Day 21 - Challenge Update

20 days in and only 10 to go - we never expected this challenge to be so enjoyable.  Sure, there's been a rough days and quite a few temptations along the way but overall, it's a very feasible culinary shift. We've found incredible paleo recipes and such a massive community online - also living in Vancouver has definitely helped, with a ton of great gluten free options at every turn.

Dave at Granville Island Public Market

That being said, the last 10 days are likely to be the most challenging.  Pat will be traveling across the country and Dave will have to cook it out solo, before some visitors make it into town this weekend.  We'll be updating our Paleo to-go section and posting as many new recipes as possible over the next few weeks. Until then - a huge thank you to everyone for their ongoing support, recipe ideas and inspiration! 

Day 7 - Green Zeus Bowl

I love nothing more than when a random weeknight turns into something special.  The surprise of flowers, candles and a freshly prepared Green Zeus bowl can transform a typical Monday night into something extraordinary.

3 chicken breasts
2 Broccoli heads
1 Swiss Chard
1 large Bok Choy
1 Spaghetti Squash
Tahini Sauce (garlic, parsley, lemon juice, tahini)
Simple Sauce (tamari, sesame oil, ginger, lemon juice)

Warning: preparation for this dish isn't lengthy but it involves a lot of cleaning, steaming and multi-tasking.  I promise you the result is worth it and this vegetable packed dinner will be the perfect start to a new week and even possibly, a new you.

Day 6 - Power Breakfast

Nobody loves Monday's but I had a feeling that today would be different.  With our alarm turned off, I walked into the kitchen and was greeted by an incredible west coast sunrise and knew instantly, today was going to be a good day. 

On today's menu:

• Fresh fruit smoothie w/ 1 banana, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 pear, blueberries, coconut meat, splash of blackcurrant juice & cinnamon
• 2 hard boiled eggs
• Paleo pumpkin muffin 
• Paleo oatmeal (almond butter, unsweetened apple sauce, coconut milk, cinnamon)
• Green tea
• More fresh fruit

Both satisfied and stuffed, it was time to go to work. It's only Day 6 and I'm already feeling more energized and ready to take on anything, even Monday's. 

Day 3 - Carrot Thai Chicken Squash

A wise friend once told me, "true happiness comes in things that others can't take away from you" and I'm reminded of this every time I watch the sunset. 

Pat in English Bay

After an amazing after-work run to English Bay and beauty February sunset, we were back at home making this delicious gem.  It definitely sounds like a weird combination, but trust us, it tastes amazing! 

1 spaghetti squash
3 chicken breasts
Thai carrot sauce, simmer for 30 minutes (ginger, garlic, grated coconut, chili powder, orange juice, carrot juice, paprkia, and tamari)

After a long work week and tough first few days on Paleo, it has all the right elements to keep us full before a night out.  Best part, it's tangy and packed with flavour, so this interesting dish won't disappoint. 

Day 2 - Lunch - Soup and Salad

This lunch may look familiar. It's your traditional soup and salad... the paleo way! A crisp, refreshing salad with a simple vinaigrette, paired with a ridiculously flavourful soup won't fail to please your tastebuds.

Butternut Squash and Pear Soup (inspired by the 'refresh' cookbook)

1 inch ginger root, peeled and minced
1 cinnamon stick
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and diced
1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
6 cups homemade, organic vegetable stock
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion peeled and chopped
1/3 cup organic white wine
2 pears, cored and sliced
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 red pepper, diced

1. Put ginger, cinnamon stick, squash, and sweet potato in soup pot. Add vegetable stock. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer.

2. Heat olive oil in frying pan. Add onion and cook until caramelized, roughly 5 min

3. Add white wine and pears to pan. Cook for 5 min until wine is reduced, then add to soup pot.

4. When the squash and potatoes are cooked, roughly 30min, add the coconut milk, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat. Remove the cinnamon stick.

5. Puree in food processor or blender after soup has cooled.

6. Garnish with finely diced red pepper and serve!

Simple Paleo Salad

4 cups mixed greens (loosely packed)
1/2 orange pepper, diced
5 grape tomatoes, halved
1 breast of chicken
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp five spice
1 tbsp avocado oil
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil. Combine avocado oil with cinnamon and five spice, and pour over chicken breast. Bake for 40 minutes.

2. Fill bowl with mixed greens. Add pepper and tomatoes.

3. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix.

4. Once chicken is cooked, chop into strips and lay over the bed of veggies. Dress with vinaigrette.

Day 1 - Rainforest Stir Fry

By 6PM, I was running on nothing but a grapefruit and pure adrenaline. I arrived home to the best surprise, a steaming hot and fresh off the stove Rainforest Stir Fry.

4tbsp olive oil

2 chicken breasts

4 roma tomatos, cut in wedges

2 red onions, peeled and cut in wedges

1 chopped baby bok choy

1 spaghetti squash, baked and stringed

1 green jalapeno, sliced

1 batch spicy mango sauce (pure mango juice, tamari, olive oil, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lemon juice, salt and water)

Inspired by a recipe from one of our favourite restaurants in Toronto, ironically a vegetarian spot, we've adapted this recipe to make it Paleo friendly and west coast edgy. Dig in!

Day 1 - Breakfast

It all started with an alarm, 8 hours of sleep now behind us, it was time for our first Paleo meal of the challenge.

Fresh smoothie w/ 1 banana, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 pear, blueberries, splash of blackcurrant juice, & cinnamon

Almonds

1/2 avocado 

Strawberries

2 scrambled eggs w/ jalapenos 

Lemongrass green tea

Omega3 & Vitamin D-3 supplements

After some hurried bites and a little CBC news, it only took 20 minutes to realize my plate was empty and my stomach full.  Breakfast 1/30, easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.