Have you ever seen a more beautiful breakfast (even with an old 3G iPhone camera? The 21 Day Sugar Detox continues…Gorgeous farm-fresh eggs and pastured bacon from US Wellness Meats.

We need to have a talk. 

I love you, but I’m not IN love with you.

Okay, that’s a lie. I AM in love with you. I love you so much, I’ll drive 25 minutes to Whole Foods to find you while pretending I’m running out for Coconut Aminos. I love you even though you make me foggy, farty, and flabbergasted at my own lack of common sense. 

In this (rare) moment of clarity, I’ve made a decision: I’m dumping you. I’m dumping, flushing, and draining your sweet fruity goodness from my life. Why? Because the 21-Day Sugar Detox has arrived.

Farewell. Au revoir. Suck it, Trebek.

All right, folks. Here’s a quick News Flash: Even Paleo Bloggers get caught up in bad food relationships. Stuff that’s generally harmless – stuff that flies just fine in a balanced state of mind – can turn downright toxic when you’re already drowning in a septic tank of excuses: I’m stressed, I can’t think of anything funny to write, I just spent three weeks on an airplane, TSA just saw my grunderwear, I can’t find my WHITE COLLARLESS SHIRT FROM FRED SEGAL! (Seagull? #Clueless)

I’m talking about Dried Mango. And in the last week, I’ve used it as a stress-eating surrogate for SUGAR. Not cool.

Different Mango. Equally lovable.

Sugar was always the beast for me. I had no problem ditching bread, pasta, and other finger-sparing agents of mess-mitigating good-food transport (translation: I will eat this bunless burger with my BARE HANDS and LICK THE GREASE OFF MY FINGERS IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY).

ALL CAPS!

Sugar, however, is a different beast. I know when I’ve slid down the Sugar Slope. (Incidentally, it’s native name is Mango Mountain.) When I start eating – nay, craving, seeking, and developing a dependency on – massive quantities of dried fruit at the expense of other water-dense, nutrient-filled, non-sweet sources of nutrition, I KNOW I’m not in a good state of mind.

You may be thinking, it’s just DRIED FRUIT, for Chrissake. Get over it! But ya know what? I ate about seventeen mangoes in the last five days. That’s a crap-ton of sugar. It’s a problem. It doesn’t have to be YOUR problem. But it’s MY blog. So I get to talk about it.

Careening down the carbohydrate cliff, I judged myself harshly. I’m living my professional dreams – working as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Balanced Bites Partner and podcasting and workshopping and representing my favorite Non-Profit and PERHAPS even writing a little non-interwebz manuscript of my own (TEASER! But that’s all ya get) – so where the hell do I get off telling folks how to be healthy when I’d rather be hiding in a closet chowing strips of yellow concentrated sweet Mangoobery goodness? 

Stress over obligations and managing expectations, lack of control, bad decision making, sugarisaddictive. Whatever. I can’t explain it, and I don’t think I have to. I don’t profess to be perfect – so I can only identify these triggers, take care of them, and move on…(before Mango Madness descends into Plantain Perversion and things really get cray.)

Technicalities: Violating the Spirit of the Law.

In the past, I’ve scoffed at the idea of nutrition “challenges” and “detoxes.” Hell, my business partner hosts the 21-Day Sugar Detox and I’ve never been the slightest bit interested. Not for me, I thought. I don’t need it. I don’t want to espouse a short-term mentality or advocate a “Quick fix” for what is often a lifestyle problem. That stuff doesn’t work. Right?

But so many people have said great things about the 21DSD, so I’m gonna try it. Not as a vehicle for restrictive eating, obsessive behavior or food neuroses (I encourage you, if applicable, to make the same commitment), but as an opportunity to remember the foundations of good food, to regain respect for the value of variety, and to connect with more folks in this community.

And, welp, I just FEEL LIKE DOING IT (twss). I desire the fresh perspective and the community. I WANNA. So I’m a’ – gonna.

Care to join me? The 21DSD Facebook community awaits!

What are YOUR motivations for a little sugar detox?

