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these animals is high in omega-6s, those fatty acids that we want to cut down on. If you are eating grass-fed, pasture-raised animals, the fat in these animals is really good for you! Animal fat is not bad, it’s the bad stuff found in most conventionally farmed animal fat that is bad for us.
    Some are fearful of the nitrate content in bacon and other cured or deli meats, but several grocers are now selling nitrate-free bacon, sausages, and deli meats. Furthermore, studies now show that nitrates are not as fearful as once thought, and that the nitrate amounts found in cured meats are much less than in previous years and not as harmful as previously suggested. The best bacon would be from pigs raised on food sources other than grains, and raised humanely. I love bacon, support bacon, and want you to enjoy your bacon too. Go to www.eatwild.com to find local sources for grass-fed beef and pasture-raised hogs and poultry.
    Fruit, Dried Fruit, and Paleo “Treats”
    Many people want a solid list of what “is and isn’t paleo.” We know the obvious answer to what we should not eat to obtain true health—grains, legumes, and dairy—but there are many tweaks that we can make to our diet that will hinder or progress our optimal goal of health. This entire “what about” section is me giving you the freedom to determine for yourself what will and will not make your “what is paleo” list.
    For me, lots of fruit in my diet is not paleo at all. If I eat too much fruit, especially in the morning, I feel terrible. I am hungry by 10 AM and I tend to gain a bit of weight. The same is true for dried fruit and “paleo treats” like my Great Date Balls found in the recipe section. Treats should be treated as the name implies, a “treat”!
    I have found for myself that I can eat a few blueberries or a bit of diced apple in my salad or some cooked fruit in moderation with my protein and do fine, but if I eat fruit with every meal or for snacks, I do not look, feel, or perform like I want to.
    You will have to determine what works best for you when it comes to fruit and paleo treat consumption. During those first thirty days of eating paleo, especially for those folks wanting to lose weight, I suggest you keep your fruit consumption to a very small amount and combine it with some protein and fat. Better yet, save your fruit consumption to post-workouts. If you are otherwise lean and healthy, you might be able to get away with a bit more fruit consumption, but base it on how you feel.
    The same protocol is true for dried fruit and paleo treats. Anything in the recipe section that looks like dessert should be considered something for a special occasion. Kids might be able to eat a few more of my Nutty Cookies than you or me, but just because they are not made of grains does not mean that these treats should be an everyday occurrence. As with anything you choose to eat, if you begin to gain weight, have a hard time losing weight, or simply do not feel as great as you know you can, look back on what you have been eating and consider if you need to cut out some fruit or dial back a bit on the paleo treats.
    Nuts:
    When you hear about eating Paleo, nuts are usually high on the list, but let’s get real. Nuts are pretty high in calories, and some nuts, like almonds, are particularly high in omega-6 fatty acids. Think about how we used to eat nuts. We had to gather them first, and then shell them one by one. That’s a lot of work for a handful of nuts. Today, we can conveniently buy them prepackaged and ready to go, but if you are consuming nuts by the tubful, this probably is not the best choice for reaching optimal health. I love nuts as an emergency food supply and always keep trail mix handy in my car, but I do not recommend nuts as your only source for healthy fats. Look more to avocado, olive oil, and coconut products for your sources of fat and see how you feel. As you will see in the recipe section, I personally use nuts as a fller