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Day 9 and the challenge (to strip out sugar from my diet for 30 days) feels already a little easier. My appetite seems less too which is a blessing! Busy work day too. Legs and feet a little sore after dance class yesterday BUT nowhere near as bad as they have been. Watch this space! Took Ted for a lovely walk by myself this morning. He ran and ran up and down the fields behind our house with a new friend, Chester and then spent the rest of the afternoon asleep! Definitely a dogs life. Body wise I noticed a bit of a craving for more fat today - so have added butter to my steamed veggies and avocado too. As part of this reset I am trying to reduce any dairy products so this seemed a great compromise. Have you had any cravings today? Thought the above was a useful sheet to share for anyone interested in "How to Hack Happiness Chemicals" naturally although I am uncertain of the source - the info is a great natural boost and please note, electronics are not on the list! Paleo Meals today : Breakfast : Protein Shake with Fresh Microgreens Added Lunch : Chicken Stir Fry with half an avocado Supper: Steak and steamed veggies with butter, orange, plums and walnuts Heading out to night school tonight and am very happy with all the food prep we have completed today in readiness for our baking days to follow. Enjoy your evening!

It's late on Wednesday evening, (9.40pm to be precise) and all our bakes are prepped and waiting for shipping in our big fridges! A few more to finish off tomorrow early doors to catch the courier but everything looks fab! It has been a long day with lots of challenges and a new degree of awareness. I am beginning to see a big link between feeling stressed and overwhelmed when we are busy and wanting to eat junk food! This is new to me - but I felt it keenly today , the awareness, combined with a real yearning to reward myself with something sugary and sweet for working so hard. This needs to be looked at in more depth methinks - do you ever feel like that? It is an old habit , a very old pattern ready to let go and that's a good thing. Thank you Paleo, you have my heart. The second picture in the collage is of some of our delicious keto bread packed and ready to ship. And the final image in the collage is a little free gift we are tucking into everyone's order boxes this week and I am so pleased with how they have turned out....But onto the more important stuff - what did I eat today and did I manage to keep on track? Breakfast : Grain-Free Coconut & Almond Porridge with apple, walnuts and blueberries Lunch : Protein shake (not great but did not have time to stop) Supper : A Mike Omelette - yes Mike cooked as he had finished sausage prep a short time before me, orange and whole almonds Grabbed a couple of handfuls of macadamia nuts too after lunch and around 4pm. Also note that my ankle joint is not as sore as usual given that been standing on it all day ..one to watch. How has your day been? PS. I am so pleased I stuck to it to day, it was tough but I feel so much better for it.

Another day another challenge! Lovely invite arrived yesterday to visit Doreen, Mike's mum in Doncaster and take fish and chips for Lunch!!!! *Oh Boy, Siren alert.*Danger Ahead* Actually, for once, I found this to be an easy issue to resolve by taking my own lunch as well as having a couple of hot chips straight from the packet - in a life's too short moment. No fuss this time, no drama. In fact, the substantial and prolonged improvements I am beginning to feel in my ankle and heel are enough to persuade me to stick to the plan plus my commitment to 30 days. How do you deal with social events when you are following a particular way of eating? How do you feel when you are the one abstaining and everyone else is tucking in? How do other people make you feel when you are abstaining? Especially with Christmas just around the corner - what's your motivation to stay on track? You may have noticed a new product in the top right hand square of the montage. As well as joint pain, my brain seems to have gone to mush! So I am trialling adding C8 MCT Oil to my morning protein shake to see if it helps with reducing brain fog and I look forward to reporting on this side experiment - have you tried it? Have you had success? The salad jars were an easy make keeping the dressing at the bottom and lots of lovely layers of contrasting salad bits and bobs. When it was time to eat together, I tipped the jar upside down to coat the salad and emptied everything onto my plate. Easy! Today's paleo reset summary: Breakfast : Paleo Protein Shake + C8 Lunch : Salad Jar with smoked mackerel and a simple dressing made with extra virgin avocado oil, mustard and a drop of vinegar Supper : Home made Chicken Curry - diced chicken and onion sauteed, add curry spices, dash of coconut milk, 1/4 cup of cashews (there are better nut choices but that was all I had in the store cupboard) and 2 big handfuls of baby spinach. Really good. Also drank a VAT of coffee and added pure collagen peptides to my cup. Yay, things are on the up!

Monday, exactly half way through the experiment and so happy that I am doing this before Christmas. So many of us opt to wait until after Christmas and set our sights on a new body for January, less pain and less discomfort - and it never happens! What feels good is to start right now, start where you are and figure out the challenges one by one. At the very least, you are doing something, gaining momentum by taking action kicking the overwhelm into touch. My very first step on this journey was to commit to drinking water every morning before getting out of bed - and I have done this one small thing every single day. Success on this small point gives traction, something to get hold of and something positive to start the day. The rest flows from that. Have you tried this yet? Day 15 was a leftovers kind of day. I had two appointments and had to dash in and out between so the day had the opportunity to be chaotic and a big challenge. My strategy was to rely on leftovers and to ask Mike to help and cook something for lunch in between. It worked! Still on track with this paleo way of eating and feeling so different to the place where I started. More of this another day. I spent the evening at dance class and had a blast. Have you tried dance? Day 15 Paleo Reset Summary Breakfast : Protein Shake + C8, and Floradix Lunch : Grain Free Almond and coconut porridge, grated apple and walnut Supper Left over pork curry, C8 Snacks : Handful of macadamia nuts, an orange, an apple Easy! Here is one of our songs from the play list last night - easy to move to, easy to wonder, easy to dance, keep moving!

