Following a paleo diet is one of the most popular options for modern health-conscious eaters, but how does that translate into a realistic possibility when a person wants to refrain from eating meat? A vegetarian paleo diet—is it even possible? Well, thanks to creative minds and discerning palates, it is now.
Indeed, all it takes is an open mind and a well-stocked pantry to make it happen and to transform your diet into something that is completely tailor-made to your specific needs.
What Is a Paleo Diet?
The paleo diet is one that allows the eater to consume anything that might have been eaten in the Paleolithic era, but nothing more. For instance, if a caveman could not have hunted for it, searched for it, or created it with the tools at hand, then he or she would not eat it at all, and neither will you if you follow this diet. Foods like meat, eggs, fresh fruits, vegetables, and certain grains are staples in the average paleo diet while sugary desserts and highly processed foods are not. Paleo foods, combined with an active lifestyle, are what allowed Paleolithic-era people to stay in terrific shape.
Details of the Vegetarian Paleo Diet
Some people might not equate eating like a caveman with forgoing meat products, but they would be mistaken. How do you think cavemen survived when they did not have a successful hunt? A vegetarian paleo diet is simple to follow, with menus that are a lot like the conventional ones—minus the use of animal flesh. There are a lot of delicious substitutes for meat out there, making the vegetarian paleo diet a conveniently healthy option for everyone. Talk to a certified nutritionist to make sure that you are structuring your diet correctly while still getting all of the vital nutrients your body needs.
Getting Started
It is really not that difficult to transform your diet to fit within the confines of a healthy vegetarian paleo diet. All you have to do is get rid of the meat portion of any paleo recipe and either substitute something else for the meat or eliminate that component altogether. Most people on the paleo diet take some sort of dietary supplement anyway, so it is would not be unheard-of for you to do the same in an attempt to keep everything in order regarding your health and fitness.