A Paleo Meal Plan

This post was inspired by an article I read a wee while ago, and as a response to all the questions I receive about the Paleo diet. It seems there are so many different ideas out there, as to what Paleo entails. Here is what I ate for a week so that y'all know I am not running round eating raw mammoth and sturgeon.

So I have a series of Paleo websites and blogs that I like to keep an eye out and find new recipes and hear success stories to keep me motivated. Every now and then I will do a new search to see what I can find. Last week I found an article from the New Zealand Herald discussing Paleo. I was interested to see how Paleo was viewed at home, and what the resident guru had so say about it. Unlike many people he didn’t totally write it off, and he did mention that he thought the clean eating aspect of Paleo was essential. However, he seemed to have his wires crossed on a couple of things. Or maybe he was looking at some alternative ways of committing to Paleo. Whatever was up, the article kind of disappointed me. I know people back home are supporting me, and if they look up local sources for knowledge, I feel like the article is giving an unfair view of Paleo, or at least, Paleo, as I subscribe to it. The craziest thing was that he mentions that you cannot eat carbs, and he also says no fruit. Maybe this is the case on a crazy strict version of the Paleo diet. But that is just not the case in all the books I have read so far.

People are naturally curious to know why I am on the Paleo diet (I keep insisting it’s not a diet, but a lifestyle, but there is no smooth way of writing that haha).. They also want to know what I can and can’t eat. Rob and I thought a good way to address that would be just to list what I eat in a week. Please note, this is not a meal plan prescribed from any book, or blog, and in no way am I giving anyone health or nutrition advice. I just thought it would be a good way to demonstrate, that while in some ways Paleo can be restrictive, most of the time I don’t notice because I am eating such clean and yummy food.

And just remember – everyone does things differently. This is how I fit Paleo in with my lifestyle.

So, this is what I ate in a week..

SUNDAY

Late Breakfast

Two eggs scrambled with spinach, capsicum and mushroom

Black tea

Lunch

Meatballs with cooked peppers, kale salad

Kombucha

Dinner

Roast chicken with sweet potato, slaw

Soda water

Dessert

Frozen strawberries blended

MONDAY

Breakfast

Smoothie – Coconut water, Kale, Mint, Parsley, ½ Banana, ½ Apple

Black tea

Snack

Carrots

Nuts

Lunch

Buffalo salad

Kombucha

Snack

Berries

Dinner

Roasted pork tenderloin, sweet potato, slaw

TUESDAY

Pre Cross Fit snack

Handful of mixed raw nuts, few strawberries

Breakfast

Smoothie – Coconut water, Kale, Mint, Parsley, ½ Banana, ½ Orange

Black tea

Snack

Green tea x 2

Lunch

Grilled Tilapia and Salad

Snack

Green Tea

Handful of baby carrots

½ Capsicum (bell pepper)

Dinner

Roasted pork tenderloin, sweet potato, slaw

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs and bacon

Black tea

Snack

Baby carrots

Lunch

Steak and salad

Snack

½ Capsicum (bell pepper)

Kombucha

Dinner

Baked salmon with cauliflower mash

THURSDAY

Pre Cross Fit snack

Handful of mixed raw nuts, few strawberries

Breakfast

Smoothie - Coconut water, Kale, Mint, Parsley, ½ Banana, ½ Apple

Snack

Green tea

Lunch

Brisket beef with a salad

Snack

Dinner

Stuffed capsicum/bell pepper (beef, spinach, zucchini/courgette, cabbage, chili, mushroom, cilantro)

FRIDAY

Breakfast

Smoothie - Coconut water, Kale, Mint, Parsley, ½ Banana, ½ Apple

Lunch

Chicken salad

Snack

Berries

Dinner

Stuffed capsicum/bell pepper (beef, spinach, zucchini/courgette, cabbage, chili, mushroom, cilantro)

SATURDAY

Breakfast

Eggs, bacon and berries

Snack

Kombucha

Lunch

Chicken breast and kale salad

Snack

Baby carrots and guacamole

Dinner

Burger and sweet potato fries and Shiner Bock

Notice my week is strewn with carbohydrates and fruit…

My food increases on days that I have cross fit, and decreases when I am doing less on the weekends.

Saturday night was my treat night, and I had a delish burger. It was worth the wait all week! And that beer – the first in two and a half months. It tasted AMAZING.

Penny for your thoughts : )

I would love to know if you do something similar…

Are you surprised? Did you think it was less restrictive, or more?

Please remember I am not preaching or saying anyone should do anything other than what they are happy with. I am not a nutritionist or a food scientist. I am just responding to people’s natural curiosity.

I also hope that if anyone is seriously considering Paleo, that these posts may help them get some direction. It can be pretty intimidating at first! To see more about my journey, click here.