Well we finally have sun in the UK today. And we’re promised more for the weekend. For us dieters that means salads are a pleasure to eat instead of a chore. And much welcome for us Paleo people because it means a lot less cooking, less shopping and less washing up.

For one of the most difficult things about sticking to Paleo is that you have to be committed and you have to be organised. It’s not the kind of diet where you can just grab something to eat at the last minute. Most Paleo meals need planning, preparation. Organisation. Read More→

Had bit of a sweet weekend. By which I mean my sweet tooth bugged and nagged at me a lot. So I gave in. A little. But by Monday though I still had some cake in the house, I no longer wanted it. By going with my strong sugar desire, just a little, I managed to kill it off.

So it was with some relief that I tuned into Robert Lustig on BBC Radio 4’s Food Programme: Sugar: Pure, White and Deadly? Lustig said some sugar is fine. Just not very much. Read More→

If I say fried chicken to you what is your immediate thought? Southern-style fried chicken I’m guessing. The kind that’s covered in breadcrumbs and deep fried, right?

How is it that this is now what is nearly always meant by the term fried chicken? I had fried chicken twice this week and it wasn’t deep fried in a fryer. Nor was it covered in breadcrumbs. The one no-no of Paleo (that rhymes!) is no bread. No grain. We are going against the grain on this diet. So, how come I had fried chicken? Read More→

So today after allowing myself a little transitional time to move from dairy to entirely dairy free, I am now free at last. From dairy. There isn’t any in the house anymore. When I came down to breakfast this morning, I couldn’t have milk in my morning tea because there was no milk to be had.

And now here I sit with a black coffee with a few tiny sprinkles of sugar in it to aid the transition still further. Eventually I’ll go sugar free too but not quite yet. Read More→

Been having some very powerful sweet cravings today. And indeed all weekend. I could make an excuse and say been bit of a stressful weekend as I had a highly personal piece in the Guardian on Saturday which I won’t say anything further about here. But sometimes stress, as I’ve mentioned before, can cause sweet cravings.

So, what d’you do when you really want something sweet but are trying to avoid it? One word. Protein. Here’s how you can beat the sweet desire! Read More→

Last night was a truly extraordinary experience. And one I urge you most strongly to try and have if you can.

I saw a play, This House, beamed live from The National Theatre to the Odeon cinema in Hanley, Stoke on Trent. At the same time tens of thousands of people were also watching the same play at cinemas all over the country and all over the world! Read More→

This is a very significant day for me. One I’ve been waiting for forever. Well, bit of an exaggeration but not much. Tonight I am off to the Odeon in Hanley, Stoke on Trent, to see the fabulous play This House. A play. At a cinema. Who’d have thunk it eh? See the trailer.

Written by James Graham, directed by Jeremy Herrin, I can’t rate this utterly delightful ensemble play highly enough (not fair to single out any of the actors; they’re all wonderful). With truly terrific music provided by house band Acoustic Jim and The Wires it’s by far the best piece of live theatre I’ve seen in a long while if not forever. And now I can see it at my local cinema! How cool is that? Seen it already three times at The National but this time I only have to drive down the road! Pardon? Speak up! Ah yes, what’s this got to do with my diet? Read More→

So today I begin my dairy-free journey. Was a *tiny* bit of milk still left over so I had that in my coffee first thing but now, it’s milk-free all the way. Until I maybe decide to investigate raw milk which I’m reliably informed is better than the stuff most of us normally have.

Why is milk a baddie? And cheese, cream, other milk products but not butter? Or eggs? Well I’m not entirely sure of the science and I must stress again that I am NOT a nutritionist, doctor nor dietitian. This isn’t an advice blog. This is a piece of experimental immersive journalism. And my decision is based on observation mostly. Read More→

So today I began to wean myself off dairy. Haven’t gone completely dairy free. I still have some milk and cream in the ‘fridge and I need to use them up first. Can’t bear to throw food away. Nor can I bear to go completely dairy free in one go but… shopping today, I didn’t buy any fresh dairy.

So no cheese, no cottage cheese, no milk, no cream, no creme fraiche and no more Babybels to sate the odd hunger pang. Hell just cutting that lot out together with cutting bread, pasta, rice and potatoes should by itself be enough to send the next stone packing. Read More→

I have decided it’s time to do Paleo properly. Or at least more properly than I have been. This means cutting dairy. The Paleo I’ve been following is a sort of transitional Paleo, one made suitable for the modern age. Or as suitable as you can ever adapt a diet eaten by our ancestors.

Say goodbye to cheese

This means saying goodbye to cheese and I think that’s a very good idea. I eat far too much of the stuff. Read More→