In With the New

So you’ve committed to Avoiding Poisonous Things for 30 days. You read the articles from yesterday’s post, cleaned out your pantry and fridge and are ready to get Primal. Now what? After Out With the Old comes in with the new, of course, so it’s time to do some shopping. I want you to fill your kitchen with food that Grok would recognize. These are the foods that the human body is meant to consume. The foods that give us energy and vitality, that make us lean and support our immune systems for a long, healthy and happy life. In short and in full: meat (beef, pork, fowl, fish, etc.), eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and healthy derivative fats/oils and butters (with herbs, spices, extracts, and supplements rounding things out).

When making the transition to Primal, giving up grains and minimizing sugar consumption is just part of the equation. The next challenge is to accept that fat is healthy and should make up a majority of your caloric intake. Of course, not all fats are created equal, so you need to choose wisely. Additionally, it’s not just the type and quality of your dietary fats you need to be concerned about. In The Primal Blueprint and How to Forage in the Modern World I emphasize the importance of choosing clean meats and eggs, and certain fruits, nuts and vegetables over others.

Just like yesterday I’d like to direct you to a slew of articles that I’ve written on these topics. But first, let’s remind ourselves that a big part of this challenge is about eating real food – plants and animals just like Grok.

The following represent the most popular MDA articles on each of these nourishing food groups. You’ll learn why these foods should make up the entirety of your eating plan, which fats, meats, nuts/seeds, vegetables and fruits are preferred, how to shop for these foods and how to do it all on a budget. Below you will also find my answers to FAQs. Do your homework and then get out there and eat some Primal grub!

Fat

The Definitive Guide to Fats

The Definitive Guide to Oils

The Definitive Guide to Saturated Fat

A Primal Primer: Animal Fats

Is All Butter Created Equal?

Is All Olive Oil Created Equal?

Smart Fuel: Palm Oil

Trans Fat: Why It Should Be Avoided Like the Plague

PUFAs: Vegetable Oil. Ick.

Canola Oil Q&A

Meat

Did Grok Really Eat That Much Meat?

The Red Scare

Choosing Chicken: A Primal Purchasing Guide

The Problems with Conventionally Raised Beef

What Cowpooling Is and How to Find a Cowpooling Source

Organ Meats: It’s Not So Offal

Salmon: Factory Farm vs. Wild

Better Fish Choices

Raw Meat

In Defense of Meat Eaters: The Evolutionary Angle

Eggs

Smart Fuel: Eggs

Egg Purchasing Guide

Seasonality for the Birds

How Much is Too Much?

Vegetables

Top 10 Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer Vegetables

Is Organic All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

Why Do I Have to Eat Vegetables At All?

A Visual Guide to Sea Vegetables

The “Smart Fuel” Category (contains many vegetable profiles)

Fruit

On the Problems of Cultivated Fruit

Best Fruit Choices

The Wonderful World of Coconut Products

The Many Uses of Coconut Flour

Nuts/Seeds

Nuts and Omega 6s

A Quick Guide to Edible Seeds

The Many Uses of Almond Meal

Top 10 Ways to “Go Nuts”

FAQs

What does your meal plan look like, Mark?

My Daily Diet

A Primal Blueprint Sample Menu

What My Wife Carrie Eats

Should I be taking supplements?

Grok Didn’t Take Supplements So Why Should I?

Vitamin D: Sun Exposure, Supplementation and Doses

A Primal Primer: Prebiotics

A Primal Primer: Whey Protein

Protein Powders: How Do They Measure Up?

What about fish oils?

The Definitive Guide to Fish Oils

What about dairy?

The Definitive Guide to Dairy

Is All Cheese Created Equal?

What about bugs?

Insects: Not Just for Breakfast Anymore

How can I go Primal without breaking the bank?

99 Ways to Save Money on Food

Affording Organics

How to Eat Healthy and Save Money

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Healthy Eating on a Budget

How to Build a Square Foot Garden in 10 Easy Steps

Everything But the Squeal

Cheap Meat Options

Cheap Meats: Thrift Cuts

Tell me more about fat!

The Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

How to Render Beef Tallow and Bacon Fat

Can Fried Food Be Healthy?

Coconut Oil and Ghee: Together At Last

WTF?… Where’s the Fat?

Bone Marrow: Delicious, Nutritious and Underappreciated

We’re two full days into the 30-Day Challenge. Let me know how things are going for you so far. Grok on!

TAGS:  is it primal?

About the Author

Mark Sisson is the founder of Mark’s Daily Apple, godfather to the Primal food and lifestyle movement, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Keto Reset Diet. His latest book is Keto for Life, where he discusses how he combines the keto diet with a Primal lifestyle for optimal health and longevity. Mark is the author of numerous other books as well, including The Primal Blueprint, which was credited with turbocharging the growth of the primal/paleo movement back in 2009. After spending three decades researching and educating folks on why food is the key component to achieving and maintaining optimal wellness, Mark launched Primal Kitchen, a real-food company that creates Primal/paleo, keto, and Whole30-friendly kitchen staples.

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