Simply Sapien

A few hours ago we came home from the Idaho Sportsman Show and it reminded me of my trip to Paleo f(x) last year. Each event didn't feel complete to me; something is missing. Walking around Paleo f(x), a conference dedicated to ancestral health and eating, I didn't see anything geared towards helping people hunt or gather their own food. I'm not saying there wasn't anything there; I didn't take an inventory of the booths, but if there was it wasn't obvious. Over the course of a weekend I think I...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/something-missing-modern-hunter-gatherer-world/?feed_id=482&_unique_id=63f0f5b71d379

The definition of primal is the original lifestyle. What did the human lifestyle look like before the modern world took over? We definitely didn't spend all day sitting in chairs behind computer screens. Food wasn't easily available on every corner we had to go out and find it in the wilderness ourselves. I've been a lover of the outdoors ever since I can remember. We camped a lot when I was a kid and growing up in the '80s our days were spent outside. If you're as old as I am you likely remembe...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/bow-hunting-the-ultimate-primal-experience/?feed_id=476&_unique_id=63efa39e13877

When you've been eating the Standard American Diet your entire life a switch to the paleo diet feels overwhelming for many. Cutting out vegetable oil, grains, dairy, processed food, fast food, legumes, food additives & preservatives, most sweeteners, and limiting alcohol intake all at once leaves people feeling like a deer caught in the headlights. This is why I decided to create a game to help paleo beginners get started. It's called paleo bingo.

It's a paleo game board with 30 differe...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/a-paleo-game-to-help-beginners-get-started/?feed_id=470&_unique_id=63ee503ba9571

Ever since I became a health coach people have always asked me for paleo meal plans. I've never created one because, on one hand, I don't have enough recipes of my own. Secondly, I see meal planning as an unsolvable math equation. How many people do I make the plan for? What are their dietary restrictions and dislikes? In my mind, it's impossible to make a paleo meal plan that would suit everyone. Then I stumbled across Real Plans and it is the answer I've been looking for. Whether you'd classif...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/meal-planning-and-a-shopping-list/?feed_id=464&_unique_id=63ecfce3aa79f

One meal in November and one in December isn't enough to cause significant holiday weight gain. Rather, there are many factors that come into play that cause people to gain weight at the end of the year. Celebrations and gifts centered around sweets, family stress, money stress, traveling stress, alcohol, etc. If you're like me there's always a furniture shuffle to make room for the tree and holiday decor. When you really think about it, there's a lot that happens in a short period of time that ...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/how-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain/?feed_id=458&_unique_id=63ebacadd9ae1

This paleo chicken salad is a spin-off of another day's cooked chicken. The key to easily following the paleo diet is to cook time intensive ingredients in larger quantities than you would eat for 1 meal. Follow this link to read about how I turned Nom Nom Paleo's roasted chicken and gravy into butternut squash soup and the stuffing I made to accompany the chicken.

Although I loved the chicken and stuffing I had for dinner I wanted something completely different the next day. I'm not the bigg...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/paleo-chicken-salad-2/?feed_id=452&_unique_id=63ea5926f2b92

Even though the paleo diet has a number of followers and seen a surge in popularity, there are many misconceptions about this diet. These misconceptions arise through false information, a bad image of paleo dieting, and even marketing attempts by other fad diets to discredit the paleo way. Genuinely, everyone I know in the paleo community decided to adopt this way of eating in hopes of improving their health, and they did. In the media the paleo diet gets a bad rap because the lifestyle is bad f...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/5-paleo-diet-myths/?feed_id=446&_unique_id=63e907601df94

Marisa Moon is the first Primal Health Coach friend I made. We met at Paleo f(x) in 2017. Even though our lives are busy and we live in different time zones we always have a great time when we do connect. In this podcast episode, we talk about all sorts of things. I talk about my natural progression to the low carb keto lifestyle. My experiences with the carnivore diet and the special side effect I didn't expect. Marisa and I have both had many experiences with low carb dining. In a world where ...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/podcast-low-carb-dining-guide/?feed_id=435&_unique_id=63e7b64284b93

Is sticking with paleo hard for you?
Claim Your Spot Today And Save 75% Off Of The Regular Price.
Are you inspired by the idea of eating paleo, but still have trouble sticking with it? Paleo Cooking School might be a good fit for you.