Leeds at dusk in the rain. Gorgeous colours ahead of Storm Barra perhaps? All going well here at the Oliver household as we continue on our paleo journey. For once and finally, this does not feel like one of those white knuckle food journeys where you deny yourself and deny your self until you get to Day 30 and explode headfirst into a chocolate eclair (or two) . The difference is that I no longer feel I have a choice in what I eat and that keeping sugar out of my diet is key to a longer life worth living. Eating sugar, grains and gluten makes me sad and makes my joints ache and dulls my soul. So there it is. And I do feel sadness around this. Perhaps there needs to be a grieving process as I finally leave sugar behind for good? Food especially sugar has been a mother and friend to me for so long, helped me to cope with difficult times but its not a healthy relationship. Too one-sided, sugar is asking more from me than I want to give. Its time to break up and let go. Do you read Caitlin Moran? Here is one of my favourite quotes from Caitlin: "...by choosing food as your drug, sugar highs or the deep soporific calm of carbs, the Valium of the working classes, you can still make the packed lunches, do the school run, look after the baby, pop in on your mum and then stay up all night with an ill five year old something that is not an option if you’re caning off a gigantic bag of skunk or regularly climbing onto the cupboard under the stairs and knocking back a quart of scotch…overeating is the voice of carers…..and fat people are slowly self destructing in a way that doesn’t inconvenience anyone…..” That one really struck home, hard. Enough pondering for tonight, you came here for the paleo food, right?! New Find: This stuff tastes amazing and is crammed with a super blend of mushrooms designed to impact focus, energy and immunity. Have your tried this? Breakfast was a protein shake + C8 and a dirtea coffee (see above). Convenience food as its best. Floradix tablet too. Lunch was scrambled egg with smoked salmon on two slices of our toasted. keto-friendly no nut hemp bread with butter. Supper : Fish with a crumb of crushed whole almonds on top of Dijon mustard and some asparagus spears see below Snacks : Macadamia nuts, apple We have a busy bake day tomorrow to complete all the food orders this week for shipping. Our meals are already planned and we will stay on track. We will keep you updated! PS. Ted sends his love tonight to anyone who might need it. Onwards and upwards (-:

All Day Breakfasts - possibly the best thing about working in food production!! Today was the first day we have had where we were not working - WOO HOO! And its been a blast. We had the usual protein shake for breakfast and then headed out with Ted for a huge walk. What a laugh. Mud everywhere - I forgot how everybody else has a dog and is walking these days and what a mess the paths are this time of year! We headed down the old railway track and crossed onto the golf course at which point Ted was beside himself with happiness. He had found an old golf ball in the rough and chased it down the hill at great speed. It was only afterwards that we both thought it may have come from the golfers on the other side of the fairway and that Ted may have nicked their last shot. Waiting patiently for the three golfers to play, Mike had just the best trick. When the last golfer took his shot, Mike threw Ted's golf ball at a tree and let it ricochet into the brambles, shouting "Unlucky" as we ran back across the fairway! Naughty but very funny, haven't laughed so much in ages. Later on the way back we met some more golfers - well Ted introduced us, bouncing around like a lunatic. All three of us watched in horror as one of the old buffer's golf trolley rolled on and he tipped forward and fell gracefully, face first onto the floor! "That was more hangover than dog" he said with a nod and a wink - it was only 10.30, maybe he had started early? Or maybe that's how folk are passing their time now the whole world has gone kind a crazy? Regardless, so good to be out in the fresh air and laughing, This afternoon was spent in front of the fire binge-watching Series 2 of NARCOS on Netflix. A middle-aged version of "MAD FRIDAY" ! Day 26 Paleo Rest Summary Breakfast: Protein Shake, C8 and Floradix Lunch: All day Breakfast: Primal Cut Nitrite-free bacon , Primal Cut Breakfast Sausages , mushrooms, fried eggs Supper: Hot Buttered Keto Bread Toast, Sliced Ham, Fresh microgreens, Snack: Noatmeal Keto Porridge Have a great evening!

We are taking a short break over Christmas. Our next delivery date will be 7th January 2022 . Day 25 . What did I learn today? That stress is my number one trigger. In the past I have used food to manage this, it is an easy fix. Yesterday the pressure was on to ship all our Christmas orders before 2pm. How did we deal with it? Intermittent fasting. And lots of water. We took food right out of the stress equation and it worked! We both felt superhuman when we had finished. And all the orders were shipped. If I can learn to manage the stress better, the hunger will naturally recede. If all else fails, fast! Paleo Reset Day 25 Summary Breakfast : Intermittent Fasting, water. black coffee Lunch/Suppe r: Large 4 egg omelette with mushroom. spinach and onion and parmesan cheese, fresh organic microgreens, C8 and Floradix Snack : Large orange and a handful of macadamia nuts Do you have much time to read? One of my favourite authors is Anne Patchett. In her book the Story of a Happy Marriage, there is a story of a road trip and a beautiful definition of being alive - I fell compelled to share it here: Life goes on, despite everything and once in a while there is a pocket of bliss created just for me and for you. Keep searching, it's never that far away, nothing ever stays the same and all this crazy nonsense we are living through right now, this too will pass. And in the meantime, whatever you do,

“ When the famous Spanish flu epidemic killed thousands in 1918, Joseph Pilates noticed that none of those who trained in his physical training had been infected. Today, we have not seen any commercials on TV or in the media about healthy food, food and living water, lifestyle change, positive thinking, exercise (any type of physical activity) and well-being in general. Gyms were closed, forced to breathe in a mask, locked in houses and negativity in the media with only talk about illness and death ... the exact opposite of what a healthy body needs to stay healthy and live in harmony. In an age of hypochondria and absolute panic, the solution is self-education of the mind to prevent disease and psycho-physical well-being." - Anna Devi Wow it's been a tough week hasn't it! On a positive note, eating well, avoiding sugar and walking with the dog have all helped me process the increasingly dramatic news surrounding "Omicron" and its impact in the UK. How are you doing? Where ever you are and whatever you are doing, keep going! We had a busy work day to day so meals were simple. There is so much to do before we close for a short Christmas break but we are both on it and happy. Night school also closed last night with a question hanging over us because of COVID, would we be able to go back next term? Have loved the classes and the women, we have a good laugh and put the world to rights alongside sewing, its the simple things that connect us these days, isn't it? Although I had managed to cut out my kimono pattern, I fluffed it right at the end with rubbish sewing which I have to unpick this evening! In the past, I would have borrowed that time honoured phrase my mum loved: "F*CK IT" and binned it BUT, noticeably my resilience is improving and that I put down to eating a low carb paleo diet. Unexpected things are happening, it seems and I like it! Paleo Meal Summary Day 23 Breakfast: Protein Shake, Floradix, C8 and a Dirtea Coffee Lunch: Chicken Stir Fry Supper: Sirloin Steak (Discounted at supermarket), bacon and greens, an orange and a handful of walnuts Ted sends his love and is looking forward to his Christmas break too. We hope to take him to the seaside - Saltburn is our nearest beach - do you have a favourite beach?

