Eating Paleo with Elise Jones

Having "gone paleo" before, I have had a continuing interest in the topic, therefor leading me to read the book Practical Paleo, and have learned more about the fundamentals, and purposes around the paleo lifestyle. I'd like this first post to explain what the paleo way of eating is, and what it does for the human body. First off, it is not considered a diet, it is a change in one's lifestyle that leads to long-term health benefits. Also, when hearing about paleo; people commonly think "why would I eat like that, didn't cavemen only live to be 30?". This belief can be shattered with the fact that there is now modern medicine, lack of vulnerability to predatory animals, and the average person is less vulnerable to the elements due to advancements in shelter....you know advancements in the basic needs of survival.  Instead of harming, paleo has actually proven to heal a person's body, "It has helped countless individuals overcome what were seemingly insurmountable, chronic, or even unrecognizable health problems." (Sanfilippo, 18).

 

To summarize the author's views and opinions: the paleo lifestyle surrounds the idea to eat whole foods and avoid modern, possessed, and refined foods. Also today's modern, factory made foods  have commonly led to child-obesity, behavioral disorders, early-onset puberty, and autoimmune conditions. This can be explained with how the USDA's guidelines are not based on sound and scientific theories, and are more set on illogical and potentially dangerous hypothesis, whose use is to mass produce food in order to mass produce food to feed the world's growing population. Where as foods involved with eating paleo are nearly identical to what is already in nature.(Sanfilippo, 32). These reasons have influenced me to choose this lifestyle, and the following ideals will be incorporated into the recipes I prepare from the book.

 

Do eat whole foods...

• meat, seafood, and eggs 
• pasture raised, cage free, vegetarian fed, free range, naturally raised, organic, natural, or wild caught
• vegetables and fruits 
• local, and/or organic
• nuts and seeds
• local, and/or organic
• fats and oils
• organic, cold-pressed, and from well -raised animal sources

Don's eat refined foods...

• refined grains
• whole grains (today's whole grains are still refined and produced in factories)
• packaged snacks
• dairy products
• certain beverages
• sweeteners (yes, this does include sugar)

The ideals of paleo, commonly scare people away, because of how this way of eating cuts out foods that are most familiar to them. "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 safer and healthier than foods your great-grandmother ate." (Sanfilippo, 32) I believe this is a significant quote from the text, as it explains how people are so used to eating what the government produces, that most people don't realize that going back to the basics would be the best thing for them.


The paleo lifestyle is not for everyone, as it takes quite a bit of knowledge and a lot of commitment. But given the increase of organic foods and places to get these foods, it has made the paleo lifestyle as easy as ever. Which leaves the question, would you try going paleo, or not?

 

The Beginning of Change

It seems that my way of living and thinking of things has always been in an attempt to learn, improve, and succeed. Whether this is just a product of a society that feasts on resolutions and quick improvements, or my own perfectionist (at times too much so) ideals, I have decided to read The Rules of Life by Richard Templar for my Quarter 2 IRP.

I always try to  make these "life changing" goals for myself that usually last no longer than a week. Ranging from my attempts to meditate daily or teach myself a new skill from an array of YouTube videos, the only thing that ever stuck was my vegan diet. I think this way of living greatly reflects who I am as a person. I live with this mindset that although I'm just fine as I am, their is always room for improvement and that I'm never actually good enough as is. That I have to pile on these interesting skills and hobbies that act as adjectives to who I am and what I've accomplished. It also shows the underlying existentialism I live by where no goal is too far fetched and that with a little dedication I can do anything. I'm going to use this mindset and The Rules of Life to try to create and all encompassing lifestyle change that will give me better outlook and more motivation to complete the smaller goals.


The Rules of Life is a great book for me to start out with. I'm a very list oriented person which flows nicely with the formatting of the 100 rules that the book holds. Already Rule #4 Accept Yourself, has stood out to me. I like to think I already have a pretty high self-esteem. I was lucky enough to have a mother that raised me to believe I was amazing, but as my past shows I am often trying to change little parts of myself. Therefore the quote in Rule #4 that stood out the most to me was, "You don't have to improve or change or strive for perfection. Quite the opposite. Just accept." (Templar 10). Personally this is a difficult idea to grasp and it is also hard to understand coming from book that is about changing your lifestyle. I think the message is that before you can improve you have to be ok with the what's already there. It somewhat reminds me of ceramics where before you can add a design, you should always smooth out the surface of the clay.


The other rule that stood out the most to me was Rule #5 Know What Counts and What Doesn't. Especially the quote, "Being here counts. Being kind and considerate counts. Getting through each day without seriously offending anyone or hurting anyone counts." (Templar 12). I think in this growing technological age this idea has become increasingly skewed. Is our online following really that important? Do the number of likes have any correlation to your happiness and fulfillment in life? Are you positively influencing other's lives with your actions? We live in such a self satisfying society, but I think we need to take some time and work on benefiting the world. Personally this rule strongly applies to my school life. I've spent years stretching myself thin for a 4.0, but will a perfect GPA actually change who I am? People aren't going to remember me for the grades I had, but rather how I impacted and affected them. We as humans have such potential in life and I think if we refocused our energy on the things that really mattered, the changes in the world would be immense.