Sunday, October 27, 2013

Midway through the Paleo Expedition

Hello from the Paleo Expedition where the journey has been an adventure.  Though technically not an official expedition (for one thing the crew did not include a specialized cook -major mistake, and for another we have not left the comforts of our North End home), the following experiences are in my mind comparable to a romantic voyage to parts unknown:   

Restaurant Void:  It is with mild astonishment that I have gone two whole weeks without any restaurant meals.  If this trend continues for the rest of the expedition, I will set a personal record for “not eating out”.  I think the last time I even came close was when I was still living with my parents (and not responsible for providing all of my own meals).  Even as a poor college student, I would buy the $5.00 Domino’s pizza that would set me up for a couple of days (although I’m not sure Domino’s fits under the “restaurant” category).

Sailing on the Five Cs:  I have had to restock my spice rack since cooking has taken over most of my free time.  It is strange that all of my recent purchases begin with C - Cinnamon, Curry, Chile Powder, Cumin, and Cayenne Pepper.  We have not experienced drastic amounts of sea-sickness, although a Curry/Carrot combination did not go over too well. 

Dangerous and Delicious Discovery:  I had vaguely heard of Jicama  and may have eaten it once or twice, but still thought of it as some kind of Jamaican Flower.  However, several sources in Paleo cookbooks called this vegetable a great potato substitute, so I casually chopped one up and placed it in a soup.  It was so yummy that after dinner I did some research on Jicama and learned the leaves and peel are poisonous.  When I casually mentioned my findings to Phin, he immediately began experiencing stomach pains.  I had some doubts on the carefulness of my chopping, so it was with great relief that after more investigation I was able to assure Phin I had not poisoned him.  His relief was short lived when I told him my reasons for knowing with such certainty - ingesting the peel is associated more with death than mild stomach pain.  I do plan to use Jicama more frequently in my cooking, although “Food Safety Phin” is now in charge of the chopping.  (A Jicama chainsaw that could also be used for pineapples would be a handy kitchen appliance.)

The Value of Adrenaline:  The first week was kind of a bummer with headaches, fatigue and general moodiness (I’m not saying who experienced what symptoms).  We discussed the probability that we could survive on a diet of meat, vegetables and fruits, but the fact that it was so difficult made it seem worth it.  We could tell our bodies were in the detox process and that made us eager to get over this phase and experience the benefits of healthy eating.   

Treasure Hunting:  Finding breakfast meats without sugar or soy products was much like a treasure hunt.  It was a happy moment when we discovered a small selection in Whole Foods.  This joy was tempered slightly when we realized we would have to embark on a different kind of treasure hunt to pay for this extremely valuable find, but savoring sausages made this a worthwhile splurge. 


In conclusion, we are surviving and not yet reduced to eating tuna fish out of a can (although in some ways that sounds easier).  I would love to send a postcard to all of you, but so far post offices seem scarce and carrier pigeons have long ago disappeared (bird seed is not encouraged here).  Suffice it to say, we are having a wonderful time and wish you were here. (Well the last part of that statement is true.)


No comments:

Post a Comment