Yes, I’m still talking about food. I hope you are continuing to eat well. Or maybe you’ve just joined us. Or maybe you have decided to be brave and are doing Whole 30 in March!!!!! (Raise your hands!!!) So, even though our W30 challenge has ended, I will continue to talk and share about food and healthy eating. When I’m not doing W30, Robbo and I do follow Paleo guidelines. We typically avoid grains, processed foods, legumes. We do eat small amounts of dairy and occasionally rice (usually if I’m eating at Krua Thai or India Spice).

This post is because of K.S. …

K.S. is a precious 19 year old has been shadowing me at the office as she prepares to apply to nursing school. She heard me lecture educate a few patients about nutrition and started asking questions. She is in the middle of her own struggle with some pretty serious gut issues (and anxiety).

K.S. eats out a lot, or orders restaurant delivery. I have encouraged her to cook more at home. Since this process can be overwhelming, I thought I’d try to help break down some of these big changes.

We started by making a list of some of her favorite dinners. We also made a list of protein / meats she likes and veggies she likes.

Then, I did some homework for her ….

Top Ten dinner ideas
(just kidding, it’s Top Eleven. I gave you a bonus meal).

Gluten free and dairy free dinner ideas. (These are NOT Whole30 specific, remember, we’ve graduated!!!)

NACHOS

There are several chips that are easy to find. Siete chips are a perfect corn chip replacement. Boulder Canyon has amazing potato chips …. I LOVE putting pesto, black olives and pepperoni on the Boulder Canyon potato chips. (You could use any veggie chip … homemade or store bought).

With everything you can pile on your nachos, you will hardly miss the cheese. Brittany Angell has nut based “queso” recipes that you could top your nachos with or use as a queso dip (as a dip you could use veggies, not just chips). Queso recipe ** HERE ** Siete also has nut based queso. It tastes like queso. I promise.

You can buy both Siete and Boulder Canyon around town. Sometime’s Market Street, sometime’s Drug Emporium, sometime’s Sam’s Club. Keep your eyes peeled. All Siete items are safe. Boulder Canyon, most are OK, but read the ingredient lists!

Nacho recipes:
PaleOMG Carnitas Nachos
Primal Palate Loaded Nachos

BAKED POTATO WITH BRISKET

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are great!
Use REAL butter!!

You can make your own mayonnaise or ranch dressing, but here are some store brands to look for: 
Primal Kitchen (mayo, ranch dressing, BBQ sauce)
Tessamae’s (mayo, ranch dressing, BBQ sauce)
The New Primal (BBQ sauce)

All 3 of these brands are full on Paleo / Primal approved. Some products do have added honey. No dairy. No gluten…. Primal Kitchen and Tessamae’s are in most our local grocery stores … Market Street, HEB, I think even WalMart. The New Primal is harder to find, but you never know (I think there were some New Primal products at Market Street).

Are you making your own brisket? There are plenty of great recipes. WATCH the ingredients in recipes for sauces or rubs! No sugar! Check your ingredients on the items like Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, etc.

Brisket recipes:
Primal Palate Beef Brisket
Paleo Leap Texas Style Beef Brisket
Predominately Paleo Best. Brisket. Ever.

Sharon’s BBQ here in town does not use sugar in their BBQ rubs … which means you can have Sharon’s beef and pork. No sausage (added sugar). Pretty sure their chicken is OK too. Bring your own BBQ sauce and Ranch dressing. (I do it all the time!!!). You can have meat plate with potato and veggies (no corn = it’s a grain with NO nutritional value, and mac & cheese is not a vegetable); brisket salad (my fave from Sharon’s!); or brisket potato.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

This is a great recipe and easy to make. Get creative with your stuffing … ground beef or brisket or chorizo or mushrooms, etc.

Stuffed pepper recipes:
Primal Palate Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers
Primal Palate Karen’s PaleoFriendly Stuffed Peppers
PaleOMG Chile Verde Stuffed Poblanos 

JALAPENO POPPERS

Yum!!! 
Popper recipes:
Primal Palate Chorizo Poppers
Primal Palate Jalapeno Pineapple Poppers
Primal Palate Guacamole Salmon Poppers
Physical Kitchenness Whole 30 Bacon Enchilada Poppers

Jalapeno popper DIP recipe:
Paleohacks Jalapeno Popper Dip
Plaid and Paleo Jalapeno Popper Dip

Jalapeno popper casserole recipe:
PaleOMG Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

Jalapeno popper chicken salad recipe:
PaleOMG Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad

PIZZA

There are some frozen pizzas that will be gluten free, but I don’t think they are also dairy free. You can buy Paleo crust and make your own pizza. Or, make everything at home, including the crust! And you don’t have to have crust … make a pizza bowl, throw your pizza toppings on top of potatoes, or lettuce green or even eggs, etc.

Around town Domino’s, Potter’s Pizza, Pizza by Design all have gluten free crusts.

My favorite frozen pizza is Against The Grain pesto pizza!!!! So good!! Against the Grain does have a plain crust you can buy. There are also cauliflower crusts you can buy. Most our grocery stores have at least one option. Found in the regular pizza section. As long as you watch your sauces and cheese, you can make a million pizza combos.

Careful with sausage and bacon … often times they have the sneaky added sugar! Pederson’s and Applegate are both brands that have sugar free bacon and sausage. Read the ingredient list to be sure you are getting the sugar free versions. If it has a “Whole30” little emblem on the package, it is sugar free and totally clean. It tastes delicious, like delicious real bacon or sausage.