And then, a concerned group of citizens informed me that I was quite literally about to ruin my life forever. And possibly the lives of everyone I know. And puppies were going to be kicked and kittens would cry and Kardashians would rule the world and I would become yet another fool taken in by Henna Lore.

I listen to y’all – so, of course, I put the Henna away. I shuddered to think of the pain I’d almost caused myself. I replayed the scene from Anne of Green Gables where Anne’s hair turns green because she attempted to subvert nature as I almost did (except, in my scenario, I was simply trying to cover a crop of pesky greys).

"This is the most tragical thing that has ever happened to me."

This all sprung from my commitment to Paleo-style body & home care. I write a column about the topic for Paleo Magazine. I believe that, while nourishing the inside is crucial, it’s also important to be aware of what we’re putting on our outsides. (Did YOU know many hair and makeup products contain harsh surfactants? Random industrial substances? GLUTEN? I say on principle: Blech.)

I’ve accumulated some amazing resources and body/home care favorites since starting this journey. While all you ever REALLY need – for ANYTHING – is Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Coconut Oil (See: No ‘Poo), I still like to luxuriate in a few more exciting self-care routines: I love the Oil Cleansing Method, along with the products from Primal Life Organics for my face; Great Marsh has a phenomenal food soak and a lovely facial serum; and 100 Percent Pure carries some gorgeous eyeshadows.

You can assume, then, that I generally like to appear marginally presentable.

Which is why I could NOT continue to pluck out those thick, wiry grey hairs – only to have them grow back and stand STRAIGHT UP like one of those inflatable crazy-flailers at a car dealership.

Source: PartyWarehouse.co.nz

(But wait, you say – Henna can’t cover grey anyway!
…Just wait, my friend. I’ll get there.)

I had to decide: Was I going to be a total hypocrite and preach “clean” body care while still using chemical hair dyes? (Note: I started dying my hair various shades of Hideous when I was in High School. Why, oh why didn’t I just enjoy the grey-free, natural hair color while I had it?)

After doing a bit of research, I decided to turn full-speed onto the Henna Highway. It’s only hair, after all! And it seems that you simply have to be extremely selective about the Henna you use – many brands masquerade as “Henna” when they’re actually full of hair-perverting gunk. Additionally, you have to be aware that henna alone is red. Very red. So I employed a blend of henna and herbs, along with some crafty stra-tee-gery involving coffee and vinegar, straight from the folks at Mountain Rose Herbs. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever purchased from them, so I trusted that their product would be my best bet.

It looks so innocent in the bowl, no?

It starts as a powder. You add hot water (or, in my case, strained boiled coffee and apple cider vinegar – a grey coverage trick), then you put on gloves, wrap plastic bags around your ears, muck up your head, destroy your bathroom sink, and hope for the best. (Clean any spatters right away. You’ve been warned.)

A very unlucky plant died a very violent death here.

If you’ve got short hair, you’ll no doubt have an easier time than I did attempting to cover the entire length of your hair with this mud-like stuff. As I’m far too lazy to get a haircut, I’ve got quite a lot of hair to cover. Long-haired gals: be prepared for a bathroom crime scene. And also lots of Dr. Seuss-esque fun (below). And possibly a drug raid on your house – because this stuff smells like – ahem – herb.

Make absolutely sure you muck up every single strand! It may get ugly. But you can do it.

Henna Hat.

My first go-round with Mountain Rose Herbs Henna  was highly successful. I used Medium Brown, and it was fairly neutral on my hair – with the exception of my greys, which turned a lovely coppery color. (I only have a few greys – henna doesn’t truly cover the pesky buggers, but for me, it DOES seem to blend it in.)  To be sure it wasn’t a fluke, I wanted to use the MRH Henna a second time before I wrote about it; so, six weeks later, I dyed my hair again – this time with a blend of Medium and Dark brown. (Side note: The MRH team was EXTREMELY helpful and responsive to my badgering about Henna How-tos, and every shipment contains extensive directions. For this I’m thankful!)

Another note: The ease of prep makes this Henna FAR easier to deal with than the Lush brand, in my opinion.

I think the result was lovely. (My ability to take photos of myself in the mirror, however, is questionable.)

