#1 Sodium

Without processed foods, you won't get a lot of sodium-packed foods. You'll see that your tastes for salt will change over time, but I do prefer salt with some food items. You'll want to be sure you have some salt in your food to stay hydrated.

#2 Most important things to have on hand at all times

I depend on hard-boiled eggs, good cheese (Primal), beef jerky, pork rinds, bacon, and avocados. Other cooking items include olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, bacon grease and unsalted grass fed butter.

#3 Tracking

Forget all about starvation mode. If you're eating when you're hungry, you'll meet the goal you need to be successful. I started out eating around 1300 calories a day, tracking every morsel. But then I did an experiment where I ate what I wanted, when I wanted, within my macronutrient limits and I was eating between 1900-2200 calories a day without gaining (maintenance phase). The reason Paleo-ites don't track calories for the most part is to see an overall trend for the week/month, carbs are limited to under 100 a day if losing, and protein needs are met daily. I lose the most weight when I eat the most fat. If you must track something, track your sugar and carbs. It's amazing the amount of sugar that is in bananas and apples. Until Paleo, I never understood. This is a huge difference from what I hear Weight Watchers is about. WW lets you eat all the fruit you want but there is a reason behind not doing that...sugar is sugar in all forms, spiking insulin and storing it as glycogen. It simply doesn't work for Paleo-ites since we're fat-burning machines.

#4 Go-To Snacks at Work

You'll see that as you get further into your journey, your snacks will drop off for the most part. I used to eat snacks in the afternoon after lunch but now if I eat them, they're in the evening, usually when I get home from work before I've cooked dinner. For now though, keep berries and cheese (if Primal) in the fridge, and in your drawer, keep natural almonds and beef jerky. Also any veggies are great. My favorite...pork rinds with a Wholly Guacamole snack pack.

#5 Husbands and other family

My husband didn't do it willingly but then he started to see his weight dropping without even trying. If he doesn't want to eat what you make, have him make his own. But if he's willing to try your food, be ready to buy some cookbooks and try a bunch of new recipes, or even look them up online. Everything that I've tried to make has turned out great, and so my husband is always willing to go along with it. Another thing you can do is rely on cooked meats. For instance, I cooked fajitas last night. My husband ate the meat and veggies with tortillas, but I ate the meat and veggies smothered in guacamole. There are little compromises that can be made so he doesn't feel like it's so torturous. For my kids, I usually cook something we can all eat like steak and salad, or a roasted chicken with veggies on the side.

Hope that helps!

I've just started researching this and am going to transition into a primal diet. Can you explain or give me an example of what 'good cheese' would be? I love cheese and don't want to completely give it up. Thanks!

1) Personally, I don't think it is (or will be) much of an issue. Absent a medical reason, I don't see a need to intentionally limit your sodium. (And the "paleo" diet will almost certainly reduce it compared to SAD.) In fact, I've read a few articles alluding to *low* sodium being a potential problem for some.

from personal experience if you exercise a lot & don't replinish sodium you get cramping & I think it can affect you in other ways (same with other electrolytes! - need replenishing!)

I never have added salt to food & used to get serious leg cramp in the middle of night

1) Personally, I don't think it is (or will be) much of an issue. Absent a medical reason, I don't see a need to intentionally limit your sodium. (And the "paleo" diet will almost certainly reduce it compared to SAD.) In fact, I've read a few articles alluding to *low* sodium being a potential problem for some.

from personal experience if you exercise a lot & don't replinish sodium you get cramping & I think it can affect you in other ways (same with other electrolytes! - need replenishing!)

I never have added salt to food & used to get serious leg cramp in the middle of night

This, plus I watch my potassium (to get enough to also avoid cramping). I also take a magnesium supplement. Unfortunately MFP doesn't give the option to track this one.

Sometimes I need snacks, sometimes not. I try to at least bring 1 in case I'm hungry. Depends on my activity level (if I lift heavy, I'll be STARVING the next day) and if I know I'll be eating dinner late (snack to tide me over).

Snacks: hard boiled eggs, macadamia nuts, pistachios (the individual bags are expensive here, I get the big bags and just use a 1/2 cup container with lid to pre-measure what I bring), avocados, carrots & almond butter, deli meat or cheese if I'm in a pinch. I've also made a snack out of almond butter, coconut oil or butter, coconut flour, flax seeds, unsweetened shredded coconut, then cinnamon and/or vanilla extract for flavoring - it's a little high on cals for a snack, but gets calories in quick, too. It's similar to a protein bar recipe I used to use, but left out the oats. Oh, and I just eat it with a spoon!

Jindra: cashews do that to me.

I've just started researching this and am going to transition into a primal diet. Can you explain or give me an example of what 'good cheese' would be? I love cheese and don't want to completely give it up. Thanks!

I think what the other poster meant was if you're primal you can have cheese, if you're paleo dairy is off limits. Although cheese slices, cheez whiz, and similar overly processed products would be the 'bad' ones.