First impressions are everything. One of the biggest barriers in presenting Paleo nutrition is that others' first impressions of such usually go something like:
“Sigh. Another crazy food extremist.”, or
“Oh, like, a vegan?”, or
“Eggs instead of grains? You are the antithesis of health, idiot.”
Clearly.
Trying to change someone’s mind after years and years of believing and following a “trusted” food system is one of the hardest aspects of Paleo. This is all so new, hard to believe, and quite frankly, difficult to accept. How do we, as Paleo enthusiasts, combat this attack of the dreaded first impression?
In addition to preparing a better all-in-one elevator speech, I would advise to direct them toward a superbly concise yet comprehensive all-in-one Paleo guide that pretty much covers everything right.. the first time around.
My Practical Paleo Experience
After receiving this book, giddy and such, I thought it would be fun to carry it around with me on a Starbuck’s > Work > Gym typical week-day. Day in and day out, it frankly doesn’t matter where, I find myself explaining why I don’t bite into one of the celebratory muffins sitting on the lunch table or purchase the venti carmel machiatto frappapjmbhgf456ytjhgvfre3j.
Let’s begin at Starbucks.
Coincidentally, on the first morning carrying Diane’s book, I see an old friend from my previous job in Starbucks. Un-coincidentally enough, we talked about nutrition. “I just don’t know what to do…” he says. Oh! What an opportunity to not suck at the first Paleo impression, I think. I take out Practical Paleo and guide him through it, pointing out how the specifically designed meal plans can help with conditions and/or goals, ranging from managing thyroid disease and blood sugar to fueling an athlete. He is a cyclist so I knew he would appreciate this. I show him the recipes, the step-by-step spice mixes and the how-to-chop section. Indeed, the book even has a guide on how to chop, which is why I think it’s totally suitable for the nutrition newbie. “See? It’s not that hard!” I say. He takes an Iphone cover snapshot and tells me he can’t wait to get started. Success.
Next: Work.
Oy vey. The conferences and the meetings where I denied the pizza and sandwich buns, where I explained that grains are pro-inflammatory and, you know, a facilitator in a range of diseases and stuff. Not that I work with agriculture or anything. Facepalm.
I arrive to work and remember that there are a few people that question my nutrition lifestyle, so I introduce Practical Paleo once again, this time to my co-workers. At first sight, the super engaging cover, interesting table of contents and explanations of “leaky gut”, amongst other digestive issues ignited the faces of “Hey, maybe she’s on to something...”. We reviewed the FAQ’s and the “Everything we’ve been taught about nutrition is wrong” section. We glanced at the “Paleo on the Go” section, given that we frequent conferences and road-trips. “See, it is possible.” I say. Using this book to further back-up my claim that eggs are great for you, I actually got someone to start eating an egg-a-morning. Success.
Next: CrossFit.
Given that the majority of people involved in CrossFit are already believers and lovers of Paleo nutrition, the only common barrier that exists is how to make it a permanent avenue for every lifestyle. A full-time CrossFit coach and mother of three explained the difficulty in meal planning and satisfying all three children. With a breath of relief, she reviews the already-made meal plans and recipes of Practical Paleo. This is exactly what she’s needed, she says. I feel an overwhelming joy for her because I can only imagine the difficulty of her situation-- one that is not uncommon. Others come to check out the book and also see the possibilities in making this a realistic, permanent lifestyle. Success.
Guide to stocking a Paleo Pantry, Guide to Sweeteners, Guide to Food Quality, Nutritional Supplements and Herbs to Consider—amongst many, many other aspects of the book—are what make it so practical. As illustrated, I truly cannot condone this book enough, as it has provided a concise yet comprehensive, all-in-one guide to hopping on and adhering to the Paleo bandwagon.
Not to mention, the best-ever first impression.
My favorite part? “The Guide to Your Poop”.
Book is available on Amazon today! Well done, Diane!
Xoxo
Jamby
