Italian Sausage and Kale {A Paleo Recipe}

I thought I would start sharing some of the Paleo recipes my chef husband creates for us :) This is one of my favorites! Plus, it's simple and fast- perfect for the work week. 

How do we celebrate three years?

I spent extra long getting ready for our date. I even used my good smelling shampoo for the special occasion.  Getting ready these days is tricky...I feel like myself until I look in the mirror and am shocked at the reflection every time. Is that really my belly? Is my face really that round? But oh the volume and thickness of my hair...I'm in love.  That can definitely stay.

We headed to a local Italian restaurant to celebrate. In a way I'm a little glad our baby didn't come on her due date...then we'd have to share our special day.  Now we can still selfishly have a day that is just about us.  

Martin was very gentleman-like and opened the car door for me (although he always does) and even scooted the table out of the way so me and my belly could squeeze into the booth. 

 Trying to choose something for Martin that has no gluten in it was a bit challenging and even though I should have done the same, I couldn't help myself and ordered the Fettucini Alfredo. 

 I decided the onions on Martin's salad should join his croutons he can't eat.  He then pointed out that my entire plate of spaghetti should be on the "no no plate" as well...touche :)

 And because it's not a celebration without a piece of chocolate cake the size of your head...I enjoyed my third of the cake while Martin observed and smiled. He didn't even tell me my cake should be on the "no no plate" because he knows that it's my favorite. That right there tells me he's a keeper :)

Dear Chicken Salad, I sort of hate you

This week was hard.

I bruised my tailbone like you wouldn't believe and screamed bloody murder every time I had to stand up...or sit down for that matter, sneeze, laugh...it was miserable.  Thank goodness it's finally healing. 

Martin has been taking very good care of me, still loving me even when I have a big ice pack down my pants or start crying when he goes over a speed bump in the car. 

I never wanted to be a "difficult" pregnant lady, but lately I feel like I have been.  The one food that I actually found to love while eating Paleo I can't stand to look at. I used to inhale bowls of chicken salad and now, I can barely swallow it.

Eating strictly Paleo has been the biggest challenge for me this far in my pregnancy. I admit I have not stayed true to eliminating gluten and processed foods from my diet.  With these new food aversions and plus my already picky appetite I am struggling to find things to eat that align with our lifestyle.  

I know the benefits of eating clean, I've experienced them myself, my husband has experienced them. I know the benefits it will have on our little one. I have to keep telling myself over and over that the food I eat isn't just for me anymore, it's to help nourish and grow our baby. Which is most important right now. 

I think maybe slowly I am starting to get the hang of being pregnant. By the time I have everything under control it will be July and the baby will be here :)  For now, I'm just taking each day as it comes. Celebrating when I go a whole day without eating gluten...celebrating each milestone that passes and continuing to be so thankful for this experience, even if chicken and I are no longer on speaking terms. 

paleo chicken salad-- otherwise known as what I eat almost every day

This recipe was created especially for me by my Chef Husband...it's simple and tasty and Jessica tweaked. It can also be prepared ahead of time and eaten off of for days. 

The Recipe: according to me

• Roasted chicken breast cut into tiny tiny pieces so it is hidden amongst the other ingredients
• 1 bag of grapes cut into halves
• About 4-6 celery stalks sliced into little pieces 
• 2 spoonfuls of mayonnaise
• Chill in refrigerator  

The other night, Sunday night around 10pm to be exact, I begged my husband to please make my chicken salad for me so I could go to bed and be well rested for school the next day. I told him he would do such a great job because cooking is his specialty.  The next day at lunch I dove into my lunch...what was that in my salad? A nut?! And why did it taste different?? Martin had tried to be fancy with my chicken salad...something he knows is a big no no. 

I think he secretly changed my recipe so I wouldn't ask him to make my chicken salad at 10pm anymore...he's very smart. Although the changes may not have been noticeable by the naked eye, I have the ability to tell the slightest differences in any recipe I have mastered...right mom? 

The Recipe: according to Chef Martin

• 1 medium roasted chicken, skinned, and cut into small cubes  
• 2 cups of halved grapes 
• 1 cup diced celery
• 3/4 cup of chopped Walnuts
• 1/2 cup of Mayonnaise (enough to coat ingredients)
• Pepper to taste
• 2 T red wine vinegar
• Chill in refrigerator 

I'm sure you will enjoy either version

:)

The Bread I Shall Not Eat

There lies the bread.  Glazed in warm butter with a side of cinnamon butter.

I think the rolls were secretly laughing at me...

I've been struggling lately with trying to eat clean...being true to Paleo.  This past month has been stressful and busy and as a result I grab for things that are easy to eat, but not necessarily what my body needs.  I can tell such a difference in how I feel.  I'm nauseous again, I'm tired.  And on top of it all I got a mean ulcer...not fun. But I'm at it again, trying my best, healing my body once again.

