Simple and Clean/ Paleo Lunch

A common question people have when wondering about a paleolithic diet, or especially how to follow it 1. on a budget and 2. when you have small children and a family and need simple meals, is what do you eat. (see # 3).  

This was literally "thrown together" in a pinch for lunch today, because I had two small children running circles around my feet, ready for their lunch and some rest time, soon.

I took frozen Ahi tuna from Trader Joe's and thawed it in cold water as I went to pick the kids up from school. Next I sauteed the tuna in ghee (clarified butter- you could do coconut or olive oil in place of butter) , coconut aminos (some people use regular liquid aminos but I try to really limit soy), and fresh squeezed lemon juice. I put this over organic romaine lettuce and drizzled it with olive oil, coconut aminos, and lemon juice. Lastly I cut a whole hothouse cucumber up and served it on the side. 

Between all the protein from the tuna, and the fat from the ghee and olive oil, and the fiber from the veggies, I won't be hungry again until supper.  

Try it. Enjoy it!  Eating clean makes you feel great!    

Paleo FAQ's

This is my attempt to try to be concisely informative.  The concise part is where I'm going to struggle, be forewarned.

I could talk for hours about the paleolithic diet and lifestyle, so if you have more questions or want to chat more about it, please leave a comment or contact me directly!  It's one of my favorite subjects.
Also, there's a whole section of posts labeled Paleo if you want to click there and read all the posts I've written about Paleo. (some of them do not directly address food, but lifestyle, because Paleo is not a diet, but a way of life.)

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1. Why did you "go Paleo"?

Originally, nearly three years ago, it was a means for cleaner eating, to lose weight, and feel better.  The more research I did about it, I learned that it is the best way of eating for autoimmune disorders, so we set out to get serious with it (because I have an autoimmune disorder that sucks and is very difficult to control).  

2. What is Paleo?

It's a lifestyle that resembles the lifestyle of the cavemen, prior to the introduction of agriculture, over 15,000 years ago.  A day in the life of a cavemen looked like this : you eat only what you could hunt or gather, in respective proportions.  A diet high in meat and vegetables, with some nuts and seeds, and little fruit.  You move around all day, spend lots of time outdoors, work hard and play hard, and sleep a lot.  The modern version is to avoid all chemicals and processed items and everything artificial.  Work your body out.  The cavemen would walk around all day hunting and gathering, occasionally having to lift very heavy objects, and sometimes sprint to get away from the lion chasing them.  *Everyone who follows Paleo does it a little bit different, and everyone is very passionate about the way they follow it*

3. What do you eat?

The quick version with our typical eats.  I'm hoping to be able to write in more detail about this soon (meal plans, shopping lists, etc. ) For more detailed daily eats, check out previous posts here, here, here, and here 

Breakfast:
- eggs and bacon with sauteed veggies (sub out the bacon for sausage or ham. go for organic or at least no preservatives and all natural if possible)
-egg muffins or egg casserole (essentially eggs, meat and veggies mixed together and baked in muffin tins. Recipe to come)
-smoothie (recipe here. and here.)

Lunch:
-Meat (get crazy with it. bake chicken for 30 minutes in the oven. Deli Meat. Canned Tuna. Fresh fish. etc.)
-Vegetables (sauteed, broiled, baked, raw, salad, go ahead. Get.crazy.)
-Maybe some nuts and seeds.
-I love to eat cucumbers b/c I have a thing for crunchy foods, so I eat probably one a day.

Snacks And Dinner- same as lunch. I just mix and match.

4. How do you follow this diet with young children?

-We started eating this way when the twins were around six months old.  So starting them young has accustomed them to a certain way of eating.  But they know that what we put in front of them is what we're offering them to eat.

5. How do you follow this diet on a budget?
-I typically shop at Trader Joe's once a week.  I just go in and make my rounds.  By now I could make our weekly shopping trip with my eyes closed.  And TJ's prices are very reasonable for what they have to offer (foods without preservatives, organic options, nitrate free meat options)

6. What do you do when you need a meal in a pinch?
-We don't follow this strictly at 100% b/c it just isn't realistic for where we are in life.  Perhaps over time we'll be able to move into that, but for now, if one meal isn't fully Paleo, we just make the best decision for the time if we're in a pinch. Yes we eat out and yes we eat pizza and pasta and ice cream on vacation or at holiday get togethers.

7. Doesn't it take up a lot of time?
- It really can.  One thing I found easy is to make a meal plan each week, go grocery shopping for the week, have easy breakfast and lunch options that require little prep or cooking.  Often at supper I will just pop the meat and vegetables in a baking dish with seasonings and coconut oil, and bake it for 30 minutes. And supper is done.
-Other ways to make it easier is on the weekends to prepare several meals for the week.  (Grill a whole package of chicken that you can use through the week, make a huge pot of soup, a huge crockpot meal, a whole batch of egg muffins and an egg casserole)

8. What are the benefits? For me, it's a means of  controlling my autoimmune disease.  For all of us, the more closely we stick to it, we all are in better moods, our behaviors are nicer and not as wild (think three year olds) , weight management, clear thinking, clear skin, longevity.   This really could be a very lengthy topic.  Essentially, I can almost guarantee you that if you are struggling with something (depression, anxiety, weight, irritability, IBS, etc etc etc.... the paleolithic diet and lifestyle would dramatically improve whatever your struggle is. Please feel free to chat more with me about this.)

