Fruits and Veggies

There is not a lot to say about these other than eat them. They are good for you. A big change for most of us trying to "eat clean" for the first time will be the large amount of fruits and vegetables that will be added to our diet. When it comes to fruits and vegetables there are not a lot of items that are off limits, although you do need to pay attention to your body and how it is reacting to what you eat. If your main goal with Paleo is to lose weight, then you should focus more on vegetables rather than fruit. There are certain fruits like grapes and apples that you may want to be careful about eating too much of in the beginning. They have a higher sugar content than some other fruits. For the most part though, fruits are good and you should eat them. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. We need them in our diet in a big way.

But I Only Like Certain Fruits and Vegetables. I Will Get Bored.
When I go to the grocery store my cart takes the same path every time. I grab a bunch of grapes, a few apples or pears, some strawberries when I'm feeling crazy and the occasional grapefruit. I love grapefruit in the morning. That is it. I don't venture out of my comfort zone. The same goes for veggies. Baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, Steamfresh bags of broccoli and cauliflower and some spinach if I am feeling gourmet and want to surprise Kody with a side salad with dinner. Trust me, it rarely happens. This is a GREAT opportunity to try lots of new things. There are so many fruits and veggies out there. You could probably have something new every day the entire month of August. That is exciting.

I'm Going to Have to Shop A Lot, Right?
Maybe, although that is one part of Paleo I am most excited about. Nothing is better than fresh berries or a perfect tomato. You'll probably want to go to the store every few days to make sure you are getting fresh produce. Don't buy too much in the beginning and let it go bad. That is a waste! Plan out your meals for the week and buy accordingly. It will end up saving you money in the long run.

I'm Afraid of Pesticides. Do I Need to Buy Organic?
No. However, if you are really concerned about pesticides it is something to consider. Organic is more expensive. Check out this page about produce and pesticides. It talks about the fruits and vegetables that have the highest amount of pesticides. If you are really worried, these might be some of the items you would want to think about buying organic. The most important thing is to make sure you wash all your fresh produce. That should eliminate most of your worries. Also, check out your local farmers market. Broken Arrow has one every Saturday from 8AM to Noon and they have a great selection of locally grown vegetables. You can save money and get insanely fresh items. Great for Paleo.

The long and short of it, eat lots of fruits and veggies. Don't limit yourself. Get creative. The worst thing that can happen is that you keep eating the same items over and over and get bored and fall off the wagon. Keep it interesting.

Fruits and Veggies You May Want to Try For The First Time:

• Boysenberries
• Carambola
• Cherimoya
• Figs
• Gooseberries
• Guava
• Lychee
• Mango
• Passion Fruit
• Persimmon
• Pomegranate
• Rhubarb
• Star Fruit
• Beets
• Brussels sprouts
  
• Collards
• Eggplant
• Endive
• Kale
• Tomatillos (yum!)
• Turnips
• Watercress

What fruit or vegetable do you love and think everyone should try during August?