It's amazing what I'll tell myself so I don't feel bad about eating things I can't, "It's okay if you eat that piece of bread Jessica, you'll probably feel sick afterwards, but it's SO WORTH IT!"

Then I do feel sick and I kick myself for my decision. 

Since I've cut gluten out of my diet I feel like my body is even more sensitive to it and I can really feel when it is in my system.  I'm still learning every day...it's a mental obstacle more than anything for me. If it wasn't for my husband I don't know what I would do.  He encourages me everyday, telling me I can do it. He's my biggest role model.

. . .

I stared at those buttered rolls for a long time...I even thought about stuffing a whole one in my mouth while Martin went to the bathroom. But I mustered up my self control, ordered my chicken, and even ignored the croutons in my salad. It may seem insignificant, but small victories like this make me feel like I can do it again tomorrow.

My body thanks me.

Healing

It has been five months since I changed the way I eat. I can't say that everyday has been my best, but I'm proud of myself and I feel better...healthier. There are several reasons why I decided to start eating Paleo, but the biggest reason was for my future.

When I was in high school I was diagnosed with PCOS. My first fear was that I wouldn't be able to have children...I was only 16 and all I could think about was the word infertility.  I thought about the fact that I now had an increased chance of getting adult-onset diabetes and that my teenage skin problems would probably continue if not worsen.  My doctor immediately put me on a birth control pill, but that wouldn't cure me of my PCOS or any of my symptoms. And I was told that when I decided to have children they would start me off right away with fertility drugs. Never once did they say anything about finding a natural way to solve the diagnosis.

PCOS causes excess insulin in our bodies, along with an array of embarrassing and unwanted symptoms.  But what if you took a natural approach to reducing the insulin? If you removed the foods that your body is fighting against? Ridding your body of simple sugars and gluten, and in my case dairy too. Replacing it with protein, nuts and non starchy vegetables. Realizing that what you put into your body is so important to your health and well being. 

My body is healing itself. 

I know that my insulin levels have stabilized because I can feel the change. I'm no longer shaky and lightheaded before I eat lunch  or dinner. My skin is finally clear (which is amazing to me after having taken every pill and potion available with no permanent results). I have more energy. My migraines are far and few in between. My cycle is finally regular. My body composition has changed...for the better :) 

I still struggle daily with food as I've had to begin to change 26 years of eating habits. Sometimes I honestly just want to eat a bag of Cheetos, but remembering why I've made these changes gets me through to another day. Soon it will become routine for me and I won't have to think about it. 

I don't know what the future holds, but I hope that someday I won't have these uncertain thoughts of infertility floating through my mind. That I'll be able to join the motherhood club and that by going back to the way humans have been eating for thousands of years, I will help my body work the way it's supposed to.    

Family Dinner

Once a week we try to have dinner with my sister and brother-in-law. Some weeks my sister invites me over twice so I have someone to eat with and don't eat an entire bag of grapes for dinner. 

She takes good care of me.

Last night it was our turn to host and of course Chef Martin prepared a fine feast. 

Martin's been exploring our local Asian Market a lot lately.  He works at one of Denver's finest Sushi restaurants and is learning quickly about true Japanese cuisine.   

We almost always have something Italian with our dinner and last night Martin made us his own creation of 'deconstructed eggplant parmesan' 

And no dinner is complete without a good swig of basil seed drink...tasted sort of like cream soda with fish eggs (those aren't really fish eggs, but they eerily resemble them)

It's so nice to have a family dinner, spending the evening laughing and catching up with everyone...trying new foods.  I wonder what the Backos's are making for us next week? :)

Food Log {Cavewomen Style}

I promise to hush up about all this Paleo talk, but my mom was wondering what I eat during the day...so I thought I'd share incase others were interested too. If my family could see me now. They would truly not believe their eyes. It's true Daddy, I've been eating meat  t w i c e  a day! 

 Look out world, here comes Jessica, now only a slightly picky eater.  All I have to say is, "Take that!" to my five year old taste buds.

Here's a what a typical day looks like for me.  I'm not sure what it would look like if I didn't have a husband who was a chef...my meals would probably just be slopped onto a plate haphazardly. 

Martin's been so great trying to recreate the foods I love using creative ingredients.  We've had zucchini lasagna and pizza crust made from almond meal and coconut flour.  

I think we may have turned into that odd couple.  

You know the ones.  

The couple that keeps chickens in their living room and snacks on tree roots.  

Just be kind and tell me if I have dirt in my teeth.

Cinnamon Honey Custard {Paleo Style}

 This is the first dessert I've eaten since converting to Paleo ways. Seeing we don't eat dairy, Martin substituted cow's milk with coconut milk and tah dah! Paleo Custard.

M m m m  m m m m!

