Stuck In A Paleo Food Rut?

I lost it today. A little Paleo meltdown. After weeks of eating the same old Stone Age standbys – meat, veggies, eggs, fruit, nuts – I had finally reached my limit on the same old caveman cuisine.

Those Paleo-approved food groups are still my friends, but today I needed a break. It was time to put on my big girl panties and take a walk on the wild side.

Sure there are those who say once they made the switch, they never looked back. Well give ’em a gold star. That’s just not me. Once in a while I am going to wander down those forbidden grocery store aisles – and I just might grab something I shouldn’t.

I’ve never claimed to be 100% Paleo, and honestly, I don’t know if I ever will be. I do my best to stick to the 85/15 rule – I figure if anyone can nail this Paleo thing 85% of the time, especially as a newbie, you’re golden in my book. [av_sidebar widget_area=’Lockerdome’ av_uid=’av-745tp’]

Today was just one of those days when I was looking forward to brushing up against the gray edges of Paleo compliance. And I might add, I’m not going to apologize for buying stuff that’s on the fringe of Paleo.[blockquote align=”right” cite=”” color=”3399cc” bcolor=”” ]I’m not going to apologize for buying stuff that’s on the fringe of Paleo.[/blockquote]

Paleo may be our primal link to a healthier past, but for better or worse it’s still all those less than Paleo-perfect foods we remember growing up on and sharing with family and friends over the years that made us who we are today. There will be times when you miss the taste, and the memories.

So, let me tell you about a few of my new discoveries that may be borderline cheating, but hopefully stay under the radar of the Paleo Police.

First, I do my best to buy organic, but sometimes it’s just not convenient. So today, I purchased a steaming hot rotisserie chicken. I didn’t inquire about its pedigree – all I knew is it looked really good. Not a big deal, right?

Next, a couple of yams wound up in my grocery cart. Potatoes I know are off most Paleo shopping lists, but I have a plan for these sweet spuds.

Then I found the gluten-free butternut ravioli at Sprout’s. I had made spaghetti sauce with spaghetti squash (both Paleo and awesome) about 2 weeks before, and I had froze the leftover sauce. I’ve been dying to figure out how to use it as a topping again since it was so tasty. Zucchini noodles maybe? But then I saw the squash ravioli and it was come to Momma!

Next, I bought a big amber jar of fall-harvested raw honey. Unfiltered, with plenty of pollen suspended inside. Refined sugars are out for me, but this sweet stickiness is going in some Paleo-friendly recipes I have in mind.

And lastly, a couple of 70% cacao organic chocolate bars. Ah, a ray of sunshine in my life. An occasional square of loveliness when I want a little treat.

So those were my little indulgences for the day. By the way, if you have a Sprouts, Whole Foods, Publix, Harris Teeter or Trader Joe’s in your area, those stores and your local farmers’ market will be your best friends on the Paleo lifestyle. It takes a little more cash to eat healthy, but you’re not buying the boxes of junk you used to, so it all pretty much evens out. Just remember: organic, fresh, free-range, grass-finished, no antibiotics…all good, all Paleo.

That’s all for now. I’ve come back from the dark side – but I didn’t return empty handed!

What are your favorite finds when shopping Paleo? I’d love to hear your ideas!