Paleo Meal Summary today, day 22! Breakfast : Protein shake, C8 and Floradix with a cup of Dirtea Coffee Lunch : Keto Bagel and Ham (keto bagel recipe here ) Supper: Roast Lamb with Kale and green beans Not much more to add other than the need to keep things simple always to succeed. Dance class tonight at St Hugh's. Have you tried 5Rhythms classes? These should be prescribed on the National Health, get the nation moving! PS. If you don't have the time to bake low carb and keto bagels, we can help! Check out these delicious alternatives from our exclusive online shop: low carb bagels

How are you doing? Me and Ted Bear have just spent an emotional few hours on the couch watching the first couple of episodes of "..And Just Like that", the rebooted "Sex and the City" sequel. I sobbed, he leant in and nuzzled my hand - and we gave thanks that so many of our loved ones are still here and around us this Christmas. Seriously, have you watched it yet? Brings back so many fabulous memories for me of a time and place watching the original episodes in the 90s, wanting to be Carrie, pink tutu and all! Here's the trailer - watch it! Other things that caught my eye this week include the new campaign by Jamie Oliver for real food in schools. I heard him speak to James O'Brien on LBC Radio and was moved by what he had to say. How food shapes a generation, the right food shapes brain development and creativity and the need now to grow creative entrepreneurial children into our society given all the changes we are going through, to create a stronger better UK. It really resonated with us and our personal drive toward a diet devoid of any processed food based around simple single ingredients. You can find out more about his campaign here: With my head feeling clearer and less foggy, I have managed to start reading again. This is a massive plus - I know so many people have stopped reading completely, finding it hard to concentrate and struggling to focus. A side effect of ditching the processed food and sugar from my diet is that my concentration is much, much better! My current read is: Inspiring, There is a lot about using creativity to overcome adversity and if you feel like exploring this further, try her amazing project over at the isolation journals Paleo Meals Today : Breakfast : Grain Free almond and coconut porridge, C8 + Floradix, Dirtea Coffee Lunch : Paprika Prawns and Keto Naan Bread (recipe to follow) Supper : Caribbean Fish Supper (salmon, spring onions, garlic, chillies, ginger and fresh coriander)+ slice of keto orange Cake (recipe to follow, experimenting for Christmas) And finally.......an golden oldie favourite for these chilly winter days!

Day 20 and two thirds of the way home. We went for a long winter walk this afternoon just me, Mike and Ted Bear (dog). As Ted sniffed his way enthusiastically round the track, we both sought out signs of the season changing, nature renewing, letting go. The single leaf in this image clung tenaciously to its branch, refusing to fall, buffeted by the harsh wind blowing up from the reservoir at Lindley Wood . It's defiance caught my eye, a bright yellow wrapper against the grey of the mizzle and cold, refusing to let go. One last dance. Soon this leaf will let go and fall but that's not the end of the story. The old leaves mulch down, creating nourishment for the tree base to help the new growth to come. One thing we know for sure, nature will renew. As we walked through the woods it seemed the trees were merely sleeping, tucked in against the cold, waiting again for renewal and the Spring. The stillness was overwhelming at times and at other times we felt part of the forest too. The timelessness of the place made my head spin such that it would not have been out of place to see a monk in a sack cloth walk past with two jugs of beer or an old woman dressed in medieval clothes, dragging a goat behind her! Have you ever experienced the timeless quality of a place? And did you know trees watch us too! Truth is, my head feels clearer than it has in a long time. It's like I can see further and clearer today, like I am wearing a pair of rose tinted spectacles and I like it! I have wrestled with brain fog for so long, I have forgotten what it is like to feel clear again! Have you experienced this? My joint pain is definitely receding and my usual winter blues this time of year feel a long way away. Something has changed while all the world is sleeping, transformation is happening underground and a new self is building. Nature knows what we need to do, what we need to eat, how we need to nourish the body. And so this paleo adventure continues.. Paleo Reset Day 20 Summary of Meals: Skipped Breakfast today. Had a Dir tea coffee and read the papers. Had C8 and Floradix too. Great coffee by the way - not so keen on the news )-: Lunch: We ate almond crusted cod with fresh organic microgreens and half an avocado Supper was liver and primal cut nitrite free smoked bacon on a bed of leafy green kale. Mike added two fried eggs to his - no accounting for taste! We also made a simple lemon and thyme infused keto cake and shared a couple of pieces topped with yoghurt and raspberries with two large cups of hot tea. Delicious and white refined sugar free. The rest of the cake has gone into the freezer for another day. Keep a look out for the recipe in the coming days. This would be a great keto bake to have to hand for Christmas!

Repeat after me: self care is NOT selfish! self care is NOT selfish! self care is NOT selfish! Why do we struggle to take time out to care for ourselves? If we're empty what do we have to give? Did someone say Christmas? Today, I ignored the slight niggle of guilt. Well truthfully, the roar, and spent a delicious whole hour on myself. Reflexology and acupuncture. My feet were held and massaged and my body was nourished. Nourished - an Interesting choice of word ! In order to be the happiest, healthiest version of yourself, you’ve got to learn how to nourish yourself in more ways than simply what you put in your mouth. It starts here. Eating paleo, going sugar free has given me space to breathe and reconnect with myself and my feelings. Sugar, food, treats are an easy sticking plaster over what you really want, what you really need. Give yourself time to breathe and explore what it is you are looking for, And don't compromise ever! Breakfast today was another protein shake with a handful of our fresh organic microgreens , C8 and Floradix Lunch was a sausage sizzler! Using our fabulous keto-friendly meatballs instead of our keto sausages, lots of baby spinach and a fried egg ontop! Supper was a quick chicken curry using a home made curry paste (to cut out the sugar)! So that was Day 19 over and done. The key to ongoing success on my paleo journey has been avoiding complicated recipes and keeping food simple, natural and filling. There was a new piece of self-knowledge held: self-care is not selfish! How do you take time out to nourish yourself? P.S. Look out for a free download to follow when the 30 days are up with all my recipes, the complete four week meal plan and shopping lists to help you on your way!