All-in-all, my hair feels great – natural highlights seem to have been preserved, and – judging from my first go-round with MRH Henna – the color simply fades over time. Unlike with conventional dyes, I never had a clear line delineating new hair growth – which is fantastic. While the process is challenging and a bit awkward, it takes a mere few hours and, in my opinion, it’s well worth the trouble (plus, it’s highly affordable). I still use the “No ‘Poo” strategy, and dry and style as usual.

Anyone out there use Henna? Experiences? Thoughts?

]]> http://cavegirleats.com/2012/04/20/i-fought-the-henna-and-we-both-won/feed/ 26 http://cavegirleats.com/2012/04/11/usda-starting-them-young/ http://cavegirleats.com/2012/04/11/usda-starting-them-young/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:12:39 +0000 Liz (@CaveGirlEats) http://cavegirleats.com/?p=3583 What better way to ingrain Department-of-Agriculture-Endorsed-Eating than starting with the little ones?

While the USDA claims it uses “the best available science” to underlie its mission, I have to take issue with that: in fact, the Secretary of Agriculture (who heads up the USDA) helps craft Dietary Guidelines for Americans every five years, and the most recent DGA document was brutally rebuffed* by a group of concerned scientists and dieticians. If you’d like to peruse the ass-handing rebuffery, click here: DGA Reply Paper.

Now, the USDA MyPlate isn’t ALL bad, but if it were up to me, the food sections would be: Fruit, Vegetables, Protein, Hugs/High Fives, and Bone broth.)

Whenever I see things like this – geared toward children – I think of the old-school ads encouraging folks to start shooting up their babies with heroin sugar, like this one:

I suspect some day, we’ll know better.

Thanks to Beth for the spot!

*five cool points if you know what movie that’s from!

My favorite show of all time, the Andy Griffith Show (no, I’m not an octegenarian. I’m just a “youngun” with great taste in TV), had a handle on this stuff way back in the sixties.

Of course, if this were today, Barney’d watching his intake of meat, fat, and “processed” sugar – but maybe he’d have indulged in plenty of Tofurkey loaf, Benecol, AND the apple pie (sweetened with organic agave, of course). Add a side of statins, blood pressure meds, aromatase inhibitors and stomach acid blockers and you’ve got the Modern Dinner Table.

“No milk?! But how will you get CALCIUM?”

They’re convinced – nay, indoctrinated – by the credo that is the USDA’s MyPlate (I won’t even link it, it’s so ridiculous), which implies – with its endorsement of low-fat dairy – that such a processed “food group” is the only way to get calcium. Well, it’s not.

Duh.

Leafy greens and homemade bone broth – one of my absolute favorite superfoods – are sources of calcium that are highly bio-available (easily absorbed and utilized by the body). I wouldn’t worry about somebody’s calcium status if they were eating lots of veggies and bone broths – they’re probably cultivating plenty of non-Westernized, healthy food habits above and beyond guzzling ultra-pasteurized skim milk between bites of Fiber One.

I’m being cheeky. But there are a few legitimate ways to address this question. Unfortunately, the old “acid-base balance” thing isn’t the answer.

(I must point out: I live “Paleo” with a good dose of “Weston A. Price” mixed in. See HERE for details. I don’t think all dairy is evil – and I have no hard-and-fast dairy “Manifesto,” – but I do think a responsible consumer of dairy products needs to be well-educated. See my All About Dairy posts at Steve’s Original: Here, Here and Here.)

The Calcium Answer, Method One: The Awesome Answer.

My preferred answer to the question “But how will you get your CALCIUM?” is to simply say, “from your MOM!”

Unfortunately, that’s not always constructive.

The Calcium Answer, Method Two: The short, yet open-ended answer.

I like to address the calcium question with yet another question, such as: “Who told you that DAIRY is the only way to get CALCIUM?”

Often the answer is a bumbling “…uh, well, the food pyramid – er, plate? The government? Dr. Oz…Osteoporosis?” which opens the door to the following:

We eat Nature – not pasteurized, homogenized, de-fatted Products. Broth – a mineral-rich, traditional food, is a higher-quality source of calcium and minerals (and other great things, like collagen). Vegetables provide calcium too.

