No fibs or spin, promise!
My reasons for embarking on a Paleo diet were not primarily concerned with weight loss and I hadn’t necessarily digested the masses of either scientific or anecdotal debate that’s out there. Still haven’t, other than a couple of cookbooks and articles. Instead, as a newlywed, whilst nearing the end of our honeymoon last August, my husband, living and managing Crohns Disease floated this as an idea that could signal the end for his need to take medication every day. He’s in his 20’s so this seemed an incredible opportunity-of course I’ll support you, what do I have do…?
Step forward the Paleo diet. His suggestion that we follow this regime, as close to a cavemen’s dietary habits as we could manage filled me with horror to begin with. It’s incredibly rigid with banned foods outnumbering permitted at an alarming ratio that’s so heavily stacked against the possibility of an exciting meal, that I thought we’d be through with this by September.
You knew there was a ‘however’ on the way! A stone lighter, no bloated feeling after dinner, an end to calorie counting and a week after a gastronomically wonderful Christmas, it’s Paleo that will see us into the new year and beyond.
Here’s a rundown of what we scoffed on Christmas Day…after bacon and eggs for breakfast that is!
Paleo Christmas Lunch:
- The ubiquitous turkey-roasted with garlic, butter and herbs
- Sweet potato mash
- Cumin and honey roasted carrots
- Savoy cabbage with garlic, bacon and whipping cream
- Gluten free pigs in blankets
- Chestnut, gluten free sausage, apricot, onion and sage stuffing
- Roasted onions
Delicious. Buttery, indulgent, tasty, incredibly moreish and Paleo-ready!
But what about pudding?
- Apple crumble and whipping cream followed by dark chocolate and coffee?
Absolutely-again, the Paleo way. Mmmmm-I’m back there, I’ll be honest!
We didn’t gain any seasonal flab, something we’re pretty accustomed to if experience teaches us anything, and have avoided the dreaded sluggish, post-Christmas calorie-induced lethargy that in previous years has pretty much dominated the interim between Christmas and New Year. Fantastic for us. Is this a sickeningly pious attempt to showboat our diet as right? A recommendation of how you ought to be eating? A guide to nutrition by a gastronomical guru? No way, none of the above. I’m not perfect, I sometimes cheat (DO NOT tell my husband-he possesses the most steely resolve and willpower I’ve ever witnessed) and I absolutely do NOT want to be a pariah around the dining table, picking and choosing and fussily food combining. I’ve tried every diet in the book, and been chewed up and spat out of the other side by pretty much all. For that reason, the fact that this lifestyle seems to suit me/us and that Christmas, at least within our own bellies, was a success, I thought it was worth a share!
Thanks for reading,
Peace, love and heartsandwaggs.x
heartsandwaggs 