Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.
-Arnold Bennett
Sometimes we forget how making a simple change in our lives can ripple and affect everything around us. This seems to apply to any change we make but in this instance I'm talking about my decision to switch to a Paleo "diet." I mentioned in my first post that this journey has become one of learning and I meant it. I feel like I have to learn how to cook from scratch again. I considered myself a pretty "clean" cook before I realized how much I relied on grains when cooking. I'm oober grateful for the internet and for sites like google, pinterest and instagram that have helped me to learn the basics! I'm also lucky that my hubby and daughter are joining me since there is strength in numbers and I have someone to laugh with when things feel overwhelming or when I cook something that turns out just awful, which has happened more than I'd like to admit!
The one big change I notice about Paleo style eating is that if you have to adapt to anything it's mainly texture. People are creative, there are countless blogs and websites out there all full of wonderful and delicious recipe options for everything from beverages and desserts to full on feasts, but the one thing I do notice is that no matter how hard we try we are not going to be able to recreate that elasticity that activated gluten and yeast bring to wheat in the crust of a pizza, or the stringiness of cheese when it's melted over a burger. With that being said, I am totally happy to let go of those things in order to reap the benefits that I have seen in the short period that I've been eating Paleo. However, that's NOT to say that I won't cheat every so often and have a bit of cheese on my paleo pizza! But it IS to say that I'll take special care to do so as little as possible because frankly, I feel AMAZING!
Now, I'm sure I'll dedicate at least one complete post to this next item but we must discuss the topic of money. I've read so many different perspectives on the costs of eating Paleo. Now that I've stocked up my pantry and been able to keep track of our food expenses I can easily say that although it may seem like Paleo is more expensive than a "traditional carb laden American diet," I'd argue that it isn't. First of all, consider the amount of money that people THROW AWAY on prepared, boxed and processed "food" and keep in mind that fresh food will ALWAYS be cheaper ($1.50 for a box of Rice A Roni vs $.059-0.89 for a head of cauliflower, or cabbage, or broccoli, or cucumber, the list goes on). Secondly, remember that foods high in fiber and dense in nutrients will not only nourish a body better but they will also keep it full with a much smaller portion, and the body will be full for longer. So, that head of cauliflower will keep your tummy from growling far longer than that box of pre-processed crap. I'd even go as far as saying that it will easily keep you full twice as long; so you'd have to buy 2 boxes of processed garbage thus spending 3 times the cost of your 1 cauliflower. There are more aspects to the cost of eating Paleo and I'll definitely address them in another post but for now I'd say that if anything, the cost is the same as eating a "traditional carb laden American diet" if not a little less - yes dear, even factoring in the cost of meat.
So I'll leave you with these thoughts and post more on the matter later, enjoy your food for thought and happy cooking!
The one big change I notice about Paleo style eating is that if you have to adapt to anything it's mainly texture. People are creative, there are countless blogs and websites out there all full of wonderful and delicious recipe options for everything from beverages and desserts to full on feasts, but the one thing I do notice is that no matter how hard we try we are not going to be able to recreate that elasticity that activated gluten and yeast bring to wheat in the crust of a pizza, or the stringiness of cheese when it's melted over a burger. With that being said, I am totally happy to let go of those things in order to reap the benefits that I have seen in the short period that I've been eating Paleo. However, that's NOT to say that I won't cheat every so often and have a bit of cheese on my paleo pizza! But it IS to say that I'll take special care to do so as little as possible because frankly, I feel AMAZING!
Now, I'm sure I'll dedicate at least one complete post to this next item but we must discuss the topic of money. I've read so many different perspectives on the costs of eating Paleo. Now that I've stocked up my pantry and been able to keep track of our food expenses I can easily say that although it may seem like Paleo is more expensive than a "traditional carb laden American diet," I'd argue that it isn't. First of all, consider the amount of money that people THROW AWAY on prepared, boxed and processed "food" and keep in mind that fresh food will ALWAYS be cheaper ($1.50 for a box of Rice A Roni vs $.059-0.89 for a head of cauliflower, or cabbage, or broccoli, or cucumber, the list goes on). Secondly, remember that foods high in fiber and dense in nutrients will not only nourish a body better but they will also keep it full with a much smaller portion, and the body will be full for longer. So, that head of cauliflower will keep your tummy from growling far longer than that box of pre-processed crap. I'd even go as far as saying that it will easily keep you full twice as long; so you'd have to buy 2 boxes of processed garbage thus spending 3 times the cost of your 1 cauliflower. There are more aspects to the cost of eating Paleo and I'll definitely address them in another post but for now I'd say that if anything, the cost is the same as eating a "traditional carb laden American diet" if not a little less - yes dear, even factoring in the cost of meat.
So I'll leave you with these thoughts and post more on the matter later, enjoy your food for thought and happy cooking!
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