Monthly Archives: February 2010

Paleo-Plus: The caveman diet expands its hunting grounds

paleo-snack-apple-sauce-and-nuts

Berry-apple sauce and nuts
is an easy Paleo snack.

Adapting to their changing environment was essential for early humankind. Our ancestors learned how to fish, hunt and gather the foods they needed.

In today’s world there are fewer cavemen (which some females might disagree with) but a renewed interest in eating well (“eating good” in caveman parlance).

Going back to basics is a central theme in many successful lifestyle changes, and the Paleo diet has that at its core. With its focus on meats, vegetables, fruits and nuts, going Paleo provides a solid core for good nutrition.

But just as our caveman ancestors were able to adapt to changes in weather and new food possibilities, we too have options and opportunities to mesh our evolving lifestyle with a positive food legacy.

As noted by Darya Pino, food editor for Summer Tomato, “The evolutionary argument that humans are somehow mal-adapted to agriculture-based diets is particularly unconvincing”.

I suggest the “Paleo-Plus” food lifestyle, consistent with the Paleo diet’s philosophy and core foods, but with its hunting ground expanded to include small portions of other local natural foods.

My own awareness of the need to go Paleo-Plus came the first time I made myself a coffee. I am very much a triple-milk person when it comes to coffee, and the thought of going to black coffee just tasted wrong.

It can be hard getting away from cheese in North America and Europe, and ignoring the wide variety of healthy, low-fat yogurts just seems wrong. Similarly, sprinkling a few bran flakes on fruit is a great way to get the texture of cereal in a very small serving.

The key, as always, is moderation and being able to sustain a positive and practical food lifestyle.

I think even a caveman would agree.

paleo-plus-salad
Here's a tasty example of Paleo-Plus from my local Williams Coffee Pub: meat, veggies, nuts, fruit and yes, a bit of feta cheese.

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Something you CAN take with you

something-you-can-take-with-you

We have all heard the saying “You can’t take it with you.” The saying is very old, though not as old as the Egyptian pharaohs, who stocked their pyramid burial chambers with lots of goodies for the next world. The pharaohs thought of themselves as gods, so if they wanted to bring some golden cats into the next world then surely that was going to happen.

The recent touring of His Extreme Highness, King Tutankhamun (King Tut to us disrespectful peasants, and Tut to his buddies) showed lots of King Tut’s stuff, but no sign of his re-embodiment in the next world. Most likely he wouldn’t want to be hanging out in museums with cellphone-packing peasants anyway.

King Tut has moved on, but King Tut’s stuff is still available for ogling and historic analysis. In other words, he didn’t take it with him.

While Tut spent his pseudo-powerful lifetime building a pyramid and carefully planning his personal journey beyond this world, our own journeys focus on more local travel, powered largely by good will and moderate prosperity.

When we think about what we can take with us, we are mostly thinking about how much will fit in our luggage or the car.

What we maybe don’t realize, is that even for travel in this life, the most important things we bring with us are within us.the-most-important-things-we-bring-with-us-are-within-us

the-poor-need-help

A friend of mine took a business trip into Mexico recently with his colleagues. On a drive between cities they came upon a bridge, on which there were many beggars — destitute and seeming without hope. As they drove across the bridge my friend spotted a pregnant woman, and felt a strong need to help her. Looking into his wallet he saw his last $20 bill, so his companions sifted through the ashtray change and gave that to the woman.

My friend felt the need to help, and did something.

He felt compassion, and took action.

As it turned out, when he checked his wallet later, he had two more $20 bills. It made him sad, realizing that he could have helped more than he did.

But he had sensed the need to help, and had done something. Not nothing, maybe not a lot, but something for someone in need.

The strong, deep urging each of us gets — to help someone — is built into us.  It is part of why humans have survived long past the days of the pharaohs, and it will still be part of us when our focus on money is over.

Along life’s highways, each of us can bring something important: a willingness to help others. And since no-one gets a smooth ride through life, each of us can benefit from being helped.

Which skills we have and what resources we have varies from person to person, and from moment to moment. But even the poorest of the poor can be willing to help, and to share a smile.

Studies have shown that the happiest people are not the richest — but regular folks who care about others, and who share in community.

Whether in small ways or big ways, wherever we go, we can be someone who helps others.

something-you-can-take-with-youHere is a hand, reaching out to help.

Be the hand.

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What About a Moment?

The sky is amazing. Trees are amazing. Animals are amazing. And we get to experience them. Life is amazing. Love is amazing. People are, well, fascinating, and it’s amazing that we can get along. And we get to experience them. That there is any world here to experience is amazing. Believe in God or not.… Continue Reading