Chip platter and paleo autoimmune protocol

The snow hounds demonstrate their form of "play."

My journey to find solutions to my health problems has taken me down back alleys, wrong-way streets and dead-end avenues. Never have I found a smooth-sailing highway to lasting health.

No one can call me anything but determined. I don't give up and continue to persevere. Throughout the summer and early fall, I have shifted to eating a more paleo diet but alas, I seem to have hit another plateau in getting relief from my fibromyalgia and gut problems.

It's not that I haven't gotten some healing from following the paleo diet which shares a lot in common with the anti-candida diet. When I started, I could hardly walk to the corner and back with my pooches. Now, I go on regular backpacking trips. Of course, there is pain associated with these adventures but not of the intolerable kind.

But there seems to be something that is still holding me back in achieving full remission. That is why I am adopting the paleo autoimmune protocol diet (AIP) which many have found to provide an avenue to better health.

Here is where I started on the beginning of my journey:

severe, daily stomach upset, often sending me to bed with pain
unable to tolerate many foods
chronic sinus pain and headaches
widespread pain in muscles, especially hips, legs and shoulders
couldn't exercise without intense pain
pain interrupted sleep
couldn't travel because of pain
fatigued
intense morning stiffness and pain

Here is where I am today:

some daily stomach upset, sometimes interrupts daily activities
many foods are not tolerated but not as many as before
no chronic sinus pain or headaches
daily pain is generally mild but sometimes more intense
able to exercise and return to many physical activities, although with some increased pain
pain seldom interrupts sleep
able to travel but with increased stiffness and pain
good energy
less morning stiffness and pain

As you can see, I am so much better but have hit a plateau. That is why I am embarking on the paleo autoimmune protocol which means I will be eliminating some foods for the next 30 days. The recipes I will be posting in the next 30 days will reflect the absence of these foods.

Foods to be eliminated include:

eggs (I hadn't eaten these for a decade when I reintroduced them on a limited basis to up my protein.)
dairy (Another food I hadn't eaten for many years but I started making and eating homemade goat yogurt on occasion to up my protein and increase intake of beneficial bacteria.)
nightshades (I eliminated these early on because of a sensitivity.)
nuts and seeds (I don't eat nuts because of sensitivity but I do rely heavily on sunflower and pumpkin seeds and my beloved sunbutter. Goodbye for one month, old friends.)

Chip platter

 I made a veggie chip platter with broccoli guacamole cream for one of my first dinners on the AIP diet. It was delicious and I didn't feel deprived at all. Serve this dish as a main entree for vegans or as a side dish with chicken or fish.

Here is what you need:
(makes 1 huge serving and 2 medium ones)

1 medium beet, peeled
1 medium rutabaga, peeled
2 medium zucchini
1 bunch of broccoli
1/2 avocado
juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 sliced onion
salt and pepper
EVOO
water

Here is what you do:

Eliminate Permanently Eliminate for 30 Days and Reintroduce Processed Food Eggs Refined Oils & Sugars Nightshades (both vegetables and spices) Grains Nuts Legumes Seeds Soy Dairy - See more at: http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/05/19/what-is-the-paleo-autoimmune-protocol/#sthash.CMvAiyUw.dpuf

First, preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper or spritz with olive oil.

Use a mandolin cutter to thinly slice the beet, rutabaga and zucchini. Spread the beet slices on one sheet, the rutabaga on another and zucchini on the last. Drizzle with olive oil and massage in with your hands. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in the warmed oven for 30+ minutes. You will need to watch the chips and remove some that get done earlier than others. Zuccchini chips will take the longest.

In the meantime, make your broccoli-guacamole cream. Steam the broccoli until tender. Submerge the broccoli in cold water after cooking. Saute the onion slices. Put the cooled  broccoli, onion, cilantro, lime juice, avocado, olive oil, salt and pepper and dash of water into a food processor. Pulse until mixed and creamed. Add more water if needed to reach desired consistency.

Recipe contributed to:
http://www.rickiheller.com/2013/10/wellness-weekend-october-10-14-2013/

 http://allergyfreecookery.blogspot.com/2013/10/its-linky-party_11.html

http://wholenewmom.com/traditional-tuesday/soft-pumpkin-cookies-chocolate-mint-cookies-amaranth-chocolate-candy-grain-free-peanut-butter-granola-and-ginger-pear-oat-waffles/

n a Nutshell

Eliminate Permanently	Eliminate for 30 Days and Reintroduce
Processed Food	Eggs
Refined Oils & Sugars	Nightshades (both vegetables and spices)
Grains	Nuts
Legumes	Seeds
Soy	Dairy

- See more at: http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/05/19/what-is-the-paleo-autoimmune-protocol/#sthash.896l3wGF.dpuf