How to Prepare Paleo Efficiently

Now that we have been eating Paleo for almost 8 months, I feel like I have some tried and true suggestions to share about how to go about it as easily and time effectively as possible.  Of course, this needs to be tailored to your own tastes and preferences and allergies, but here are some guidelines to get you started.

1) Chop large quantities of vegetables at a time - nothing kills more time than prepping 1/2 a zucchini at a time.  You can then either make a double/triple meal with them or have them pre-chopped and on hand for omelets, salads, sautés and stir-fries.  You can always freeze them if they start to get too ripe and then pull them out for cooked meals (sauces and soups especially)

2) Cook large quantities of meat at a time - grill two chickens (or four), larger roasts, then use them with different mixes of veggies and sauces or salads later in the week for meals.

2) Prepare larger quantities of meals than you are used to - you will find yourself hungry if you just cut out grains and dairy and don't eat more.  Use the extras for breakfasts, lunches and dinner again.

3) Even eating lots of extra meat and veggies, you will need to eat higher fat foods like nuts, seeds, olives, coconut oil and avocados to feel satisfied.  I often bake muffins with almond flour or make my own granola bars or desserts with nuts and dried fruits.  Smoothies are another great way to boost your nutrition and get some healthy fats - use avocados, coconut milk and oil, bananas, and fresh, frozen or dried fruits - the variety is endless.

Fresh from the Farmer's Market and my pantry

4) Get good at a few simple cooking techniques and then get creative with lots of variations:

• Sautes 
• Stir fry
• Tomato sauce with veggies and ground meats, put on zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, baked potatoes, eggplant slices, etc.
• Salads
• Roasting
• Grilling

5) Breakfasts are often rushed and there aren't a lot of Paleo cereals out there to buy.  Some easy options are egg-based meals, or sausages, leftover meat, with some fruit or a smoothie, and some leftover veggies (or pre-chopped).  If you bake, then make a double batch of almond or coconut based muffins, extra points for putting veggies in them!

6) Snacks - you can make your own, but luckily there are also lots of new Paleo snacks out there, and trail mix, fruit or raw veggies are always a good option.

7) Have fun and when you miss something a lot - you can almost always find a Paleo-fied recipe of it on Pinterest!