Anyone in the UK living the Paleo lifestyle?

Hi. I've been broadly following paleo for a couple of months now, inspired mostly by Dr John Briffa's book 'Escape the Diet Trap'. He has a lot of very practical advice in there for those of us in the UK who are trying to combine paleo with a full-time job. For example, his paleo Scotch eggs are a great on-the-hoof meal.

Blog wise I've been into Dr Briffa's blog and another one called 'Not Just a Man's World', both based in the UK. The latter is from a very interesting woman who actually has a background in paleolithic archaeology and combines the lifestyle with regular distance walking trips. The latter is one I especially like, because she's very frank and blogs about all aspects of her life.

If you're interested in a slightly different approach there's 'Hyper-Lipid', a blog written by a Scottish vet working in East Anglia. It's pretty physiological in content, but very readable.

And of course there's 'Mark's Daily Apple', a US-based paleo blog.

Hope this helps. I must say, I feel tons better for having changed the way I eat. Adding in more fat seems to have made a massive difference to my health.

The what now?

Sorry, was just going by what I found on Google!

Isn't it just lean meats and fish, fresh veg, fruit & berries? Anything a caveman would have had access to? Should be able to buy those anywhere.

Exactly, it pretty easy. They don't have to be lean, but if you decide to go lean, cooking with evoo, coconut oil, duck fat, etc are good sources. Fish would be my choice because of the omega's and of course the taste.

Not sure I would really want to live a Paleolithic lifestyle! Bring on the flint tools though, I like a bit of flint knapping.

Ah yes, Ammi's cheesecake recipes (on 'Not Jut a Man's World') look really good.

My Tesco has avocado oil, and also virgin coconut oil. They're pretty good about stocking things I ask about, too. Maybe have a chat with our local shopkeeper or manager.

I make a lot of things using ground flax from Holland & Barrett. Otherwise the internet is your friend:

http://www.healthysupplies.co.uk/tiana-organic-coconut-flour.html

Good luck with it!

PRIMAL BLUEPRINT SHOPPING LIST

Vegetables
! Artichoke
! Arugula
! Asparagus
! Avocados
! Beets/Beet Greens
! Bell Peppers
! Bok Choy
! Broccoli
! Broccoli Rabe
! Brussels Sprouts
! Cabbage
! Carrots
! Celery
! Celery Root
! Collards
! Cucumbers
! Eggplant
! Endive
! Fennel
! Fiddlehead Ferns
! Garlic
! Green Beans
! Jerusalem Artichoke
! Jicama
! Kale
! Kohlrabi
! Leeks
! Mushrooms
! Mustard Greens
! Olives
! Onions
! Parsnip
! Peppers (all kinds)
! Pumpkin
! Purslane
! Radish
! Romaine Lettuce
! Rutabaga
! Sea Vegetables
! Spinach
! Squash
! Swiss Chard
! Tomatoes
Turnip Greens
! Watercress

In Moder ation
! Cassava
! Potatoes
! Sweet Potatoes
! Wild Rice
! Yams
! Taro

Fish
! Anchovies
! Bass
! Cod
! Eel
! Haddock
! Halibut
! Herring
! Mackerel
! Mahi Mahi
! Monkfish
! Mullet
! Northern Pike
! Orange Roughy
! Perch
! Red Snapper
! Rockfish
! Salmon
! Sardines
! Tilapia
! Tuna
! Walleye


Shellfish
! Abalone
! Clams
! Crab
! Crayfish
! Lobster
! Mussels
! Oysters
! Prawns
! Scallops
! Shrimp

Meat and Poultry
! Beef
! Chicken
! Goat
! Lamb
! Pork

Game Meat
! Alligator
! Bear
! Buffalo
! Caribou
! Duck
! Elk
! Emu
! Goose
! Pheasant
! Kangaroo
! Ostrich
! Quail
! Rabbit
! Snakes
! Turkey
! Venison

Organ Meat
! Hearts
! Kidney
! Liver
! Bone marrow
! Sweetbreads
! Tongue

Eggs
! Chicken
! Duck
! Emu
! Goose
! Pheasant
! Quail
! Roe/Caviar


Nuts and Seeds
! Almonds
! Brazil Nuts
! Hazelnuts
! Macadamia
! Pecans
! Pine Nuts
! Pistachios
! Pumpkin Seeds
! Sesame Seeds
! Sunflower Seeds
! Walnuts
! Derivative Butters

Healthy Fats/Oils
! Avocado Oil
! Butter/Ghee
! Coconut Oil/Milk
! Lard
! Macadamia Oil
! Olive Oil
! Sesame Oil
! Tallow
! Unprocessed Palm Oil
! Walnut Oil

Fruit

Preferred
! Blackberries
! Blueberries
! Boysenberries
! Cranberries
! Gooseberries
! Raspberries

Other Fruits
! Apple
! Apricot
! Banana
! Cantaloupe
! Cherries
! Coconuts
! Figs
! Goji Berries
! Grapefruit
! Grapes


! Guava
! Honeydew Melon
! Kiwi
! Lemon
! Lime
! Lychee
! Mango
! Nectarine
! Orange
! Papaya
! Passion Fruit
! Peaches
! Pears
! Persimmon
! Pineapple
! Plums
! Pomegranate
! Rhubarb
! Star Fruit
! Strawberries
! Tangerine
! Watermelon
All other fruits