Thursdays are shipping days and there is no time to think. Its all hands on deck till the courier calls to collect and then we all fall headfirst onto the sofa to relax! To be honest, eating paleo was the least of our worries today. We survived on 2 protein shakes (+C8, Floradix), a large cup of Dirtea Coffee , and a spinach omelette with a side of nuts and a handful of our delicious no nut hemp granola . All paleo friendly. All low carb. The granola was a life-saver! I'm happy. Some days we ebb, some days we flow. How was your day today?

Winter has brought with it cold, short days and much reduced light. During each of these busy bake days, I have watched the weather from the kitchen window and it's felt unremittingly overcast, dark grey. It's enough to make even the best of us feel gloomy and the news seems to match the mood with talk of tighter lock downs in the run up to Christmas. Everything, even nature seems to have lost a bit of its sparkle. So the Christmas lights have gone up in the front windows at our house, to bring a little bit of the magic and sparkle back. How do you tackle these dark days? The poet Emily Dickinson wrote: "The sky is low, the clouds are mean, A travelling flake of snow Across a barn or though a rut Debates if it will go. A narrow wind complains all day How some one treated him; Nature, like us is sometimes caught Without her diadem" Walking Ted and squelching across the mud filled paths behind our house, there are still signs of life to behold. I am especially looking out for the bright red holly berries to decorate our Christmas door wreath, for ivy and maybe just may be some mistletoe! The poem has humour amongst the darkness and reminds me that there are opportunities to lighten up a bit too. We all have darker days especially at this time of year, even Mother Nature, it's entirely natural but guess what? Its transient too! Eating this paleo diet has really helped me find clarity and focus, time to breathe and write again. That's another plus I never envisaged when I started. But enough of that! The food, what did we eat today? Bake days are always tricky but we chose two simple meals and a protein shake and we kept on track again despite the challenges! Paleo Rest Day 17 Summary Breakfast : Protein Shake, C8, Floradix and Dirtea coffee Lunch : Quick Chicken Curry Supper : Keto Burgers , Avocado and Salad, Mayo Some of us of course had busier days than others! Enjoy your evening!

We have decided to reset and commit 100% to eating a paleo diet in the run up to Christmas this year due to struggling with a bit of the November blues. This simply means that all our meals will be based around fresh free range meats, fish (wild caught where possible), leafy green veg, microgreens, fruit (low carb options only), nuts and seeds and good healthy fats. We will use lots of products from our online shop to show you how easy it is to work a paleo diet into your life and hope, as we go, to be able to share some of the symptoms we have struggled with and how they improve as a result of changing up our diet. We would love you to share our journey and tell us of any improvements in your health you have experienced as a result of changing up your diet and cutting out processed food. The more we can share these experiences and learn together the more we can do to help each other feel better and move better. Paleo Reset Day One looked like this: Woke Up at 6am - How cold?? Check out the pic of the roof of our garage taken a few hours later - Drank .5L hot water with lemon to warm up, Ted (the dog) also came up to sleep on our bed as Mike went to the wholesalers at 5 am! Breakfast: Poached organic free range eggs with blueberries, apple, organic microgreens and whole almonds Lunch: Chicken Fajita Salad with Hunter and Gather Horse Radish Mayo Snack: Cooked Chicken, Apple and slices of avocado Supper: Grilled Salmon with roast green beans (or runner beans as we did not have any green beans)! Drank a further 2L of water throughout the day. Tired and achy but happy to be pushing the paleo reset button again - have also resurrected my journal and started a 100 day project to write again each morning, regardless. Dance class this evening, will keep you updated! Paleo Recipe: Chicken Fajita Salad 1 tbsp Olive Oil 1 small onion sliced 500g of skinless chicken breast 2 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp cumin 1 cup chopped red pepper Romaine Lettuce Handful of small tomatoes 1 avocado Fresh Organic Microgreens To cook this recipe: Heat oil in frying pan. Add sliced onions and cook til they start to soften Add the chicken (cut into strips) Add the cumin and oregano Add the chopped red pepper when the chicken has browned and cooked through Shred the lettuce and add the tomatoes and microgreens if using, serve onto two plates Top with the chicken fajitas Enjoy!

The first of my bake days this week so super busy (picture is of packet mixes we ship out, my focus was on these today) - however - we kept on track with our paleo diet and know you can too! Keep it simple and let our nutritious food nurture you and help you create amazing meals for your family - good luck! Breakfast - Leftover salmon, organic microgreens and walnuts Lunch - Primal Cut Keto burgers - the best - with char-grilled onions (not deliberate) simple salad and tomatoes and our organic microgreens - with the addition of Hunter and Gather BBQ sauce , the prefect condiment, an orange and a handful of almonds Snack - handful of macadamia nuts and a coffee Supper - Supermarket roasted chicken on a bed of steamed broccoli and topped with fresh organic microgreens! Heading out for night school now - what are you doing this evening? PS Drank as much water as I could too - and this does make a difference :)

