Hi and welcome! I am relatively new to this lifestyle too, so I am also in the process of navigating my through all of the info out there! Dairy is a hard one for me to give up too, but even eating it occasionally is way less than I was before!

There is a lot of confusing info regarding this way of life though, regarding what you can or can't eat. I'm just doing the best I can to be healthy and not feel deprived.

I think it might be confusing because there's no one version of the diet that's best, the trick is finding what works best for you. Some people can do dairy, some people can't. Some people can handle more carbs or starchy veggies in their diet with no weight problems. If you've already done wheat and grains, then I would say your next step is to try cutting out added sugars and legumes. Other than that, try to use olive oil, coconut oil, real butter instead of canola, soybean oil and vegetable oils.

I've found it super useful to meal plan and do some prep work each week so I always have lunch for work and some snacks on hand. That way I'm not tempted to buy something I'll have to compromise on.

I've also already cut out legumes, other than peanut butter which I guess I have to reluctantly give up. I normally add 1 tbs to my protein shakes every morning for breakfast. I like almond butter but not as much as my pb. I primarily use olive oil for cooking. I do have a jar of coconut oil but I haven't really used it for cooking yet. I guess I should start.

Coming up with recipes won't be that much of a challenge I hope since I primarily only eat meat and veggies. Tonight I made a sirloin roast in the oven with broccoli sauteed in olive oil and garlic. Earlier in the week I made pork tenderloin in the crock pot with salad. I make starches for the rest of my family, I just don't eat them. I want to try making a chili sans beans soon. I've been to MDA and saw some good recipes there.

Sounds like you're well on your way then! I find almond butter isn't really a good PB replacement, I prefer Sunbutter. Maybe try adding some of that to your protein shake? I've found that most of the brands they sell around here taste the same and are made with just sunflower seeds, sometimes some salt.

Chili sans beans isn't as hard as you may think. I've mentioned elsewhere on these boards that now I just leave the beans out, use more meat and peppers and I use a whole pack of mushrooms halved and sauteed. The mushrooms help provide the texture that was missing from the lack of beans.

Broccoli sauteed in coconut oil with garlic and some sea salt is one of my favorite side dishes!

Do you have a food processor? With a food processor, some raw bulk nuts and a little bit of time, you can always make your own nut butters. This opens the doors to all kinds of fun combinations that you might enjoy more. I find everyone has different tastes when it comes to nut butter!

Def do the chili instead of just a meat sauce. I am always disappointed when I do meat sauce & spaghetti squash, it just doesn't seem as hearty/flavourful to me. Could be just because it's a quick throw-together meal, where chili is something I let simmer for hours. I've never had chili with cheese or sour cream so I didn't have to worry about missing them.

I was a huge cheese fan in my pre-paleo days though and found cutting cheese not as hard as I expected. I could taste more without the cheese (which I admittedly used to PILE on) and found that things can be just as delicious without it. Now if I have some cheese, I don't find it as yummy as I used to and sometimes too salty to enjoy at all. I'm still shocked by that. It's different for everyone though of course. Once you've cut it out for 30 days or more, try experimenting with it a little bit and see what you think!

Welcome! Sounds like you are on the right track!

Welcome to all of us!

Hi! I'm also "newish"....NEW to this board/group. I have been primal since August 2011 and I do eat some dairy, mostly greek yogurt, goat cheese and cottage cheese. I have tried manipulating things (dairy, nuts etc) for optimal weight loss, but overall my outcome thus far has been to achieve a greater health. I'm still working on my last 10 lbs...

SW August 145-46
CW March 138
GW- I would like to be right around 130.

I've also already cut out legumes, other than peanut butter which I guess I have to reluctantly give up. I normally add 1 tbs to my protein shakes every morning for breakfast. I like almond butter but not as much as my pb. I primarily use olive oil for cooking. I do have a jar of coconut oil but I haven't really used it for cooking yet. I guess I should start.

Coming up with recipes won't be that much of a challenge I hope since I primarily only eat meat and veggies. Tonight I made a sirloin roast in the oven with broccoli sauteed in olive oil and garlic. Earlier in the week I made pork tenderloin in the crock pot with salad. I make starches for the rest of my family, I just don't eat them. I want to try making a chili sans beans soon. I've been to MDA and saw some good recipes there.

Sounds like you're well on your way then! I find almond butter isn't really a good PB replacement, I prefer Sunbutter. Maybe try adding some of that to your protein shake? I've found that most of the brands they sell around here taste the same and are made with just sunflower seeds, sometimes some salt.

Chili sans beans isn't as hard as you may think. I've mentioned elsewhere on these boards that now I just leave the beans out, use more meat and peppers and I use a whole pack of mushrooms halved and sauteed. The mushrooms help provide the texture that was missing from the lack of beans.

Broccoli sauteed in coconut oil with garlic and some sea salt is one of my favorite side dishes!

I actually have Sunbutter in the house. It's not my favorite. I do like the raw, creamy almond butter from Trader Joes. Unfortunately the closest one is 45 minutes away I might have to make a pilgrimage. I did read a recipe that uses mushrooms instead of beans and it sounds really good since I do love mushrooms. I think I will put that on my menu for next week. Either that or a meat sauce over spaghetti squash, but I think i'm leaning towards chili. However it won't be the same without the cheese and sour cream!

I LOVE THIS CHILI !!!

It's from the Civilized Caveman website. hey have great recipes. Just made the smoked brisket in the crockpot and it was great! I made this a few weeks ago and I just keep making it. My family loves it too. I put it over spaghetti squash or over a huge bed of field greens. It's like a taco salad. You can make it spicier too. I just love to have it in the fridge because it's so easy to heat up and eat well. I make it with bison or ground beef.
Hope this helps.
Cristi


Bacon Bison Butternut Squash Chili (Triple B Chili)
February 6, 2012 By CivilizedCaveman 23 Comments


Servings: 3-4

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 45 Minutes

Ingredients:

1.5 Lb Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
6 Slices of Bacon
1 Lb Ground Bison (Or Beef)
1 Medium Red Onion, diced
3 Jalapeños, diced
2 Cloves garlic, chopped
14 Ounces Organic Tomatoes, diced
1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tsp Sea Salt
1 Tsp Oregano
1/2 Tsp Cumin
1/2 Tsp Cayenne
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil, melted

Process:

Preheat your oven to 400 Degrees Fahrenheit
Mix the Butternut Squash and coconut oil together in a small roasting pan and roast in the oven for 30 Minutes or until tender
Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat and cook until crispy, set aside to cool
Add the bison to the bacon grease in the pan and cook through
Stir in the onion, garlic, and jalapeños and cook until the onions are translucent
Add the salt, oregano, cumin, and cayenne and then cook while stirring for a minute
Crumble your bacon and add it as well as your tomatoes with the juice and apple cider vinegar
Bring to a simmer and let simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes
Once done, place your chili in a bowl and top with your roasted butternut squash
Sprinkle with some cinnamon or cocoa powder if desired
Enjoy