Meal Planing: Week #1 (Paleo/Primal)

Meal Planing: Week #1 (Paleo/Primal)

Figuring out the Paleo lifestyle and diet can be a daunting task, especially if you are not familiar with the in's and out's of the food philosophy or even a cook in the kitchen. BUT, fear not, help is here, and it's actually easier than you realize. 

1. First thing to know is that you have a very limited pantry with Paleo, which makes it super easy to cut through the noise of the grocery stores and focus only on the foods that truly feed and nourish your body. 

2. Second thing to know, is that recipes and cooking preparations can be very simple, just like the approach to food. There doesn't need to be fancy foods or preparations, granted there can be, once you get comfortable and want to go for the gold. But simple preparations are easy and still very delicious and satiating.  

3. Paleo is a 'whole foods' approach to eating and cooking. No prepackaged or processed foods. Stay away from all grains (rice, quinoa, wheat, etc.). Stay away from beans and corn. Limit your dairy to plain Greek yogurt (no milk, soft cheeses,etc). Paleo is high protein with lots of vegetables making up most of the diet and sugars only from fruit or naturally occurring like coconut sugar, honey and maple syrup. 

There are fancier explanations about Paleo out there and why a Paleo/Primal approach to food is the foundation to healing and nourishing our bodies, but for this blog's sake, we'll focus on one week's worth of meal planing and ideas. 

JUST REMEMBER "Every morsel of food or drink you put into your body either heals and nourishes or harms and aides in disease." 

The old saying "You are what you eat" is ALL TOO TRUE!  

Let's get started......

The shopping lists suggests Costco and Safeway, but any store will do. I prefer Costco, because you can buy meat in bulk, and being Paleo is such a high protein diet, I like to freeze my portions of bulk meat for later weeks. (see previous blog http://shedished.blogspot.com/2016/11/good-eats-4-easy-steps-to-tackle-whats.html) You should also go as grass fed and organic as possible, but it can be costly, so baby steps towards that goal. I am strict with my veggies and fruits being organic, and stores including Costco, can accommodate that task. Costco also has organic chicken and ground turkey, and grass fed ground beef. Do the best you can! 

This by no means needs to be your Week #1, but it's a start to ideas and how to approach your meals and snacks for any week in your new lifestyle change! 

Enjoy! You Got This!