Day 4 - and I found this to be a tough day! (But I am still here) Early up as I knew there was a final large order for Fruit Mince Pies to complete for shipping this afternoon. Packing and labelling and shipping and all finally completed for 2 pm for Brendan to collect in his huge van and take to Leeds to start their journey onwards. Wow, realised at that point I had not eaten anything! Intermittent Fasting without even trying - not recommended. Quickly cooked some pancetta bacon and scrambled some eggs in ghee which we ate with fresh organic microgreens and followed up with an orange and a handful of walnuts - this felt a huge relief - as at this point it is so easy to slip off the wagon and fall back into old habits ie send out for fish and chips.. It was tough though but this time feels different, there is a longer list of symptoms creeping up (with my age haha) and I would like this to halt. Now. More of that later. Supper was a made up concoction of "What's left in the fridge Mrs" comprising Roast Butternut Squash and pan fried chopped chicken and spinach with more microgreens. Leafy greens seem to be key to feeling full and this is easy to do with microgreesn on hand to supplement every meal All in all, surprisingly good! In between, I somehow managed a long walk with my youngest son Rob as the sun was starting to fade. We looked at the cloud formations and felt that there was a change afoot. The clouds seem to point to cold weather coming, they looked like soft snowy drifts floating overhead. We pulled our coats a little tighter. Ted frolicked for a while in the long grass by the stream and then made a run for it towards a rather nice Bichon Frise the other side of the fence. We have not perfected "Get Back Here Now" so by the time Rob had jumped over the fence and legged it down the entire length of the field, the sun had completely gone and we had to use torches to find our way back. Ted of course loved it. Me too. Tomorrow, bring it on!

We both woke early as there was much to do before 2 pm which is the official cut off for shipping all our paleo friendly sausages, nitrite free bacon and paleo goodies! The good news is that my ankle was so MUCH better! Not pain free but not the hobbling, crippling pain I have been used to waking up with after bake days. WOO HOO. This is a massive plus. Oh yes! All in all, I feel so much stronger in myself: emotionally, mentally as well as physically. Still tired but that was probably because we watched back to back episodes of "Narcos" in bed till we fell asleep! In fact, we have watched so many episodes of this show now , we are becoming fluent in Spanish, Muy Bien! Have you seen it? Seriously though, I want you to know that I feel different to when I started this project and set myself the target of 30 days grain, gluten and sugar free. We are not eating complicated food but we are managing to avoid grains, refined sugar and gluten. I have also cut back on dairy. This experiment on myself is not about weight loss (yet) but more about overcoming joint pain without medication and without throwing the towel in and feeling that there is nothing that can be done without pills. It starts with food and here's where anyone can make a difference and take the power back. This toxic weight loss culture in which we live is so unhelpful when we know that changing your diet, sleeping well and moving your body can improve your health, drastically - any weight loss is a by product of changing these behaviours. So come on! What's stopping you?? Here's a quick breakdown of the meals we ate today. We took TED for a super long walk too when we had finished work at 2.30pm this afternoon. The sunset was glorious, pink and orange, a true shepherd's delight! Paleo Reset Day 11 Breakfas t: Protein Shake (convenient when busy) Lunch : 2 poached eggs on our keto-friendly Fat and Seedy Bread Snack : Fruit Mince Pi e (paleo-friendly) Supper : Sweet Potato Chips, Fresh microgreens and 2 lamb burgers, Hunter and Gather BBQ sauce , an orange and a small handful of macadamia nuts.

(Paleo Meal Summary at Bottom of Page) Ted's first snow! Slept in late after being woken up twice during the night - once by our son to tell us Dad had left the lights on the car and once by Ted who wanted to know we were still there - and a pee! To the first disturbance, Michael shouted "it's fine, it's parking lights" and turned over and went back to sleep. To the second, I got up and let Ted out - Oh and guess who is currently waiting in for the AA to fix a flat battery on the car.... Meanwhile, when I finally did get up we cooked a lovely slow breakfast of l ow carb bagels, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. We shared the Sunday papers and I got to check out the the Christmas gift guides, buckling slightly under the cost of it all. Noticed too that face masks are making a come back if you are out shopping however - not if you are out in any other enclosed space having fun? Anyone else confused? What's the difference? Later, we cooked a tray bake roast dinner, thinking ahead to Christmas - and all the delicious add-ons we can find and still keep on track with this paleo way of eating. Let's talk paleo stuffing balls. These are possible on a paelo diet but the chestnuts and cranberries to add to them have a high carb count and I decided to wait until Christmas to try out my new recipe. Instead we added our Primal Cut gluten free Pigs in Blankets , roast tatties and carrots for Michael and a tray of roasted green leafy veg to share: If you are interested in which are the best veg to eat on a low carb and keto diet, here is a helpful video from the guys at Diet Doctor : We also ate a portion of mixed berries each with a tablespoon fo balsamic vinegar. Yum. We both spent the afternoon writing and then walking with Ted in the snow. Such joy to see snow through the innocent eyes of a pup! Later, on a second walk though, the fun seemed less so as the snow had already turned to hard ice and was treacherous to walk out on! Roll on tomorrow, its going to be fun :( Day 7 Paleo Reset Meal Summary Breakfas t: Low Carb Bagels, Butter, Scrambled Eggs and Smoked Salmon Afternoon Meal : Tray bake roast chicken thighs, Primal Cut pigs in blankets, roast carrots, roast sprouts and roast green beans, gravy and fresh berries with a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar. Supper : Fresh Organic Microgreens

Monday morning choices for this second week of paleo reset. Yes we made it to Day 8!! Keep going. Breakfast : Protein Shake with a handful of organic microgreens added for extra interest, Americano from Starbucks when passing Lunch : 3 -egg Omelette stuffed with chopped onions, peppers, tomatoes and diced ham with a spoonful of a sweet potato hash (perfect;y fine to eat more on a paleo diet BUT am trying ot watch the carb count too) and a handful of organic microgreens Supper : A very thin sirloin steak (shared with Ted) and steamed veggies with butter on top (no pic) Ted opted to sleep away the morning in his favourite yoga pose of surrender Later we took him on a long walk around Kirkstall Abbey. The snow formed little frosty balls around his woolly fur paws but this did not stop him chasing half a mile across the park to play with an immaculately trained springer spaniel. He's just naughty and we haven't a clue how to train a dog that doesn't like food! Does anyone have any tips? The good news is that by the time we had run across the park to catch him, we had completed our work out for the day and were ready to come home. It is beautiful though and well worth a visit (free). Dance class this evening and I can't wait! - The temperature is rising and my feet are raring to go, yes my body is definitley feeling a bit better - will report back tomorrow after dancing but for now, my knee pain and ankle joint are feeling a little less painful - will take that .. Wherever you are, keep safe and warm!

