Wait WHAT?! Juli doesn’t eat completely paleo all the time?! What a fake. What a liar. What a cheat. I hate her.
Don’t worry, I feel the same way.
But here’s the thing, I’m not paleo 100% of the time. Because frankly, that’s not how I can live my life. That’s not as happy of a life to me. Especially if I’m not competing. I like doing fun things, and most fun things to me include food. So I wanted to share some of the foods that I have found eatable within my dietary restrictions.
So get this. I don’t deal with grains very well. I seem to deal with corn just fine. I can eat a little bit of cheese, but too much makes me break out. Sugar makes me break out. Nuts make me break out. Boo. Beans and rice make me chunky. Annnnnnd alcohol makes me giggle.
So let’s go over some of the food and drinks that I decide to put in my body when strict paleo food just won’t make the cut.
- Corn tortilla chips. If I go to Mexican restaurants, I will almost have some chips. Not the whole basket, but some. Because they are delicious.
- Arepas. Do you know what an arepa is? If you don’t, you need to figure out where to get one in your city and love life with them in your life. It’s a corn pita stuffed with meat and plantains. It’s ridiculous. I hunt down the Quiero Arepas food truck in Denver on Twitter to find out how often I can get my hands are one of those beauties.
- Pupusas. Ok, so I didn’t know what these little babies were until one day, while hungover sipping on a homemade bloody mary at The Hornet, did I notice them on the menu. And when Laura ordered it, I snacked off her plate multiple times. They’re awesome. It’s like eating an eggs benedict, when the english muffin gets all wet. Ew, gross word choice. But for real. And THEN, Laura and I found pupusas in the gluten free section. Awesome, just awesome.
- Pizza. Who doesn’t miss pizza when they go paleo? Well, I do. So I tend to order gluten free pizzas at some restaurants when I’m out on the town. BUT I’ve found that some pizzas don’t love my insides. So recently, Laura and I found this pizza brand that we absolutely love, and you can find it at Whole Foods. Sometimes we top it with sausage and arugula.
- Taza Chocolate. I’m obsessed with this stuff. Thank god it’s out of my price range or I would buy it all the time. It’s HANDS DOWN my favorite kind of chocolate. No seriously, I dream about this stuff. It kind of tastes like it has coffee grounds in it, which I dig. I like coffee that stays in my teeth for later. Don’t act like I’m gross. You know that sounds wonderful.
- Alcohol. Ok let’s get to alcohol. My favorite wine is Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. I love ciders. I love mimosas and I newly love bloody marys. But when I go out to bars, I just stick with vodka sodas or shots of vodka.
That’s about it. Or at least all I can think of. You should share in the comments what you like to eat when you don’t eat completely paleo. Because everyone likes sharing.
Gluten free pizza for me! Corn tortilla chips, peanut butter cups… and nachos!
Marshmallows, hot chocolate, wine, and my favorite chocolate crinkle cookie.
Mmmm, so tasty
Thanks for sharing this Juli. It’s nice to know others feel the same way. Having just completed my first whole30, I can safely say I was not meant to constantly deprive myself of things.I already eat incredibly well. The paleo diet has given me back my health. So if a little dark chocolate and some gf cake will make me stay on track, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do!
Trader Joes sells a taza type product, but not as expensive. Only a few more months til TJs hits denver!
Feta. Feta feta feta on all the things. Feta, lemon juice, and italian seasoning on broccoli mountain. Feta and sausage in my eggs. Feta on my salad. Feta in my marinara and zucchini noodles. Feta on my pizza. Have to hide it from my toddler twin daughters because if they see it, they tackle me and it’s every girl for herself.
ok, so my non paleo is ice cream, peanut butter chocolate to be exact, pizza, and pasta, and Texas Roadhouse rolls and cinnamon butter! OMG! The hubby and I go at least once a week or everyother week. I feel like a deserve a treat! haha Oh, and beer
So, I love papusas, too!! I get them frozen at the local grocery store (they are imported from El Salvador, I think). We fry them up and top them with sour cream and salsa… OMG!
My husband is Mexican and they remind us of “tlacloyos” a fried or baked football shaped, bean stuffed, corn pocket that his mother makes.
If you like Kim Crawford, just wait until the new Trader Joe’s opens over on 8th and Colorado! The sell Kono Sauv Blanc. The vineyard is next door to Kim Crawford, is every bit as good or better, but very similar…at half the price.
Also, which Denver area Whole Foods has the Against the Grain pizzas? I love the GF pizza at the Walnut Room, but it doesn’t like my belly as much. They use Udi’s. I had GF pizza up at Enzio’s in Fort Collins and it was amazing. The waitress said she thought they got the crust from Costco?! Weird.
Anyway, just moved to Denver. Would love some hook up on local paleo sources.
Pax,
Andrew
PS Great Blog! Just found you.
If it’s gluten-free, I might have a bite…or ten !
Recently I was on a cruise, and when I told the waitstaff on the first day that I was gluten-free, the assistant waiter gave me some moist-looking gluten-free bread. I HAD to have some… and did for the rest of the cruise LOL
sauvignon blanc is also my wine of choice – I should try the brand you mentioned! I also have vodka sodas when I’m out unless the place seems to have good wine… however, usually hole-in-the-wall bars don’t tend to have the best wines.