Maybe you get excited reading my blog or have seen others having success with paleo and you really want to make it work for you.

You’re busy with work, taking care of your family, socializing, and being pulled in a million different directions. You don’t al...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/paleo-cooking-school-basics/?feed_id=429&_unique_id=63e664b0b75a2

We live in a world where we're surrounded by activity trackers, food apps, scales, and body fat measurements yet our health is the worst it's ever been. The internet is in our pocket and there is more health information available to us today than at any other period of history. Why is it that we have all of these tools yet most of us are unsuccessful? We're not aware of what we're doing; we're not mindful.
Let me explain. Everyone is looking for a template. Looking for someone or something to te...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/mindfulness-reach-health-goals/?feed_id=423&_unique_id=63e511fc42160

There are several life experiences that led me to the paleo lifestyle and over the years I've learned how to make paleo meal prep easy. Let's face it, most of us work during the day and our kids have activities when we get off work. Unfortunately, most people find themselves at a fast food window because they're simply too tired to cook. Even if you do have time to cook you also see that bedtime isn't too far off. You know that by the time you put dinner together the kids will start eating dinn...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/simple-paleo-meal-prep/?feed_id=417&_unique_id=63e3c05d20862

For decades we’ve all heard the weight loss tip that we need to move more and eat less if we want to lose weight. An entire industry is built around these two concepts of weight loss workouts and counting calories for weight loss. When it comes to reaching your weight loss goals counting calories for weight loss isn't a winning plan. Weight loss workouts that work aren't what you likely think they are. Think about it, how many times have you counted calories and exercised vigorously only to end...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/your-diet-making-you-fat/?feed_id=411&_unique_id=63e26f64df421

It was recently brought to my attention that a long time friend has no idea what I do as a health coach. We went to college together and she's followed my work for years. She felt like she needed to get herself together before working with me. Um, that's what I do. You don't have to get yourself together and work through your issues before you work with me. That's why I'm here. Anyone can follow a meal plan, challenge, or Bootcamp but those things don't work long term. Why? Because they don't ad...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/what-does-a-health-coach-do/?feed_id=405&_unique_id=63e11de0612f2

I have heard many tales about elk hunting in Idaho so I decided in 2020 to see what it was all about. We left that morning for our elk hunt in Idaho just as the sun was beginning to come up at 7AM. It was chilly and for the long ATV ride I wore camouflage cold weather gear that could be best described as a sleeping bag over my clothes. Hiking the two days before it was unseasonably hot and John and I ended our days in a sweaty stinky mess after hiking around. This morning was different. I was ve...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/my-first-elk-hunt-in-idaho/?feed_id=399&_unique_id=63dfcb29737a0

When I walked past this asparagus in the supermarket I had to buy two bundles because the spears are so small. That may sound counter intuitive to some but the smaller the spears the more tender they are. Looking for something different to do with asparagus I decided to add sautéed mushrooms. These aren't just any mushrooms, this is how Julia Child taught me to make mushrooms in her book Mastering The Art of French Cooking. Thinly sliced and browned on both sides, I think this is the closest any...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/asparagus-with-mushrooms-2/?feed_id=393&_unique_id=63de77d29dbe6

Whenever I observe the modern world I find myself shaking my head in disbelief. We've come up with a chemical for nearly every problem, haven't we? Whether it's your lawn, skin, health, food, or even making it rain there's a chemical "solution". Working in the wellness arena there are countless pills, powders, supplements, shakes, bars, and recipes that promise a health transformation. The thing is, these things never last long term. If you want to get healthy and stay healthy it's as simple as ...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/ancient-health-secret/?feed_id=387&_unique_id=63dd2698cb9aa

This post contains affiliate links to help support my blogging efforts.