Finally, it's here! Succulent and satiating Merguez sausage is now available to buy from our healthy sausage shop . Merguez sausages are a delicious North African (Moroccan) spicy sausage, popular throughout the Middle East, Algeria, Tunisia and French cuisine. Our traditional recipe has the perfect ratio of Lamb, Beef, pure Himalayan salts and toasted organic spices all stuffed into natural lamb casings. The recipe has quite a kick and is delicious served with a tomato sauce, pitta bread or wraps or with salad and a simple yoghurt dip. It's equally good with mash and a lamb gravy, and topped with mint sauce - spoken like a true Yorkshire man!! These would be a great addition to any gourmet grocery list - for an easy and delicious evening meal or suppertime treat. Our Merguez lamb sausages can be frozen for up to three months so an ideal choice to store in the freezer in case of any last minute unexpected visitors.

A surfeit of beautiful Autumnal Butternut Squash led to the creation of this delicious, nutritious butternut squash pizza sauce. Genius. This sauce works equally well as a spread on toast, topped with toasted spiced pumpkin and sesame seeds, and is a real find! We made our pizza wraps using our Primal Alternative vegan no nut hemp wraps which are available to buy as a bake your own packet mix or fresh baked to order (with national delivery every Friday)! To make these Butternut Squash Pizza Wraps you will need: Ingredients: Gluten Free Wraps Sauce - One pizza and some spare 3 cups of Butternut Squash cubed 3 cloves of garlic (skin removed) 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 pinch sea salt and fresh ground black pepper 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional) Topping 1 1/2 cups of tiny broccoli (chopped and woody stems removed) 1/2 cup of red onion (sliced into half moons) 1/2 cup of cooked chickpeas (tinned are good if short on time) 1 pinch of sea salt and fresh ground black pepper Fresh oregano leaves 1 cup of butternut squash sauce Red pepper flakes Parmesan Cheese (optional) Method for Sauce Preheat oven to 180C Place the cubed butternut squash and peeled garlic in a roasting tin and add the salt and fresh ground black pepper Bake for 15 - 20 mins until cooked and tender Blend squash and garlic in a food processor or with a stick blender to form a sauce, add the maple syrup during blending if using - sauce should be creamy and spreadable - add a drop of water if too thick Set aside. Method for Topping Fry the broccoli, red onion, chickpeas & oregano in a pan for 2 - 3 mins, stirring frequently Method for assembly Take a wrap, spread the butternut squash sauce on top. Add the topping and sprinkle with cheese (if using) and salt and pepper Bake in oven for 8 - 10 mins at 180C Slice and Enjoy!

You know when you suddenly get the urge to bake a grain free banana bread but you are missing that vital ingredient? Here is the solution! Our bake your own packet mix means that you need never be without the dry ingredients you need to make this delicious paleo, grain-free, gluten free banana bread and amaze your family and friends - there is nothing nicer than walking into the aroma of fresh baked bread - it just reminds us all of home! Add a few simple store cupboard ingredients to this packet mix (discard the tiny pack of pumpkin seeds or toast later) and you're away! To make the banana bread you will need a mixing bowl or food processor, a 1lb loaf tin and loaf tin liner. Ingredients: 1 packet of bake you own Primal Alternative Pumpkin Bread mix 5 g Apple Cider Vinegar 2 Ripe Bananas 1 heaped teaspoon of cinnamon 2 teaspoons of vanilla essence Method: Pre-heat the oven to 180C Line 1lb loaf tin with baking parchment Add all ingredients to a food mixer and blend or blend by hand to create a smooth batter Pour the batter into a tin and bake for 40 minutes Optional Extras Chopped walnuts, chopped pecans and two banana halves to decorate the top! Mike Paleo's Pro Tip: Eat warm from the oven toasted with butter or slice and freeze to pop into the toaster for a quick tasty grain free breakfast or delicious healthy paleo snack ! Like our paleo fruit toast, this is perfect for kids who want a little something to put them on for their next meal!

It's Saturday and it feels like a low carb sausage lasagne kind of day! Is it raining with you too? This feels like lockdown proper and the forecast says we will be needing our gum boots for at least the next week! Ho-Hum. Grateful to have made it out this morning and to have been able to run despite all the rain. At least its not snow. The grass on the playing fields was incredibly churned up and slushy and felt slippery underfoot but these early morning runs are slaking a thirst for freedom and I will take it in whatever shape it comes - how about you ? How are you doing? How are you finding your freedom and way out in these lockdown doldrums? Its proper grim isn't it - you kind of have to remember that nothing ever stays the same and this too will pass and just keep going! One huge plus is that working from home gives time and an ability to consider our diet. There is more time to cook and more time to create new meals and test out new recipes. The lockdown has given me time to take on bigger projects and I am so happy to report a 49lb weight loss which I have now kept off for close on a year! When summer does come around and it will, I will enjoy it so much more for having taken the time to look after myself and make a difference. And if I can do this, you can too. Finding easy nourishing low carb recipes helps. And this one is great! Hearty and filling and adapted from a recipe by Thomasina Meyers this one is a keeper in the Oliver household. Lovely rich layers of sausage ragu, cabbage and a crunchy cheese topping, the recipe takes about 20 mins of preparation and 40 -45 mins cooking. Serve with steamed green vegetables and a knob of organic butter For the recipe you will need: 2 tbsp oil of choice 1 onion (diced) 6 traditional pork sausages (we recommend these ) 2 garlic cloves 130g tinned green lentils (drained and rinsed in cold water) 1 tsp fennel seeds 1/2 tsp chilli flakes 1 x 400g tin of plum tomatoes 250 ml whole milk 2/3 (ideally savoy) cabbage leaves separated For the topping: 2 eggs beaten 100g parmesan cheese 250 g ricotta To make: Cook the onion & garlic in the oil til soft and translucent Remove the sausage meat from the sausage casings and break up to add into pan. Discard the casing. Cook the sausage meat til it starts to go slightly crusty and browns Add the lentils, fennel seeds, chilli and stir to coat in the fat Add the tomatoes and milk and simmer for about 20 minutes Meanwhile heat the oven to 180C Cut out the spine of the cabbage leaves and slice each leaf into 2 or 3 pieces Blanch the leaves in a saucepan of boiling water for 2 - 3 minutes (I did this in two batches) Leave to drain in a colander til needed Stir the eggs into the ricotta cheese and 75 g of the parmesan, season well Spoon 1/3 of the sausage ragu into a baking dish Cover with 1/3 of the cabbage leaves Repeat two more times and then spoon the ricotta mix on top Sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese Drizzle with oil Cover with tin foil and bake for 15 minutes Remove the foil and bake for a further 15 - 20 minutes until the top is beautifully risen and golden The finished dish will look something like this - crispy round the edges makes a great crunch too :) We''ll give Gordon the last word!! Thank you for your feedback! "Very helpful with enquiries before we ordered. my son tried the Bratwurst sausage last night and loved it. he is currently eating the smoked back bacon and enjoying it. Its a blizzard outside right now, so the smoked bacon cooking smelled divine. Smells like a proper wood fire in my kitchen now, nice and cosy. Will definitely order again. Thank you for brilliant customer service!"

