Kuckoo For CoConut

That's right I'm Kuckoo for coconut. Whether it is cocnut milk, coconut water,whole, shredded or coconut oil.I love this product! It's great for a recovery snack, to cook with or to bake with. My boyfriend made me some double chocolate cupcakes using almond flour last night but I wanted to find a recipe using coconut flour. And I must say that these look DELICIOUS!

http://zaleotreats.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice/

And Mark's Daily Apple did a recent post on the wonders of coconut as well.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-wonderful-world-of-coconut-products/#more-10249

Hi everyone. I have been out with the flu since Sunday and am just now starting to feel better. Have still been eating paleo, minus that pint of Luna & Larry's Coconut ice cream, which I reccomend you all get for your cheat days because it is dairy free and gluten free and amazing!

I made a great soup that was quick and easy from MDA: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-comfort-foods/

And I also made the Paleo Pizza and I just have to say I think its far better than regular pizza. We will definitely be making this a weekly meal. We put a crap load of meat on the pizza and by two slices Carlos was full ( a miracle!) I think there was atleast a pound of ground beef.

Here's the link: http://cavegirlinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2009/07/paleo-pizza.html

And here's some reading on Saturate fats and a good seared steak recipe.

http://feastingonfitness.blogspot.com/2010/01/saturated-with-fat.html

And a PodCast! http://robbwolf.com/?p=1157

and a very interesting article on one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2009/12/hadza/finkel-text

Checking In

Hi All,

So how is it going? Are you starting to feel different? Less hungry? Fewer cravings? Sorry, I haven't posted in the last couple of days, I was staying at my parents house and they happen to not be in the 21st century in regards to internet access. I have decided to rearrange my paleo diet to include dairy before and after workouts. I have a weight-class to stay in (63k) and some huge goals this year, no desire to see my abs or get super lean and as Ripp would say, "Milk is quite literally better than steroids for a novice lifter to grow on, and no supplement produces the same effect."

I am finally posting pictures of some of the things I have been eating the past week and of course my food menu for next week ( half filled out because a certain somebody needs to be difficult!) I think a food menu really helps that way you don't have to spend hours on end at your desk wondering what to make for dinner when you could be doing something more productive ( like looking at crossfit videos). Another idea is to do all the basic prep for the week on Sunday. Chop, dice, whatever the veggies that you'll need for your meals/snacks and bag them or put them in tupperware.

Here are a couple of links:

A great post on Hunger (Cause I know your probably still hungry!) http://freetheanimal.com/2009/01/hunger.html

Make your own (paleo-friendly)

Mayo: http://www.barbellsandbacon.com/archives/835

Mustard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7M1Lk2a7hI

Ketchup: http://crossfitdowntownwinston.com/2009/06/12/paleo-ketchup-and-mayo/

What happens when you carb binge: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-carb-binge/

I also enjoyed this article by Michael Pollan...

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/michael-pollan-offers-64-ways-to-eat-food/

Here is an excellent paleo cookbook: http://paleorainycookbook.blogspot.com/

And because all this nutrition business is no good if your not sleeping good! http://whole9life.com/2009/08/the-serious-business-of-sleep/

Snacks

Last nights dinner was a successful. I'm still figuring out how to use this and will post the photos later. Still trying to recover from my lifting on Monday and I still have to lift today (front squat and press my two least favorite lifts!) So we will see how much pain I am by Thursday. I was searching the blogs that I look at daily and came across this video, which I love: http://cassandraforsythe.blogspot.com/2010/01/video-to-make-you-laugh.html

It is funny and sad to me that this is the reality that young girls have to deal with. At the gym that I work at on the Plateau, daily hear ridiculous but laughable comments.

Today was one my day to sleep in and boy did I! Right now I'm munching on some homemade

jerky that we made in the food dehydrator but here is a link to do it in your oven ( which works just as well!)

Dried Meats (Jerky)

Simple Beef Jerky

2 pounds lean beef, trimmed of all visible fat, cut into 1 inch wide, 1/8 inch thick

Place beef strips on the racks of a home food dryer (available at any large discount store) and dry the meat until it is tough and chewy (usually overnight). Or dry in your oven on un-greased cookie sheets. Set oven at lowest baking temperature and keep the door propped open. The temperature should not exceed 140-150 F. The drying time is dependent upon your oven and may take from 4-12 hours. Take out when meat is tough and chewy

Or the Spicy Version!

