Deprivation?

Posted Thu, 05/06/2010 - 22:27 by Melissa

For some reason I get Gwynyth Paltrow's "GOOP" newsletter, maybe because of her roasted chicken video, which laughably raised the ire of vegans. Nothing weird about roasted chicken, but apostates can't be tolerated...

Anyway, today her newsletter was about the diet she ate to get ready to play Pepper Potts in Iron Man. It was kind of a low-carb diet, but mostly just bare bones- smoothies, chicken, salad, turkey, low-carb wraps, soup...

When people tell me the paleo diet is "restrictive" I sometimes wonder what they mean by that. Hmm...not eating foods that make you feel like crap? What a revolutionary idea! And oh the horror of having to eat wild salmon or delicious braised lamb shanks.

I was surprised that I got a similar reaction with the limit nuts, chicken, olive oil, pork, and avocado post. I'm not saying these foods are delicious...but there is so much more out there! There is nothing bad or evil about them, but treating them like the main attraction in your diet is not the best way to emulate paleolithic fatty acid intake. The fact that they are so attractive to beginners is more a testament to our pathetic food culture than anything. Most Americans these days have never even tasted the deliciousness that is beef tongue. Things like olive oil are safe, easy...even politically correct.

There is really no arguing that grassfed meats are closer to paleolithic game than any animal that require grain/legume rations. People kept saying how much chickens are carnivores, but so far no one has ever found me an example of a farmer who doesn't feed their chickens grains/legumes at all...

If you eat grassfed ruminants nose to tail you will get plenty of luxurious and balanced fat. The tongue, the eyes, the face, and the bone marrow are so delicious! How can almonds even compare to these things? If you don't know, you should definitely give them a try. My diet is definitely more awesome and nourishing that any conventional diet like Paltrow's, though she is moving in the right direction by adding in some meat.

When I read about sad conventional diets like that it makes me sad. People are really missing out on great food that will make them feel great, altough these days the things I enjoy, like pork headcheese, are sadly a tough sell..

Either way, I'm going away this weekend for a hunting workshop. Wish me luck!

Comments

i get her newsletter too (i

by laura - 05/08/2010 - 14:40

i get her newsletter too (i like the book reviews), and just rolled my eyes at her latest deprivation diet.

no wonder people feel so frustrated with losing weight. that's their example. yeah, you starve yourself enough, you'll probably lose weight, but how hard must that be to stick to? there's very little nourishment besides some broth and then you just make yourself hungrier by stirring a little agave into every little thing you eat. poor girl.

This post had alot more fang

by fireandstone - 05/07/2010 - 17:29

This post had alot more fang and claw in it than usual. I enjoyed it :-)

Oh, a challenge on the

by Tara - 05/07/2010 - 10:07

Oh, a challenge on the chicken! I accept: my farmers, and soon I, do not feed their chickens any grain - period! Is it legal? Ah, no. What they do is give their chickens the scrap from their abattoir. So, the chickens get ground up tissue/fat/muscle/organs and even bone. They buy no feed for their chickens although they eat plenty of grass and bugs (I can attest to the grass consumption as I slaughtered many a chicken and cutting open their gizzards proved a diet rich in grass and, of course, little pebbles).

The meat on those chickens is divine - white meat that is never white, but more of a tan color. Drippings that left you licking your plate like a savage. Just one more reason to raise your own.

Hunting is amazing. It's spiritual and leaves you with a deep sense of gratitude. I believe that it is the most honest way to partake in the eating of animals. If you want to eat meat, what is more humane than killing an animal instantly - an animal that has lived wild and free. That is true empathy. There is honestly nothing left of the animals we have caught hunting. We use every morsel and give the hides to people who are more talented than us. Good luck on your course and on your hunting adventures.

Feeding chicken parts back to

by Chris - 05/08/2010 - 16:54

Feeding chicken parts back to chickens? Hello, new chicken prion disease.

Of course, that would not be

by Tara - 05/08/2010 - 21:43

Of course, that would not be scrap chickens that they feed back to chickens. The chickens get the scrap from venison, bison, lamb, and beef.

I've seen tongue at the

by Kali Lilla - 05/07/2010 - 09:00

I've seen tongue at the market but haven't been brave enough to buy it yet - lol. How do you prepare it? Any good recipes to share?

Kali - I just poach it

by Nonny - 05/07/2010 - 15:54

Kali -

I just poach it overnight in a crockpot (on low), sometimes in just salted water, sometimes I add stock &/or spices.

You'll need to peel it before eating, but besides that it's a pretty low-maintenance cut of meat.

I like to dice it and spice it once it's tender and have friends over for lengua tacos!

Good luck hunting! I come

by DavidC - 05/06/2010 - 23:26

Good luck hunting! I come from a family of hunters (part Native American descent) but never had the stomach for it, too empathic. Both of my hunting excursions ended up with me falling asleep. Not my thing, I guess, but if it was I'd probably be very good at it, all my relatives are.