Well, well well! These are amazing and such a simple bake using our Nut Free Granola - easy to make in under 2 mins! Go on surprise your family with a lovely mid week treat - made using 100% real food ingredients and no white refined sugar, gluten free, grain free and nut free too! To make the crispy cakes you will need: 4 cups of Primal Alternative Nut Free Granola 1/2 cup of Coconut Oil 1/4 cup of honey (or maple syrup or sweetener or your choice) 40g of cacao (or carob) How to make the crispy cakes First, melt the coconut oil, sweetener of choice and cacao together Next, mix through the No Nut Hemp Granola and stir well to combine Put teaspoons of the mixture into small paper muffin cases Place in the fridge to set Enjoy! Ahhh yes, P.S. Our No Nut Hemp Granola is one of three paleo-friendly low carb granolas we offer in our online shop! Check out our Fat and Seedy Granola and our Chocolate Granola for further ideas....

Did you know that as well as making an amazing gluten free bread loaf, our paleo-friendly Zucchini Bread Mix can be adapted to make the most delicious banana bread? As well as being flavourful and all natural, this banana bread is grain free, has no added white refined sugar and is naturally free from gluten. Why not add a slice to lunch boxes or enjoy with friends for an extra special high tea. It is a super simple bake and because we supply the dry ingredients all you need to add are the following: What you will need to bake our Gluten Free Banana Bread 1 x Primal Alternative Zucchini Bread Packet Mix 5g Apple Cider Vinegar 4 large free range eggs 2 ripe bananas ( the riper the better - about 200g) 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon Topping Chopped Walnuts (optional) To make Gluten Free Banana Bread Preheat the oven to 180C Line a 1lb loaf tin with baking paper Add all the ingredients together and mix well either by hand, with a food mixer of food processor - to create a smooth batter Pour the prepared batter into the loaf tin Sprinkle the chopped walnuts on top if using Bake for approximately 50 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean Leave to cool , slice, serve and enjoy! Mike's Tip This gluten free banana bread toasts up really well and, like our fruit toast , is best served warm or toasted with lashings of butter.

A quick and easy family tea recipe: Sausage & Butter Bean Casserole cooked on the stove in less than 30 minutes. Ingredients Method Heat the oil in a large saucepan or frying pan. Add the gluten free sausages and fry gently for 5-6 minutes until they start to brown. Remove the sausages from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, add the onion and fry for 2-3 minutes until it starts to soften. Add the garlic and carrots and cook for another couple of minutes. Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, stock, paprika, and mixed herbs. Stir well before adding the sausages back into the pan. Cook on a low-medium heat for 15 minutes. Add the butter beans and cook for a further 5 minutes until the beans have warmed through. Sit back and enjoy!

Whole 30, AIP*, Low Carb Cooking the mushrooms low and slow creates a lovely meaty texture to this dish that pairs perfectly with beef stock and the cracked black pepper and parsley flavour of our traditional Yorkshire sausages. Easy to cook and naturally tasty! Ingredients Serves 4, 1 hour cooking time 800g chestnut mushrooms, chopped roughly 300g onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves finely minced 2 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped 4 Tbsp organic ghee 900 ml beef stock 6 Yorkshire free range pork sausages thickly sliced 15 g fresh parsley, chopped To make wild mushroom and sausage stew Fry the sausage pieces til golden brown and remove from pan to set aside Combine the mushrooms, onions, garlic, thyme and ghee in a large saucepan Cook on medium high heat for about 30 minutes til the mushrooms have released all their liquid and have begun to caramelise Add beef stock to the pan and bring up to boil. Reduce heat and cover and simmer for 20 minutes Take approximately 225ml out of the pan and liquidise in a food processor or using a stick blender Return this to the pan and stir to combine Add cooked sausage pieces back into pan and bring soup up to boil, Remove from heat and stir in the chopped parsley Enjoy !

Probably the healthiest breakfast sausage out there! Mouthwatering certified free-range Yorkshire pork and natural ingredients, all packed into natural hog casings. Developed from a traditional Lincolnshire recipe, every single bite delivers wonderful herb aromas of Sage and Thyme and, course satisfying texture - not mushy! Our healthy breakfast sausages can be enjoyed secure in the knowledge of our commitment to high welfare ethical meats and simple, natural ingredients. The Breakfast Sausage is Free From: All Major Allergens including Gluten Fillers (Grains, Legume flours, Soya, Rice, Oats) Sugar Dairy Artificial Preservatives Artificial Casings 100% certified gluten-free sausage ! Means great for Paleo, Whole30, Low Carb, Keto, AIP and healthy eating plans as well as for coeliacs and diabetics. With a subtle hint of onion, thyme and ginger our breakfast sausages give you a truly healthy way to enjoy your full English fry up and are perfect for a weekend brunch! Be sure to order your Breakfast sausages before 6 pm every Tuesday for same week delivery.