You would be very proud of me.  I've only varied from true Paleo eating a few times in the past three weeks.  I'm actually pretty impressed with my self control if I say so myself.  Can you believe I've gone weeks without any bread or cheese?  I used to eat these two things like there was no tomorrow (you may have caught me red handed many a time eating handfuls of cheese out of the bag...)  For most of my older teenage years and adult life I've always felt just so so.  Ask Martin and he'll tell you there probably wasn't a day that went by where I didn't feel good. Usually my stomach was upset or I had a headache. Well these past few weeks I haven't felt nauseous once and I haven't had a single headache. I always wondered if everyone felt car sick everyday? 

No? 

Just me? 

Well then, I'm glad I'm getting these things under control...I've realized that's no way to live your life. 

This process has been really hard at times...sometimes I cry like a big baby. Changing the way you view food is a process that takes time. I'm learning to see food as what it is...a way to nourish my body. 

I'm just glad I have my sweet husband by my side to encourage me every single day and make me Paleo custard every once in a while :)

I really want some bread

Day five of my new Paleo lifestyle and I would really like some bread...or spaghetti...or bread and spaghetti combined in a blender.

no?

I've been very self disciplined this week, but it has been very, very hard. I may have cried more than once. Martin says I'm going through gluten withdrawals and that's why I'm so irritable ;)

I know what you may be thinking.

"Just eat some crackers Jessica!"

But I can't.

I really want to give this new way of eating a try...this new lifestyle.  I had mentioned that eating Paleo has so many health benefits...and I've already noticed one and it hasn't even been a week! I never really noticed how bloated I have been most of my life...I thought it was just how my body was and I was beginning to come to terms with not always being able to button my pants with ease :)  

I'm looking forward to seeing more positive changes and I'm proud of myself for not giving in.  Martin told me the other day that we are choosing to eat this way and yes, others will be curious and not always understanding, but we are never to judge others for how they eat.  If people want to know more we can tell them, but we should never force our opinions on others. 

So I promise that if you eat a big cupcake with an inch of frosting in front of my face I will not judge you.  If you eat spaghetti and fruit roll ups (separate or together) I will not say a word.  


{I will just be secretly wishing it was me eating that cupcake instead of my pork chop}

we don't own a microwave...and I may be converting to caveman ways

My husband says that microwaves give you cancer and that eating bread is as bad as smoking a cigarette.  You know?  I think he might be onto something...no he is definitely onto something. 

Remember when Martin started eating Paleo?  I do, it was a traumatic day for me. I have a really hard time eating meat because I am classified as the world's pickiest eater.  I really just like spaghetti and well spaghetti.  But that is a big no no in the Paleo world.  So is bread, dairy, and anything processed.  Martin is very strict with this, but tells me I can feel free to eat what I want.  So I do.   But when I look at Martin and how far he has come from a year ago...his health, his body, his mind...it is incredible.  He has transformed.   

I'm going to become a cavewomen (but I will still shave my armpits).

Martin has inspired me. Other people's stories have inspired me.

I want to be me, but the healthiest I can be. 

Watching my husband go through this process has been eye opening.  I want him to be proud of me and I want us to share in this lifestyle together.

It's going to be hard...probably one of the hardest things I've ever done.  But it will be worth it.  I've been working on trying to simplify my life...cleanse it from things that I don't need or things that may be harmful to me.   This is just what my body and mind need. 

And as far as I can tell, the benefits outweigh the loss of my favorite foods ten fold.  

Even my amazing Fettucini Alfredo...so long friend.

My Favorite

Tonight my husband made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.

I know this may not seem like a big deal, but since he's changed his...rather our eating habits to align with the Paleo Diet, we haven't enjoyed a nice heaping bowl of spaghetti in months! And as a person who was eating spaghetti at least three times a week prior to this lifestyle change it has been a difficult process.

Tonight, dinner was heaven. 

(thank you Martin :)

Paleo what?!

Let me preface...

I love my husband more than anything in this world.

He's amazing and he takes such good care of me.

But lately, he's begun this new lifestyle that I'm just not that fond of.

It's called the Paleo diet...for athletes of course!

Haven't heard of it? Well you're not alone.

Basically you eat like a caveman...I hope this doesn't mean dressing like a caveman. Long beard, greasy hair, loin cloth, dirty fingernails.  

Oh man I hope not. 

I hope I don't find him hunting our cats down the hallway or digging up the tree roots at our apartment complex.

Now our diet consists of basically meat, fish and vegetables. 

This is where I have to put my foot down.

I don't even like meat..and my biggest complaint is no spaghetti!

Who doesn't eat spaghetti at least four times a week?

He knew that by marrying an Italian, pasta would be a staple in our diet.

I'm feeling sad about this. 

Maybe if I eat a big heaping bowl of spaghetti every night this week right in front of his nose, he won't be able to resist.  

Doesn't he realize that caveman didn't live very long?

It's because they didn't eat spaghetti...