Ready for a Paleo Thanksgiving to remember?

If you have doubted that you can cook an incredible Thanksgiving meal that everyone will love, and is also Paleo, Evolve Paleo Chef is here to tell you that you’re wrong! At Evolve, we want to take the guesswork out of living Paleo, and we want you to actually enjoy being Paleo, because our message is always that you can have delicious food while being healthy. If you are trying to come up with some ideas on how to turn traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, Paleo, we’ve got a few ideas for you!

Paleo Potatoes

Traditional white potatoes are not Paleo, but there’s many options that are just as good as white potatoes, that are way better for you! The simplest Paleo alternative to white potatoes? Sweet Potatoes! Substitute sweet potatoes into your Paleo Thanksgiving dishes, or make a big helping of mashed sweet potatoes and give them some extra flavor with some Evolve Ghee!

Paleo Stuffing

Traditional stuffing is absolutely full of carbohydrates. If you’re following the Paleo lifestyle, you know that grains and gluten are an absolute no-no, which can make stuffing a bit complicated. However, you can substitute carb-loaded bread with Evolve’s Paleo Bread in your stuffing, or you can explore some options for stuffing that has no bread, and instead relies on meat and potatoes to create the backbone. Check out this Paleo Thanksgiving onion and sausage stuffing recipe!

Paleo Green Bean Casserole

Take a pass on the dairy-loaded, fairly unhealthy traditional green bean casserole and buy some fresh green beans to roast instead. Roasted green beans taste incredible, they are healthy, and you have a lot of options for seasoning. You can add bacon and onions, mushrooms, and a variety of spices to give then a kick of flavor that everyone will love.

Paleo Pumpkin Pie

You may not believe us that this Thanksgiving staple can be made Paleo, but it absolutely can! Paleo pumpkin pie is gluten, dairy, and processed sugar-free, and it still tastes pretty fantastic. Make a tasty crust from pecans and almond flour, and focus on bold roasted pumpkin flavor for the filling. Check out this recipe for Paleo pumpkin pie—you’ll be glad you did!

Let Evolve help you have a wonderful Paleo Thanksgiving!

At Evolve, we want you to enjoy the holidays to their fullest, which includes being able to feast on the finest foods. A Paleo Thanksgiving is easy, you just have to put your mind to work on substituting and coming up with great alternatives to classic Thanksgiving dishes. Check out our online shop today to browse our delicious Paleo foods and snacks. From all of us at Evolve, we hope you have a great Paleo Thanksgiving!

As all of us in the Paleo world know, the only beverage we can drink and know for sure that our Paleolithic ancestors were also consuming it is water. Without the option to drink soda, tea, alcohol, or (gasp!) coffee, Evolve Paleo Chef knows how boring drinking only water can get. While there are some ways to add flavor to your water through fruit infusions, Evolve has found a delicious breakthrough for Paleo beverages: cold-pressed juice.

While you should still get most of your hydration by drinking lots and lots of water, cold-pressed juice is a great healthy treat to enjoy every once in a while. We have been exploring Paleo beverages like cold-pressed a lot lately at Evolve Paleo Chef and we’re here to share with you some reasons why you should be juicing!

Why cold-pressed juice?

According to Dr. Norman Walker, juice extracted by a masticating (“cold-press”) juicer has almost three times the nutrient quality than the juice provided by another juicer. Packing as many nutrients into your delicious juice Paleo beverage is clearly important, and cold-pressed juice has proven itself to be most nutrient-dense, as it retains the pulp and fiber in vegetables and fruits. Another key benefit of cold-pressed juice is that it stays nutrient dense for days, rather than minutes.

What are the benefits of juicing?

With juicing, you can save your body a ton of energy. While 70% of our body’s energy is depleted through the digestion of whole foods, juice is all ready for digestion. Within 10-15 minutes, your cells are being impacted by juice, receiving the incredible micronutrients like antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, and other minerals, while also retaining much-needed energy for your body. By getting rid of the digestion process altogether, juicing also allows your body to absorb more nutrients from fruits and vegetables.

With cold and flu season approaching, juicing can provide you with a helpful immunity boost while also reducing inflammation. The nutrients in the juice help return the body to an alkaline state, meaning that the acidic environment that disease flourishes in is neutralized.

What can I juice?