Whether you’re concerned about calcium intake or things like Osteoporosis, realize that it’s not about quantity anyway. It’s about giving your body the tools to use calcium efficiently and properly. We do this by getting the co-factors that MAINTAIN quality bone. Co-factors are everything from balanced blood sugar to other vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, and even exercise.

It’s ignorance of this fact that’s caused doctors and Big Pharma to have dairy-calcium tunnel vision. Incidentally, leafy greens are higher in calcium, calorie-for-calorie, than milk, and have none of the allergenic properties of standard, grocery store, corn-fed, factory-farmed, pasteurized, homogenized dairy. Bone broth is rich in other minerals, like magnesium; as well.

Okay, so that’s a bit of a mouthful. But it seems the ubiquitous “got milk?” campaign hasn’t really improved peoples’ overall bone health – judging by the ever-present advertisements for drugs that “fight osteoporosis.” Something’s not right.

(Is this campaign still going on?)

We’re incredibly bone-centric when it comes to this issue – understandably so, since 99% of our calcium is stored in our skeletal system. But truly, it’s not about how much calcium we take in. It’s about balancing bodily systems with Real Food so that the body can maintain homeostasis, optimize nutrient absorption and utilization, and – of course – maintain excellent bone health.

With that…

The Calcium Answer, Method Three: The awesomely intricate, TRUE STORY about Calcium…

…and specifically, why someone on a Paleo-style plan – especially an optimized, “Paleo Plus“ plan rich in bone broths and fat-soluble vitamins – simply doesn’t need to worry about their calcium status!

The most important thing to understand is this: the way your body uses calcium – including how your bones maintain density and quality – is entirely dependent on co-factors.

Here’s a rundown:

 Co-Factor 1: Hormonal Balance.

The body obsessively regulates both blood pH and blood sugar balance.

Buffering blood pH involves the alkalinizing properties of calcium. The parathyroid gland releases Parathyroid Hormone to regulate blood calcium (thereby buffering blood pH) by initiating osteoclastic activity. Calcitonin (released from the thyroid) counter-balances this process by inhibiting osteoclastic activity. Estrogen and progesterone “check-and-balance” one another when it comes to calcium as well.

(Another problem in modern life? Xenoestrogens. Estrogen-mimicking substances like soy and plastics that skew this balance.)

The body prioritizes blood sugar balance so highly because it profoundly affects your hormonal balance and signaling. If your blood sugar is out of control, nothing else will fall into place – including calcium balance. Elevated blood sugar, stress, and resulting cortisol disregulation and adrenal stress increases calcium mobilization from the bones – as in, they reduce bone density.

The parathyroid gland also signals the body to produce specific binding proteins for the minerals it needs – for example, calcium. (Yet another signaling loop that’s inhibited by a bad diet.) A good way to prove that the modern governmental dietary recommendations are a breeding ground for disregulated blood sugar is my side-by-side comparison of the glycemic load of two plans: the first, a Standard American “healthy” plan; the second, a sample “Paleo” plan. (And this plan doesn’t include bone broth – imagine how many minerals it would add!)

Co-factor 2: Hydration (Water & Electrolytes)

I won’t obsess over this, since we all know how important hydration is to health. Water, broth, and water-dense foods like whole proteins and vegetables are extremely hydrating. Soda, however, is not – it’s important to note that the orthophosphoric acid in soft drinks may cause bone breakdown, especially with high consumption over time. A balance of electrolytes is in the body is important. Himalayan or Celtic sea salt is a great addition to the diet, although adding excess refined salt to a Standard American Diet filled with packaged and processed foods is not recommended. (6)
Also – kick the Cola.

Co-factor 3: Don’t Take Counterproductive Drugs.

I’m not talking about the fun kind of drugs (although you should probably toss those as well). Big Pharma has created some truly gnarly “solutions” to osteoporosis ( like Boniva). These drugs literallyinhibit osteoclastic activity. This means they keep bones from breaking down – and stop the natural, necessary and constant process of bone remodeling. OsteoBLASTIC activity without osteoCLASTIC activity means bones become more dense, but NOT stronger. In fact, Dr. Mercola calls these drugs “poison.” Sorry Sally.