Spicy Beef Jerky

2 pounds lean beef, trimmed of all visible fat, cut into 1 inch wide, 1/8 inch thick (Almost any meat can be dried -- try lean pork, venison, buffalo, even poultry and fish)

Chili powder

Cumin

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Dry Mustard

Cayenne pepper

Lemon pepper

Turmeric

Coarse ground black pepper

Curry powder

White pepper

Mix any and all combinations of the spices listed above in a medium sized bowl to make a dry rub. Let your personal tastes and imagination guide you. Our favorite is cumin, garlic powder, coarse ground black pepper, turmeric and cayenne pepper mixed in equal parts. Dip each meat strip in the bowl of spices. Lightly coat and then marinate for at least 30 minutes – its better if you have time to marinate the meat overnight in a covered bowl in the refrigerator.

We make a ton of it in our house and on more than one occasion having this handy has helped me not cheat on other things available. At the top I placed a photo of one kids afternoon snack and boy does it look good! The sauce is some mayonnaise with curry powder. Quick and easy. For lunch today I'm doing a roasted chicken salad packed with veggies and homemade dressing ( mustard, EVOO, salt,pepper, a splash of Mrs. Dash-optional- and some balsamic or red wine vinegar, shake it all together) Not sure what's for dinner though headed back up to my parents house!

How To...

This is a great starter or reminder ( for someone like me who goes off track) on how to eat and maintain a Paleo lifestyle.

The idea is behind this challenge is to encourage everyone to go strict paleo for 30 days straight, no cheats (planned or unplanned). What a "strict paleo" diet does or does not include can be debated on its subtler points (and we're happy to answer those questions), but the basics you need to know are the following:

ENCOURAGED FOODS: meats (preferably grass-fed), poultry (preferably pastured), fresh fish & seafood (preferably wild), eggs (preferably pastured or at least omega-3 fortified), vegetables, fresh fruit (& limiteddried fruit), nuts & seeds (preferably raw and unsalted). (The organic versions of these foods will allow you to avoid pesticide residue.)

FOODS TO EAT IN MODERATION: minimally processed oils & animal fats (e.g., olive, avocado, walnut, coconut, lard, beef tallow--be aware that some of these are not meant for high-heat cooking but should be used raw) black coffee, tea, wine, beer, spirits, dried fruits (no more than 2 oz./day), nuts mixed with dried & fresh fruits (no more than 4 oz. nuts & 2 oz. dried fruit).

FOODS TO AVOID: dairy (e.g., milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, whey protein powder), legumes (i.e., beans, lentils, chickpeas, soy & soy products, peanuts, green beans, peas), cereal grains & cereal grainlike seeds (e.g., corn, wheat, wheat germ, barley, oats, rye, rice, corn, buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth), starchy vegetables (e.g., starchy tubers, potatoes, sweet potatoes), salt-containing foods (e.g., commercial salad dressings & condiments), fatty meats, soft drinks & fruit juices, sweets (i.e., candy, honey, sugars [sucrose, molasses, high fructose corn syrup, fructose, agave nectar]), diet sodas, refined vegetable oils (especially corn, soy, & canola), foods containing artificial sweeteners, chemical food additives.

(courtesy of Crossfitnyc.com)

I think the main thing is not to over think this whole process. Yes, you have to change the way you eat and the way you think about food. Learning how to cook is ideal but you don't need to be the next Julia Child. Worse comes to worse burn the meat and eat some raw veggies.

On another note the 2010 Games Sectionals for PNW is coming up in February 27-28 at Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe. There is definitely a more strict qualifying program this year. I'll be there to cheer my boyfriend Carlos on in his FIRST EVER athletic competition. Woot Woot!

The Month Begins

Well, I decided to start a blog focused on my musings on the paleo/primal lifestyle. I will try and post daily with pictures of the meals that I eat throughout the day. I started the Paleo challenge in July when Rainer Crossfit decided it would be a grand idea to go paleo for the next 5 months. I still say I was coerced by my boyfriend, Carlos who decided it would be a great idea! You to have decided to embark on this challenge for the month of January. Strict paleo for 30 days. After those 30 days you can make your own eating choices. By the end of this month you will feel like a well oiled machine and might not want to go back. I understand its difficulty; I lived off of pasta and carbs but could never lean out like I wanted to, my Crossfit times never improved and I feel bloated all the dang time. I did the Zone diet for a couple months but it was so complicated having to measure all the time. So, the Paleo diet sounded more ideal. I could eat as much as I wanted to and still lose body fat, get rid of acne and build lots of muscle (10 pounds to be exact). Awesome! I know a couple of you have struggled with finding things to eat, trying not to murder for that snickers bar and worrying that eating fat will actually make you fat ( The USDA is dumb.) Keep in mind that I am one pickyeater. Many a time I have scrunched my nose at the dinner my boyfriend has made, refused to eat certain meals and lived off of boring, tasteless meals because of my unwillingness to try new things! The first two are still true though. Let us begin!

I'll officially start tomorrow but here is what I am making tonight:

http://everydaypaleo.com/2010/01/03/rockin-moroccan-chicken/