What you eat has the single largest affect on your health, well-being, performance and longevity. More than simple survival, more than just fuel for the machine, what you eat is equally physical, emotional and spiritual components of a complete existence. It's family, it's weight management, it's celebration, it's body composition change, it's fun. With a solid nutritional plan everything else falls into place.

Important: When we use the word Paleo we're talking about a set of principles, not a list of hard and fast rules. Our goal is to feed ourselves in the most appropriate way based on long established patterns. We're not trying to replicate a caveman lifestyle or construct a diet composed of prehistoric food items, we're aiming for a fundamental metabolic state built on foods that exist now.

Get it.

Robb Wolf's book is available today. If you don't read anything else this year, read this. Robb is our friend and mentor and a huge influence on what we "suggest" in terms of diet, rest and recovery, sleep, supplementation and general lifestyle for health, wellness and longevity. We'll review the book as soon as our pre-ordered copy gets here, so stay tuned. If you haven't yet, get The Paleolithic Solution podcasts with Robb and Andy Deas. Good stuff. Be the 11th listener!



Happy microvili! Yay!

Here is a fantastic post by Melissa McEwen at HuntGatherLove on Paleo/Primal eating and a nice review of Robb Wolf's new book The Paleo Solution. We talk about the benefits of eating a hunter/gather style diet incessantly and for good reason; they're many and profound. Take a look, then go re-watch this Paleo video and check out our other resources.

The high-fat lance proves superior to the high-carb version. A horrible waste of some good bacon, though.

Click for the easy-read version.

I find this fascinating. Not having eaten a typical Western diet for awhile (and, I admit, not getting out much) I sometimes lose track of what the rest of the world is doing. Some thoughts and points for discussion:

2700 calories!?!! I'm trying to gain weight and can only force in 3500! The average American apparently accidently eats 2700 calories a day. It's gotta be the soft drinks, right?

I'd be encouraged by the over 400 pounds of vegetables, if I weren't pretty sure that potatoes and beans are included in that.

What the heck is non-cheese dairy that isn't milk? That I don't get, somebody help me.

A pint of ice cream is about 1/2 pound, just so you know.

We're keeping up our end of the caffeine consumption. You?

A medium McD's fries weighs about 5.5 ounces. Between those of us who don't eat any and the 29 pounds a year average, somebody's eating a lot of fries.

Those average body weights are a little scary, don't you think? Though I'd love to weigh 190. The numbers don't tell the whole story.

Caloric sweeteners includes all forms of sugar; agave, honey, the works. Stop it.

134 pounds of wheat flour a year is a little more than 2 1/2 loaves of bread a week. Who eats that much toast?

If only it were actually good for you...

"Yes, they’re inextricably woven into nearly every aspect of our society. Dietary staple, cultural icon, sentimental fodder, patriotic symbol: it’s impossible to get away from them. However, just because they’re ubiquitous in our social environment doesn’t mean they deserve a place on your dinner plate. You know the multitude of reasons to quit grains. How about some strategies for kicking them to the curb?"

Great practical ways to rid yourself of those "damn dirty grains." Not as hard as you may think.

After lots of versions we think we've developed Your Ultimate Meatza. You'll never go back to doughy, boring store bought pizza again.

Combine 1# lean ground beef and 1# pork Italian sausage. Sprinkle grated Parmesan (get real cheese, not that salty crap in the green can) on the bottom of a 11" x 17" sheet pan and spread the meat mixture evenly to the edges. Spread about a half jar of your favorite pasta sauce on the crust. Top with onions, olives, zucchini, sliced Andouille sausage, chunks of seasoned chicken, salmon, mushrooms - you get the idea - anything you like. (See, Your Ultimate Meatza!) Cover with cheese if you want. I know, not strictly Paleo but a little won't kill you.

Bake at 450 for 25-35 minutes. The more stuff you put on it and the thicker it is, the longer it will take. Be patient, let the cheese brown, drain, slice and enjoy.

Keeps, travels and reheats well. Makes enough for 8 good sized servings. Or a fantastic movie night for 2.

I scoff at your PopTart.

The Bacon Cheeseburger breakfast is classic. Paleo guy may not have been so complex in his food prep but this still fits nicely within basic Primal guidelines. The cheese is a stretch for sure but the small amount and good quality let's us slide it in. Add some avocado or a handful or nuts for extra fat, some fruit for tasty carbs and enjoy.

Eating Paleo is a set of principles, not a list of can-and-can't-haves. Non-processed, close to the ground, high nutritional value foods. Grass-fed meats, locally grown, seasonal veggies and fruits whenever possible and plenty of healthy fats. Go simple or dress it up. Don't be neurotic. Eat.

Onion and avocado posed the least risk of pesticide exposure.

And, again, one of the best ways to keep you and your family safe is to join a group committed to locally and sustainably produced agriculture like Grow Alabama.  Join this month and get 10% off.