have time to cook.
#5: Find good paleo recipe blogs you can trust. You don’t want to be wasting your time and money making recipes that just don’t turn out. You can always find good Paleo recipes here at The Crowded Table, but here are a couple of my favorite blogs you could check out as well: The Paleo Running Momma and Well Fed.
#6: Use a good Paleo Cookbook. If you love cookbooks
#7: Make a Plan. If you’re just flying by the seat of your pants, it will be a lot harder to stick with eating Paleo. It does take some planning and preparation, so try to make a rough meal plan for the week. There are a ton of options for free meal planners if you just google it!
#8: Get your family and friends on board. Eating in a way that is different from others is always easier when you have the support of those closest to you. Do your best to get those around you on board – for those living with you especially! If friends or family are skeptical, share with them the reasons you want to eat this way, and encourage them to try it with you. If you have a spouse and kids, don’t feel like you have to make separate meals- try to find good family friendly Paleo meals that you all can enjoy together.
#9: Have some no cook options. There WILL be times you don’t have the time or energy to cook, so make sure you have some easy no-cook options ready! When you do cook, double the recipe and then freeze the extra in individual containers you can easily heat up. If you don’t have any frozen meals ready to go, most grocery stores have Paleo frozen dinner options. If neither of those options will work, consider having apples and almond butter, with a salad on the side or some other simple, no-cook meal.
#10: Remember WHY you want to eat Paleo. When it all feels overwhelming and difficult, remember why you’re doing this. You CAN do this, and it will be worth it!
Let me know in the comments – What has worked for you to make eating Paleo easier?
Here are a few of my favorite recipes:
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