Co-Factor 4: Digestion.

The body must have adequate HCL (Hydrochloric Acid) to absorb calcium. Modern acid blockers like Nexium and Prilosec literally stop the production of stomach acid, and because of this, nutrients can’t be absorbed properly. This wreaks havoc across all bodily systems, because they all require adequate nutrients to function properly. (In fact, you want MORE stomach acid, not less!)

Additionally, dietary factors – like the consumption of gluten and grains – can interfere with nutrient absorption in the gut. (See this post - USDA: Proud Sponsors of Nutrient Deficiency.) Specifically, the phytic acid in grains and beans can bind to minerals like calcium, magnesium and zinc, rendering them indigestible. (6) This becomes a marked problem in a Standard American Diet, which is dangerously rich in these “mineral binders.”

Co-factor 5: Other Minerals & Vitamins

Your ability to absorb and utilize minerals is absolutely mediated by the components of the foods you eat (see my USDA post for more on this).

Adequate intake of magnesium and Vitamin D are the co-factors you’ll hear about most often. But it’s not about hammering your body with one at the exclusion of another. Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D are not the Three Musketeers. They’re more like the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary: they’re not always friends, but they keep one another in check. They even inhibit one another – but only when necessary.

Vitamin D works with Parathyroid Hormone to increase blood calcium. It also regulates the depositing of calcium in the proper areas to protect the body from improper calcification (like arterial calcification – also known as clogged arteries). If the body isn’t pulling adequate calcium from the diet, it’ll come from the bone.

Magnesium is involved in calcium transport, but it will also block calcium pathways as needed – acting as a counter (a “relaxer”) to calcium’s properties of contraction. Magnesium also helps convert Vitamin D to its active form, which allows for calcium absorption. (1)

I write at length about the extremely important, often deficient VItamin K2 in my post “Why You Need Vitamin K2.” Check it out – Vitamin K2 is active in everything from bone synthesis and formation to fertility and skin health. You can supplement with it, you can choose grass-fed, full-fat dairy products like butter and ghee, or you can buy the ancestral food High-Vitamin Cod Liver Oil/Butter Oil Blend, which provides vitamins A, D and K2 in proper proporiton. While most “Paleo” folk don’t do dairy, this post may shed some light on why certain types of dairy may be good to go.

Other minerals are critical as well. Calcium must also be in-balance with potassium and trace elements like boron, copper and zinc. (3)

This balance is critical, and nearly impossible to achieve definitively using supplements and a Standard American diet. Step back, eat well, and let your body fall into balance based on its innate ability to prioritize and utilize the nutrients from Real Food (and Sunlight).

Co-Factor 6: Fatty Acids

Fatty Acids are responsible for the transport of calcium across cell membranes. Polyunsaturatesdecrease the stability of the cell membrane, and saturated fats strengthen it. That’s why both – in natural form – are critical to homeostasis. Natural polyunsaturates are found in abundance in oily fish, and saturated fats are found in coconut oil and ghee. Lard and tallow are great sources as well.

Additionally, fats and cholesterol are critical in the creation and synthesis of hormones (discussed above), although not all Fatty Acids are created equal. A study from Purdue University indicated that high levels of free radicals from linoleic acid (an Omega-6 fatty acid found in excess in the Standard American Diet because it’s found principally in unhealthy, highly processed fats like corn and soy oils), interfered with bone-building. (2)

Co-Factor 7: Exercise.

Exercise builds bone strength. (I think the audience understands this one.)

So there you have it: The Calcium Rundown. Memorize it. Carry a copy with you at all times. An optimized “Paleo Plus” plan – with some Weston A. Price thrown in – takes care of calcium status by being naturally replete in both calcium and the 7 Calcium Co-Factors. Processed foods and the Standard American Diet are NOT high in these co-factors. End of (long, delightfully complex) story.

