Tips that Helped Me and Could Keep You on Track

I have had a few friends email and call me to snag some sweet tips on how I made it through the first 60 days and how I stay full steam ahead on the Paleo track.  What did I eat when I was craving junk food?  What did I do when I was too tired to cook a fresh meal when I get home?  How in the H-E-double hockey sticks did I make it through Halloween with all that candy?  The secret to the last question is a nice glass of red wine!  :-)  Yes, you can have red wine on Paleo (in moderation).

Below are some tips that may assist ya'll:

• Too Tired to Cook?

1. Chipotle....!  I usually get the burrito bowl with fajita veggies, double chicken (or steak), mild salsa, extra lettuce and some guacamole.  It hits the spot and is a quick stop on the way home.
2. Whole rotisserie chicken from Wegmans, Whole Foods, Safeway or a grocery store in your area.  Most grocery stores carry these now for under $8.
3. Chicken or Pork Sausages - throw those babies on the grill or in a frying pan with a little EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and they are delish.  
4. Broil or grill a whole package of chicken breasts (we buy the big family packs) on Sunday and then put them in the fridge.  We like to have something quick and easy to heat up during the week.
5. Tuna Fish - get the canned tuna with no added salts from Trader Joes or a healthy food store in your area...add some red onion, celery, pepper or whatever you want and munch that down.
6. Make a stir fry ahead of time and keep it in the fridge to heat up on a late night home from work.
7. For quick veggies, use the frozen veggies that you steam in the microwave.
8. Cut up fresh veggies, mix in a bowl with EVOO and spices of your choice, then throw them evenly in a Pyrex or oven-safe pan/dish and roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, stir, then another 8 minutes.

 Picture above is the amount of veggies that Cooper makes for three (3) days.  He roasts them and then reheats them at work.  He eats A LOT of veggies. :-)

• Tasty Treats

1. Greek Salad with Gyro Meat or Chicken on Top (the gyro meat with no breading filler)
2. Refer to my Chipotle Tip Above
3. A big burger wrapped in lettuce with pickles, tomatoes and onions.
4. Sweet Potato Fries
5. Fried Yuca (tastes just like regular fries) - YUM
6. Dark Chocolate (70% or above cocoa)
7. Spaghetti Squash (instead of pasta - tasty spaghetti squash and meatball recipe to come!)
8. Frozen Grapes
9. Make your own fruit and nut mix with cashews, almonds and dried cranberries.
10. Fried Chicken - made with almond meal - recipe to come!

• What kinds of foods do I have for breakfast?
1. 2 slices of Regular or Turkey Bacon
2. Fresh Strawberries or other Fruit
3. A Piece of Adam's Special Banana Nut Bread (made with almond flour) - recipe to come!
4. Eggs (scrambled or over easy)
5. Sausage
6. Coopers Egg Souffle - recipe to come!

• What kind of alcohol is Paleo-friendly?
1. Red Wine
2. Nor Cal Margarita (1-2 shots of tequila, squeeze of lime, salt on glass, soda water)
3. Vodka with a squeeze of orange and soda water.
4. Gin with soda water.
5. Any non-sugar drink you can create - no tonic water - only soda water.

• Tasty Snack Foods
1. Pistachios
2. Cashews
3. Almonds
4. Walnuts - good source of Omega 3 and healthy fat
5. Fresh Veggies
6. Fruit (reduce your daily fruit intake if your goal is weight loss)
7. Dried Fruit
8. Jerky (we make our own venison jerky)
9. Hard-boiled Eggs
10. Avocado
11. Paleo Apple Chips - recipe to come!
12. Fresh Tomato slices with fresh basil, drizzled with EVOO. 

• Taking My Vitamins DAILY
1. I take about 6-8 Fish Oil (Omega 3) Tablets Daily - this keeps up my energy - check the Paleo Solution book for how many YOU should be taking.
2. I also take two (2) Vitamin D3 tablets daily.
3. Check the Paleo Solution book for vitamins to help in your healthy lifestyle.
• LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Paleo-Solution-Original-Human-Diet/dp/0982565844/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320454641&sr=8-1