The Struggle of Balancing Your Paleo Lifestyle with a Non-Paleo Family
I walked into dinner at my In-laws and instantly spotted the chicken covered in breadcrumbs. I had mentioned to family that I could no longer eat gluten, but…
The self-talk was quick as I tried not to panic, “It’s ok, I’m not that sensitive to gluten. I can just brush those crumbs off.”
I didn’t want to be a burden, but I was also becoming increasingly aware of just how sensitive my body was. I didn’t particularly want a headache that night.
I ate the brushed off chicken, and you can imagine how I felt later. That headache was fierce. This was early in my transition to a real food/paleo diet and I was still learning the ropes so to speak.
Over the years, it has become easier. But, heading home to visit family still presents its hurdles and comments:
“What do you eat?”
“Well, it’s organic!”
“Why won’t you have bread?”
“This looks like so much work.”
“You don’t have juice?”
“Aren’t you going to cheat?”
“You’re so good.”
I’ve struggled with what to say, and am constantly revising how to say what I want. So, we’ll call this an Open Letter to My Family:
One Letter That Sums Up How It Feels to Live Paleo When Your Family Isn’t
Dear Family,
How to put this into words… when we travel home for visits, I am never certain how to properly explain what we eat and why for fear of sounding like a freak, or worse, a burden. But, I know you sit on the other side of the table and you aren’t sure what to make of us either.
To some degree, explaining what we eat is a lesson in a whole new language. Not that I think that is right. Why is it that we have to have extra labels for organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised, foods? Why are foods that aren’t raised as nature intended just called apples or beef? Why aren’t they called pesticide apples and antibiotic-laden beef? But, I digress. So, here we are.
Let’s start with the simplest question. What do we eat? In the most basic explanation, we strive to eat simple, clean, whole ingredients. Yes, organic, but honestly organic no longer necessarily means healthy. We try to get veggies and fruits from our local farmer or if we can, grow our own.
We eat proteins: chicken, fish, beef, pork (bacon!), moose, salmon, plenty of eggs and liver, when we can sneak it in. We make our own bone broth to support continued gut health and joint health. Soup makes for a super fast mid-week meal. I’m not trying to spend my entire life in the kitchen.
My favorite food to incorporate since turning towards a more paleo lifestyle, is fat. This was one I had to feel to believe, as I was staunchly in the ‘fat is bad’ camp before this. But, now I am grateful for the added energy and blood sugar stabilization high quality fats have given me. We eat pastured butter or ghee, coconut oil, olive oil and plenty of avocados.
We don’t eat many grains or legumes. These are inflammatory foods that don’t leave us feeling awesome. There was a time when these were completely off the table, particularly for me, but as we have healed we incorporate them now from time to time. I firmly believe in reassessing what foods you are eating or not eating depending on our body’s current needs and not being dogmatic about any perceived set of dietary ‘rules’. That being said, gluten remains a no-go for my daughter and me.
Why do we do this?
Again, the simplest answer is for better health. We feel better when we eat this way. Not just a little bit but dramatically so. I grew up not connecting how food impacted my health. Standing where I stand now, I want my kids to grow up with a different perception. Food is incredibly integral to our health and longevity, not just for us as individuals, but for our families and how we interact with one another, our communities and frankly our world. I want my kids to have this awareness be an integral part of their lives and influence how they make decisions and interact with the world around them.
I know it may seem like a lot of work to eat this way. At first it feels like it too. But, I’ve learned ways to make it simpler. I love the crockpot. I meal plan, even when I hate it. I adore leftovers. For me, nourishing my family is more than just eating a certain way. It is about building strong kids, supporting our immune systems, slowing down and enjoying a meal together – every day – connecting with the gifts of the earth, striving to be more sustainable and so much more. The benefits are beyond measure. All of the work pales in comparison to the benefits we get from living a clean, paleo lifestyle.
Now, let’s be honest, if eating this way tasted like cardboard, this would still be a hard sell, health benefits or not. But, that may be the best explanation as to why we are still at it, 5 years later. The food tastes amazing.
Here’s a few great pre-made Paleo meals I enjoy on the days I don’t feel like cooking. The bonus is, these meals get delivered right to my doorstep.
