PaleYo

Author - Dee

Paleo and Emotional Eating

April 29, 2015
Dee
Paleo

It’s been awhile since I posted anything but recipes.  I just want to talk about emotional eating for a bit, and how Paleo helped me.

I used to be an emotional eater, but I no longer am.  The reason many people turn to food for comfort, is because it actually excites the “happiness” triggers in your brain.  Unfortunately after you eat, you can experience a pretty rough decline of that happiness shortly thereafter.  A lot of the junk food today, readily available to most, doesn’t help.  It actually makes things worse.  When eating Paleo, what I have experienced, is that my body is much more balanced.  For example…my go-to emotional eating meal was a bagel or two, yes two.  Anyone knows how you feel after eating a bagel….generally, you wake up for a bit, then you start to feel tired.  Well, when you emotionally eat, that feeling of being tired is accompanied with feeling down and sad.

Take it from me, it’s a very, very hard habit to break.  You can try to find another vice to help you not eat emotionally, but food is what people tend to go to.  So, Entemann’s donuts are delicious…if I was feeling emotional, I could EASILY eat an entire box with a glass of milk.  Nothing else mattered at the time.  I’d finish the box, wait for the downward spiral of my mood, and go find some Ellio’s pizza to eat.  It was a roller coaster; scariest of them all.  I thought I would be stuck living like that forever.  I started seeing the pounds add up, and I started seeing how my skin was affected, and my mood swings, and the fact that I never wanted to go anywhere.  Emotional eating is a demon, but my God send was going Paleo.

I’m not saying you need to go Paleo to stop emotional eating, but you do need to find something that will help you break the habit.  There are ways!  The reason Paleo worked for me was my introduction to new foods and new ways of eating.  It kept my attention diverted.  I started treating my body better by what I was eating, and in return, my body was treating me better.  My emotions stabilized, I broke a few bad habits, and the food I ate was nutritionally more balanced; all together, those things went a long way.  Whether it’s the diet, or just mind over matter, I’ve learned to deal with things much better now, than before I started Paleo almost 2 years ago.  And now, it’s not so much the eating that I love, but the cooking.  I really enjoy cooking and maybe it’s because it’s a fun distraction, who knows.

Thanks to Paleo, I broke the habit of emotional eating and drinking soda!

Emotional eating is a crazy thing to understand, but it’s very real.  How have you overcome your emotional eating?

“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come.  Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome.”

Paleo Chicken and Dumplings

April 28, 2015
Dee
Dinner, Paleo

So I didn’t make my minneola chicken tonight, I made chicken and dumplings instead!  I never made it before, but I’d been thinking about it for a long while.  It came out pretty good!  If you make it, let me know what you think!

Chicken and Dumplings

  • 3 lbs. chicken breast (I cut mine into chunks, and tenderized it…but you can cook, then shred it)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp of poultry seasoning
  • 1 small onion, peeled and diced
  • 2 ribs of celery, diced
  • 6 C. of chicken broth
  • ½ C. of coconut milk
  • 2 TBSP of curly parsley, diced
  • 2 TBSP of tapioca flour

Dumplings

  • 1/2 C. tapioca flour
  • 1½ C. slivered almonds
  • ½ tsp of salt
  • ⅓ C. of cooked broth

In a pot, add broth, chicken, onions, celery, water, poultry seasoning, parsley and salt.  Cover and cook for 40 minutes over medium heat.  If you decided to keep the chicken breast whole, then turn down the stove to low and remove the chicken from the broth and shred with forks.  If you cut it into chunks, then just leave it in there.  In a small bowl, combine the coconut milk and 2 TBSP of tapioca flour and stir well.  Add this to the soup and stir.  To make the dumplings, grind the slivered almonds into a fine flour in your blender or food processor, then add the tapioca flour and salt; pulse for 30 seconds.  Add in ⅓ cup of the soup broth and mix.  It will turn into a soft dough.  Roll the dough into 1″ balls (next time I think I’m going to make them a little bigger).  Drop them into the broth and cook for 15 minutes over medium low.

Tomorrow for breakfast, I still have some of the muesli and kefir leftover, so I’m going to eat that before it goes bad.

“The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd.  The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.”  – Albert Einstein

Honey Minneola Chicken for Dinner

April 28, 2015
Dee
Paleo, Paleo Recipes

If you want to get a jump start on dinner prep…here you go!  If you never heard of a minneola, it’s like a mix of a tangerine and grapefruit.  Don’t knock it ’til you try it.  If you aren’t feeling adventurous, you can just use an orange instead!