(1) Katherine Czapp. Magnificent Magnesium. Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts. Quarterly Publication of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Fall 2010.
(2) BA Watkins et al, “Importance of Vitamin E in Bone Formation and in Chondrocyte Function” Purdue University
(3) Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig. Do High Protein Diets Cause Bone Loss? Myths & Truths about Osteoporosis. The Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation quarterly journal
(4) Dr. Mercola, Mercola.com.
(5) Wright, Jonathan and Lane Lenard. Why Stomach Acid is Good For You.
(6) Lindeberg, Staffan. Food and Western Disease.

Remember – If you’re enjoying these podcasts, please leave us a review in iTunes. Thanks!
Episode #32 focuses on questions we commonly receive from female listeners – but that does NOT mean No Boys Allowed! This information is applicable to all listeners!

News:

• The Balanced Bites Podcast will now be released on THURSDAYS.
• Liz is now a member of the Balanced Bites team! Welcome, Liz!
• We’re thrilled to have taken the Balanced Bites Workshops to the next level! Read about them here, or find one near you here!

Remember – utilize the Search Box on the blog! Many questions may be answered already, and the search box means NO WAITING for your question to be picked for the podcast! 

• Find Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal? on Amazon.
• Diane’s book, Practical Paleo, is ranking high on Amazon’s Hot New Releases! Pre-order now to guarantee the lowest price. Find it HERE.
• Check out the Guide To Paleo Foods – FREE download!
• Chris Kresser’s The Healthy Baby Code – purchase access here.
• Helpful guide: The Gluten Guide 

Upcoming Events:

• April 14, 2012: Balanced Bites Workshop in Frisco, TX – register here!
• April 21, 2012: Balanced Bites Workshop in Cherry Hill, NJ – register here!
• May 5, 2012: Balanced Bites Workshop in Houston, TX – register here!

Topics: 

1. Paleo approaches to birth control & family planning
2. How sugar intake affects menstrual cycle length and regularity
3. Fertility & Pregnancy diet
4. Pregnancy, water retention & constipation
5. Pregnancy food aversions
6. PCOS & thyroid problems: should I go “Paleo” or just gluten free?

Click here to download the episode as an MP3.
The episodes are currently available in iTunes, Stitcher & Blog Talk Radio.

Cheers!
Diane & Liz

There has been some VERY cool self-regard/Gosh-darn-it-love-y’damn-self stuff bubbling up from the Ancestral Health blogosphere, and I highly encourage you to read/listen.

• Diane and I discussed some “are we good/lean/fit enough?” worries in our podcast with Jimmy Moore…
• Krista of Stumptuous.com wrote a KILLER post (it was word porn all the way) on all the things it’s fracking OK to be…as long as you’re fracking moving forward: The House that Stumptuous Built
• …Krista’s post was inspired by Laura of Ancestralize Me. As Laura writes – and I agree – trying to force a state of extreme leanness on a body not naturally inclined towards leanness (many of us Paleo-oriented ladies are guilty of this) may mean sacrificing fertility and health for some supposed “ideal” that is really only a tired social construct. Read Paleo Women are Phat!
• Eileen, a certified badass at Life Beyond Rx wrote about overcoming a tense history with food and body image – and in doing so, she illuminates why, as Krista said, we don’t rebel against anything. Because we know that rebelling against something still makes that other thing the boss of us.We drive away into the sunset, following our own path.” My Strong is My Victory Over the Skinny Word.
• Diane discusses the pitfalls of attaching “negative emotions” to a body part and a technique for reversing that tendency: I Used to Hate My Thighs.
• And my own posts on why I’m Grateful for My A$$ – er, Hindquarters and another addressing why Strong is the new Strong. (Or the strong that always was. Whatever.)

Look, just because we follow a “Paleo” or “Primal” or “Ancestral” set of food values doesn’t mean we instantly heal all wounds from decades of media bombardment, crippled body image and disordered eating. No, CrossFitting a lot (or running a lot, or Zumba-ing a lot) can’t necessarily solve those problems either, especially if we’re doing them with the sole focus of “fixing” our bodies in lieu of our minds while continuing to allow self-dissatisfaction and body loathing to rule.

