I recently read and wrote a review of It Starts With Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig. It Starts With Food is a nutritional plan (Paleo at it’s core – quality meats, eggs, vegetables, fats, fruits and not much else to begin with) that shows you how certain other foods may be having negative effects on how you look, feel and live – in ways that you’d never associate with your diet. More importantly, the Hartwigs outline their life-long strategy for eating good foods in a clear and detailed action plan designed to help you create a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, calm systemic inflammation and put an end to unhealthy cravings, habits, and relationships with food.
While my Whole 30 challenge to rid dairy, sugar, grains, beans, processed and packaged food got off to a great start, the last week has been rough. Not because the Hartwig’s plan is complicated or unmanageable – the book actually outlines food plans and recipes in detail – but because it does take more planning and thought than I am used to and let’s face it, sometimes it’s just easier to grab an old standby staple (like brown rice) at dinnertime rather than find, prepare and cook a new meal. I have done well at eliminating most grains and sugar from my diet, almost all dairy (I did have a small serving of cheese). all beans and all things out of a bag or box. We did eat out over the weekend, which was a total wash in terms of my plan.
I have enjoyed shopping for my new, paleo(ish) lifestyle and have found some things that will become a new staple for me as I continue in my journey to health.
Bone Broth
It’s healthy, primal, healing and good – for your body and your soul. I made my own Beef Bone Broth using the Whole 30 recipe found in It Starts With Food, but you can find many recipes online. If I have been hungry, I sip a cup of this broth and feel satisfied and content.
Clarified Butter (or Ghee)
It’s what your great-grandmother used to cook with – golden in color, rich and oh-so-good. Ghee has the healing benefits of butter without the impurities (saturated fat and milk solids). Many also claim that Ghee may be beneficial for the whole body and helps to reduce inflammation. Don’t be afraid of fat, your body needs it – Ghee, Olive Oil or Coconut Oil are the healthiest kinds and the only three I have been using since starting the Whole 30.
Coconut Oil – Specifically Ziggy Marley’s Coco’Mon Curry Coconut Oil
I’m learning it’s all about healthy fats and I have been enjoying cooking with coconut oil (and the fact that my house smells like the islands on a weekly basis), but THIS curry coconut oil is delicious. I’m addicted. I might make everything with coconut curry from now on! Seriously, get some today.
Lamb
I have always struggled to get enough protein in my diet – which is a very big problem. I am not a huge fan of beef, I get burned out on chicken, I don’t like pork at all and I get bored with shrimp and fish. I recently discovered lamb (that was not part of a gyro, which I don’t like) and really enjoyed it. I sautéed it with a little ghee and salt and pepper and served it with roasted root vegetables. It was so rich and healthy.
Eggs
I need to eat more of them – especially when I am in a hurry or am not feeling particularly “meaty.” They are so versatile and can be easy to prepare. I’m working on perfecting the art of poaching.
Jasmine Dragon Green Tea
This tea is slightly sweet and I have been enjoying a cup before bed each night. I love loose leaf tea and enjoy brewing it myself. It makes me smile.
What are some of your paleo (or healthy) staples? Do you have any new ways to cook an egg? How do you get enough protein in your diet? What healthy fats do you enjoy? Tell me in the comments!
Until the next mile marker,
Follow
Great to hear that you are embracing this new food plan, Sara. I am loving it too.
I like to bake eggs rather than hard boil them, and sometimes bake them in slices of lean ham inside muffin cups. A fun twist.
I love coconut oil too and did make some ghee but honestly don’t use butter much at all so hardly ever think to get it out of the fridge!
I have learned that dates are as dangerous for me as cookies used to be so cannot buy them anymore!
All fruits taste so sweet now.
I love it too, Elle and I do feel better when I eat this way – especially when I eliminate gluten. I just feel like I have so much trouble sticking to it. Mostly for convenience and a horrible carb addiction! Although, I have been working very hard to greatly reduce them, there have not yet been completely eliminated from my diet.
I must remember to try to bake eggs because I want to try that! I was thinking it would also be a great “to-grab” snack when I am in a pinch and need something healthy that sticks to the plan. I find a lot of inspiration from We Can Begin to Feed too – thank you!!!! 🙂
I cook a LOT with coconut oil. Where do you find Ghee? Great post!
Thanks, Steph! I found Ghee at our Earth Fair, but I have also seen it at regular grocery stores. It is NOT with the other butter – it is usually with the Latin-American/Mexican foods aisle. It’s not kept cold or anything. It is a lot cheaper too if you can get it at the regular grocery store.
We hard boil eggs on the weekend and eat them all week.
I discovered Tazo Zen green tea blend and have been drinking alot of that.
Art
Thanks for your thoughts, Art! I think I need to remember to hard boil eggs, as a go-to snack or to add to meals when I am in a hurry. I find I start to eat less healthy when I am in a hurry and haven’t taken the time to plan a mean or visit the grocery store. It is disheartening that it is so easy to just grab and consume crap much easier than healthier food. I have seen the Tazo teas at the store and will have to pick some up – I love green tea! Have a great weekend. 🙂
I <3 hard boiled eggs. I boil a dozen at a time and use them as snacks all the darn time. Easy to do, easy to eat, and everything I need in my life right now. Lamb….yum! I'm such a sucker for well-prepared lamb. I need to score some of the coconut curry goodness!
That’s like the perfect comment, Judi! 😉 I never knew I liked lamb until recently, but it is so good grilled. I seriously need to start hard boiling eggs. We’ll have to grill some lamb this summer!
Meat & open fire….the boys will be thrilled.
Yeah, I’m not sure which is more thrilling though – possibly fire! 😉