I was recently asked for tips for someone who is new to Paleo, and I thought about it for a few days. Here are some things I wish I knew more about when we started our Paleo lifestyle.

• There are lots of foods that we are used to eating and that is available at restaurants that is already Paleo. These include:
  • Steak
  • Grilled chicken
  • BBQ chicken (ask about sugar content in the rub, spices, and sauce)
  • Ribs (same as with BBQ chicken)
  • Brisket
  • Sausage (check for sugar content)
  • Lobster
  • Crab
  • Fish (grilled, broiled)
  • Steamed or grilled vegetables
• Prep days can be made easy with crock pots, smokers, and slow cookers.
• You don’t have to eat a lot of salad and grilled chicken; there are LOTS of recipes available to make amazingly delicious foods that are Paleo compliant.
• Ease into the Paleo recipes an ingredient a week. It takes time to learn them and some of them can be costly (though this is getting better as Paleo is getting more mainstream and even Costco and Sam’s is carrying Paleo ingredients).
• Plan your prep days by shopping ahead and making a plan for the week’s lunches and dinners.
• Prep days. Make your week’s worth of lunches and some dinners so you can enjoy the little time you have after work by just warming up some good food. It’s easy to go off-diet when you are tired and don’t want to take the time to make a Paleo meal in the middle of the week.

Some things to avoid when going Paleo:

• Too much fruit. Lots of sugar, even if natural, isn’t good for you.
• Snacking. Try to limit this as much as possible.
• Desserts. These should really be treats and not part of normal meals.
• Eating salad and grilled chicken every day for lunch and dinner. You’ll go nuts and quit and want a burger.
• Artificial sweeteners. Stevia may be natural, but you need to break away from sweeteners as well as sugar. The effect on your brain is the same with artificial sweeteners as it is with sugar.

This list isn’t all-inclusive, but it covers some of the things I wish we knew in the beginning. I hope it helps!