Honey Minneola Chicken

  • 1 lb. chicken breast, cubed into bite sized pieces
  • 2 TBSP fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 TBSP fresh garlic, minced
  • 2 TBSP coconut aminos
  • 2 TBSP honey
  • juice from 1 minneola (got mine from Trader Joe’s)
  • 1 tsp fish sauce
  • green onions, chopped
  • coconut oil

Cook chicken in coconut oil over high heat until it starts to brown. Add ginger and garlic, sauté about 1 minute.  Lower heat and add coconut aminos, honey, minneola juice and fish sauce.  Stir everything together and simmer for 8-10 minutes until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked.  Top with green onions.

“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”

King Kong was Paleo

April 28, 2015
Dee
Paleo

Okay, maybe I don’t know that for sure, but the name of the burger is based on the size!  Here’s your lunch recipe for today, yes, it’s burgers again…but I’m trying to channel the warm BBQing weather!  These are simple, but delicious.  Make a side of steamed broccoli, and you’re set!

King Kong Burgers

  • 1 lb. grass fed ground beef
  • 1 shallot
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 egg
  • Salt and pepper
  • Coconut aminos

Mince the shallot and garlic, then use a food processor or blender to mince them more.  Mix that together with the ground beef, egg, salt, and pepper.  Melt butter in a pan, split the beef into 2 patties (yes, 1/2 lb. burgers), and cook!  While they are cooking, pour in 2 Tbsp of coconut aminos and let it simmer for about 2 minutes. Turn up the heat to high to reduce the sauce.  You can remove the burgers and throw some steamed broccoli into the sauce, and toss.

“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.”

It’s Not Oatmeal, It’s Better

April 27, 2015
Dee
Paleo, Paleo Recipes

Tomorrow’s breakfast is “oatmeal”…but it’s more like Farina.

Not So “Oatmeal”

  • 1 can Trader Joe’s coconut milk
  • 3 TBSP coconut flour (add more to thicken it)
  • 2 TBSP finely shredded coconut
  • 1 small banana

In a small pan, mix coconut milk, coconut flour and shredded coconut.  Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir halfway through, and add more coconut flour if needed. You can add to a consistency that you like.  Mash the banana, and then put into pan and mix well.  You can add anything to top it when you eat it, such as fresh fruit or the muesli you made yesterday!

 “Trust your intuition, it never lies.”

Thai Turkey Burgers

April 27, 2015
Dee
Paleo, Paleo Recipes

Today’s lunch was…

Thai Turkey Burgers

  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • 1 egg
  • 1 small zucchini, grated
  • 1 bunch green onions, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 2 TBSP toasted sesame oil

 Combine all ingredients except sesame oil in a large bowl, and mix well with your hands. Heat toasted sesame oil in a frying pan.  Form 4 patties with the meat and fry each patty until it’s cooked through.   Plate it with a little bit of Frank’s Red Hot if you so please.

For dinner I went out of my comfort zone and decided to get cod.  I’m not really a seafood eater, but I figured why not.  Well, I tried it and it was good, but I probably won’t make it again for myself, personally.  haha

Cod with Zucchini Salad

  • 1 fillet of cod (I got frozen Alaskan Cod from Trader Joe’s because that’s all they had)
  • Salt, pepper, and ground ginger to season fish
  • 2 TBSP EVOO
  • 2 zucchini, made into ribbons (just use a peeler)
  • 2 bell peppers cut into strips
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 TBSP coconut aminos
  • Juice from 1/2 lemon
  • 1 TBSP honey
  • 1 TBSP toasted sesame oil

Season the cod with salt, pepper and the ground ginger; set aside. Steam the zucchini and peppers for about 3 minutes.  Rinse with cold water, drain and pat dry, then place in a mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the grated ginger, coconut amino, lemon juice, honey and sesame oil.  Pour over the zucchini and peppers; mix well.  Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.  Put the EVOO in a pan and fry the cod.  Serve with a side of zucchini salad.

“Often we have to break down to break through.”

Rock and Roll Lobster Bisque – Paleo Style

April 26, 2015
Dee
Breakfast, Dinner, Paleo

Have you been wondering, where the heck have I been…well, I’ve been working tirelessly to prepare the next 30 day plan.  I worked so hard it ended up being 31 days!  I’m still ironing out some kinks, but the next 30 is coming!  Still haven’t written down my workouts, but I will soon!

So tonight, dinner…like the title says, Rock and Roll Lobster Bisque.  I’ve told you before, I LOVE MAKING HOMEMADE SOUP!  It’s so much better than canned — no contest.