Green Smoothie. Preschooler Tested. Preschooler Approved.

Feeling tired?

Feeling like you've got a cold or some other sickness knocking on your door?

Feeling simply blah and want to feel a power punch of health?

Over vacation, we drank a lot of power smoothies. I love to feed my family high quality, clean, nutrient packed meals, but let's be honest. When there's only one of me during an average week... we're still working on finding a routine that is simplified and flowing.  So, on vacation, I find myself cooking or preparing meals and snacks much more often than I do at home, because I love to do it and have the time. And it's truly restful to me to get creative in the kitchen!  Recipe at bottom of post.  

Recipe
1 whole avocado
4 packets Stevia
3 cups fresh raw spinach
3 cups Unsweetened almond milk
2 cups frozen fruit. (I use a mixture of blueberries, cherries, strawberries, bananas, oranges, pineapple)

I like to layer the ingredients to make sure I get a good mix.

1. Peel and slice the avocado and fruit.
2. Chop or tear the spinach into tiny pieces. 

3. Layer as follows :fruit, spinach, 1 packet of stevia, avocado. Repeat for at least 3 layers.

4. Pour the almond milk over top.

Blend on high until there are no pieces of fruit or spinach left.  Makes 4 servings.

Pour and enjoy.

What I'm Loving

1. The North Carolina Coast. All the beautiful quaint fishing towns along it. And taking ferries to and from the inland to the islands.

Quiet coastal town. Alone on the beach.

Leaving the port on a ferry.
The seagulls stayed behind the boat the whole trip.

2. Movies about quiet, quaint fishing villages, with houses that are alone on the shore, and waves crashing against them.

3. Staying up late and sleeping in.

4. Drinking coffee while rocking on the porch while the breeze wraps me up.

5. Sitting on the beach all day, talking to my mama, watching the babies play and the husband fish

fresh flounder.

puddle jumping.

highwaters. it was a bit cold some of the trip. 

6. Seriously good , local seafood. (think fresh tuna, caught right of the boat. we didn't even cook it...)

That is the shark he caught. Yes we ate it. Yes it was delicious.

7. Not having to get in my car. Anything we need , we can get to on the island by golf cart.

8. Lighthouses. Seeing their lights flashing at night on the ocean.

9. Nightwalks on the beach with flashlights , watching our shadows and chasing crabs.

10. Long Island iced tea with mama.

Right after she arrived.
She was excited for the Long Island's in our future.
I love my mom.  

11. Staying on the beach until late afternoon. So quiet and peaceful.  

Life's A Beach. Don't. Want. To. Leave.

12. Mimi

Storytime with Mimi. LOVE.

 13. Naps!

Waking Up Happy

Waking up happy.
With awesome bed head.
She get it from her mama.

She just started folding her hands and putting them under her cheek right before she closes
her eyes. That's our cue that sleep is about to ensue. Love this sweet little thing.

13. Cooking fresh good food. With the doors and windows open, feeling the breeze, after a long day on the beach, listening to the babies play on the porches.

Our lobster.  Affectionately referred to as "the monster" by our children.

14. Curling up on the couch at night, with the doors and windows open, listening to the waves, watching movies and laughing with mama and husband.

15. Babies on the beach!!

sunbathing and building castles.

chasing that bird

16. HALF BIRTHDAYS!!!

Happy Half Birthday to you!
Celebrate them while you can.
Celebrate every day. 

I'm seriously considering early retirement at this point. Wouldn't you ??

Hey Good Lookin

Whatcha got cookin....

The Perfect Omlet
Step by step, with photos; full recipe at the end of post.

Fry up a package of bacon (or sausage). While cooking the meat, dice fresh green peppers, onions, and spinach.  (Play around with this and use your favorite vegetables)

In the bacon (or sausage) grease, lightly sautee the onions and bell peppers.  Put biscuits in the oven.

 It takes less than a minute for the spinach to wilt, so toss it in last and mix it with the other vegetables quickly, them remove the vegetables and place on a plate. 

Take a milk break. With your adorable bed-head. 

Dice the cooked bacon, grab your eggs and shredded cheese.

Share a piece of bacon with your adorable toe-head.

Crack the eggs, mix them together, then pour in the pan. 

Cover the eggs with the cheese. 

Let the eggs and cheese cook for a hot minute while you pull the biscuits out of the oven. 

Share a biscuit with the cute little boy.  

Place the diced bacon and sauteed vegetables on one side of the omlet.  

Continue to let the cheese melt while you share another piece of bacon with the precious little begger girl. 

Fold the half without bacon and vegetables over.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Then slide the omelet out of the pan and onto your plate.  Enjoy!

And there you have, the. perfect. omelet.

