NOT PALEO ALERT!

This salad is probably closer to being PEGAN than Paleo. If you haven’t heard, Pegan is the new darling of the diet world. It’s a combination of our two favorite “extreme” diets out there; Paleo and Vegan.

Um, what?

I’ve always said that paleo and veganism are more alike than dissimilar. I guess “we” just finally slapped a label on it. In a nutshell, this diet was birthed from those who agree with the rationale of both eating strategies but feel uncomfortable or restricted when adhering to one or the other exclusively. Enter PEGAN.

The basic ideology is this:

• Opt for lots of nutrient dense fruits and vegetables.
• Say bye, bye, bye to sugar.
• Enjoy some gluten-free grains or lentils in moderation.
• Enjoy some sustainably raised meats in moderation.
• Embrace healthy and yummy FAT!
• Avoid dairy since most people have some degree of reactivity.

I think Pegan is a pretty cool compromise of two historically (and passionately) opposed diets. The guidelines listed above will encourage a diet full of nourishing natural foods and avoidance of processed, industrialized, and toxic foods. All in all I’d say it is a winning approach for most people.

I say most people because some of us (including me) will continue to have adverse reactions to things like grains whilst other people experience great health or performance benefits when consuming high quality dairy products like ghee, raw cheeses, or milk.

As per usual, it’s impossible to find a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to nourishing our very unique bodies. I implore you, don’t buy into someone’s definition of “the perfect diet”. Try things and keep track. Pay attention to how you move, how you sleep, your moods, and your energy. Vegan, Pegan, Paleo, Macrobiotic, Raw… they all have great insights into fueling a healthy body… but it may not be right for YOUR BODY.

Experiment and have fun eating!

Strawberry Quinoa Salad

4 c. cooked quinoa
2 c. diced strawberries
2 green onion, diced
1 c. thinly sliced celery
1 c. peeled and diced cucumber
handful of chopped parsley

optional: goat cheese, chopped bacon, grilled chicken

Toss ingredients with vinaigrette and garnish with goat cheese!

Mustard Vinaigrette

3 Tbsp. dijon mustard
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. honey (sub maple syrup for vegan option)
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 c. olive oil
salt

Blend well using immersion blender, vitamix, or whisk together mustard, vinegar, and honey then slowly drizzle in olive oil while briskly whisking. Salt to taste.