Hurried meal day

Today was a rough day eating wise.  I can't fathom now how I used to be vegan at one point.  Vegetarian - sure, but not vegan.  I can't stand most vegetables and most fruits.  Today's meals have been boring and hurried:

Breakfast:

• two eggs scrambled with guacamole, salsa and three strips of microwave bacon.  Eaten in between rocking my newborn back and forth
• fruit smoothie - half a can of coconut milk, almond milk, half a banana, handful of frozen peaches, honey, almond butter.  Super yum!  About the only way I can eat most fruit, in a smoothie

Lunch:

• Chicken tenders and sweet potato tots with ketchup.  I made this in an attempt to have my toddler try something besides mac n cheese and bananas. I figured if he saw me eat it, he would eat it too.  He only ate the sweet potato tots, but threw the chicken on the floor. The breading on the chicken wasn't paleo and neither was the HFCS in the ketchup, but overall not too bad. 

Snack: Lara bar and iced tea, a gluten and dairy free cookie, turkey jerky

Dinner: coleslaw with chicken.  Yeah, seriously. 

Well, that's eating on the run (had to take my oldest to a therapy session and the pediatrician).  My newborn finally fell asleep at 9pm....so I'm still eating the coleslaw as I type.  

Into my third week I can't bring myself to eat meat heavy meals anymore. 

Going Paleo - sort of

A few weeks ago, my newborn had started a rash all over his face, neck, head and starting to go down the shoulders.  My awesome pediatrician in Austin, TX told me I needed to cut out dairy from my diet and in the meantime put lotion on his face to stop the crusting from the rash.  I cut out dairy - and presto, his face clears up.  I can't believe it - well, because I LOVE dairy....what I mean by dairy is creamer and cheese and clotted cream on scones.  I hate milk, won't drink it unless it's mixed with coffee or espresso or even tea. 

So, after two weeks of going dairy free, I eat a few meals with cheese - my fav.  My son breaks out again and bad.  I decide it's time to go dairy free for sure.  Now I'm stuck with what to eat and how to cook again.  

I could go the vegan route again....I did that once before.  My blood cells almost went anemic and no amount of iron supplements would help.  No, going vegan was definitely out.  

I remembered that a former colleague of mine went Paleo and his entire family had great success.  I went to his blog page Paleo Parents and started to read up.  I wanted to do Paleo last year - but our move to Manila made sure it was more than impossible without spending boatloads of money to import foods.  I decided that now that I was back in the land of plenty - aka U.S.A., it was finally possible to at least try.  

I reread Robb Wolf's book, downloaded and read a few other 'primal' food blogs and books and started.  

I will be honest - I was HUNGRY the first week.  

Let me reiterate - I was hungry, with a toddler running around and an infant that I'm fully breastfeeding.  But you know what, I'm starting week 3 now, and I'm not as hungry anymore as I was.  I realized it's like any lifestyle eating change, even with Weight Watchers, leaves you hungry as your body adjusts.  

So, in the end, I've lost 3 lbs in 2 weeks. Not bad for eating almonds, cashews, and full fat oils and bacon.  Yes yes, I eat fruit in there and veggies.  I aim for at least 80/20.  I try to aim for 100% paleo diet, but as a mom by myself for now, I allow some slippage here and there, mostly with rice as a side dish with a takeout meal.