Sunday March 10, 2013 Try Paleo!

Curious about all you’ve heard about the Paleo diet?  Not sure what it is or why you’d want to eat like a caveman?  Your Library has lots of resources for you to check out on this subject.  Like many other diets it promises to help you lose weight, have plenty of energy, and prevent illness.  The theory behind it is that we should eat the foods our bodies are best able to process:  lean meats and fish, fresh fruits, and non-starchy vegetables.  Process is an important word here as a large part of the diet is avoiding processed foods.  If you’re worried about missing dessert, never fear, there are Paleo desserts to tempt your taste buds.

The Paleo diet: lose weight and get healthy by eating the foods you were designed to eat by Loren Cordain and The paleo solution: the original human diet by Robb Wolf, both provide an explanation as to why eating the paleo way is right for the modern human.  Wolf’s perspective is particularly interesting as he is a research biochemist turned strength and conditioning coach.  He blends the science with practical experience to improve your health for the better.

Of course, once you’ve decided you want to try eating this way the key is finding a variety of meals to sample.  Many cookbooks have been written to help you achieve a balanced paleo diet.  If you’re looking for family meals, check out Everyday Paleo family cookbook: real food for real life by Sarah Fragoso, within its pages you’ll find everything from lunch box meals to slow cooker recipes.  The desserts I promised earlier can be found in Paleo desserts: 125 delicious everyday favorites, gluten- andgrain-free by Jane Barthelemy it is worth a browse even if you’re not going paleo.  With more and more people opting for a gluten-free diet making a homemade dessert to suit everyone can be a challenge.  All of the books included in this column are also be appropriate for those who require gluten-free recipes.

For those of us who want a clear guide Practical paleo: a customized approach to health and awhole-foods lifestyle by Diane Sanfilippo is a great resource.  It explains why processed foods should be avoided and includes meal plans which are designed with specific health concerns in mind.  Notes regarding common food allergens are provided in the recipes.

Finally, if you’re thinking about missing all your favourite foods if you go paleo we have a book for you.  In Make it paleo: over 200 grain-freerecipes for any occasion Bill Staley adapts Chinese, French, Mexican and classic American meals and makes them paleo.  It even has menus for holidays and special occasions.  There’s no need to feel deprived with a shift to paleo eating.  I don’t think the cavemen had it this good.

On that note I will leave you to explore.  These are but a few of the paleo and primal books we have in our physical and electronic collections.  Bon Appétit!

Ruth Hamlin-Douglas