Paleo Basics

by Melissa Lanz on December 6, 2019

The Paleo Lifestyle: 101

Named after the Paleolithic Era, the Paleo diet is based on what humans would have eaten and thrived on as hunters and gatherers. It’s been given many names like “the caveman diet” and “the stone-age diet” because Paleo doesn’t include any foods introduced after farming began, like dairy, grains, legumes and later, processed items.

Let’s start with the term “diet.” Notice I’ve called it a lifestyle, because this isn’t a “diet” in the traditional sense that it restricts calories. It’s more of a way of life — a long term commitment to consuming clean, unprocessed foods. Yes, some use paleo eating as a way to lose or maintain weight, while many others use this lifestyle to navigate food intolerance to dairy and gluten, as well as to remove preservatives and other processed food additives from their diet.

Take the guess-work out of the Paleo Diet with a paleo meal plan!

Paleo: What to Eat

Fruits
Vegetables
Nuts and seeds
Lean meats, especially grass-fed
Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids
Oils from fruits and nuts

Check out my paleo pantry essentials here.

Paleo compliant foods are delicious and flavorful, especially when the diet is followed seasonally as a hunter and gatherer would. Seasonal produce is a treasure that the paleo diet takes advantage of fully.

The ingredients listed above are full of nutrients that will make you feel full and satisfied but with fewer “empty” calories that almost always fill processed foods.

Paleo: What to avoid

Grains, like wheat, oats and barley
Legumes, including beans, lentils, peanuts and peas
Dairy
Refined sugar
Salt
Potatoes
Processed foods

This means no pasta, bread, rice, cheese, or beans. It also means no soda, no candy, no sugar — thus eliminating many calorie dense, nutritionally deficient foods.

Paleo Treats and Recipes

But that doesn’t mean you’ll never have a satisfying treat again! I’ve got a Rolodex of tried and true paleo recipes that I developed especially to make the sugar, wheat and dairy lifestyle and easy and delicious journey.

Click images to see recipes