Nutrition ·

Paleo Eating

Paleo Diet For Beginners

Here in America, our meals and snacks have turned into processed and sugary foods because we think they are easy and quick.  Who wants to cook a balanced meal for their family when you can heat up a frozen pizza or go out for hamburgers? Eating paleo is one of the easiest diets you’ll come across.  Paleo means ancient. Paleo foods consist of fish, meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. It’s really simple! If hunter-gatherers didn’t eat it thousands of years ago, it wouldn’t be in a paleo diet. If it was made in a factory, don’t eat it!


We know what you’re thinking, but what about grains, beans, or dairy….these have been around for years! Dairy is in the grey area. The only way milk was consumed back in the day was through human intake. You can consume dairy on a paleo diet, just be careful to choose the right dairy products. Yogurt, kefir, cheese, or anything fermented that provides beneficial bacteria for your gut would be good foods to add to your paleo diet.  


Grains and legumes, on the other hand, would be in the black area. Beans, or legumes, are definitely a healthy food with a low glycemic load, but they are a lectin, which is a sticky protein that binds with tissues and linings in our body and can cause gut damage and other serious problems. Grains, also lectins, are simple carbohydrates, which means they break down into sugar and prevent your body from absorbing the good nutrients from the other food you consume.  


Paleo Diet Plan: What to Expect?

Paleo isn’t a weight loss diet or a detox diet, but it can help with weight loss and detoxing. If you are just starting out with Paleo eating, you may notice quick weight loss in the first week or two. This rapid dip in weight won’t continue, as it’s mostly water weight from all of the carbohydrates your body is getting rid of. You’ll notice you have more energy and sleep better!


As your body detoxes from the refined sugars and processed foods, you may notice some headaches and mood changes, but you’ll notice better digestion since your body is no longer holding on to sugars and carbs. The amino acids and proteins from the paleo foods break down a lot easier and quicker, and may even help speed up your metabolism.

Here’s a helpful infographic to help you build your meals!


Paleo Food List

  • Meat
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Fresh Vegetables
  • Fresh Fruits
  • Healthy Oils, like coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil
  • Nuts

Non-Paleo Foods

  • Grains, including rice, wheat, corn, barley
  • Legumes, including soy, lentils, peanuts, beans
  • Dairy
  • Other oils like canola oil and vegetable oil
  • Refined Sugar
  • Processed foods

Paleo Resources

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