Spices and Herbs
! Anise
! Basil
! Black Pepper
! Cayenne Pepper
! Chili Pepper
! Cilantro
! Coriander Seeds
! Cinnamon
! Cloves
! Cumin
! Dill
! Fennel
! Ginger
! Mint
! Mustard Seeds
! Nutmeg
! Oregano
! Paprika
! Parsley
! Peppermint


! Rosemary
! Sage
! Tarragon
! Thyme
! Turmeric

Other
! Daily High-Potency
Antioxidant Multi-Vitamin

Supplement
! Omega-3 Fatty Acid Fish Oi Supplement
! Tamari
! Tea (green, black, white,oolong)
! Vinegar
! Whey Protein Powder

In Moder ation
! 100% Full Fat Cream
! Cheese
! Coffee
! Yogurt

Occasional Indulgences
! Alcohol
! Dark Chocolate

Kudos to everyone beginning the Paleo diet !! How's it going for y'all? I've been Paleo for 2 years. First two months, inevitably difficult, but if you power through it becomes second nature. And it's not all gloom and doom if you cheat every once in a while, eventually your desire to will subside. Previously showed no intolerance to gluten, dairy or legumes but now:

Increased energy levels, improved digestion**, improved skin, weight loss, ability to work out & exercise more and enjoy a happier lifestyle!

selfishshellf mentionned Ammi.. I was in contact with her a while back, she has some great knowledge, experience and recipes to keep you going on the Paleo diet. You will see plenty of recipes and guidelines about what foods to eat on Paleo, but the bottom line is it is all about adapting what you ate in your previous diet to Paleo. No one can tell you to eat 200g of spinach every day if you can't stand the stuff, eat what you feel comfortable eating.

Is it possible to eat Paleo on a budget in the UK? 100% yes. I was a student for the past two years living off my own part-time income and I managed it:

Fruit & Veg is cheap in the right places (Aldi, Tesco.. additions?)
Eggs (OK not free range or organic) are cheap as chips
Meat - £/kilo mince is cheap, I used to eat a lot (cut down now). Go to butchers not Tesco if you can
Fish - tuna, 50p a can
Green teas - cheap
Vitamins - available in the pound shop

If you have a bit more of a flexible budget, hit the food festivals. You can find plenty of UK farms that supply game meat such as deer, reindeer, crocodile. They deliver to your house, and if you can strike up a good relationship with the suppliers they will be sure to much more lenient on the price than Mr. Tesco.

In my approach the long and short of it is do your best to avoid gluten, keep milk and dairy down to a minimum and avoid legumes (peanuts, kidney beans, chick peas etc.). As your budget stretches, it will make it easier (free range eggs & meat, more fish etc.). But you certainly don' t have to break the bank to live this way.

Persevere if you're finding it difficult and you will reap the benefits. Learn how to deal with your cravings. Are you really craving that food, or is it habit...the attractive packaging...the advertising... etc.? Understanding this allows you to better deal with it.
Turn it into a 'lifestyle', because a 'diet' typically has a sell-by-date.

Also read !! Some great books on Paleo which will teach you the true benefits (notably Robb Wolf & Loren Cordain). If you have a clearer picture in your head the benefits you will gain from adopting the lifestyle, then it will make it much easier.

FYI my typical day on Paleo:

Breakfast: Gluten free oats/muesli with berries, honey & cinnamon
Lunch: Chicken salad with lemon juice & sunflower seeds
Dinner: Eggs with bacon & mushrooms
Snacks: choice between Chicken breast/Boiled eggs/Fruit/Almonds/*Nak'd bars (amount of these depends on if it's a workout day)
Drinks: lots of water, green tea & nettle tea and 2-3 cups of coffee (trying to limit, never after 2pm)

*must try, available in all Tescos & plenty of varieties

Admittedly, I'm no expert on the topic but I've done my share of research and am always fascinated to learn more about the topic.
Welcome your comments, always enjoy discussing the Paleo and hearing people's insights.

Unprocessed veggies, meats, fish, eggs, fungi, nuts, all widely available in different price ranges in normal shops in the UK. Finding the ingredients for paleo-style meals is easy. You won't find loads of prepackaged "health products" for paleo dieting, thank goodness, and that would be quite a contradiction in terms anyway. If you're so inclined, there's even plenty of wild food out in the British countryside (and you don't have to go far from cities for it).

Edit. I think popping into a traditional butcher's might be useful. Come to think of it one might struggle finding stuff for making bone marrow broths and such things in a normal supermarket.

I'm from the US, living in Glasgow now, and don't really find it terribly difficult to maintain a paleo/primal diet here. Feel free to add me if you want to discuss! xx

Going paleo in the UK is easier than you think, you just have to be a little more prepared and make meals to take with you. Local butchers are a great start and should be able to help with cheaper cuts of meat and cooking advice.

For convenience there is only one company i know of in the uk called The Naked Ape (www.thenakedape.co.uk) who do paleo snacks made from biltong, dried fruit, nuts and seeds. I tend to keep a few of these around for those times I have not been prepared enough to take my own food.