Foods to Eat

Ok, so I am a little confused. I want to follow the Paleo Diet strictly, so am I on the right site for the dieters that are doing it as well. I see some foods that are not allowed, but still losing weight. Am I being tooo strict?

Hey there! I am on the Paleo diet as well. If you want to be strict about the diet that is ok. There are some people who each sweet potatoes and yams but are still following the diet too. It specifically says that these are not really allowed due to the high starch and little nutritional value. However, if the caveman ate it I believe its fine. The diet itself cuts these things out so that people who want to be severely strict can be. If you need any advice let me know. I've been doing Paleo (non-strictly) for a while.

People who are strict according to Cordain's original book would eat lean meat, fish, poultry, non-starchy vegetables, and occasional fruit and nuts. They would not eat root vegetables, beans, or any processed foods whatever.

Since that time there have been many interpretations of what our ancestors ate and what sort of modern foods which are available fit that profile. Some people eat root vegetables. Some eat seeds, some do not. Some eat fruit and nuts rarely. Research now shows (and Cordain has softened his position) that stone age humans ate lots of fatty meat. So there are a lot of people eating low carb high fat diets that are also considered paleo.

The word "paleo" means so many different things to different people that it's really not possible to know what someone means when they say they are paleo unless they clarify.

Ya, eKat's right, it is left up to interpretation. You can find paleo "food lists" online as well. If you're just starting out, a "paleo" diet of just natural foods will do you wonders. I use the primal blueprint which allows cheese, sourcream, cream cheese, and butter as well. I do avoid heavy starches like potatoes and legumes despite them being "natural." When it comes to fruits, I have them earlier in the day to burn off the simple sugars/carbs from them, and veggies are ok all the time for me. For nuts and seeds, I'll eat them as snacks throughout the day. Despite calorie count, my diet of high protein and fat works great for my bod.

Strict paleo would be meat, vegetables, some fruits, nuts and seeds. The big things you can't eat are grains, processed foods and refined sugars. The foods that kind of falls in the middle - starchy vegetables, dairy, legumes - are technically against the rules, but they're not bad in moderation and it's really up to you how strict you want to be. I personally eat peanuts, cheese, butter and sweet potatoes. I put milk and sugar in my coffee. I don't think these things will slow me down as long as I use good judgment and don't go overboard.