Saving the Best for Last, Sweet Potato Hash Browns with Bacon

Day 28

Ah the blessed 3 day countdown begins.  I am really glad because I am almost cooked out. Actually I am not tired of cooking as much as I am tired of planning meals and thinking ahead.  I have never had any trouble throwing a meal together at the last minute until this food challenge.  With this I am always wondering "Did I make the paleo mayonnaise?'  Do I have enough cauliflower cooked?"  Oh no, did I remember to thaw the whatever?"   There is just so much food prep with this.  I am pretty sure I will stick with a paleo diet at least for a while, but doing a regular paleo will seem like a walk in the park after doing this.

breakfast  leftover collard and mustard greens
                2 Whole 30 sausage patties
                coffee

lunch       apple with 1 tablespoon almond butter
                coffee/ water

supper     paleo chili over baked sweet potato
                cole slaw with paleo mayo
                unsweetened tea, water



Day 29

breakfast  paleo chorizo, nopales and egg scramble
                coffee
                clementine

lunch     sliced apple with almond butter

dinner    Chipotle's carnitas salad with pico and guacamole, again

Day 30

breakfast  sweet potato, onion, bacon hash browns
                coffee

lunch     apple and 1 tablespoon almond butter

dinner    leftover pork tenderloin
              cooked carrots
              cabbage slaw with paleo mayo


                             Sweet Potato and Onion with Bacon Hash Browns

2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut in a very small dice ( mine was just larger than a jumbo egg)
1/4 small onion cut in match stick pieces
2 slices cooked bacon
salt and pepper to taste
2 pinches chili powder

In a non stick pan heat the oil to a mid high heat.  Add the sweet potato and onion and cook until fairly crisp.  Add the cooked bacon, salt, pepper and chili powder and heat through, allowing the bacon to crisp.  Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel covered plate.  After a quick blot of the excess coconut oil, serve immediately.

I had read about this during the first few days I was doing this program and decided I needed to wait toward the end before I tried it.  It was probably the best decision I have ever made, because I think I would have eaten this nearly every morning. The sweet potatoes were a perfect blend of soft and crunchy bits, the onions provided a nice sweet yet soft dynamic and the bacon, well it's bacon so enough said!   Paleo diet or not, these were outstanding.

Round up

I am writing this on day 31.  Yes that is correct, I am continuing with the plan.  I have decided to maintain a strict paleo diet 6 days a week. On the other day, well I guess there are no rules for it.

I learned a ton by reading labels.  Sugar is is just about everything, including that box of iodized salt nearly everyone has in their pantry.  MSG rears its ugly head a lot too, and soybean oil is the oil of choice in prepared foods.  I also learned really good for you oils are EXPENSIVE.

Without trying to lose weight I did lose enough that I see the value of eating this way.  I feel better and have not reached for a Tums once, even after eating highly seasoned foods.  So I guess I will continue to make my own sausages and mayonnaise and ketchup.  As an aside, it does not take me long to shop in a grocery store now.  I zip up and down the produce section then by the meats.  After grabbing a few frozen vegetables I am out the door.

I am adding stevia back to my everyday diet.  I am from the south and have really missed sweet tea. I will also make an occasional paleo muffin recipe and might even venture into paleo "bread" making. (Well, I will venture once, if it takes too much time I won't venture a second time)

If you want to get back to basics the Whole 30 plan is a good start.  My only recommendation would be to have a few things like ketchup and mayo prepared before you begin!