A few people have asked me what type of food I eat since I've switched to the Paleo Diet. I humorously respond eggs and bacon and maybe some steak but they don't seem to believe me until they see me eating. Being Paleo/Primal is not so much of a diet, but a lifestyle. Your composition comes from 80% nutrition and 20% fitness. Eating right is important but also making other changes are also important, like de-cluttering, moving around more, staying active, etc.
To help give a better picture of the foods that I eat, I found a pyramid that outlines what is allowed on the Paleo Diet.
From reading my recipes, you'll notice I cook mostly with coconut oil, eat lots of veggies, eggs, poultry, and fruits like berries.
Fats: I won't go into a lot of detail, but I choose coconut oil as my fat of choice since it is very heat-stable therefore can withstand high temperatures for sautéing and frying. Coconut oil is also better for baking for the same reason. While olive oil is not bad for you, its mainly used when something is being cooked at a lower temperature or it can used in salad dressings.
Vegetables: Some of my favorite vegetables include spinach, tomatoes, red onions, spaghetti squash, zucchini, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage.
Meat: I haven't acquired a taste for some of the more unusual meat like buffalo, ostrich, or animal organs, so I stick to chicken, turkey, steak, fish, shrimp and eggs for protein and fat.
Fruit: Since fruit has a lot of fructose which is sugar, I try to eat fruit sparingly and earlier in the day. My fruits of choice are blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, apples, lemons, and avocados. Here is a list that shows the fructose level of various fruit.
Nuts: I really enjoy eating nuts, but various sources state that the level of Omega 6 in nuts are higher than Omega 3s, which is unhealthy. Nuts can be enjoyed in moderation. Refer to the chart for the levels of omegas found in nuts.
Now, here is a more complete view of what I have at home which always me to eat Paleo and not steer off-track. I rarely buy processed foods in order to avoid temptation at weak moments:
Meat/Poultry/Seafood:
- Eggs (Cage-free)
- Bacon (nitrate-free)
- Sausage
- Chicken
- Ground Turkey
- Beef Jerky (Gluten Free)
- Salmon
- Tilapia
- Shrimp
- Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil (I like Nutiva Brand)
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (good for drizzling/dressings)
- Ghee (easy to make at home - recipe to come later)
- Avocado Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Hazelnut Oil
- Sesame Seed Oil
- Raw Almonds (slivered and whole)
- Raw Cashews
- Brazil Nuts
- Macadamia
- Pecans
- Pine nuts
- Pistachio
- Walnut
- Pumpkin
- Sunflower
- Agave
- Almond Butter
- Almond Milk - Unsweetened
- Almond Meal - Blanched, Honeyville has 5 lb bag
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Broth (Chicken/Vegetable/Beef)
- Bragg's Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
- Chocolate (Dark/Unsweetened)
- Cacao Nibs/Powder
- Chia Seeds
- Coconut Milk (canned, not light)
- Coconut Flakes (Unsweetened)
- Coconut Flour
- Coconut Aminos or Wheat-Free Soy Sauce
- Coconut Mana
- Dates
- Dijon Mustard
- Dill Pickles
- Dried Fruit
- Garlic/Chili Paste
- Gelatin Powder
- Hemp Flour
- Honey (Organic)
- Hot Sauce (Co-op makes really good ones)
- Lemon Juice
- Nutritional Yeast
- Olives
- Pumpkin Puree
- Tomato Sauce
- Tomato Paste
- Stevia (SweetLeaf/Kal)
- Sunflower Butter
- Vanilla Extract/Almond Extract
- Whey Protein (no additives)
- Allspice
- Basil
- Bay leaf
- Black Pepper
- Caraway
- Cardamom
- Cayenne pepper
- Celtic Sea Salt
- Chili powder
- Chives
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Coriander - Ground and Seeds
- Cumin - Ground and Seeds
- Curry powder
- Dill
- Fennel
- Garlic powder
- Garam Masala
- Ginger powder
- Marjoram
- Mint
- Mustard (Dry)
- Nutmeg
- Onion powder
- Oregano
- Paprika
- Parsley
- Red pepper flakes
- Rosemary
- Saffron
- Sage
- Tarragon
- Thyme
- Turmeric
- White pepper
Pre-Mixed Spices:
- Adobo
- Herbs de' Provence
- Italian Seasoning
- Old Bay
- Pumpkin Spice
Produce:
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Banana (Frozen - for smoothies)
- Spinach
- Sweet Potatoes
- Spaghetti Squash
- Grape Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini
- Squash
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Lemons
- Limes
- Cilantro (Fresh)
- Avocado
- Onions (Red/Yellow/Scallions/Shallots)
- Bell Peppers (Red/Green/Yellow)
Wow, that is one exhaustive list. Hopefully you were able to get through it all. As you can see, I live on spices :) and ensure I am always stocked up.