Gluten-free quiche, while not strictly Paleo, is a fairly healthy option when dining out. Omelets and fruit are always a great choice!
Baked Tomatoes with Cheddar, Mozzarella, & Basil ~
just one of many delicious and unique practically Paleo dishes
Using cookbooks like these, whipping up healthy dinner in a hurry isn't difficult -- or making a batch of good-for-you cookies! Elana Amsterdam of Elana's Pantry is a dependable source for simple, delicious Paleo desserts and treats. The Whole30 cookbooks provide simple and efficient main dishes and sides.
What does it mean to live "practically paleo" and why should you bother?
During a gap year I took after high school, I spent time investigating healthy eating. A large part of the motivation for this was that my dad was diagnosed as pre-diabetic, and since his father had diabetes and Alzheimer's before him, it looked like he was on the same path. When a friend recommended the book Grain Brain and we read it, we learned that these symptoms can indeed be reversed through a healthy diet.
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The author provided lots of scientific evidence for his claims, and we were convinced that through a low glycemic, low sugar, high protein, high fat diet, we could not only reverse my dad's path toward diabetes and Alzheimer's, but also increase our overall health while decreasing chances of disease in the future.
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With that, my family entirely transformed our way of eating. We haven't gone back since, and we feel and perform all the better for it.
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It's hard to define exactly how my family eats. While it is mostly low-carb (by nature, since we avoid bread, grains, and sugar), it's not a "low-carb diet" per se. Nor is it simply "gluten-free" or "sugar-free" -- even though it is those things. The Whole30 plan is similar to what we strive for, but we're not that strict.
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The closest thing to our diet is Paleo, but we're not even truly that, because we still eat dairy and lots of meat.
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~ Jenna
Hence the name of this site. We're practically Paleo, even though we don't strictly adhere to their plan.
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We're practically Paleo in another sense of the term as well -- we take the principles gathered from scientists and health researchers for what is one of the best lifestyles, and apply it practically to daily life. While it would be ideal, it's simply not practical to think you could stick to the Whole30 plan long-term. Nor is it possible (or desirable) to say goodbye to entire food groups forever. There will always be a time when you're stuck at a dinner party where all they serve is pasta and sweets. Some days you simply won't be able to adhere to the Paleo-ish lifestyle. And that's ok -- when you live practically Paleo the majority of the time, a few deviances along the way aren't the end of the world.
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And, it is possible to apply the principles of the practically Paleo lifestyle wherever you are -- even as a college student confined to the options at the dining hall.
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With that, I encourage you to give a look to some of the resources and sites on this website, try a recipe or two, and give health a second look.
Primal Smothered Meatballs