And if you don't count the cheese and biscuits, it's totally paleo.  

The Perfect Omelet

1/4 fresh green pepper

1/4 fresh onion

1 cups fresh spinach

3 slices of bacon

3 eggs

1/4 cup shredded cheese

1. Fry bacon until crispy

2. While the bacon is frying, dice up your pepers, onions, and spinach

3. Remove cooked bacon from pan, toss the peppers and onions in the bacon grease and lightly sautee. 

4. While vegetables are cooking, dice up the bacon. 

5. Toss the spinach in last, toss with the other vegetables, and quickly remove. It wilts quickly and you don't want to overcook it. 

6. Crack eggs in a bowl and whisk together. Pour egg mixture into frying pan.  Let eggs cook on low for one minute.

7. Sprinkle the cheese over the egg mixture (saving a small sprinkle's worth) and let cook for one minute. 

8. Top one half with the bacon, then the vegetables.  Let cook until the cheese is melted.  

9. Fold the half without the filling over the bacon and vegetables.  Sprinkle the last of the cheese over.  Let cook for one minute. 

10.  Carefully slide your perfect omelet onto your place.  Enjoy with biscuits and grits.  And sweet tea.  Or a mimosa. Or long island iced tea. Or coffee.  You get the picture.

Important Aside:  Please don't miss your chance for a free design for your blog! Giveaway ends April 12!  

Retirement

So I decided to splurge. These are our side by side retirement homes I just purchased. Friends and family, please come visit anytime. 

You can find us sleeping in late, with the windows open, listening to the ocean breezes. Sipping coffee on the deck in a rocking chair while we enjoy the tides. Spending our days reading and writing on the beach, and fishing, and boating in the waters. Our evenings sitting by the surf with white wine until dusk, then cooking the fresh caught fish for supper.

Easy. Breezy. Dreamy.

Back to reality....but really....that was an awesome daydream. Check out my Pintrest board titled "Retirement " where I've been inspired to plan for an early retirement. Starting ASAP.

Happy daydreams y'all ;)

Someday When You're Looking Back On Your Life...

This is gonna be one of those (nights).  For me, it'll be all day today that I remember fondly. 

This is my 5th day Paleo.  I gotta admit, I realized lately how much more energy I have since I've been doing Paleo food at such a high rate for the last 6 weeks.  I have had in those 6 weeks, 5 cheat meals.  I've also noticed that my demeanor and mood swings are smoothing out (but some of that is honest, hard, intention and a lottta prayer, and encouraging literature about parenting/marriage, along with spending a lot of time with good role models). 

Today was filled with wonderful moments.  I started out with my girl baby getting in my bed to watch cartoons while I went back to sleep :>)  Then the three of us cuddled in the rocking chair by a hot fire with coffee (are you seeing a routine to our non school day mornings??) 

Next we got ready to head out to visit my brother and sister in law, and my two favorite neices :>)  When I told my children we were going to visit them, they started doing something that resembled break dancing on the floor.  I think they were excited?  We picked up my sweet aunt on the way to visit. She is so special to me. She has always been a second mother/ like a grandmother, to me, my daughter's namesake.  I spent half or more of my childhood at her home.  I love her.  At our visit I got plenty (but not nearly enough) baby lovin' from their 6 day old.  I must have offered a thousand times to bring her home with me so they could "get a break", but for some reason they wouldn't let me bring her home with me.  Sigh.  Maybe if I keep asking.  She was the sweetest little heart warming thing.  She was awake the entire hour I held her, just looking around, but did not say a word the whole time.  Just as content as could be.  I love her. 

After our visit, we came home and napped.  After naps, the weather outside was beckoning us.  We walked around the neighborhood for awhile, then went to the park.  And then stopped at Whole Foods, again, to get stuff for supper.  Yes, I go there 2 or 3 times a day sometimes by accident. Sometimes on purpose. 
For supper I prepared a stir fry.  I did steak, shrimp, zucchini and onions, stir fried in olive oil, sea salt, garlic, pepper, and aminos.  Cave girl devoured the shrimp and Cave boy devoured the steak. This is the boy who for the first 2 years of his life wouldn't touch meat, and would only eat starches.  But, as mentioned in a previous post, when the starches disappeared from his tray, he developed a love for meat :>) 

I had the best time enjoying my sweet babies today.

Sweet sunshine everywhere I look. You love me like no one could. Life is good. .

 I am so thankful for God's mercy on me as a mother, and his continuing sanctification and reedeming love in my life. I have a lot of "mommy guilt" that I deal with and work through, so days like today are so good for my heart and I am just so thankful for days like this. My heart has been refreshed to have extra time with the babies these last two days.  Their laughter and smiles and giggles soothe my soul.  We are blessed beyond measure by the gifts in our life!! 

 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. (Psalm 127:3-4 ESV)

Joy Dare: A gift in losing something, in finding something, and making something
-losing my desire to be SO domineering and perfectionistic
-finding a desire to lead a life filled with the important things (relationships)
-I love making food.  My husband and I have always joked that my kitchen is my art studio.