Paleo Diet Breakfast
The Paleo Diet is also known as the caveman diet or the hunter-gatherer diet. The Paleo or Paleolithic Diet is designed to mimic the way our ancestors ate: consuming unprocessed, natural foods. The belief behind this is that many diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, and acne are partly caused by consuming foods we are not genetically adapted to eat.
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Paleo Diet Foods
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The basic principle of the Paleo Diet is to avoid foods containing grains, legumes, soy, dairy, salt, yeast, processed sugar, and starchy vegetables such as potatoes or yams. This may leave dieters wondering what foods they can eat. Fruits and most vegetables are acceptable on the Paleo Diet. All meats, eggs, nuts (excluding peanuts, which are legumes) and nut flours are acceptable. With a little creativity, most typical modern foods can be re-created within these guidelines.
Pancakes
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Pancakes usually include flour and milk, which are not Paleo Diet-friendly. However, the white flour can be replaced with almond flour, available in health food stores; and coconut milk, available in most grocery stores, is a good substitute for regular milk. Try mixing together one cup of almond flour, a quarter cup coconut milk, one egg, and a small handful of blueberries in a bowl. Cook the batter on a hot skillet, flipping the pancakes when small bubbles form in the batter. This recipe creates four small pancakes and provides one breakfast serving.
Eggs
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Since meat and eggs are acceptable on the Paleo Diet, bacon or steak and eggs can be enjoyed for breakfast. An omelet containing sauteed vegetables such as bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and spinach is a great example of a Paleo Diet breakfast. The omelet can be topped with fresh salsa and sliced avocado and served alongside cooked bacon or sausage.
For busy mornings, prepare a crustless quiche the night before. This dish will keep in the refrigerator for up to five days, and slices can be reheated quickly in the microwave. An easy recipe for crustless quiche is as follows: Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet. Add half a medium onion, chopped, and one red bell pepper, chopped; cook until the onions are translucent. Add one 10-ounce package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained, and cook until the excess moisture has evaporated. Beat five eggs in a large bowl, then stir the cooked vegetables into the eggs and season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour everything into a greased 9-by-13-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the eggs are set. This recipe makes eight servings.
Smoothies
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Make a Paleo smoothie by combining almond or coconut milk with ice cubes and fresh or frozen berries in a blender. Adding nut butters such as almond butter or cashew butter can increase the protein content and add flavor to the smoothie.
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