Saturday, 24 September 2011

The Breakfast Baffle

From my experience, when trying to convince friends and families of the merits of the Paleo Lifestyle, the one area many struggle with is breakfast.

Breakfast to most non Paleo people is made up of oats, processed, sugary cereal, toast and juice. Sounds healthy right? WRONG! Unfortunately all of these foods are a recipe for raised blood sugar as they convert to sugar, and quickly. Long term this can lead to insulin resistance and fat storage.

I understand this is quite hard to swallow, mainly because we have been taught that cereals like Special K are power food and the best thing you can eat for breakfast. But its true, we have been lied to!

Instead of eating this processed crap, you need to change your attitude to breakfasting and think differently about your first meal of the day. Most people choose to break their fast immediately on waking, while others decide to wait until later on to do so. Either is fine, unless you have endocrine issues and you should avoid skipping breakfast in order to help balance blood sugar levels. Don't just skip breakfast to save time. If you are not hungry on waking that is fine, wait up to an hour, but do not allow yourself to get ravenous.


Now its time to speak FOOD! There are a number of options open to you. Many people love to have eggs and bacon, in their many forms, and I admit, on more chilled out mornings when I have time, I love to cook up a storm for breakfast. Eggs - fried, boiled, poached or an omelette are so convenient and delicious! And don't forget the bacon as a treat! I usually add an avocado and some veg like tomatoes, asparagus or mushrooms. Fried breakfasts without the guilt?! Where could you go wrong?! Add a grain free sausage for a treat or a slice of Paleo Bread!


But what about the days when you are fed up of eggs and bacon?! (Yes it does and will happen!) Dont despair, there are other options! How about making a batch of Paleo muffins like these ones for days you are rushing or wanting something sweet? They freeze very well and can be thawed as needed. Or how about cooking up some "egg muffins" - mix together 6 eggs, red pepper, spring onions, salt, pepper and chopped bacon and pouring into muffin tins? Cook until set and you have handy egg breakfasts in a jiffy with just the need to reheat.

Still miss your oats? Mark's Daily Apple has a now infamous No Oats Oatmeal which might just hit the spot! I have never tried it but it appears to be very popular! If you try it let me know what you think!






Of course if you think of breakfast in the same way a Caveman would, you wouldn't have any hangups about the type of food you ate! Cavemen by their very nature ate what was available to them. This meant eating meat, fruit, root vegetables or whatever they had leftover from their latest kill. To replicate this you could eat whatever you have leftover from dinner the night before. Leftover salmon, steak or chicken with leftover veggies is as Paleo as you get and pretty delicious! The protein and nutrients will more than keep you feeling full and ready for the day!



Smoothies are another great way to eat on the go while filling up on nutrients! Make a smoothie from fruit, berries, banana, almond or coconut milk and veggies such as spinach. Add fats/ protein like flaxseed, avocado or nuts to slow down absorption of those fruit sugars.

I hope I have given you some ideas on what to eat for the most important meal of the day. Breakfast should be delicious, nutritious and easy. But don't forget it doesnt have to take on the usual form! Be imaginative and creative and enjoy!

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Chocolate Chunk Cookies




These are divine! I found a recipe on Paleo Parents for Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies but on reflection they had Cherry Preserve in it (and it had quite a bit of sugar in it so I refrained, and anyway I don't really like Cherries so doh, it wasn't a great choice!) So I decided to wing it and try my own concoction. These were the result, and damn yummy!

This recipe made 8 large cookies, but you could of course make 16 smaller ones!

1 cup of Almond Flour
1/4 cup of Coconut Oil (Liquid)
1/4 cup of apple sauce (3 x eating apples cooked in a little water until soft and pureed. Unsweetened)
1/4 cup of cocoa powder, sifted
1 tbsp of baking powder
4 tbsp of honey
1 tbsp of flax seed
100g of  Good Quality 75% Cocoa Chocolate cut into chunks

Place all the ingredients in a bowl except the chocolate and blend well using a hand blender.
The mixture should be quite thick. Add a little more almond flour if needed.
Form into cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
Push a chunk of the chocolate into each cookie and cover over gently with mixture to hide.
Place in an oven at 180C for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.
Remove gently from tray and place on a wire tray to cool, they will crunch up slightly.
Store in an airtight container and ENJOY!!

Saturday, 17 September 2011

Coconut, Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup



This is a perfect warmer for the upcoming Autumn. I really love soup during the chilly weather and this will definitely be on my favourites list. Its got a distinctive coconut flavour, so if you like coconut you will love this I think. The coconut comes through and then the hint of roasted garlic. Really filling and satisfying!

Serves 4

1 large sweet potato
1 medium Butternut squash
5 x cloves of garlic
4 tbsp coconut oil
Litre of chicken stock
2 tbsp Italian Herbs
1/2 tin of coconut milk

Preheat oven to 200C
Chop the sweet potato and butternut squash into cubes and place on a baking sheet with the garlic cloves
Coat with the coconut oil and herbs and mix well.
Place in the oven until almost tender, remove and place them in a saucepan, removing the garlic cloves.
Squeeze the garlic from the cloves into the saucepan too and add the chicken stock.
Simmer the soup for about 15 minutes and blend using a hand blender.
Add the coconut milk and check for seasoning. Simmer until heated through
Serve in heated bowls with bacon croutons and paleo bread (optional)