The cookbook The Paleo Chef is one I had looked at before and I was attracted to it because of the delicious looking recipes and beautiful photos. I like a paleo diet template for several reasons:
- It helps to balance blood sugar, and there have been many testimonials from paleo diet adherents that have reversed diabetes.
- It is an anti-inflammatory diet because it cuts out the major foods that cause sensitivities and intolerances. The big food culprits are gluten, dairy and soy...and the paleo diet eliminates these (with a few exceptions I won't go into here). The paleo diet also eliminates sugar and vegetable oils, which are also highly inflammatory.
- Is rich in vegetable content--more phytonutrients and fiber means a happier body.
- It focuses on quality foods and sustainably raised meats, eggs and other products.
Now, I don't recommend a strict paleo diet for all of my patients. "Strict" paleo excludes all grains, all beans, all dairy (for the most part), all sugar and all processed foods. That still leaves highly nutritious foods like grass-fed and pastured meats, eggs, nuts and seeds, veggies and of course fruit. For many of my patients, the strict version of the diet isn't necessary. However, some people can really benefit from this way of eating, even for a short period (like a month or two).
Back to the book. The author is indeed a chef, and some of the recipes look like they might be a tad complicated. I love simple recipes when I cook at home, as I prepare the bulk of my meals from scratch (think one-dish meals and the slow cooker!). However, many of these really look fabulous and also like they might not take all day! Here are the recipes from the book that are top on my list to try:
- Black Chia Seed Pudding with Nuts, Figs and Dates
- Moroccan Carrot Salad
- Raw Zucchini Lasagna with Tomato-Olive Pesto
- Shrimp Laksa
- Chicken Schnitzel with Slaw
There are many paleo cookbooks out there, and I have quite a few. However, the distinction with this book is definitely that the author if a chef, and the recipes approach gourmet (albeit accessible gourmet). It might not be the best book for a paleo newbie who isn't used to more intricate recipes and ingredients. The book Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo is usually the one I recommend to people just starting out. Bon Appetit!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books.