There are many eating trends at the moment including the very popular low carb high fat (LCHF) or ‘banting’ diet. But many people are opting for the paleo diet.
What is the ‘Paleo’ diet?
The paleolithic diet is also known as the caveman diet, Stone Age diet or the hunter-gatherer diet and is based on the presumed diet of humans over 10 000 years ago.
Food you can eat on the Paleo diet
– All grass fed meat that has not been processed ie: no hotdogs, lunch meats etc.
– All fish and seafood that has not been processed eg: fish fingers, fish cakes etc.
– Eggs.
– Vegetables: Most veg are included, the high starch veg like potatoes and butternut are not suggested as they have a high sugar content but they are allowed if you’re a super athlete.
– Oils: Coconut oil, olive oil, macadamia oil, avocado oil and grass fed butter.
– Nuts – no peanuts as they are not a nut but a legume. There is much debate about cashews and whether they are allowed or not as they too, are not a nut, but a legume.
– Fruit – Some fruit is allowed but high in starch and sugar fruit is avoided. Eg: Berries, stone fruit and citrus fruit are generally allowed.
Food you can’t eat on the Paleo diet
– All dairy
– All processed fish and meat.
– All grains and anything made with grains eg: rice, quinoa, rye, breads, biscuits, cakes, pastas, corn.
– All legumes ie: all beans, chickpeas, peas, peanuts, lentils, all soybean products
– Seed oils
– Fruit juice and all soft drinks
– All sugars, sweets and honey (sometimes a little is allowed)
So it’s pretty strict and very much along the same lines as the LCHF diet except for one dramatic difference – the dairy.
The LCHF eating plan allows full fat dairy where the Paleo diet denies ALL dairy. The supposed reasoning behind this is that back in the cave, Stone Age man didn’t have Bella the cow to milk and there were no maids in waiting churning the delicious butter and cheese products we all so dearly love.
What do you think of the Paleo way of eating? Is it another fad or is there something to it?
Please do leave your comments in the box below.
Here are 6 recipes to get you started:
Eggs and baco avocado nests
Paprika prawns
Garlic and lemon lamb chops
Pan-fried calamari with chilli
Roast butternut wrapped in bacon
Fragrant fish in newspaper