Why I Am Not 100% Paleo

Why I Am Not 100% Paleo

Let's face it, the caveman back in the days had limited sources. They ate what they could to survive and fed their families based on what they gathered from a day of hunting, hence the name "Hunter Gatherer".  These days, hunting for food is going to the local market or grocery store and picking things off of a shelf. No need to kill anything, no need to run after anything, just place things in a shopping cart - go home, and eat!

A lot of things have changed since the Paleolithic Times. Every day people are finding new food sources, and with that comes the discovery of amazing nutrients, and unfortunately not so healthy benefits. In today's day and age, people are now less active because technology has made things easier for us, which makes some of us just plain lazy. Obesity has become an epidemic in many parts of the world. So in many ways, the caveman had a great life. They had to work hard to survive, but they lived healthy and fit lifestyles. This is one of the reasons why Paleo is such a great way to live because it's simple, and it works.

But I am not 100% Paleo. And to be honest, I have never met anyone who is. A lot of people claim that they are, but those very same people also tell me that they had a cheat day or a cheat meal and loved it....well that's not 100% Paleo, and that's ok! =) I absolutely love the whole idea behind eating whole foods, cutting out sugar and grains, and exercising regularly. Why do you think the caveman were such great athletes? It's because of what they fueled their bodies with.

I have a lot of friends who use the Primal Blueprint, which is like a not so strict Paleo Plan. I try to keep things simple and follow the Paleo Plan as close as I can, and then I drink my Shakeology. And you're like, well that's not PALEO! Well, that's what makes me not 100% Paleo =). The way that I look at it, if the caveman had Shakeology and access to all the 70+ Superfoods that make this shake so healthy, I guarantee you that they would've consumed it. If you want to do what the caveman did back in the paleolithic times, then go hunt for your own food, run after game instead of going to whole foods, cook everything outside, and wear close to nothing in the winter. The world is always evolving, and food sources are always being discovered. It's ok to eat and discover new things just as long as it has great benefits, and you are exercising daily. It's all about being educated and making good choices.

There is not one way of eating, like there is not one form of elite fitness. To become successful in life, health, and business (if that's what you're into) it's about keeping your mind open. Feeding your body with the fuel that it needs to survive and thrive. Yes, Paleo works, but it's not the only thing that will give you amazing results. And trust me, I will take my Shakeology over a piece of meat any day!

Paleo California Rolls - Riceless, Soy-Free Sushi

Ok, I have to admit, I am not 100% Paleo, but seriously....who is? I have tons of friends who say that they follow the Paleo Diet, but they have also admitted that they had some grains here and there (you know, the liquid kinda grains), and an occasional birthday cake =). But yes, I know what you're saying, we're all human, quit bashing them, ha ha! And you're absolutely right about that =). I love the whole Paleo Lifestyle, and I really enjoy the recipes because it helps me focus on eating less carbs, which I love so much!

On another note, I also know that if the caveman had Shakeology back in the Paleolithic Times, I'm pretty sure that they would've consumed it too! Let's face it, the caveman ate what was available to them. Yes, they were great athletes, and that's where the issue lies surrounding today's society. Everything is about convenience, processed foods, and video games! There is just not enough activity (exercise), because instead of hunting and gathering our own foods like the caveman used to do, our society can get pizza and soda delivered to them for $10 - ridiculous!

So where is this blog post going lol? I have to say that I think a million miles per second (does that even make sense), so my posts may be about multiple topics, but I promise you, it will always lead to something, at least I hope so! =)

Here is a  recipe that I found just browsing through the internet (while I was hungry). The credit of this recipe goes to Melissa Joulwan, and you can find out more about her by clicking here. So are you ready!! Well, lets' get it on!

PALEO CALIFORNIA ROLLS (enough for one person, or two snacks)

Ingredients:
1 medium avocado
1/2 medium mango
1 medium red bell pepper
2-1 scallions, green tops only
1 medium cucumber
1/4 jicama, (about 1/4 pound)
4 ounces shrimp, steam and chilled, (you can use wild, cold-water salad shrimp)
4 ounces smoked salmon
4 sheets nori
wasabi powder, coconut aminos or homemade substitute


Directions:

Prep your ingredients.

Avocado: Cut in half and remove the pit. Use a spoon to remove the fruit from the skin and slice the avocado lengthwise into thin slivers.
Mango: Peel the mango, remove the pit, and cut half of it into strips lengthwise. Reserve the other half for dessert!
Red pepper: Cut in half, remove stem and ribs, then slice into very thin strips lengthwise.
Scallions: Cut in half to separate the dark green tops from the white, then cut the dark green tops into strips lengthwise.
Cucumber: Peel, cut in half lengthwise and remove the seeds with a spoon, then cut into matchsticks.
Jicama: Cut in half, peel, then cut a slice into matchsticks.
Wasabi: If using, mix wasabi with water, following the package instructions, and set aside.

Assemble.

Lay a piece of nori on a rolling mat, shiny side down. With about 1/4 of the avocado, form a single layer of slices on the nori. Leave a naked 1-inch strip on the side closest to you. Use the back of a spoon to spread the avocado across the surface of the nori. It doesn’t need to cover it completely — just enough to help seal the roll and soften the nori. Repeat with all four nori sheets.

We’ll start with Mango-Shrimp. Place half the shrimp on the bare strip of nori closest to you and top them with a few of the scallion greens. Place a parallel stripe of mango on the far side front of the shrimp, and add a few strips of red pepper on top of the mango.
Time to roll. Starting at the end closest to you, take a deep breath and roll the sushi, using the mat to help you tuck the ingredients into the roll. When you get to the end, give it a gentle squeeze to help the avocado do its job. Repeat with the remaining shrimp and another sheet of nori.

Now the Avocado-Salmon. Place half the salmon on the bare strip of nori closest to you and top it with a few of the scallion greens. Place a parallel strip of jicama in front of the salmon, and add a few matchsticks of cucumber on top of the jicama. Roll, starting with the end closest to you, then repeat with the remaining salmon and remaining sheet of nori.

Slice and serve. Run a sharp knife under water and shake to remove the excess. Slice the roll crosswise into rounds about 1 inch thick and arrange on a plate, along with the remaining vegetables to eat on the side. If you’re dipping, add some coconut aminos to your wasabi and dig in.

Variations:

I’ve made these with other seafood, and they were equally delicious… 
faux crabsticks(faux crab often contains wheat; use the real stuff!) real crab meat, tuna mixed with some homemade mayo and slapped that into a roll. It was delicious! Next time, I think I might try spicy mayo with the shrimp. Or some lobster! How will you customize?

And there you have it! Make sure to visit Melissa Joulwan's blog for more awesome paleo goodness! 

Want more recipes? Click here!

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