The key to changing to a Paleo Diet is to focus on the foods your body loves! Plan ahead so you don’t get caught without options. Lunches for work, grab-n-go breakfasts, quick dinners – know what your possible hang-ups are, and prepare for them ahead of time. Here are some of my favorites.
Paleo Quiche Lorraine (photo above)
Creamy, rich, and so easy to make, a nutritious grab-n-go meal anytime. Pair it with a salad for a yummy lunch or dinner. I tried to emulate the flavor of heavy cream and rich Emmentaler cheese, using hunt and gather ingredients, such as coconut milk, coconut butter, lemon juice and nutritional yeast. It turned out totally delicious and my guests raved.
Here’s one of the best Paleo lunch ideas: Wraps! I love them because I can eat them with my hands like a sandwich. Just blend and cook in 5 minutes, or make ahead and freeze. Fill them with egg salad, chicken salad, salmon, leftovers, raw or cooked veggies, whatever you have on hand. I filled it with a spinach-fennel salad with sprouts and it was yummy! These veggie wraps are green from blended vegetables.
Irresistibly crispy and rich, these delicate cookies are easy to make. So light and flavorful, you’d never guess they’re grain-free and Paleo. Enjoy them with a hot Chai Tea Latte, a Paleo Coffee, or just plain. This recipe is designed to allow you to sweeten to your own taste. Level 1 is minimum, Level 2 is average, Level 3 is sweet. As your taste buds and body become more sensitized to the flavors of real food, you’ll need less and less sweetener. A food processor is helpful, but not required. You’ll need a rolling pin and a cookie cutter (or a jar lid).
So satisfying as a breakfast or snack with a warm cup of brew, Pumpkin Bread is a comfort food any time of year. This is a low-carb, Paleo-style bread, so it’s grain-free, with natural, zero-sugar sweeteners.
Chocolate Raspberry Crumble Bars
I was so in love with yesterday’s Berry Superfood Crumble Bars, I couldn’t get them out of my mind. So I made them with a rich chocolate raspberry filling. Oh, I promise they’re decadently yummy! But more importantly, they’re chock full of superfood nutrition, such as cacao nibs, protein powder, and chia seeds. This is a high-protein, high-Omega-3 recipe that will go easy on your blood sugar. The crust uses chia seeds as a binder, however you can substitute an egg if you prefer. Chocolate does contain caffeine, which may keep children (and adults) awake at night. If this is your concern, substitute carob powder for cacao. Serve these bars for breakfast, dessert, or as an emergency snack. I froze the leftover bars for myself!
These yummilicious bars have a fruity berry filling and crumb topping. I’m always looking for easy, nutrient-dense breakfasts, snacks, or desserts that are low in sugars. They’re loaded with high anti-oxidant berries and superfoods. The crust uses chia seeds which are high in protein and Omega 3 oil, instead of eggs, a common allergen. The filling is made with fresh berries, avocado, and a few optional superfoods such as berry powder and goji berries. These bars use zero-glycemic Just Like Sugar Table Top chicory root sweetener which has no effect on blood sugar, or you can use your favorite sweetener. A Vegan breakfast favorite, I like to assemble them the night before and bake in the morning. If you’re sensitive to nightshades, omit or substitute the goji berries.
Chili Cheese Biscuits with Chipotle Butter
These yummy biscuits taste just like spicy cornmeal biscuits, only better! They’re a crispy, Paleo, gluten-free version of that decadent cheese biscuit you’d dunk in your Southwest tortilla soup. I served them with Coconut Chipotle Butter – see the easy recipe below. These biscuits are quite salty and spicy, however you can modify the recipe to suit your needs. You’ll need a food processor to grind the shredded coconut – it won’t work in a blender or hand- grinder.
Authentic Italian Focaccia is hard to find. Here’s an easy gluten-free, Paleo recipe that is so satisfying that I’m back in the piazza in Tuscany. Delicious with or without onions, warm focaccia is a delicious snack or accompaniment for any meal. We ate it last night with Paleo Meatloaf and green salad. The subtle flavors of onion and olive oil were a hit! No equipment needed. Makes a 12-inch focaccia.