SO many foods can be juiced! From cucumber, to celery, sweet potatoes, lemons, ginger, kale, carrots, beets, watermelon, and much more, you are sure to find something you love in juice form. Mixing in spices like cayenne pepper can also be incredibly beneficial to your body, while providing a kick of flavor.

In Kansas City? Come to Evolve to get your Paleo beverage fix!

At Evolve Paleo Chef, we want to encourage everyone to try their hand at cold-press juicing. The benefits are numerous with few drawbacks. If you happen to be near our Kansas City location in Lenexa, come by and try the delicious juices offered by Simple Science Juices. We know you’ll be hooked!

Cold weather is right around the corner, which means that cold and flu season is coming. While many people bombard their bodies with cold medicine and supplements that their system cannot even absorb properly, there are some great Paleo foods that boost your immune system naturally that you should be taking advantage of instead. Here’s some ideas from Evolve Paleo Chef on immunity-boosting Paleo foods and a few of our delicious Paleo snacks to try to keep you safe this winter!

Grass-Fed Beef

Grass-fed beef is high in vitamins A and E, omega-3s, beta-carotene, zinc, and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). Many Americans are zinc-deficient, so they don’t get enough of this incredibly beneficial mineral. Even a slight zinc deficiency can increase your risk of infection, so be sure to grab some of Evolve’s delicious grass-fed beef jerkies to snack on to make sure that your zinc levels are up!

Coconuts

Coconut has an abundance of lauric acid, which can help significantly strengthen a person’s immunity. Make sure you’re eating organic coconuts that are unrefined, unbleached, and are non-GMO to fully take advantage of this immunity-boosting Paleo food. If you’re looking for a way to get coconut in your diet quickly, and deliciously, try Evolve’s Key Lime Paleo Balls today!

Blueberries

As is frequently advertised, blueberries are packed with antioxidants, while also being especially Paleo, as they are much lower in sugar than other fruits. These little berries contain powerful phytochemicals that make it a particularly potent immune system booster. Pick up a bag of Evolve’s Double Berry Paleo Balls to really take advantage of the immune benefits of blueberries.

Herbs and Spices

Most herbs and spices are the very best immune boosters. Garlic is incredibly beneficial to an immune system because it is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal. Garlic has also proven itself to be anticarcinogenic, it can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduces the risk of stroke. You should be eating garlic every day, which is great news because who doesn’t like garlic? Herbs, like oregano, are also powerful immune boosters. For a delicious way to incorporate garlic and herbs regularly, get a few jars of Evolve’s Paleo Ghees!

Let Evolve help you!

You don’t have to fight off cold and flu season alone! Evolve Paleo Chef is here to provide you with easy, effective ways to boost your immune system naturally with incredible Paleo foods. Visit our online shop and see what other Paleo foods we have waiting for you today.

As we all know, many adherents to the Paleo lifestyle incorporate a strict fitness routine into their lives. High intensity workout programs, like CrossFit, are more successful when paired with a Paleo diet due to the high protein and low carb intake that the lifestyle promotes. Those who combine a workout program like Crossfit with the Paleo diet are likely to see more, faster results than doing one or the other by itself. At Evolve Paleo Chef, we strive to take the guesswork out of the Paleo lifestyle, so here’s some of the best before and after workout Paleo food tips from Evolve Paleo Chef. Be sure to check out our online shop to see how we can help you on your way to fit!

According to a Paleo expert, Robb Wolf, “The Paleo diet is the perfect solution for both performance and recovery. Lean protein sources such as chicken, lean beef, turkey, pork loin and sea food are ergogenic (performance enhancing) because of the large amount of Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s) which have been proven to be crucial in rapid recovery after hard training, both for strength and endurance athletes. So all of your meals will start with 4-8 oz of lean proteins.”

Pre-Workout Paleo Foods

Make sure to incorporate lots of protein and fiber before your workout. Eat some hard-boiled eggs, almonds or walnuts, grilled chicken, apples, and some of Evolve’s Chef Inspired Trail Mixes to make sure you have high energy levels going in to an intense workout. Your body will definitely thank you!

Post-Workout Paleo Foods

Post-workout, your body and muscles need to recover and recuperate. One of the best options for after your workout is Evolve’s grass-fed Beef Jerkies. These protein-packed snacks are not only delicious, but also have plenty of the best nutrients that your body requires to adequately recover. Other good options for post-workout Paleo foods include: fish, bright vegetables (peppers, spinach, kale, etc.), and avocados (for the good fat).

