One of the key elements to staying on track with eating Paleo is preparedness. By having Paleo-approved foods in the house to grab whenever you’re feeling peckish, you’ll be able to continue on your path of clean eating. Think of how easy it is to just grab a few crackers or a cookie or two, and not really think about it. Snacking on Paleo foods should be just as easy! So today we’re talking Paleo staples to have on hand, and some delicious Paleo snacks you can prepare with them!
When I get hungry, that’s the time I’m least likely to make smart choices about what I eat. So planning ahead is the key! It’s also a good idea to eat regularly enough so that you don’t allow yourself to become very hungry. I know that I always want to grab the easy, junky stuff, so this is a list I’ll be taping to my pantry and fridge!
Paleo Snacks and Staples
Nut butters – Peanut butter is so delicious but unfortunately, not Paleo. But, there’s so many super yummy nut butters out there, you won’t miss the peanut stuff.
Remember having ‘ants on a log’ as a kid? Make a Paleo version with almond butter spread on celery and topped with dried unsweetened cranberries.
If you have a sweet tooth, a real decadent treat to make is apple nachos. Cut your apple into slices and lay them out on a plate. Drizzle almond butter over them, sprinkle on unsweetened shredded coconut, raisins, dried unsweetened cranberries, and a few dark chocolate chips.
A quick snack that’s filling is a baked sweet potato with a dollop of nut butter on it.
Eggs – Eggs are a great source of protein and definitely something you should have on hand at all times. They’re one of those foods that goes well with every meal – not just breakfast!
Deviled eggs are simple to make. Use homemade Paleo approved mayo or avocado. Dress them up by adding chives, black olives, or bacon.
If you’d prefer egg salad, make that with either Paleo approved mayo or avocado, toss in any of the same ingredients as the deviled eggs or veggies such as carrot and bell pepper. Since bread is off the menu, use lettuce to wrap it in.
Your favorite veggies you enjoy raw – Of course, these can also be vegetables you enjoy cooking with as well, but for snacks sake, it’s a great idea to have veggies on hand that you can grab when you’re feeling munchy. Vegetables are a big part of eating Paleo and they’re super healthy, of course! Having vegetables prepped, will help you continue to eat right rather than looking for convenience foods.
Vegetable sticks and dip is delicious. Make your own Paleo approved dip by starting with a homemade mayo and adding various seasonings to it, based on what you like. There’s many recipes out there to try!
Baby carrots and celery sticks are awesome dipped in any nut butter you like.
With potato chips gone, make your own chips out of other veggies. Zucchini, kale, sweet potato, and beets all make delicious chip alternatives.
Cauliflower is so versatile and can be used as a substitute in numerous Paleo recipes. Whether you’re craving pizza crust, mashed potatoes, hummus, rice, or tortillas – cauliflower has got ya’ covered! You’ll be surprised with how many different ways you can prepare this veggie to make a Paleo approved version of some of your favorite foods.
Meats – like vegetables, meat is another big part of the Paleo diet. One of the best ways to have protein that’s quick to grab, is by making extra. If you’re baking chicken breast for dinner, make one or two extra. That way you can throw some in with lunch or cut off a piece just to munch on. Same with meatballs! Two or three meatballs make for a filling snack.
Coconut milk and dates – both of these are used in various Paleo recipes and are great to have on hand. You’ll find a lot of sweets call for them. If you’re a fan of Larabars, make your own! Dates are one of the main ingredients. Coconut milk can be used to make ‘ice cream’ out of bananas and strawberries or you can use it to make delicious Thai inspired food.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Choose a few of your favorites and make sure you have them on hand at all times. Happy (Paleo) eating!
It’s Day 26 of the “Baby Steps to a Better You” 30 days of personal challenges. Only 4 days left! And today’s challenge is about planning your meals.
Whether your goal is food-related or not, anyone can benefit from planning ahead for mealtime. It can save you time, money, and calories. Today, plan one week of dinners. You can plan for 7 days or take the weekend off and just plan for 5. After you plan the dinners, see if you can also plan lunches and breakfasts for those same days (as simple or as complex as those might be).
Once you have your week of meals, make a list of all the groceries you’ll need for the week.
Now, look over your meals. Are the plans you made something that would be worth repeating once per month? Well, if you repeat this challenge three times, you’ll have four full weeks of meal plans and four grocery shopping lists.
Now just store your meal plans and lists, and you’ve basically done all the meal planning you’ll ever need to do! You can always throw in new ideas, of course, and substitute warmer/cooler weather meals by season, but if you’re looking for a way to “hack” your cooking chores- this will do it!