Simple keto pizzas are back on the menu. We used five easy ingredients (plus our Primal Alternative keto-friendly pizza bases) to create this super simple supper. Order now and keep a supply of our extra special keto pizza crust in the freezer and you will never have an excuse why not to stay on track with the keto diet or with your low carb lifestyle! Don't miss out, choose for tasty low carb and keto convenience and no need for compromise either! Keto Pizza Ingredients: Serves: 2 1 pack of fat and seedy pizza bases (2 bases per pack) 60g Chipotle unsweetened Ketchup 40g of grated cheddar cheese 75g Pepperoni slices (to taste) 40g Black or Kalamari Olives (pitted) 2g Oregano (fresh or dried) Method: Turn the oven on to 180C Remove the pizza bases from all packaging and spoon the sauce onto the base Add the cheese Top with the pepperoni and olives Sprinkle on the herbs Place in the oven and cook for 12 - 15 minutes Slice and Enjoy!

Pronunciation: too-LOOZ We are excited to announce the arrival of our brand new Toulouse sausage . We h ave taken a traditional French Toulouse recipe and created our very own Primal Cut gluten free variety from exclusive 100% free range Yorkshire pork. Our Toulouse co mbines fragrant French flavours of wild garlic, cracked black pepper and sea salt - and that's it: no wheat, no gluten, no rusk, no oats and no sugar - allergen free too! Cooking Toulouse Sausage Its a versatile, plump and juicy sausage that is perfect for traditional cassoulets, slow baked casseroles, sausage and lentil based dishes, sausage and garlic mash and so much more! Think simple French cooking and get busy in the kitchen! Of course, authentic Toulouse sausages work best browned in a pan and finished in the oven and are perfect with any meal that requires slow cooking to bring out the best of flavours and taste. We think that sausages are the ultimate easy meal option giving convenience and, when you buy Primal Cut sausages, there's no need to compromise on your healthy eating either! Keep an eye out for the new Toulouse sausage packs with each pack label showcasing a distinctive continental green stripe as shown below. And have fun experimenting with new dishes! Don't forget to tag us on social media with your creations - we love to see them and read every piece of feedback we receive!

“During my last trip to London, I hit some UK grocery stores to see what a Whole30’er across the pond might expect to find. ​ Two years ago, the options were extremely limited, especially when it came to naturally-raised and grass-fed animal protein. (“But we don’t have compliant sausage here!” was a common refrain.) Ever since I’ve been eagerly looking to expand our Whole30 Approved reach into the UK, and today, THE DAY IS HERE! Primal Cut offers over 20 varieties of natural gluten-free sausages , free-range and nitrite-free bacon and charcuterie - all locally sourced too. Their sausages really are incredible sausages; Thai Chicken sausage , Truffle and Porcini Mushroom, Chorizo sausage and Currywurst , all painstakingly developed to be wholly nutritious with no; added sugars, nitrites, nitrates, or artificial preservatives, all designed to make your Whole30 meal creations easier and even more flavorful. Michael & Kate - creators of Primal Cut have a genuine commitment to animal welfare and traditional sausage-making methods, and a real desire to serve this Whole30 community of ours. All in all, it makes Primal Cut the perfect inaugural inductees into our UK Whole30 Approved partner program . ​ Find out more information about the Whole30 diet here: The Whole30 Approved Program

🍪 What are Keto Cookies ? Great question! Keto is short for ketogenic which is a diet low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats. That means no white sugar and no dodgy grains (or gluten) as these can cause an adverse reaction in our blood sugar levels, a spike and then a slump in energy and trigger that sweet tooth – the one we thought we had finally overcome by opting for keto! All of which leaves us with a dilemma - because we love cookies - and really can’t bear the thought of never eating them again.. is there a solution? What cookies can I eat on a keto diet? Well, yes there is – and the best news is there is no need to compromise on taste when making healthy choices around any ketogenic diet . Keto cookies are available to buy online where you can buy keto cookies for delivery nationwide. Look for keto cookies that are refined white sugar-free, grain-free (so naturally gluten-free – no wheat flour) and if you can, opt for egg and dairy-free too as this will ensure that the cookies you buy online are as nourishing and satiating as possible. Are keto cookies good for you? Eaten in moderation then we would say a resounding “yes” to anyone who asks us are keto cookies healthy? Keto cookies are healthy and good for you as a small part of a regular ketogenic diet - yes our chocolate keto biscuits really are on the menu! Remember the emphasis for the majority of folk who follow this diet is around curbing a sweet tooth, raising additive-free kids, type 2 diabetes remission, whole-body strength and wellbeing by maintaining even energy levels. At Primal Cut, we simply believe that the key to sustaining dietary change is to change what you eat not how you eat and that includes the occasional delicious keto-friendly cookie! How many keto cookies can I eat? If the cookie has been made with the best combination of healthy fats and satiating real food ingredients, many would be hard-pressed to overeat keto cookies. This is because of the high-fat content and the fact that there is no wheat flour or refined white sugar – both of which trigger overeating by the suppression of the natural hormones in our bodies designed to signal when we are full. Here’s what one delighted customer had to say about our cookies: Are keto cookies gluten-free? A resounding yes – and if they are not then they are not keto-friendly ! Our triple choc keto cookies are dairy and egg-free (so a vegan cookie) as well as grain-free and gluten-free and white refined sugar-free. They are also great for anyone seeking to find a great tasting biscuit for additive-free kids – still giving a great chocolate taste but also keeping everyone fuller for longer. Magic! How to eat keto cookies We say keep it simple! We love to eat our keto cookies with a velvety smooth black coffee. Michael likes to have his with a glass of cold milk and we know others love to experiment with our great products and have even made a keto cookies and cream cheesecake, crumbling up the cookies for a crunchy textured base. Sounds amazing! Where to buy keto cookies in the UK? We stock triple choc keto cookies for online delivery nationwide. We are always delighted to answer your questions and to find out more about our cookies simply follow this link to order your keto cookies today .