Let Evolve Paleo Chef help you!

At Evolve Paleo Chef, we want to help our clients along the way to living a fit, healthy lifestyle. Come to us for our expertise, information, and most importantly, our delicious foods, and you are sure to look and feel your best!

When the brisk fall weather sets in, no one feels much like leaving the house. Many people want to cuddle up and indulge in their favorite comfort foods like fried chicken, pasta, rich desserts, and more. What do all these foods have in common? High, high fat, lots of sugar, tons of carbs, and processed foods. Absolutely none of this food is Paleo, yet at Evolve Paleo Chef, we believe that those of us who adhere to the Paleo lifestyle deserve to enjoy our meals just as much while also staying on the Paleo track, because sometimes, we are all in need of a little comfort food. Here’s a few ideas for Paleo comfort foods and a few of the ways some of our delicious Paleo products can help!

Paleo Mac n’ Cheese

On a chilly day, a nice warm meal is a great way to be comforted. With this Paleo mac n’ cheese recipe, you can indulge all you want and not feel any guilt. This dairy, sugar, and gluten free dish will have you craving Paleo comfort foods all the time! Instead of noodles, it uses spaghetti squash (you can substitute zuchinni noodles as well), coconut milk, and a great assortment of spices to give it a great kick of flavor. Add ground almonds or toast up some of Evolve’s Paleo Bread and sprinkle on top for a nice homestyle crunch!

Paleo Nachos

This is a dish that anyone—Paleo or not—will be drooling over. Try this awesome recipe as soon as you can! The chips are made from baked, crispy sweet potatoes and topped with chicken breast, salsa, and a variety of spices and other toppings to make one of the best Paleo comfort foods out there. This is a dish you can truly customize and make your own, so have some friends over for a healthy nacho bar and enjoy!

Mashed “Potatoes”

We’ve mentioned how versatile cauliflower is and we’re here to say it again. Using this recipe, you can throw together some roasted cauliflower, chicken stock, garlic, and salt and pepper, you can make a delicious, simple mashed potato dish that everyone is going to love. For an extra kick of flavor, spread on a bit of Evolve’s roasted garlic or herb Paleo ghee!

Paleo nachos

If you are in need of some Paleo comfort foods, it’s not too hard to do. In some ways, Paleo comfort foods should be even more comforting, because you can indulge in a delicious dish while staying on the Paleo track. As always, Evolve Paleo Chef is here to make Paleo easy for anyone, so visit our online shop today to check out our awesome Paleo food collection!

Vegetables are a key component of the Paleo lifestyle and like them or not, they are absolutely essential to a healthy, balanced Paleolithic diet. If you are not a big fan of vegetables, the Evolve Paleo Chef team has some great ideas for creative ways to prepare vegetables in order to make sure you are getting the most out of the Paleo lifestyle! We’ve chosen a few creative ways to prepare vegetables for meals or yummy snacks throughout the day. For even more Paleo alternative foods, be sure to check out our online shop as well!

Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash is so named because it can be cooked right up as a delicious (carb-free) replacement for pasta. When utilizing creative ways to prepare vegetables, spaghetti squash should be an automatic go-to for those who adhere to the Paleo lifestyle because you can just substitute it for pasta in your already-established favorite dishes. Use spaghetti squash as an awesome, seamless way to boost your vegetable intake on your Paleo diet! For a great Pasta Primavera recipe that teaches you how to properly prepare spaghetti squash, click here!

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is hands-down the most versatile vegetable out there. There are a variety of creative ways to prepare cauliflower (take a look at this article), but a few of Evolve’s favorite ways are a crunchy cauliflower pizza crust, cauliflower mashed potatoes, and cauliflower rice! An entire head of cauliflower can also be roasted to make a vegetable dish that the whole family will enjoy! If you’re interested in creative ways to prepare vegetables, cauliflower simply cannot be overlooked.

Zucchini

Zucchini is a vegetable that many people enjoy because it is delicious raw, roasted, fried, or any other way it can be cooked (and there’s a lot of them). In the quest for creative ways to prepare vegetables to boost your Paleo diet, try a few of these delicious ways to make zucchini: first, zucchini makes a great replacement for pasta, as it has a similar texture and consistency. You can grate zucchini into ribbons right into your favorite pasta dish for a carb-free dinner. If you’re looking for a healthier snack, and don’t have any of Evolve’s Paleo Balls or Jerky on hand, make some crunchy zucchini chips! (You can find a recipe here)

It’s easy to use creative ways to prepare vegetables to boost your Paleo diet, it just takes some extra research and testing to find what you like best. Use these all-time favorite creative ways to prepare vegetables above and see the success of your Paleo diet skyrocket!

