my BIG FAT grain free life

My sweet son gave me a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day – the Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook by Mickey Trescott from Autoimmune Paleo. What a resource this book has been!  I’ve just started reading it, so I can’t give a full report, as I’ve not tried a recipe YET.  But I CAN tell you that Ms. Trescott has wonderful, easy-to-understand information about the AIP, including her personal story, as well as reference charts and meal plans that are linked to her recipes throughout the book.

The photography in the Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook is beautiful!  The dishes look mouthwatering – not like a cookbook I would write about the AIP called “Kiss Yummy Food Goodbye: You’re on AIP”.  (Catchy title, actually.  I’m a glass-is-half-empty sorta girl when it comes to food elimination.)

If you’re considering the autoimmune protocol, I would highly recommend getting this book.  The only negative I can think of is that it’s an e-book. I would love to have a hard copy in my hands to thumb through and on which to write notes.

Alrighty-then…here’s the down-low on what I put in the ol’ kisser today…

Breakfast:

Supa-Doc recommended protein shake made with coconut milk

Lunch:

bone broth (which was made ahead and frozen)

Snack:

protein shake

Dinner:

carnitas (MINUS the cumin, smoked paprika and black pepper) served on a leafy green salad and topped with a pile of guacamole

I’ve gotten myself into a bit of a problem.  I don’t want to bore you with the details (or gross you out), but let’s just say that lots of berries with seeds in them isn’t good for my…uh…innards.  I’ve had intestinal cramping and pain and lovely other details I will spare you.

Whenever I do this to myself (you’d think I’d learn by now) I have to cut back on foods, especially raw foods, add in bone broth and take it easy.  The ol’ colon just ain’t what she used to be.  That said, the next two days will feature a “light” menu plan.

On that note…I thought I’d share some sick humor with you, just to lighten things up a bit..

Breakfast:

Supa-Doc recommended protein shake with coconut milk

Lunch:

AIP-legal bone broth (made ahead and frozen – hooray)

Snack:

Protein Shake

Dinner:

baked salmon with garlic powder and dill – topped with AIP basil pesto (no nuts or cheese); sweet potato topped with Artisana Coconut Butter and cinnamon; steamed green beans with olive oil

We found ourselves out running errands during the dinner hour this evening, so we went to The Cheesecake Factory because I knew they could accommodate this here autoimmune protocol.  I ordered the vegetable salad with a few substitutions and added grilled salmon it was quite delicious.

Here’s the down-low on today’s meal plan:

Breakfast:

Supa-Doc protein shake

Lunch:

salad bar from Whole Foods with rotisserie chicken, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, cucumber, carrots, e.v.o.o. and gluten free balsamic

Snack:

protein shake

Dinner:

veggie salad from TCF with beets, apples, asparagus, e.v.o.o, lemon wedges and grilled salmon (NO edamame, cheddar cheese or dressing)

Late Snack:

peeled apple with Artisana Raw Coconut Butter – sprinkled with cinnamon

Here’s my dinner photo shoot…it may not look like much, but it was really good.  Just a simple roast chicken rubbed with olive oil and sprinkled with AIP-legal Poultry Spice Blend.  It made a delicious au jus that we spooned over the chicken as well as the cabbage.  I wanted to drink it…perhaps I did drink it…no one will ever know…

Mystery.  I gotta keep you reading somehow-

I will say there is one positive thing I’ve learned from this autoimmune protocol – and it’s this:  simple food can be delicious and satisfying.  I won’t go into all of the negatives right here and now.  Let’s keep this conversation happy, shall we?

Breakfast:

Supa-Doc recommended protein shake with coconut milk

Lunch:

2 pieces of Whole Foods Naked Roast Beef; Golden Cauliflower Soup

Snack:

protein shake

Dinner:

roast chicken with poultry spice mix; roasted acorn squash with coconut oil and cinnamon; shredded cabbage sauteed in olive oil and then drenched in the chicken jus…or is it juice?  Let’s just call it “nectar of delight”.

So sorry for missing a post on my meal plan yesterday.  I’m dealing with a lot of fatigue this week.  I’m going to post two days to try and catch up.

Does this picture look familiar?  Remember I said on day 21 that I made a bathtub full of this soup…uh-huh…

ZZZZzzzzzzz….

Look at this little cutie-pie.  Poor baby!  I can relate…. Hey…little girl?  Is that gluten free macaroni?  Are you gonna eat that?

Breakfast:

Supa-Doc recommended protein shake; 1 piece of Whole Foods Naked Roast Beef

Lunch:

plain boiled shrimp; protein shake

Snack:

bowl of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries with a little coconut milk on top

Dinner:

chicken and veggie soup

I decided to clean out my freezer to make room for a LOT of grass fed beef and pork that I ordered from my local co-op.  I also bought 25 pastured chickens (allowed to enjoy their little birdie lives on the nice green pasture) from White Oak Pastures. White Oak is a multi-generational family farm located in Bluffton, Georgia (I LOOOOOVE jaw-juh).  I’m so impressed with the care they give to their animals and land. Please check them out when you can.

Anyhoo, the influx of meat for the freezer meant using up bone broth I had stashed in there and quick!

I decided instead of Chicken Zoodle Soup, I’d make a chicken and veggie soup of sorts which included black kale (a/k/a Lacinato or Italian kale), cubed up zucchini, leeks, onion, celery and carrots.  You’ll be seeing it again tomorrow as I made enough to fill my bathtub which means we lived off of leftovers for awhile.  Hooray for leftovers!

Breakfast:

2 pieces of roast beef with a slice of avocado rolled up; Supa-Doc recommended protein shake

Lunch:

spinach salad with leftover cod, e.v.o.o. and vinegar

Dinner:

chicken and vegetable soup

I’VE MADE IT TWENTY DAYS!!!  Wow.  I don’t know if I’m impressed or depressed.  I’ve got forty more to go…(sigh)

I need to have another talkin’ to with myself.  Or, I’ll just look to Weird Al for some laughs…

Should I really admit to the whole world that this video cracks me up?  Should I also admit that I had the original Michael Jackson moves down to a science in my living room as a latch-key kid?  In fact, I just knew an agent was going to knock on my door any day to “discover” my talent.  Yes, I lived in a dream world even then…

Breakfast:

Supa-Doc recommended protein shake

Lunch:

huge salad from Whole Foods with chicken, e.v.o.o. and gluten free balsamic

Snack:

same shake as breakfast; 2 pieces of roast beef with some pesto

Dinner:

pan-seared chicken in e.v.o.o. and coconut oil topped with pesto; roasted butternut squash with coconut oil and cinnamon; salad