The Paleo Police
Posted on Nov 11 2010 by Liz Wolfe
CaveGirlEats
The Paleo movement is growing fast.
This is amazing - I hope it means better health, happier people, and a return to appreciating real, nutritious, delicious food. I hope it means kids will get decent nutrition so they can grow into healthy, vibrant adults and not insulin-dependent diabetics. I definitely hope it means Jillian Michaels will stop using the phrase "calories in, calories out" while endorsing low-fat yogurt and "whole grain" cereals.
Somewhere along the line we began believing what the packaged-food producers (I call them "Big Box" companies) wanted us to believe - that something in a box could nourish us better than something from the Earth. I grew up not even considering that there was a difference between the two.
Now it's clear that the packaged-food companies are on the defense. A certain cereal producer now boasts that their product has "as much protein as an egg." Gatorade has started using "real sugar" instead of High-Fructose Corn Syrup. It sounds like the Big Box guys understand that this is the next challenge to their product sales.
So what will we make of this? I covered one Paleo pitfall on my personal blog - crafting "replacement goods" that stand in for our old favorites. Treats aside, however, this isn't the most dangerous mistake we could make.
The worst mistake we could make as the Paleo movement grows is to become Paleo Snobs.
We've all met one - the guy who turns up their nose at any and all dairy, the girl who won't so much as discuss an ear of corn, and the wagon-riding Dieter who avoids the chocolate aisle like the Plague. They have a firm idea of what Paleo is, what must be eaten in order to "stay on the wagon," and what will wreak havoc on our internal organs. The Paleo Ideals must fit into a Diet Mentality or they just can't buy in.
Meanwhile, those new to the Paleo way of life sit shivering in the corner, looking for the nearest escape route and the closest Cheesecake Factory.
Living "Paleo" isn't about being miserably restrictive. It's about knowledge and self-determination. It's about not being taken in by advertisers. It's about not judging yourself or others - it means loving yourself and being grateful for the amazing nourishment in the produce section. It's about supporting local farmers when you can and enjoying butter if you want to. It's about building an enjoyable and nutritious lifestyle based on what's best for you, your family, your budget, and your happy-meter.
A few of my favorites? Greek yogurt, cheese, Ghee, dark chocolate, and Jersey corn. My honeymoon in Greece involved near-daily enjoyment of delicious, veggie-filled Greek Salads with a block of local Feta, slow-cooked local meats, and Greek yogurt with honey. And I felt great. (post here http://cavegirleats.com/2010/09/20/primal-honeymoon/
Most of my meals are composed of meat, veggies, and healthy fats. When I "do dairy" I try to keep it grass-fed, but a Tablespoon of heavy cream in my coffee isn't the end of the world. For those who get a tummy-ache from dairy, here's where the self-determination part comes in: don't eat stuff that hurts your tummy. (Keep an eye out for the next post on Doing Dairy Right.)
Nobody owns the Paleo lifestyle, and no one can tell you the right or wrong way to make Paleo Principles a part of your life. The uniqueness of the Paleo approach is its openness to interpretation. It's why so many individuals are blogging their journeys. These folks all have unique perspectives, but the common ground is that they all feel better. They have all found a way to reach their goals by learning what Paleo means to them. And that's what truly matters.
Filed Under: Diet stuff, Jerky/Paleo Knowledge