Think about the last time you had a craving: you suddenly experience tunnel vision and every fiber in your being has an extreme desire for that thing. You feel like you may be unable to go on unless you get that thing right this instant. Was it cheese? Chocolate? Soda? Even the most hardcore Paleo-ers experience these cravings from time to time. Did you know that when you experience food cravings for some not-so-Paleo foods, your body may be telling you exactly what it really needs instead? Using this article, here’s a few common food cravings and what your body is telling you you really need. When you experience some of these cravings, be sure to check out what Evolve Paleo Chef has to offer as a delicious Paleo alternative instead!

Cheese

Cravings for cheese are typically indicative of a deficiency in fatty acids. If you find yourself in desperate need of some cheese or a pizza fix, try a Paleo alternative with Omega-3s instead. Salmon and other types of fish are full of fatty acids that will appease those pesky non-Paleo food cravings. It doesn’t get any better than eliminating a craving with a delicious, healthy Paleo alternative.

Chocolate

No matter how much we would like to believe otherwise, there is no such thing as a chocolate deficiency. When you believe you’re in need of chocolate, don’t break your Paleo diet by giving in to those Hershey’s Kisses or chocolate ice cream, because your body is really only telling you you need some more magnesium. Some foods high in magnesium include leafy greens (like spinach and chard), avocados, almonds, and various types of fish. When you’re craving chocolate, pick up a bag of Evolve Paleo’s signature Paleo Balls! These are full of nuts that are sure to take down that craving!

Bread

Bread cravings can indicate that your body is experiencing a slight nitrogen deficiency. If you don’t have a loaf of Evolve’s Paleo Bread on hand, find some high protein foods, like fish and red meat, to get rid of that craving! Try some of Evolve’s delicious beef jerky, or throw a lean cut of steak on the grill.

Let Evolve Paleo help ease the cravings!

It’s important to understand and respond to your cravings. Your body is smart, and it’s telling you what you need, we just need to learn to look beyond what we immediately want. Giving into cravings is fairly inevitable, but you can control how you give in. Remember these healthy Paleo alternatives from Evolve Paleo Chef next time you have a not-so-Paleo craving and you’ll be on your way to actually satisfying yourself!

At Evolve Paleo Chef, we hold our clients in the highest regards. We appreciate each and every one of them and we enjoy getting to know everyone we cook weekly meals for on a personal level. This level of personal interaction is what we think helps make Evolve Paleo Chef such a success and at the end of a long week of preparing and delivering our Paleo-tastic meals to our beloved and loyal clients, it’s always great to hear some feedback and be reminded that the work we do and the way we treat our clients is not only noticed, but appreciated as well. Here’s some of what one of our awesome Paleo clients said about us recently:

“Like many people I know, I am a busy working mom & wife trying to maximize my potential inside & out. [. . .] I found myself not eating dinner or ruining everything I had done that day by eating a not healthy meal. Then I was introduced to Evolve Paleo Chef. I love everything about it. The convenience, the quality, the unique ingredients (rutabagas, really?! I have never eaten them before & they were delicious!), the fact I have met the chefs almost every time I go in. [. . .] And every time since you have remembered me & have known my name, that is pretty amazing & I have not received that level of customer service in a VERY long time (sadly). I look forward to a long lasting relationship with Evolve Paleo & I can not wait to enjoy the chili mac again this week. Thank you again for everything!!!”

Evolve’s Signature Paleo Balls

It’s feedback like this that keeps our Evolve Paleo team motivated to continue to provide incredible customer service to our valued loyal clients. We love our Paleo clients and we are always overjoyed to hear that they love and appreciate our services in return. To view some of our Paleo client testimonials, click here. If you’d like to contact us with any helpful feedback you may have, or if you just want to say hi, click here to fill out our contact form! We thank all of you for your loyal business and we can’t wait to form lasting relationships with each and every one of you!

