Do you feel like you have completely lost touch with a primal lifestyle in the hustle and bustle of the daily grind? With North Americans leading such busy and hectic lives, it can be difficult to plan healthy meals that are in line with the principles of a primal diet. Here are some tips to help make eating this way a bit easier!
1. Eating for Success: Meal Planning Tips for Primal Diets in North America
Maximizing Nutritional Benefits
Those on a primal diet in North America must understand their nutritional needs in order to eat effectively and stay healthy. To begin with, focus on nutrient-rich whole foods. Whenever possible, buy organic produce, grass-fed and pasture-raised proteins, and seafood caught in the wild. This will help ensure that the food you’re eating is free of potentially harmful additives and artificial ingredients.
Organize Yourself
In order to stay on track with a primal diet, it’s important to stay organized. Pick a day of the week to create a meal plan for the next two to three days. Make sure to include a variety of nutrient-rich items and also plan time to prepare meals and snacks. Shopping lists should include items that you don’t necessarily have to buy in one trip, so that you can purchase items as needed throughout the week.
Mindful Eating
Mindful eating is also important for those on a primal diet. Make sure you’re eating in a dedicated space and not on the go. Take the time to enjoy food and don’t forget to include healthy fats. Quality over quantity is key. Eating too much of any one item can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and, ironically, not getting enough nutritional benefits.
- Opt for nutrient rich whole foods including organic produce, grass-fed and pasture-raised proteins and seafood caught in the wild.
- Create a meal plan for two to three days each week.
- Meal prep and shop according to your plan.
- Eat mindfully and enjoy food in a dedicated space.
- Quality over quantity.
- Include healthy fats.
Regulating hormones and getting enough energy for a workout are just two of the benefits that can be gained from eating a primal diet. Eating for success involves making smart choices when it comes to what we eat. Following the tips above can help ensure that you are maximizing the benefits of a primal diet for improved wellbeing.
2. Jump Starting Your Primal Meal Plan
Now that you have an understanding of primal living and how it works, you’ll want to jump into making your own meal plan. This will require some thought and planning, but the effort you invest in your meal plan will pay off. Here are a few tips on how to get started.
- Start With The Basics: Begin by focusing on simple, nutrient-dense meals containing such staples as proteins, healthy fats, high-fiber vegetables, and some fruits. There’s no need to overcomplicate things at first.
- Diversify protein sources: Incorporate grass-fed beef, pasture-raised poultry, wild-caught fish, organic eggs, and other sources of clean protein to your plan. Not only will this give you the full range of essential amino acids, minerals, and other micro and macro nutrients, but this will also make your diet more enjoyable.
- Include Healthy Fats: Primal eating isn’t complete without healthy, unrefined fats like olive oil, avocados, coconut oil, nuts, and seeds. Not only will these make your meals taste better, but they will also provide your body with essential minerals, including fatty acids.
- Think Fiber: Fiber is an important part of the primal eating plan. Non-starchy, high-fiber vegetables like spinach, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals and they can help keep you full throughout the day.
- Plan for Organic When You Can: Whenever possible, include organic fruits and vegetables into your meal plan. While organic food can definitely be pricey, try to splurge on organic when it comes to foods whose skin you will be eating, like apples, strawberries and bell peppers.
With just these basics of primal living, you can start putting together a meal plan of your own. You don’t need to be a gourmet chef to make food that is both healthy and delicious. Get creative and see what delicious meals you can come up with!
By planning ahead and putting in the effort to make healthy meals, you can easily create a meal plan that works best for you and your lifestyle. A balanced primal diet doesn’t to be complex. With the right ingredients and some cooking skills, you can make healthy and delicious meals that will nourish your body and satisfy your taste buds.
3. An Organized Kitchen Leads to an Organized Life
An organized kitchen is the key to an organized life. Many of us lack the time or resources to keep our kitchens clean on a regular basis. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. With a few simple changes, you can make your kitchen a more organized and productive space. Here are three tips for doing just that:
- Get rid of clutter. The first step to creating an organized kitchen is to get rid of all the unnecessary clutter. This means sorting through your cupboards and drawers, getting rid of any items you haven’t used in the past year, and donating them to charity.
- Organize your storage containers. By sorting your food and other kitchen items into distinct storage containers, you can quickly and easily locate the items you need when you need them. Make sure your drawers and shelves are labeled appropriately to make it easier to find the items you need.
- Create a meal plan. Meal planning ahead of time will help keep your kitchen organized. By taking the time to plan out your meals and grocery needs for the week, you won’t find yourself wasting time trying to figure out what to make for dinner, and you won’t have to worry about missing ingredients.
By implementing these three tips, you can create a much more organized kitchen and, in turn, an organized and productive life. An organized kitchen means fewer trips to the store, quicker meal preparation, and less stress when trying to locate items. An organized kitchen will transform your life in more ways than one.
4. Feeding Your Primal Diet in a Busy Lifestyle
Fitting a primal diet into a busy lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard; all it takes is a little organization and the right ingredients. Here are four simple tips to help you stay on track and fuel your body the way it needs:
- Meal Prep – Take an afternoon or evening to plan out and prep your meals for the week. This way, when you’re in a rush, you have the ingredients and steps ready to go.
- Manage Snacking – Before you restock your pantry with healthy snacks, take a moment to plan out a schedule for when you’re going to eat. Don’t forget to factor in your meals so you’re not overeating.
- Make It Portable – Invest in reusable containers and utensils so you can take your meals to-go. This way, you won’t relapse into unhealthy habits when you’re out and about.
- Plan for Cheat Days – Giving into cravings and indulging every once and a while is ok. However, tie it to a specific day and tap into your meal prepping skills to help you prepare for it.
By doing the above, you can successfully remain consistent with a primal diet while living an active lifestyle. For meal prepping, simple one-pan dishes are your go-to. Things like roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, and sautéed greens only require tossing together the main ingredients and letting them cook in the oven. When it comes to snacks, make sure to pack items like raw almonds, veggies, and hummus, which are all easy to take on the go.
When it comes to a low-carb diet, focus on high-fat foods like eggs, olive oil, grass-fed butter, and avocados. If you’re trying to add more protein, add things like grilled fish, organic chicken, and beef jerky. Sticking to this plan will help you stay full and energized even amidst a busy lifestyle.
You don’t have to be a nutrition expert to incorporate the tasty and nutritious ingredients of the primal diet into a busy lifestyle. Using these meal planning tips, you can embrace the primal diet and maintain the balance necessary to stay healthy while living life in North America. Bon appetit!