  • 1 bag of Trader Joe’s Langostino Tails
  • 3 1/2 TBSP grass fed butter
  • 2 C. chopped leeks
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1/2 head cauliflower, roughly chopped
  • 4 C. low sodium vegetable broth
  • 2 C. water
  • 1 TBSP Italian seasoning
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and whole (feel free to add more if you love garlic)
  • 6 oz. can of tomato paste
  • salt and pepper

In a medium sized pot, melt 2TBSP butter and add the leeks, carrots, and celery.  Heat until leeks become tender.  Then add the broth, water, cauliflower, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, garlic cloves, and S&P — bring to a boil.  Reduce and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove the bay leaf, then use an immersion blender to blend all ingredients in the pot.  Take about 3/4 of the Trader Joe’s Langostino Tails (after you have rinsed them) and add them to the pot with the tomato paste.  Stir occasionally until well combined.  Take the rest of the TJ’s Tails and put them in a small pan with the remaining butter.  Heat them and make sure they get covered in the butter!  Pour the bisque into bowls and top with a few buttered tails.  ENJOY!!

…and then for tomorrow’s breakfast…

Delicious Muesli

  • 1 C. roasted almonds
  • 2 C. toasted coconut flakes
  • 1/2 C. pumpkin seeds
  • 1/2 C. sunflower seeds
  • 3/4 C. cashews
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 C. cranberries
  • Kefir

In a blender, use the pulse option to roughly chop the almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.  Transfer to large bowl and mix in toasted coconut, cinnamon, cranberries, and combine!  Serve with kefir!

“The more you love your decisions, the less you need others to love them.” 

Chorizo Chili

April 15, 2015
Dee
Paleo, Paleo Recipes

Hey guys!  My allergies have gotten the best of me today!  Any one else suffer?  Need some rain!

Here’s your dinner recipe for the night!

Slow Cooker Chorizo Chili

  • 1 pound of grass fed beef
  • 1/2 lb. chorizo sausages, casings removed
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
  • 1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped (they come in a can)
  • 1/2 TBSP chili powder (add more if you want
  • 1 TBSP of cumin
  • salt and pepper

Brown all of the meat in a skillet. Drain and toss in the crock pot with all of the ingredients.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours. You can top with avocado, minced red onion and cilantro before you serve it.

“Life is simple.  It’s just not easy.”

Awesome Cashew Chicken

April 14, 2015
Dee
Dinner, Paleo Recipes

Dinner tonight was delicious!  I was fooled and I thought it was actually take out from the Chinese Restaurant up the street (and I was even the one that cooked it!)

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Cashew Chicken and Broccoli 

  • 1/4 C. tapioca flour
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 TBSP coconut oil
  • 3 TBSP coconut aminos
  • 1 TBSP red wine vinegar
  • 2 TBSP organic ketchup (tomato paste works, too)
  • 1 TBSP palm sugar
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp minced fresh ginger
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup cashews, chopped or pieces
  • 2 heads of broccoli cut into florets

Put chicken pieces in a Ziploc bag with tapioca flour and black pepper, and shake it up good!  Make sure everything gets coated.  If it doesn’t look like it’s getting coated, add a LITTLE BIT of tapioca flour (a little bit goes a long way).  Melt coconut oil in a large skillet and let it get a bit hot. Add chicken and let it start to brown.  Make sure you keep moving it around once it starts to cook because it will start to stick together because of the tapioca flour.  In a separate bowl, mix coconut aminos, red wine vinegar, organic ketchup, palm sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper. After the chicken starts to brown, pour mixture over chicken and toss to coat. Steam your broccoli and roast your cashews (5 minutes or so) at this point.  Close to the end of the chicken cooking (mine took about 30-40 minutes), add your chopped cashews and mix.  When the broccoli is ready (I put mine in this neat little steamer thing in the microwave), you can either add it to the chicken and mix, or you can just put it on the side.  Plate and enjoy!

Working on my work out posts, stay tuned!

“A recipe has no soul; you as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.”

Honey Orange Chicken Dinner

April 12, 2015
Dee
Dinner, Paleo Recipes

So now it’s back to the grind again.  This weekend was so busy for me!  Went to a Yankees game (they have Stella Cidre now!), then went to a birthday party, and today I took on some projects.  This week I will start up with the workout posts!  I know you’re excited.  Feel free to share your workouts!

This was tonight’s dinner:

Honey Orange Chicken

  • 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
  • 2 TBSP grated fresh ginger
  • 2 TBSP fresh garlic, minced
  • 2 TBSP coconut aminos
  • 2 TBSP honey
  • juice from 1 orange
  • fish sauce to taste
  • green onions, chopped

Stir fry chicken in coconut oil until it starts to brown. Add ginger and garlic.  Sauté about 1 minute. Lower heat and add coconut aminos, honey, orange juice and fish sauce.  Stir well and simmer for 8-10 minutes until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through.  Top with green onions.  You can serve this with cauliflower rice.

For breakfast, I’m just going with a veggie omelet!

 “If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends.  If it is broken by an inside force, life begins.  Great things always begin from inside.”