The more I've been reading up on the Paleo diet, the more I see the benefits of following it. It was this curiosity that led me to reading Practical Paleo, which is written by Diane Sanfilippo, BS, NC.

Paleo is all about avoiding processed foods like the plague, as well as foods that are known to cause allergies in many people. These foods include certain grains, legumes, and dairy products. It only makes sense that eating meals made from scratch is healthier than eating foods that have added chemicals and that have been stripped of their essential nutrients.

The beginning of the book will give you an education on Paleo, including how it helps people regulate their blood sugar, improve digestive health, regulate thyroid function, keep your heart healthy, lose weight, and even recover from cancer. There is even a section on neurological health and autoimmune conditions.

The second half of the book contains recipes and meal plans. There are over 120 recipes with pictures and easy to follow instructions. I copied all of the recipes I knew my family would enjoy before taking the book back to the library. My kids are most excited to try the pumpkin pancakes. I am just relieved that there are muffin and bread recipes in this book, as I am a big lover of all things bread. Of course, with Paleo you cannot consume regular flour. Most recipes use coconut or almond flour.

I think every reader will appreciate the 30 day meal plans, which list what you should eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. The plan gives the page number where each recipe can be found, so you aren't hunting in the back to find each one. The author also provides a list of non-starchy and starchy vegetables that you can use to swap out any that are in the 30 day meal plans, should you find a vegetable you aren't particularly fond of.

I only have one slightly negative comment I can give about this book. The length can be a bit overwhelming to some. I know I said the same thing about Nourishing Traditions when I reviewed that book, but I feel I must warn you. If you are looking or a quick read, this isn't the book for you. It is full of helpful information though, which makes the size worth it, and it does make a great addition to your bookshelf for referencing info at a later date.

My girls and I are going to go Paleo hard core in the next two weeks. We'd do it right now, but we don't have a working kitchen (undergoing a remodel). You can keep up with our Paleo journey by visiting our blog: Our Paleo Journey

This copy of Practical Paleo was borrowed from my local library. In fact, I had to put in a reservation for it because it was always out when I went to borrow it.

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