How I am fusing the 02 Diet with the Paleolithic Diet

Well, I got through the 4 day cleanse without too much trouble, thanks to the support of my GFs who are doing it with me! Thanks, Lori and Kathy! And I got on the scale the morning of day 5. I was none too happy to see the number 139 staring back at me. 22 months ago I started at 141 and got down to 129, working my way back up to 134-ish for a healthier more attractive weight for my frame. Clearly I had returned to my starting point or higher, since I did not weigh myself before starting the cleanse this time.  How did I do this? By failing to control portions and returning to my old habits of snacking mindlessly on healthy foods--sure--but still 3 ounces of raw pecans is a lot of food. Oh yeah, and then there was my old nemesis:  wine. Two glasses of that and all self control or conscious choice is LOST.

This is day 5 Phase 2 of the 02 Diet. For those of you who don't know about this super healthy eating and living lifestyle, you can read about it at www.nutritiouslife.com or get Keri Glassman's book: The 02 Diet.  This diet gets you to focus more on putting super healthy and anti-oxidant rich foods into your body than focusing on what you keep out of your body. It is divided into 3 phases. Phase 1 is a four day eating cleanse (not fasting) and Phase 2, which is 2 weeks long, allows more food and far more types of food. Phase 3 is when one gets to add conscious indulgences such as red wine and chocolate, etc. IN SMALL QUANTITIES.

Anyway, I am slightly modifying the 02 Diet to incorporate the principles of the Paleolithic Diet aka Primal Diet. What that means is that I am avoiding sugar, grains and legumes completely, eating only roots and tubers for starches. I am limiting my dairy and starting to eat pasture raised meat, poultry, eggs and dairy.

I have been an organic foods advocate for years, but moving to pasture raised means I get much higher Omega 3 and CLA from the grass fed and foraging animals. (Animals, be they raised organically or not, when not pastured are raised on soy and corn which radically increases omega 6 levels and that is very bad.)  What does NOT work for me about paleolithic diet is the high caloric intake allowed for by the high fat intake. So I am avoiding all bad fats (all vegetable fats, trans fats) and eating GOOD fats, i.e., avocados, nuts and olive oil and ALSO saturated fats like butter and non-hydrogenated coconut oil and beef fat, but I am keeping my portions in check--5 portions daily. In phase 3 I will go up to 6 portions daily of these fats. I am keeping my carbohydrate load to 50 grams daily (mostly sourced from fruit and a little dairy in my coffee), and I am jump starting my day with a high protein and fat breakfast, i.e. omelets and frittatas and an occasional whey protein smoothie. O2 diet often starts the day with grains and dairy and fruit--not nearly enough fat or protein and way too much carb for my taste. The grain and dairy and fruit breakfast--ie plain yogurt, berries and toast--leaves me bloated and drowsy for two hours at which point I am suddenly ravenous. Clearly not the best choice for me. Just saying'....If you want to know more about the Paleolithic Diet, go to www.Marksdailyapple.com


Mmm. Just finished my Tomatillo Chipotle Chicken soup complete with the garnishes of cilantro, avocado and raw shredded cabbage and radish. This is an adaptation of Green Posole, omitting the hominy (corn) and adding poblano and chipotle. Fabulous! Spicy, tangy, slightly smoky, warming, flavorful and chock full of Vitamin C immune enhancing goodness!


Tomatillo Chipotle Chicken soup

dash of cumin, salt and pepper
1 lb organic chicken thighs
3 poblano chilis
1 carton organic chicken or vegetable broth
1 lb tomatillos
1 onion
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin
1 chipotle from the chipotle in adobo sauce can



Set oven to 400 roasting temp. Rub some salt, pepper and cumin into chicken thighs. Place whole poblano chills and chicken thighs on cookie sheet. Turn poblanos in 4 minutes. roast another 4 minutes then remove poblanos and place in paper bag. Turn chicken over at the 8 minute mark and continue to roast chicken for approximately 8 more minutes or until done. When chicken is done, take it out to cool.

While these are roasting, pour chicken broth into large pot and turn heat to medium. Chop onions and tomatillos. Add to pot of broth along with the garlic, cumin and the chipotle. bring to simmer or boil and cook until soft.

Take poblanos out of bag and remove stem and seeds. add to soup pot. Ladle soup mixture in small batches into blender and puree til smooth.

Shred chicken with forks or fingers and stir into soup.

Garnish and enjoy!

Garnishes for Tomatillo Chipotle Chicken soup

shredded cabbage, red or green
slivered radishes
cubed avocado
chopped cilantro