Day 1 of Whole30 Challenge

I can't take the credit for the idea because Whole9 created the challenge. As the title suggests, I'm starting the first day of going strict paleo (no cheat meals) for the next 30 days. Consider it as a dietary reboot.

"Why," you ask, "would you put yourself through the pain of not enjoying a single bite of some of the foods that you love?" Simply, I've been too lax the past couple of months of summer to the point where eating 50% of my meals adhering to paleo seemed acceptable and logical. Too bad my stomach and my brain couldn't get on the same page because I would quickly reconsider the wisdom of each decision to cheat after the last bite. Trust me, your digestive system has the louder voice in the argument.

As I mentioned in my first post, grokcuisine will provide a space for testing out new recipes I might concoct or read about from other nuts like me. It will also provide a space for recording what I eat. Finally, because I'm such a great guy, I'll set out the night before what meals and snacks I plan to eat for the next day. I hope that, in the case that some people want to join me in my mania, grokcuisine can provide a path to follow to successfully make it through the next 30 days.

Be back later with today's meals ideas and recipes. Bare with me as I know they won't be all too formal.

... No, no you can't.

Let me first say, "Welcome!" And, let me say next, "No. No you can't eat cheese." At least, not if you are like me, wanting to eat in a way more appropriate for the way our digestive system evolved. There, I've thrown down the first white glove of challenge. Do with it what you will : ).

Now that I've riled a few feathers and, undoubtably, driven loads of readers away, let me explain. Food is important to me. Really important. Food and meals were always the nexus of family gatherings for me. They were always the topics of conversation during these gathers. And, they were always the things I remembered first and longest about any trip or family vacation I've ever taken. So, I hope I've made it excessively clear: food is kind of a big deal to me.

So, "what", you ask, "does this have to do with abstaining from cheese?"

Very astute question, reader. Very astute.

Repeat after me: All of the lean meats and fish, fruits and vegetables, some nuts and seeds, little starch, no sugar, no dairy, no grains (emphasis mine).

That is my dietary mantra. When hungrily reading over items on a menu, I review my mantra and judge the meal by it. When selecting ingredients to throw into a dinner or lunch, I choose those that abide by it. And, like any new convert, I've adopted this with the zeal of a fanatic (much to the chagrin and bemusement of some of my family members).

Yes, I am a new (read: less than 6 months) adopter of the Paleo diet. I draw from sources like Cordain, Polliquin, and Robb Wolf. Though, whenever I see conflict between my mentors, I generally side with Cordain, whether or not I'm correct in this approach.

I'll have more to say about me and general musings I've had while eating like a Paleolithic man in later posts. Also, look for daily updates about what I've eaten, with recipes. I want to provide a resource for those that might be on their first few steps down the path I've taken.