It's Not Just Meat and Leafy Greens

I went for a walk earlier, trying to squeeze in the last bit of nice weather in Houston as our cool front comes to an abrupt end, and I listened to a Jillian Michaels podcast. I love her, and the love only increases with each of her podcasts.

That's why it broke my heart today when she so readily dismissed the Paleo diet. This podcast I was listening to aired a year and a half ago, so I suppose this isn't a completely up-to-date opinion. But I imagine her opinion is still similar. It seemed to me that she didn't know very much about it.  She said "I just couldn't do it...I mean just meat and leafy greens? I couldn't be that restrictive."

The interesting thing is that she didn't dismiss the principles of the diet. She didn't say we're all crazy for consuming fats or that we were all going to die of heart disease. She simply said she can't do "just meat and leafy greens" and the diet is too restrictive.

So even though I know this post won't actually reach Jillian Michaels, I still feel the need to respond and defend Paleo-ites! (Is there a noun for people who eat a Paleo diet?)

JUST MEAT AND LEAFY GREENS
Um....those are two major categories of food. Just meat and leafy greens?

Let's take a closer look at meat (including seafood):
Beef
Buffalo / Bison
Ham
Goat
Caribou
Lamb
Pork
Alligator (I'm from Louisiana...)
Venison
Chicken
Cornish game hen
Duck
Pheasant
Quail
Turkey
Shrimp
Tuna
Salmon
Tilapia
Pollock
Cod
Catfish
Crab
Oysters
Scallops
Clams
Crawfish
Organ meats

Let's be honest...how many different meats do we really cook with? I mostly eat ground beef, pork, and chicken. I bet Jillian Michaels also eats mostly three meats. The above list is anything but restrictive.  We just need to be brave and branch out a little bit :)

But what about other sources of protein? Am I left with only meat? Nope.

You can also eat: eggs, seeds, nuts, and nut butters for protein. Eggs are a fantastic source of protein, fat, and nutrients. And I already mentioned seafood, but if you don't really consider seafood to be meat, then it would fall under this "other sources" category :) I personally eat plain Greek yogurt, which isn't officially Paleo. I can tolerate dairy, so I include it in plain, full-fat forms.

Let's take a closer look at leafy greens:
Artichoke
Arugula
Bok choy
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Spinach
Chard
Kale
Collard Greens
Mustard Greens
Radicchio
Sprouts
Turnip Greens
Watercress
Butter Lettuce
Iceberg Lettuce

That's a large list of leafy things. There are also millions (slight exaggeration...but only slight) of other vegetables out there.

Just to name a few...because I know you know this already...peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, avocados, eggplant, artichoke, olives, beets, squash, mushrooms, onions, cucumber, several different kinds of squash....I'm sure we all get the point. There are many options.

And then there are fruits...and sweet potatoes...and olive oil. Herbs and spices are all Paleo.

Okay I'm done listing foods. Sorry. I just found the Jillian Michaels' statement to be unfounded and poorly researched.

We are creatures of habit. We tend to eat the same things over and over and over again. Paleo is not restrictive - we are. I think sometimes we focus too much on the things we can't have (bread, pasta, vegetable oils, legumes, etc.) and don't take time to look at the endless meal combinations.

Here are a few links to recipes that DO NOT feel restrictive. They are delicious!
Deep Dish Tamale - Coconut Contentment
Bacon Chili Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Pesto Chicken Casserole
Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
Garlic Roasted Broccoli
Cauliflower Pizza Bites
Shrimp and Grits (grits made with cauliflower)
Indian Spiced Sweet Potatoes
Stuffed Flank Steak -Paleo Leap
Buffalo Ranch Chicken Stuffed Peppers - Primally Inspired
Crockpot Honey Pork and Apples - Stockpiling Moms

And the last thing (I promise) I'll say about this topic is that if it feels too restrictive, find opportunities to squeeze in a few treats. (And just like all dietary styles, moderation is key.) For example, this evening I had Ben & Jerry's after dinner because I ate well all day and completed a workout.  I had 1/2 of a serving, which I think is about 1/4 cup, and I felt satisfied. Every once in a while I have bread when I go out to eat, and it's not a big deal :)

Question: What is something you wish you would cook more often to change things up? What's keeping you from trying a new recipe? Of course, not being home all day to cook keeps me from making some elaborate recipes, but most blogs I follow are written by working women so I stick to my internet finds!

Good night!