Pinterest led us to Paleo Cupboard, it was the Watermelon Cake that had the agency in awe and wanting to learn more.

Read as Paleo Cupboard Founder, Amy, shares her story, tips for those getting started and her favorite recipes with NOUSzine.

Amy’s story is like those that we hear, terrible headaches, lack of energy, skin breaking out and constant nausea. She thought that eating low-fat foods, counting calories, keeping an active lifestyle, and taking daily vitamins would help but it didn’t.

“I worked a full time corporate job and had two young girls, so not feeling well every day was just not an option. I knew I had to make some drastic changes, and I decided to start with food. I chose to remove anything from my diet that I thought was ‘not natural’ for a human to eat. That meant eliminating all grains, starches, sugars, dairy, processed foods, trans- and hydrogenated fats, alcohol, and caffeine. I quit cold turkey. No more skinny vanilla lattes for breakfast or frozen diet entrees for lunch. I decided I would try it for one month and see how I felt. I figured I could withstand anything for one month. Within a week I felt AMAZING. I had so much energy that I was bouncing off the walls. In less than three weeks I had lost ten pounds and my skin had cleared up. Not only was I feeling good, but I was looking good too! I had been feeling bad for so long that it became ‘normal’ for me. I had forgotten what healthy really felt like. The drastic difference I felt in such a short amount of time made me curious, and after doing some research I came to find out that the eating plan I was following was very similar to the ‘Paleo Diet’. The more I read the more I realized that many people had the exact same experience as me….weight loss, clear skin, more energy, and all sorts of other ailments that just “disappeared”. I decided to adopt it as a lifestyle rather than a diet from that point forward.”

For those who don’t know, what exactly is the paleo diet?

The basic foundation of the paleo (or “paleolithic”) diet is to eat wholesome, natural foods that our bodies were designed to consume, similar to what our ancestors did many years ago, prior to an abundance of processed foods being available. The goal is to eat foods that keep our bodies functioning properly and in optimal health. In general most individuals that follow a paleo lifestyle will eliminate the following foods from their diet:
•    Grains
•    Starches
•    Legumes
•    Dairy
•    Sugar
•    Processed Foods
•    Alcohol
So what does that leave you with? Meats, seafoods, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices and healthy fats. In other words, real food. And you can make a LOT of amazing meals using real food. You may look at that list of foods to avoid and think “but I can’t live without bread, candy, vodka, etc.”. The truth is, when you are eating delicious foods every day and filling your body with healthy fuel, you really don’t miss things like grains and sugars, and you don’t feel deprived at all.

What are some tips and ways to get started?

1.     Throw out all the junk. That means getting rid of anything that is not considered paleo. Pack it up and get it out of your house, car, office, etc. Don’t leave anything that will tempt you within reach or you will probably eat it out of hunger or habit. Don’t trust your willpower at 2am when you are lying in bed and all you can think about is that chocolate bar you have sitting in your cupboard…just throw it out!

2.     Educate yourself and find what works for you. Read all of the material you can about paleo. You will find some conflicting ideas and information about what is and is not paleo, even among the experts (alcohol, white potatoes, vinegar, etc.). It may seem a little confusing at first, but ultimately the foundation is all the same. You will quickly come to figure out what foods your body does and does not like, and you will be able to tweak the diet to fit your lifestyle. Finding a balance that works for you and your family will help ensure that you are successful at following this lifestyle.

3.     Give yourself one month. I found the transition to paleo to be easy, but my poor husband was not so lucky. The first few weeks were hard for him…he had headaches, and was really crabby.  Adjusting to a new lifestyle can be challenging, but give it a month and you will be amazed. You can stick to anything for a month right?

4.     Get Creative Don’t just eat grilled chicken and broccoli every night. You will get bored very quickly. There are so many delicious paleo recipes available, so you have no excuse not to eat something exciting. This is a great opportunity to cook new things you have never tried before, so get out there and experiment!

5.     Set Aside Time To Plan This lifestyle requires you shop and cook more frequently than you may be used to. I usually spend Sundays planning out the meals for the next week and preparing my shopping list. Find a few “go-to” recipes that are easy to throw together and keep those handy for when you need a quick meal.

Favorite Recipes?
Mongolian Beef

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Crispy Brussel Sprouts

Zuppa Toscana Soup

Grain-Free Granola

Cinnamon Roll Recipe