When many people hear the word “diet,” they automatically think about cutting back on junk foods and start thinking of classically “healthy” foods that we’ve all been trained to think are inherently better for us. The Paleo “diet” however, is in it’s own category of diets. In fact, we avoid the term “diet” altogether and we like to think of eating Paleo as a total lifestyle and mindset. There are some foods you may think are Paleo, but actually are not because of how we have been trained to think about what foods are healthy for us. Here’s a few of the more surprising foods you may think are Paleo, but actually are not, and we have come up with some alternatives for you to try, straight from Evolve Paleo Chef!

Coffee

Though more non-strict Paleo advocates say black coffee is okay in moderation, coffee is just not Paleo. Our Paleolithic ancestors were not enjoying steamy mugs of coffee, and as we Paleo-ers like to stick to consuming what our primal forefathers would have had available, coffee is (unfortunately) just not on the menu.

Peanuts

All legumes, including beans and peanuts, are not Paleo foods. Legumes contain phytic acid, an antinutrient, that causes the body to improperly absorb other nutrients. Peanuts are also loaded with oils and fats that your body just does not need to be consuming. If you’re in need of an easy, on-the-go snack, try Evolve Paleo’s delicious Paleo Balls!

White Potatoes

The white potatoes we are all familiar with were not available in Paleolithic times, as they take a great deal of farming and land work to grow and the hunter-gatherers of the time would not have stuck around to cultivate them. Sweet potatoes are, however, a great Paleo food and they are made even more delicious when you serve them with Evolve’s flavorful ghees!

Tofu

Vegetarianism is healthy, right? Well, tofu is a processed soy product that the earliest humans would never have had access to. The Paleo lifestyle advocates the consumption of meats and requires a high protein intake, and tofu just does not fit the bill. If you need to up your protein levels, try Evolve’s jerkies. Available in both sweet and spicy, these are flavorful snacks you’re sure to love!

Let Evolve help you eliminate foods you may think are Paleo, but actually are not

With our awesome snacks and food supplies, you can be sure that you’ll never feel like you’re missing out on important foods. Following the Paleo lifestyle supplies your body with all the nutrients it needs to be incredibly strong and healthy while elminating what’s not the best for you. Browse Evolve’s selection of nationally shipped Paleo snacks and food supplies today and we will help you eliminate the foods you may think are Paleo, but actually are not once and for all!

In addition to eating clean and focusing on eating primal foods, a truly successful Paleo lifestyle must also incorporate Paleo workouts. CrossFit training is considered a part of Paleo workouts, because it advocates the use of basic weights and using one’s own body to build muscles and strength. If you are interested in Paleo workouts, but do not have the time or money to go to a CrossFit gym, Evolve Paleo Chef has some tips for improving your Paleo workouts today!

Focus on Natural Movement

Our Paleolithic ancestors didn’t have treadmills, ellipticals, or fancy workout machines and they got along even healthier than we are. The best Paleo workouts focus on natural movement rather than narrowly controlled movements that modern exercise machines allow. Paleo workouts must focus on the natural range of motion that our bodies used when surviving thousands of years ago, like sprinting, hiking, and lifting heavy objects. What are you waiting for? Find a big tire and get to work on your Paleo workouts!

Move A Lot at a Slow Pace

Experts agree that slower paced exercises like brisk walking, hiking, bike riding, skiing, and canoeing offer the most health benefits. Paleo workouts that involve going out into nature are obviously the best, as the Paleo lifestyle heavily advocates nature and all things natural. “Slow pace” Paleo workouts involve keeping your heart rate below 80% max, and these activities are awesome for getting you outdoors and enjoying some great activities that you may have never tried before. While you’re out on the trail, bring along some of Evolve’s Paleo Balls for extra fuel!

Recover

Allow yourself time to properly recover after your Paleo workouts. Most Paleo workouts stress the importance of rest, so give yourself a rest day here and there. Especially after high-intensity workouts, your muscles need time to recover, or else you’re running the risk of overtraining. While you shouldn’t veg out on the couch during your rest days, we encourage you to take a walk so you can stay active while allowing your muscles critical recovery time. Boost your high intensity Paleo workouts with some extra protein and try Evolve’s delicious jerkies!

Let Evolve assist your Paleo workouts

At Evolve Paleo Chef, we’ve got some awesome snacks and food products to help assist you in your Paleo workouts. Our Paleo lifestyle-approved food helps provide the energy you need to have the most successful Paleo workouts of your life. Visit our online shop today to browse our delicious selection and keep up the awesome Paleo workouts!