What is the Paleo diet?
This is a diet that is essentially the healthiest way to eat as it is optimized to fit what humans have adapted to eat. It is described as the hunter-gatherer diet that involves only eating foods that could’ve been consumed by humans before processed food came about, or what early humans would’ve eaten.
Why should you go Paleo?
There are many health benefits that come from giving up processed food.
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Reduce your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and most chronic degenerative diseases that affect people in the western world
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Lose weight if you are overweight
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Improve your athletic performance
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Slow or reverse progression of an autoimmune disease
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Improve or eliminate acne
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Sleep better and have more energy throughout the day
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Enjoy an increased libido
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Improve your mental outlook and clarity
- Enjoy a longer, healthier, more active life
What can you eat?
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Grass-produced meats
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Fish/seafood
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Fresh fruits and veggies
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Eggs
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Nuts and seeds
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Healthful oils (Olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado, coconut)
Where can you find good recipes?
I find that Pinterest is such a helpful site whether you want to be Paleo or not. Many people have tried this and have posted really helpful recipes for all meals, including dessert (which I would find the most depressing to give up). There are also many sites that are devoted to being Paleo and helping people understand which foods work and which don’t.
What if I am on the meal plan?
This is the hardest part of going Paleo as a college student is the temptation and unknown that comes with eating in the dining hall. For example, most hot meals are made with ingredients that you can’t identify (not necessarily a bad thing but take it as you will) or have identifiable ingredients. This will be a serious test of will power but there are definitely options, like the constant salad bar and then there are just regulations that you need to set on your own. Obviously you won’t be able to consume grass-fed meat but maybe use the grilled chicken option instead of one dripping in some sort of sauce of the day. The vegan room will be your best friend during this diet and I commend you if you can make it past mac and cheese day. I could not when I attempted the Paleo Diet last year. One of the things I learned coming out of this was that I was always overeating when I went to the dining halls but with this diet, I was consuming far less and still functioning at high levels.
Good luck to all who attempt this and I salute you.