So what does "Paleo" mean (to me)?

I have now official started the Paleo phase of my diet experiment.  Earlier in the year I spent several posts reviewing the paleo dos and don’ts.  Rather than trying to comb through all of that, I figured I’d summarize it in one convenient place.

The version of the Paleo diet I’m doing is a pretty strict form but not one that is going to intentionally be “low carb”.  The biggest difference between a low-carb version and mine is that I’m not going to be trying to eliminate fruit and starchy vegetables.  I’m still going to be shying away from eating grains of any sort, but I’m not going to have a complete ban on them.  I’m also going to be attempting to do a “whole foods” Paleo diet.  What that means is that no matter what the marketing schtick says about some cupcake, bar or other product I’m not going to be popping that in my mouth on a regular basis.  Yes, I will have Paleo-approved treats, but they shouldn’t be a substantial portion of my diet.  So, my diet is going to look like the following:

Eat Lots Of:

• Dark leafy vegetables
• Squash, root and other vegetables
• Berries
• Melons
• Eggs
• Fish and shellfish
• Meat (preferrably grass fed, pastured animals)
• Avocado

Eat Moderately:

• High sugar fruits like apples and mangos
• Starchy Vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Coconut
• “Paleo” approved oils like olive oil or coconut oil

Eat Sparingly:

• Paleo approved “treats”
• Honey, maple syrup or other “paleo” approved sweeteners
• Alcoholic beverages (wine, vodka, etc)

Avoid:

• Beer
• Corn
• Wheat and other grains
• Vegetable Oils
• Beans and Legumes
• Peanuts
• Refined sugar
• Processed food