Daily life of a Cavewoman

All I could do was groan as I scanned the shelves of my fridge, stacked with delectable plates of pasta and pizza that I could not to eat. My pain only worsened when I realized that I still had to suffer through five more days of the torturous Paleo Diet.

The Paleo diet eliminates all grains, sugar and dairy, as well as all processed foods. And if that isn’t horrible enough, it prohibits salt — imagine fried eggs, steak and stir-fried vegetables without any seasoning. Yum.

The diet was outlined by Dr. Loren Cordain to model Stone Age diets on the basis that food products today are overloaded with trans fats, salts and sugars. It aims to help people achieve happier and healthier lifestyles by limiting their diet to non-processed foods.

I started by culinary adventure by making a run to Safeway and buying lots of of fresh meats and vegetables. At the store, I stared wistfully at the endless aisles of glorious processed snacks,  reminded again of all the food I couldn’t eat.

Throughout the week, I had to wash, cut and cook my own food since my family decided against joining me (“No salt? No way!”). While my portion sizes were not limited, I wish they had been. Unseasoned green beans were rather hard to swallow, and unsalted meat was equally unpalatable. My meals revolved around vegetables and meats, and my snacks ranged from fruits to more fruits. And my mom just so happened to pick this week to restock the pantry with tons of delicious snacks.

The main problem I had with the diet, however, wasn’t my default dinner of steamed broccoli (sans seasoning!), but the time I spent on every meal. I have a newfound appreciation for every meal my mom puts on the table, especially when I have everything from exams to essays to prepare for and don’t have the time or energy to decide what I’m going to whip up for dinner.

I not only had to make my own food but also had to avoid all the other food in the house. Five days into the diet, my 11-year-old sister offered me a cookie. The chocolate goodness was too good to regret, and I succumbed. Still, I resolved to finish the last two days strong.

When my diet finally ended, I was extremely happy to finally be reunited with my sweet tooth. I have to say, nothing tastes as good as cake and chocolate after a week of experimenting with cauliflower and chicken.

According to the diet, I had to eat almost twice the amount I normally would to maintain my energy throughout the day. In reality, though, this diet made me more energetic. I’m usually not a morning person, but every morning I shot up at the first buzz of my alarm.

All in all, the diet was time-consuming and bland. I’d consider going Paleo on some days, but forever? I’d rather go vegan first.