Starting Paleo

Several friends have asked what they need to know to make the switch to paleo eating. This is the time of year when we all start thinking about changes! Here are a few of my favorite sources of basic information-

Getting Started Tips
Robb Wolf's Getting Started

Robb Wolf's Sample Meal Plans

The Whole 30

Recipes
The Performance Menu

Everyday Paleo

Paleo Search Engine

Nell Stephenson

My advice to anyone making the switch is to focus first on your food quality, and know that once you are in the habit of buying and eating quality, real food you will be able to make changes to the combinations, timing, and quantity. If we are honest, we need to make manageable, accomplishable changes instead of getting wrapped up in reading and implementing everything that everyone says about paleo. Don't get caught up in feeling like you have to read all there is and get it all "right" from day one! Start eating the right foods: meat, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruit.

If you make this your priority now, and give yourself time to really adjust to this (like a month), you will have plenty of time later to sweat the other details that many like to worry about. Later on you will be able to decide how many nuts you should eat each day, whether you should drink water with your meals, how many minutes after waking you should eat breakfast, whether vinegar is paleo or not, or any of the many things that paleo people can completely stress and debate over.