If you follow any sort of health ambassador or dietary spokesperson on social media, it will be no surprise to you that there is a significant divide between dietitians and the ‘Paleo’ community. As an Accredited Practising Dietitian I have felt the need to loyally stand by my fellow dietitians and argue passionately against the ‘Paleo Tribesman’ for their ‘extreme’ views on nutrition, but I have to say there are some things about the Paleo philosophy that I really like. So, let’s look at those first.

EAT CLOSE TO NATURE
It’s my catch cry and I say this all the time. It’s so good for your health to consume foods as nature intended. I grew up with greengrocer parents, so fruit and vegetables were abundant at our house and we had pet chickens that provided us with lovely fresh eggs. It doesn’t get better than delicious whole foods and meals made from scratch!

CONSUME MINIMALLY PROCESSED FOODS
So many foods we consume these days are packed into jars, cans or packets and have been processed to the point that large amounts of dietary fibre and some vitamins and minerals are compromised. It frightens me that people are scared to eat a potato but are perfectly happy to eat a heavily processed chocolate protein bar, with an ingredient list reminiscent of my old chemistry lab book. I agree, let’s eat more ‘real’ food (including game meat and home-grown produce) and support our farmer’s markets and greengrocers.

ENJOY BERRIES
Paleo followers are mad-keen on berries. I love berries and often recommend them to my clients struggling with weightloss and a persistent sweet tooth. Berries are nature’s candy. They are packed with antioxidants and are very low in calories. Equally, all fruit is so nutritious and should be enjoyed – the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend 2 scrumptious serves daily.

SNACK ON NUTS
Protein-packed snacks are always the ones that keep people fuller for longer, so I often recommend nuts as a great snack. The tricky part is keeping people’s portions under control so I generally tell people to line up nuts on two fingers, and that’s their portion to stick by. A study in the journal Obesity also found that eating nuts two or more times per week was associated with a reduced risk of weight gain. Win!

And now, as mentioned above, I do have a few issues with some so called ‘Paleo’ leaders not being at all ‘Paleolithic’ in their food recommendations though…

CRINGE!!!
Recipe books featuring ‘Paleo Chocolate Slice’ or cafes serving ‘Paleo Cupcakes’ just make me cringe. I have no issue enjoying some indulgent foods, but I have a huge issue with people eating loads of these sorts of foods with the assumption that these foods are ‘health foods’. I don’t think you need to be a genius to realise that ‘Paleo Fudge Bites’ were never on any hunter-gatherers’ menu.

UNECESSARY DITCHING
I cannot understand the need to ban or forbid of foods like dairy products, grains and legumes. They sit beautifully in my ‘eat close to nature’ world and should be enjoyed because they are nutritious choices! Dairy products are a superb source of protein and bioavailable calcium and legumes provide an excellent source of fibre and contain beautiful ratios of plant protein, carbs and fats.

BOTTOM LINE IS… I think it’s wonderful people are eating more whole foods and applaud those who have changed their health by eating less prepackaged junk. If more people ate foods ‘close to nature’, we would certainly have a far healthier population. Be smart about your ‘Paleo’ choices and don’t ban foods that are bursting with valuable nutrition. Instead load up on a variety of foods that nature has provided us, and reap the health benefits!

Until next time.
Eat well, be well…
Lisa Donaldson APD
www.FEEDInc.net

REFERENCES: Obesity (2007) 15, 107–116; doi:10.1038/oby.2007.507