Those old wounds are emotional, and healing starts in thought. We can eat well and lift heavy and High-Energy-Latin-Dance our bodies into submission, but unless we’re moving the mind-set along with the kettlebell, I guarantee those wounds’ll still be there.

Obsessing over becoming some false ideal of “perfection” – whether extremely lean and well-muscled or svelte and “stick skinny” – is a toxic, counterproductive burden to bring to this lifestyle. Eat well, use your physical capacities (ie MOVE if you’re capable of moving) and work hard at something. Relish the process of discovering what your muscles and mind are capable of, and appreciate the vehicle for those accomplishments – your body – for the great things it’s doing, not for the body fat percentage it achieves (or doesn’t) along the way.

One of the benefits to having a blog with three readers (Hey mom! Hey gramma! Hey Chachi Arcola!) is that I get the extraordinary privilege of reviewing books that speak to my own food values. This latest book was authored by The Paleo Parents: this extraordinary duo (well, counting the 3 kiddos, it’s an extraordinary quintet) has put together a fun, family-oriented gluten-free cookbook called Eat Like a Dinosaur.

I first spent time with Matt, Stacy and their three awesome boys when we caught a showing of Farmageddon (I wrote about the experience here). The family treated me to dinner and an overall eye-opening experience wherein they served healthy food to their children and the children actually ate it. 

A few of my observations from that day:

You know how I think having a dog and a Cave Husband is, like, Sooomuchworkyouguuuys? Well. Stacy and Matthew have three HUMAN children. Three BOYS. All of whom are rambunctious (in the best possible way), smart, well-adjusted, and Totally. Paleo.

Stacy and Matthew’s journey is truly inspiring, and to see two folks who run the gamut of day-to-day responsibilities manage to raise kids who are willing to eat beet greens while maintaining a blog and a garden (WITH CAULIFLOWER IN IT) is pretty much confirmation that no excuse is greater than the desire to be healthy.“

Being of what some might consider “childbearing age” (sarcastic air quotes), I have become observant of the dynamic between parents and children I encounter. Unfortunately, I mostly observe children being fed plates of pasta or french fries – I’ve even watched a mom give multi-colored fruity pops to her toddler while SHE ate scrambled eggs with a side of veggies at my local diner! Oh, my heart hurt.

(No judgment – I know intentions were pure and I hold all parents in high regard. But I still don’t think kids need pasta or Yellow No. 5.)

At one time, Stacy and Matt may have resembled those parents. Two of their children suffered from varied health and concentration issues. They made simple dietary changes – eliminating allergens like dairy and wheat as well as industrial seed oils – and in transitioning to a Paleo template, they quickly resolved those health issues. The dross of eczema, attention deficits and impulse control immediately fell away.

Did I mention Matt and Stacy lost over 200 lbs. in the process?

Eat Like a Dinosaur is wonderful for many reasons, but I have an overwhelming appreciation for the advice about getting kids “on board” with healthier eating and engaging them in food selection and preparation (the cookbook facilitates this with kid-friendly photos and illustrations). It’s the illustrated opening story, however – told by Cole – which truly moved me the most. It ends with the most innocent and sweet statement, “Now we enjoy going out and doing fun stuff instead of feeling sad inside our house.” This is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

As difficult as it is to single out my favorites, I’d have to say that the 50/50 Bacon Burger is absolute perfection with the Southwestern Pineapple sauce; and the “Tacos To Go” are a brilliant take on portable (nutrient-dense) meat-n-veggie jerky. I’m making the Cherry Chocolate Balls for the Final Four. I also deeply appreciate the inclusion of real, homemade bone broth in the list of recipes – it’s one of the most nourishing, nutrient-dense foods a child could eat.

If I had to sum this cookbook up in one phrase, it would be: My inner child does the happy dance! 

Hop on over to the Paleo Parents’ website for more on their journey, or navigate directly to Amazon to order the book!

Giveaway is closed! Thanks for participating!

If you’d like to try to WIN a copy of Eat Like a Dinosaur, just be sure you “Like” The Paleo Parents Facebook Page – and leave me a quick comment letting me know that ya want it and why!
Winner will be identified at 5:00 PM ET Thursday, March 29 2012!