The last day of our paleo challenge!...and some chicago paleo restaurant options

It’s hard to believe it is already DAY 45, the last day of our paleo challenge!  This day finds me full of mixed emotions. 

On the one hand, I’m super excited we made it a full 45 days on our paleo rules, existing well within the limitations we set out.  For example, we had very little fruit and virtually no honey or other natural sweeteners – much less than the prescribed rules allowed.

On the other hand, I am scared!  I have been a meal planning machine for the past 45 days, and with the end of the challenge approaching, our last meal plan ended today.  Yesterday the thought of not having a planned paleo lunch pushed me over the edge and I planned out our meals for another week.  I’ve determined that I need to keep planning, the difference is that now the plan includes some scheduled restaurant stops.  These are restaurants that will provide some paleo options, if not paleo – at least ‘primal’ – for us that means potentially adding in some dairy.

We need to make sure to not let the restaurant meals over take the planned, home cooked meals.  We already have 2 nights of dining out scheduled for this week, partially due to just being able to!  But, these are very good paleo option restaurants.  If you ever find yourself in Chicago and in need of a paleo option, these should work:

• El Barco Mariscos – specializing in serving an abundance of grilled seafood and meats served family style, also serve a great ceviche! (will be staying away from the sugar-filled margaritas this trip – maybe just go for some straight tequila!)
• Old Town Social – specializing in charcuterie, they also have amazing specials (often involving delicious roasted meats).  At the very least, they serve a grass-fed beef burger topped with bacon and an egg – take it bunless and you’re good to go.

Complete 45-day Paleo Challenge, check.  Continue paleo lifestyle, working on it!

#45 - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls (the second time)

Make Your Own Coconut Milk

Oh coconut milk, how I love you.  I never realized how much I enjoy all things coconut until we started our paleo challenge.  Now I crave coconut chips, or the occasional spoonful of coconut cream that has separated from the coconut water in the can of coconut milk.  Then there is the coconut creme concentrate from Tropical Traditions that I just discovered - that with some blueberries, heaven.

I have heard how easy it is to make your own coconut milk.  So, given my new and undying love of coconut, it was time to try my hand at coconut milk making.  By making our own we will also save money and avoid the added preservatives - guar gum, anyone? - found in canned coconut milk

All you need to make coconut milk:

• coconut chips or shredded coconut
• water
• blender
• big bowl
• colander
• cheesecloth

I think you could probably mess around a bit with the proportions, but I used the following ones with success, so they might be a good starting point:

1. Combine a little under a cup of coconut (chips or shreds) with 1 cup of hot water in a blender, blend for 3 minutes or so
2. Pour into cheesecloth lined colander placed over bowl
3. Squeeze all milk out of cheesecloth and return coconut to blender
4. Add another 1/2 cup hot water to blender and blend for 1-2 minutes more
5. Repeat steps 2 & 3 - and now you have coconut milk!

Another week of delicious paleo meals - week 3 menu plan is on!

Well, I'm bringing back some favorites in week 3.  There are just some recipes (meatballs and chili for example) that are so easy to make ahead and stretch over multiple meals - that I feel like I need them.  My goal for week 4 is to find some new "stretchy", go-to meals. 

I made our egg muffins, meatballs and chili last night - so we are pretty set for the beginning of the week.  The exotic 'meat' we are experimenting with this week is bone marrow and the big adventure for sunday will be using my new pressure cooker for beef stew!

Week 3 Menu	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Monday 2/21	veg & bacon egg muffins	roasted beet, kale and shrimp salad	taco salad bowl (x2)
Tuesday 2/22	veg & bacon egg muffins	taco salad bowl	meatballs & spaghetti squash
Wednesday 2/23	bacon, eggs & avocado	meatballs & spaghetti squash	"breaded" pork cutlets & brussel sprouts
Thursday 2/24	pork cutlets & eggs	beanless chili and jicama chips	chipotle lime salmon & steamed spinach
Friday 2/25	salmon & egg scramble	beanless chili & veg	paleo shrimp and grits
Saturday 2/26	eggs & beanless chili	pork chops with roasted apple and onions	roasted bone marrow, salad greens and leftovers
Sunday 2/27	paleo pancake & blueberries	tuna & veg	beef stew (pressure cooker!)

Day 2, better than Day 1

Day 2 of the 45-day paleo challenge feels a lot better than Day 1!  

Why Day 2 rocked:

• Planning works!  There was plenty of delicious paleo food to satisfy for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Planning works!  It was the first day of work plus paleo challenge and office treats were not tempting.
• I'm sore from monday's workout - and it feels good.
• No longer feeling the effects of super bowl party over-indulgences.
• Breakfast and lunch for Day 3 are made, packed and in the fridge

Tomorrow, we talk nuts.

#2 - Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks

I love it when a plan comes together

We are officially one week away from the kick off of our paleo challenge! Honestly, it can’t get here fast enough and I find myself questioning why we are waiting to get seriously serious. But, this does provide time for planning – which I love to do.

Aim high in steering. This is the primary piece of advice that my drivers ed teacher provided and the only one that I really remember. The concept being that if you look far enough ahead on the road where you are going, you will stay on the right track to get there. That advice helped me pass my drivers exam and I think it will help us successfully complete our paleo challenge.

I am working on planning our menus for weeks 1 and 2, and referencing them against our workout plans. The goal is to plan time to cook extra food on days we don’t workout, so the days we do have big workouts – I am not stressing about getting home to make a nutritious, healthy and satisfying paleo dinner.

Ryan and I both have day jobs that include about an hour train commute each way. So on weekdays, I need a plan! Especially if I want to do it all and still get to bed at a decent hour. If I plan the time to cook and workout, I don’t stress over not having enough time. This way I can make sure that we have time to do the things we have to (work), the fun things we love and live a healthy paleo lifestyle.

Menu and workout plan to be posted soon!