Kate here…
Having listened to a number of the presentations from the Paleo Summit I asked my 19-year-old beautiful daughter Emma to listen to this one with me as she is very much living the paleo life too. Here is what she said about the presentation from Dr. Cate Shanahan and also an insight into Emma’s paleo mind looking at her perceptions of paleo and her experiences thus far…
This was actually the first broadcast I have listened to of the series posted throughout the week and now after this one with Dr. Cate Shanahan I regret not listening to the others. People ask me all the time why I chose Paleo, why I wasn’t eating any grains or refined sugars usually making comments such as “So, you can’t eat any of the good stuff then.” However that isn’t how I see it at all, I NEVER go without and can safely say that I prefer these new, nutritious foods I now eat as opposed to pizza, sweets and fatty foods. I’ve never eaten terribly so the transition to Paleo wasn’t too tough however justifying my actions hasn’t been so easy. A typical college students diet isn’t something that usually consists of kale salads and nut porridge with fruit so when I’m asked why I chose this diet for myself I’ve generally found it hard to convince my audience. These broadcasts as well as many resources have provided me with the knowledge and history behind my new way of life, which I can now use to educate others. It’s one thing to be on a diet but it’s another to change your way of life. Who would have known that broccoli and almonds provide a large source of calcium? With no dairy in my diet these facts are very useful in order for me to make sure my body gets all of the nutrients it needs.
I had been a vegetarian for about six months prior to becoming Paleo and toward the end of that six months had started to lose myself. What I mean by that is I felt down, lacked that energy I’d always had, didn’t really look forward to the next day, I had lost my spring. I personally know that Paleo works because as soon as I switched I noticed differences immediately. A mixture of vitamin D, fish oils and my new balanced way of life brought on a new wave of Emma. I now had more energy than ever, my skin cleared, my hair now grows faster than ever and because of the coconut oils in my diet it is very healthy and strong. People who aren’t in the Paleo circle may say it’s just another fad diet however I’ve never heard of a diet that increases over all health, energy levels and weight loss all at the same time.
The more I think about Paleo and the more information I consume about it leads me to think well duh, of course it works! Meats, nuts, fruits, vegetables provides all the nutrients our body needs. The food that we consume fuels the brain, If you had a choice would you choose sugar and carbohydrates to do so? I don’t think so, being a cave girl I know that it’s the nutritious greens and proteins that will provide that ultimate fuel I need to get me through a day of college. Before becoming Paleo I would be tired half way through the day but now I can be up at the gym for 8am and not come home from school until 8pm and still be able to do some studying and have the concentration needed to do so. When you’re giving your body what it needs it’s very surprising as to what it can do. I believe in the saying ‘your body is a temple’ and now I can say my temple is as strong and unyielding as its ever going to be and I plan on keeping it that way!
It is SO great to get a younger minds perspective of palo and reiterates the importance of leading by example and educating our kids to teach them to make good choices for themselves. Thank you Emma!
Now to convince the other two 
Nicely done, Emma! Great perspectives here. I’d like to listen to Dr. Shanahan today, but time’s flying by!!
Very interesting Emma and Kate! As you know I haven’t “taken the plunge”. It’s great/easier when you have family support!
You would have a ton of support Summer if you wanted to give Paleo a go
if you figure out a way to convince that teen boy of yours, pass it on! shane thinks i’m a total nazi about sugar, and he looks at me like i’ve grown a second head if i tell him that bread isn’t really that good for him.
Well he of all people in my family should be the one to adopt the lifestyle. He knows and I think a challenge maybe suggeated to him before long
Roo is figuring it out herself and is making better choices daily which is great. But yeah the teenage boys are the hard nuts to crack!
Go Emma! Since I’m the one cooking in my house, I cook Paleo dinners for everyone. Hubby makes breakfast for the kids, so they all eat other things then. So, even though I’m the only person in my house who eats exclusively paleo, they all get a dose of it now and then. I’ve been toying with the idea of just not buying any cereal, or bread or frozen waffles to replace the ones we have when we run out…but I’m not sure if that would cause a few meltdowns I’m not ready to face yet. I guess I’ll just nudge the rest of the family in the paleo directions and maybe over time they’ll join me.
I’m with you, Angie. Just nudging. They already make fairly healthy choices, but I hope for more.
I really got a lot out of Dr. Shanahan’s talk and spent a little time poking about on her website. Lots of helpful stuff there including this interesting bit about dairy and paleo… http://drcate.com/is-dairy-paleo-revising-history-with-new-persectives-on-flocks-of-goats-femur-bones-and-feckless-nutritionism/ She’s got me thinking. I sure would love a bowl of cauliflower mac and cheese every once in a while.
I’m an 18 year old girl and I feel the same way as her! My friends say I ‘cant eat anything’. But now that I discovered the secret to better health ( and gorgeous hair !) I will never go back.
Once a guy stared at me for eating salad sans dressing, declaring he would ‘rather die’ than be subjected to that fate. Americans have it so backward.
Good for you Scilla! You are a great role model… keep up the healthy living
Being Kate’s mother, I have to say ,since her move to America, she is totally a different person . For the better, I must add. America has been so good for her .She has a burning desire now , to make life work for her. Every day is filled to the brim. Kate feeds on daily challenges and is not happy until she has mastered every one of them .
The addition of the Paleo life style is yet another challenge she is thriving on and yes I have to say , even from thousands of miles away. She has added one more achievement to her list. She looks amazing , the best she’s looked in many many years.. She has a glow about her . She has an abundance of energy, everything about her shines , including her hair. That I have to say, must be thank’s to the Paleo lifestyle.
I wish I had the energy to follow in her footsteps.
Good on ye Kate.love you lots .
Awe… THANKS for the kind words and vote of confidence mam! Looking forward to July so you too can try out the Paleo way
love you!