facelift time!

Now that my diet lifestyle has changed, I suppose it's time to change the focus of this blog. I mean, everything I make will still be a "Maggie Meal", for sure. But if 98% of what I make and consume follows particular dietary restrictions, I'd like the blog's name to reflect that. Especially if it means a wider viewership. I mean, the seven of you are great, don't get me wrong. But if my dreams of total world domination are to ever come true, I'm going to need more minions.

It's all about the minions.

Anyhoo...hopefully the name change doesn't turn off the handful of people following. I'd like to take this introductory post as an opportunity to offer up some information about the Paleo lifestyle to those who might not be familiar. Hopefully it's not too "in your face" or preachy.

The Paleo diet is gluten-free, so it's perfect for those with celiac disease, sensitivity to gluten, certain autoimmune diseases, poor digestion, and just about every health condition known to modern man.  The whole approach is based on the idea that the best diet for us is the one we're genetically adapted to. And what our bodies were not designed to process are the very things that foods of convenience are full of. The biggest offender? Grains.

But wait...aren't grains supposed to be healthy? Well...yes, they're supposed to be, but they're really kind of not. They're full of lectins (one of which is gluten), which can cause or aggravate intestinal damage, inflammation and digestive issues like IBS. They also contain phytic acid and other junky things that strip much-needed nutrients from your body. Grains also cause insulin levels to rise.  Know what else has these lectin jerks? Beans and legumes (including soybeans). What about dairy? Well, even though it doesn't have lectins, many people have some level of lactose intolerance (myself included). What can I say? I love the stuff, but it just doesn't love me back.

So to break it down in lay-dieters terms: Paleo is a high-protein, low-carb, grain-free, gluten-free and sugar-free diet. So you might ask...what the heck are you eating? Meat and fish. Eggies. Veggies. Berries. Nuts and seeds. And more avocado than is probably kosher. 

I'm not very good at explaining the science behind it, but I am good at giving people TMI when it comes to how this diet has affected my body. (And let me just say...I can't believe the difference.) So, in the spirit of over-sharing, here are some handy resources I encourage people to peruse:

1. This post on Simple Good and Tasty is an excellent overview/starting point. Want to learn more? Keep on reading.
2. I know I've recommended Diane Sanfilippo's book (Practical Paleo) to just about anyone who will listen to me, but I can't stress enough how much it's changed my whole approach to food, health, and wellness. If you don't want to commit to buying her big book and sifting through the massive amounts of information it contains, I suggest visiting her website and listening to some of her podcasts to get a feel for her approach. She's awesome. I really, really, really regret brainfarting and missing her book signing here in Dallas last month.
3. Robb Wolf is another genius, and the little grandaddy of the movement. I've heard excellent things about his books, but his website is also packed with information. 

Think you might be ready to try your hand at cooking a Paleo meal? Don't want to eat strictly Paleo, but want a handful of other recipe resources? Stay tuned. Up next will be a list of my top five favorite Paleo blogs. Until then, happy eating!