Paleo Cooking - Elise Jones

While reading the book, Practically Paleo, I have learned more about what the paleo lifestyle is and what it entails. For example how it isn't a diet, but a lifestyle and how it can heal a person's body inside and out. "We live in a time when up is down and black is white. We have been taught to believe that the foods coming out of factories are healthier and safer than foods your great-grandmother ate" (Sanfilippo, 32). The text discusses how people have began believing refined foods made/processed in factories are the healthiest and safest foods available. But that is not the case! This is mainly because the guidelines set by the USDA are not based on scientific theory or conclusive proof, but based on illogical/potentially dangerous ideas. We need to remember that we are not smarter than nature, we cannot make better food than nature, and that we need to eat real, whole food-period (Sanfilippo, 33).


Paleo is all about eating whole foods, as I have mentioned in previous posts, and is all about putting in good in order to feel good. Paleo is known to help digestive function, blood sugar levels, and other various health goals (like shedding those stubborn extra pounds). So instead of looking to the media for what to eat, turn to the stuff our species began on, real, whole foods! Things like free range eggs and meats, wild caught seafood, and organic fruits and veggies. Leading me to what I decided to make today, tomato soup.


The recipe used included:

• garlic
• tomatoes
• basil
• carrots
• onions
• celery
• bone broth (chicken)

All of the vegetables I used were of course organic and the bone broth was made from a free range, antibiotic free chicken. Bone broth is an essential to paleo cooking, as it is extremely high in nutrients and makes a great stock for soups and sauces. It is made from slow cooking bones (chicken, veal, lamb, etc.), allowing them to release nutrients and flavor into water and your selection of herbs, cider vinegar, and veggies. Bone broth is mainly known for its healing and protecting abilities, as the nutrients come from the bone marrow of the animal (Sanfilippo, 234).




The soup I made turned out very good, given that tomato soup is one of my favorite foods and I will definitely be making it again. It was very easy, only taking me around 30 minutes to make and was great to eat after a day of finals.



After reading this book, I have discovered many different ways to further incorporate the paleo lifestyle into my everyday life. I have also found many things that I eat regularly, that already fit in to this way of eating as well. This leads to the question, do you eat any foods in your day-to-day life that are paleo?