{#JanuaryJoy - bake some bread}

Today's prompt from Florence Finds #JanuaryJoy ('bake some bread') didn't make me a happy bunny... I'm trying to stay clear of bread and pasta and if I was to bake bread I'd be sure to eat it!

Instead, I'm thinking I'll attempt some yummy* paleo pancakes, like these cinnamon and coconut pancakes by nom nom paleo.

Or maybe these lemon raspberry pancakes by paleOMG. I have to say - these look amazing!

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Watch this space to see how I get on!

* I'm not convinced, but we shall see!!

{#JanuaryJoy - plan some clean eats}

Yesterday's #JanuaryJoy post was to make your own calendar.  I was feeling absolutely rotten yesterday evening and spent the whole night in bed - so apologies for not joining in. Just so happens I had already organised my calendar, as I had ordered a new family organiser at the start of the year.

Anyway, today's prompt is to plan some clean eats.

This is my cue to get back into Meal Planning. I was doing so well at it last year, but then I moved house and my routine all went to pot. Seems like Michelle over on Florence Finds has a similar idea and has some lovely sounding meal suggestions.

I have a list of meals the kids and I would both enjoy, versus meals that I would have when I'm on my own.

Here's some of my regular occurrences in the food department...

Kids:

• Meatballs and rice
• Chicken, leek, pea & pesto pasta
• Mild chilli with rice & tortilla wraps
• Macaroni cheese with garlic bread
• Salmon pasta bake
• Parmesan chicken with baked beans & veg
• Sausage casserole
• Pasta Bolognese
• Scrambled egg, beans & toast
• Gammon, mashed potatoes & veg
• Omelette
• Tuna pasta

Just Me (if I'm not having dinner at a restaurant, or having take away):

• Chicken & salad
• Salmon & salad
• Soup
• Baked potato

One of my goals for this year is to eat more real food. I was doing very well with this in the middle of last year, and it really improved my Crohn's symptoms.

I must get back into the way of things, and my motivation has got to be my health.

{Wobbles Wednesday}

It's Wednesday, so that can only mean one thing.... Wobbles Wednesday with The Naked Mum.

I unfortunately didn't manage to weigh myself this morning when I woke up as I had been at my work on a night shift of sorts, so I'll update this post tomorrow with my weight.

Last week I had put on 4 lbs but I'm hopefully (*crosses fingers*) that I've lost at least 1 lb this week.

On Monday I started a Paleo diet of sorts. I'm following it as best as I can although I know I've already eaten a few things that I'm reckoning aren't allowed.

A drumroll is needed for this next bit....

Today is day #3 and I've managed three full days without wheat, dairy or caffeine. I have to say I'm rather chuffed with myself. I had even bought my colleagues brioche, muffins and yum yums for their breakfast this morning and I didn't touch a single one. Amazing huh!

I'm going to attempt to keep it up but will allow myself to have the occasional non-Paleo meal.

The main point of this is to try and improve my Crohn's Disease symptoms. I bloat very easily and it can look like I'm 6 months pregnant - it's uncomfortable. Hopefully this diet will help.

I've not attempted the Paleo Auto Immune Protocol and as such have been eating eggs, tomatoes and the occasional handful of nuts. Not sure I'd cope with no eggs or nuts!

Here's what my meals have looked like - not sure if everything is Paleo as I've had soup from a tin and microwave popcorn, but I'm trying my best!

Breakfast - smoked salmon and scrambled egg

Lunch - chicken salad / vegetable soup

Dinner - salmon with vegetables and corn on the cob

Snacks - fruit, handful nuts & dried fruit, carrot sticks, king prawns, popcorn

{Paleo Diet & Crohn's Disease}

The lovely Laura over at The Mrs Makes has written a blog post on 'Eating Paleo' and she's inspired me to give this diet a try. Basically, the theory is that you eat like our caveman ancestors did... the diet is high in protein, low in carbohydrate and no processed food. My sister is also going to attempt a diet of no processed food to help curb her sugar cravings... I really need to get motivated for this I reckon! No more cake!!?

I've already said that losing weight is 70% diet and 30% exercise. I've got the exercise part sussed - I do at least 4 runs a week normally and I try and make a metafit class when I can. It's the diet part that's seriously lacking.

The more reading I've done, I actually think it might help reduce my Crohn's symptoms and be very beneficial to me health-wise.

Head on over to Laura's post to get some of the background information on Paleo principles, and below you'll find some thoughts on a Paleo diet specifically for autoimmune diseases, like Crohn's.

Paleo Auto Immune Protocol

Some of the normal Paleo-friendly foods have been shown to cause issues for individuals with autoimmune disorders. The key for Paleo for Autoimmunity is to remove Neolithic foods (grains, breads, potatoes, beans and dairy) and it's also recommended to avoid the following foods:

• eggs
• tomatoes and aubergines
• peppers
• spices such as curries, paprika and chilli powder
• nuts and seeds

This then means that I can't have an omelette or scrambled eggs for breakfast, and I can't have my usual porridge or muesli either... hmmmm...

*goes away and does more googling*

Right, here are my initial thoughts:

Breakfast

Smoked salmon, fruit salad, banana

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Lunch

Chicken salad (greens, red onions, cucumber, beetroot, sweetcorn, avocado, carrots; no peppers or tomatoes)

Prawn, avocado and mango salad 

With homemade salad dressing of olive oil and garlic

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Homemade vegetable soup

Dinner

Grilled fish and vegetables (no peppers or potatoes)

Grilled meat and vegetables

Squash 'spaghetti' and meatballs

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Snacks

Not sure what I can do for snacks as my usual 'healthy' choices are rice cakes, hummous, yoghurt, nuts & seeds or some cherry tomatoes! None of which are allowed. Instead, I guess I could try these:

Mange tout

Sliced apples / pear

Carrot and celery batons

Handful of dried fruit

This definitely needs more thought.... suggestions are much appreciated. Do you know anyone that's tried a Paleo diet for autoimmune disease?