Hello! My name is Erin and I've been looking at the Paleo lifestyle for a while now. I thought that I would be able to ease my family and myself into it over the course of a few months, but that was an epic fail on our part. So here I am again and this time we are going for it cold turkey starting Jan 2. My original plan was the 1st, but as I am making gumbo for New Years it will wait till Monday. That also gives me time to clean out the pantry and purchase those items that I don't have already, like coconut oil.

My major question is what can I use to replace dried cranberries? I like them both as a snack and as a salad topper. I was thinking apricots as those don't typically have sugar added. Can you get dried cranberries w/out sugar?

I know that my other issue will be eating only when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm full. I try not to subscribe to the "clean plate" club, but I often eat it just because it's there.

I will be starting a food journal on Monday along with vital stats and maybe a pic. I hate the way I look so I try not to allow people to take my pic!

Erin

Welcome.

With respect to cranberries, you could get whole cranberries.  They seem to keep a long time in the refrigerator.  Be aware that unsweetened cranberries have a pretty strong taste.

If you are strict paleo, it's not really a problem to clean your plate, except when it makes one feel overfull.  My solution has been to put the food on platters to take to the table, and to have everyone take however much they want.  With a large number of small servings - for example a dozen 2-3 oz mini burgers - people taking one serving at a time can generally finish their last serving.

once in a while dried cranberries are ok-just dont eat them 24/7!

I eat them mainly on salad and in oatmeal right now. I don't snack on them, too sweet for that, unless they are mixed with something else. So I guess tossing a few on my salads now and then won't be so bad in the grand scheme of things!

I'm making gumbo right now for lunch tomorrow! I can't think of a better way to say good-bye to a lifetime of bad choices! It smells SOOO good!

My 1st boy (10 years old) has been on half assed raw paleo diet and some cooked paleo diet the past few months.  January 2 is the time I put him on full on hard core raw paleo diet.

We will be starting the year with a 1 day orange juice fast.

Good luck to all of us in the various stages of our paleo journey.