The Paleo Palate

October 05, 2012

Cave people were lean, mean, survival machines. At least that’s what I hear, and that’s the theme of several books that are flying off of the book shelves. In case you’ve been in a cave for the past year, it’s called the Paleo Diet.

The diet is not new. In 1970, The Stone Age Diet by gastroenterologist Walter L. Voegtlin introduced the world to the concept of eating like a hunter gatherer. Dr. Voegtlin argued that humans should eat a diet similar to what our ancestors ate. This would consist of meals based on wild plants and animal proteins. The diet excludes grains, legumes, dairy, salt, refined sugar, and processed oils.

A paleo dieter would eat primarily what would typically be hunted or gathered, but not harvested. This diet has re-emerged with the help of new authors that have taken up the mantle. The diet can be found under various names including: paleolithic diet, paleo diet, caveman diet, Stone Age diet, hunter-gatherer diet, and warrior diet. It also has several off shoots that are low/slow carbohydrate in nature.

Does this sort of eating plan sound appealing to you? Do you think you are ready to give it a try? If so, I’ve compiled the below list of resources to get you started.

• The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Foods You Were Designed to Eat
• The Paleo Diet Cookbook: More than 150 Recipes for Paleo Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Snacks, and Beverages
• The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet
• The Paleo Diet for Athletes: A Nutritional Formula for Peak Athletic Performance
• The New Evolution Diet: What Our Paleolithic Ancestors Can Teach Us about Weight Loss, Fitness, and Aging
• The Origin Diet: How Eating Like Our Stone Age Ancestors Will Maximize Your Health
• The Gene Smart Diet: The Revolutionary Eating Plan That Will Rewrite Your Genetic Destiny--and Melt Away the Pounds
• The Primal Blueprint: 21-day Total Body Transformation
• The Primal Blueprint Cookbook
• Make It Paleo: Over 200 Grain Free Recipes for Any Occasion
• The Warrior Diet

• Sweet Potato Power: Smart Carbs Paleo and Personalized

I gave it a thought or two, but it seems I really love products made from wheat and corn. There’s still hope that I may channel my inner cave dweller.

Mike T.
South Independence Branch