If you make your own crust, their are tons of recipes … coconut flour based, cauliflower based, almond flour based, etc.

Pizza recipes:
Primal Palate Cast Iron Skillet Pizza (Not Dairy Free)
Paleo Running Momma Paleo Pizza Crust (Grain and Dairy Free)
Paleo Running Momma Paleo Pepperoni Pizza
Primal Palate Paleo Pesto Flatbread Pizza

Pizza casserole (one of my all time favorite recipes!!!):
PaleOMG Almost 5 Ingredient Pizza Spaghetti Pie

SALMON AND 2 VEGGIES

This should be easy and self explanatory. Cook salmon they way your mom does. You can easily make an aioli from a Paleo approved, store bought mayo. Or, make your own mayo … it is crazy easy!!

Easy way to do a MEAL PLAN … pick 1 meat / protein and 2 veggies. I love roasting vegetables. Chop veggies into 1-2 inch cubes or pieces. Coat in olive oil, salt and pepper and roast them in the oven until soft in the center with those delicious, slightly browned edges!  Win every time!

Make a list of the protein you like (salmon, grilled chicken, shredded chicken, tuna, ground beef, brisket, sausage, pork chops, etc. etc.).

Make a list of veggies (TRY NEW THINGS!!! parsnips and carrots! Brussel sprouts, asparagus, sweet potato, white potato, butternut squash, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, and on and on.)

SWEET POTATO HASH (breakfast or dinner)

This is another one of my favorites!! I mean a definite Go-To recipe we have made 100 times.
 
Sweet potato hash recipe:
Primal Palate Sweet Potato Bacon Apple Hash

We add green chili peppers and jalapenos. Oh man, so good. I know you (K.S.) don’t really like eggs, but top this hash with a fried egg!!! Heaven!!! Seriously, one of my all time faves! (Side note: I drown my fried eggs in butter. Yum).

This is the type of recipe you can use as a template and then get creative. Use sweet potatoes and bacon, but then, you could add any veggie. Spinach is perfect to saute in with the bacon and potatoes. Makes a great breakfast or dinner or breakfast for dinner.

ENCHILIDAS

If you really want to make actual enchiladas, the Siete tortillas that are 100% legit. Look and taste like corn tortillas, but are grain free. They have a few different tortillas, but I love their cassava flour tortilla.

Brittany Angell has great recipes for making your own tortillas.

And, you don’t have to make enchiladas. Look at THESE ideas from Real Simple Good.

Enchilada recipes:
Wicked Spatula Paleo Enchiladas
PaleOMG Chicken Enchilada Bake
The Whole Smiths Paleo Chicken Enchiladas
Against All Grain Paleo Chile Verde Chicken Enchiladas 

CHICKEN TACOS

This is another one that should be pretty easy by now. Siete tortillas or Brittany Angell’s homemade tortilla’s. You could also use bibb lettuce or any big leafy green to make your “taco.” Then make whatever kind of taco you want. Ground chicken, shredded chicken, whatever kind of frozen chicken you like … or beef or pork tacos. Top with cilantro, jalapenos, shredded cabbage. Go crazy with salsa … make your own, lots of store bought salsa’s are good but you have to read labels!

Check my grocery shopping posts on FB for a sample of Paleo approved salsa’s.

You can also do taco soup or stuffed baked potatoes, taco pizza, taco salad, etc.
Look at all the ideas:
PaleOMG Taco
Against All Grain Taco
Real Simple Good Taco

SPAGHETTI WITH BUTTER

So, your spaghetti is now spaghetti squash spaghetti or any other spiral cut veggie noodle. CeCe’s Veggie Company is at Market Street and HEB. Pretty easy to find. You can also make your own … there’s a spiralizer attachment for the Kitchen Aid mixer or you can buy just a veggie spirazlier and spiralize ALL THE veggies!!!

Well, how about a noodle bowl. Sounds so good!!!
PaleOMG Spaghetti Squash Noodle Bowl with OMG sauce
Fast Paleo with Garlic Butter Noodles with Turkey and Broccoli 
The Whole Smiths Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Zoodles 
Real Simple Good Creamy Chicken Casserole

You like pad thai!!
PaleOMG Pad Thai Casserole

This garlic butter sauce sounds so good and would be DELISH over some spaghetti squash.
The Whole Kitchen Sink Paleo Butter Garlic Cream Sauce

CHILI

…. I was trying to stick to a Top Ten list, but then I found 2 great chili recipes, so you get Top Eleven.

Chili recipes:
Paleo Running Momma Paleo Pumpkin Chili

Lots of chili ideas:
Paleo Running Momma Chili

Bonus link (because these all sound crazy amazing!!!):
Paleo Running Momma Paleo Game Day Recipes
(think delicious appetizers / party food).

Homemade Mayo recipe:
40 Aprons Whole 30 Mayo

After you’ve made homemade mayo … obviously you can use it for all your mayo needs, but you can also use this as your base for a homemade ranch dressing or any kind of aioli!! (garlic aioli for your salmon!!; cilantro lime for grilled chicken or salmon; sriracha aioli, etc.)

Here are some online grocers … convenient to order, good for hard-to-find Paleo / Primal / AIP / W30 approved items. 
The Simple Grocer
Barefoot Provisions
Thrive Market

For K.S. … Thought you might like to read Mangia Paleo’s STORY.
(Great story for everyone, especially is you have history of IBS, Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis).

Keep the conversation going. Ask questions. Encourage each other. Share your stories! XO.