Sometimes you want a simple batch of delicious broth. While bone broth is ideal sometimes you don't have the bones or the time to wait for a tasty broth. Or maybe you have a histamine processing issue and bone broth doesn't work for you at all. Sure, you can purchase broth but I've found that they're simply not the same and they often fall flat in the flavor department. What disappoints me the most is the caramel coloring...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/make-easy-mushroom-broth/?feed_id=381&_unique_id=63dbd46fdf629

We see it every January. For about a month or so people are motivated to change their lives and one of the most popular new years resolutions is to get healthy again. They do what conventional wisdom tells them in hopes they'll find weight loss. The steps they take to get healthy consist of watching every calorie they consume, they exercise hard as often as they can and they inevitably burn out. We've been earning and burning calories for decades and it simply doesn't work long term. Keep readi...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/last-new-years-weight-loss-resolution-6-simple-steps/?feed_id=375&_unique_id=63da82bb79577

This question comes up a lot for paleo beginners. Let's face it. It's been drilled into us since infancy to drink our milk. "Milk does a body good." First let me clarify that when I'm talking about dairy I'm only talking about milk, cream, cheese, and all of the other dairy products that are made with milk. Somehow eggs were lumped in with dairy and in the paleo world, they're not in the same category. To answer the question is paleo dairy-free depends on you, your goals, your genetics, and your...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/can-i-eat-dairy-on-the-paleo-diet/?feed_id=369&_unique_id=63d9302512cc1

I'll be 44 in a few months and I've never owned a bathroom scale. I guess I've never seen the point. We have so many numbers in our lives, so many numbers and passwords to remember. Yet some people fixate on these tiny daily fluctuations of the scale and then adjust their self confidence for the day based on their relationship with gravity.

Consider the following:

1 liter of water weighs 2.2 lbs

During the day you eat, drink, and use the bathroom. The scale goes up and down and most of ...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/why-i-dont-own-a-bathroom-scale/?feed_id=363&_unique_id=63d7dea219555

To me, there's nothing worse than bad kitchen tools. Some cooking utensils don't work, others don't last, and then there are those that aren't worth the investment. Coaching people on how to eat better one thing I typically discover is that their kitchens don't have the tools to make the task easy. I've seen kitchens full of dull knives, warped pans, and cutting boards that are a disaster waiting to happen. These are the tools that I use in my kitchen and I have used for years without issue.
The...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/must-have-kitchen-gadgets/?feed_id=357&_unique_id=63d688e1ef962

These sweet potatoes were FANTASTIC and I'll be putting them on my holiday menu for years to come. Since I gave up added sugar almost a year ago my taste buds have changed and most things sweetened for the regular population are entirely too sweet for me. I honestly can't believe that we add sugar and marshmallows to sweet potatoes. They are so incredibly sweet already. So I created a savory version to balance out the sweetness.

I've found that the quickest way to cook sweet potatoes is to st...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/bacon-maple-sage-sweet-potatoes/?feed_id=351&_unique_id=63d536ee5d625

One of my favorite snacks as a kid was Chex Mix. However during my paleo journey I have learned that grains always cause me joint pain. When I made this roasted nut recipe I was surprised how much it reminded me of Chex Mix. Although I loved Chex Mix decades ago I noticed that it is preserved with BHT. (I haven't picked up a package since then so they may have changed it.) Looking for a tasty paleo snack I decided to experiment with a savory snack recipe.
What is BHT?
When I worked in the lab ...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/savory-roasted-nuts/?feed_id=345&_unique_id=63d3e5e9aea4b

When you're trying to dine with friends and find something paleo in a restaurant it can seem overwhelming initially. I can assure you that with a few tricks and a bit of making simple requests you'll find that it's easier to eat paleo in a restaurant than you might think. There are 2 basic ingredients to look for: meat & vegetables. Even the sketchiest diner will have a version of these 2 things that you can order. Fancier places are a bit easier because their menu typically has better food ...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/how-to-eat-paleo-in-restaurants/?feed_id=339&_unique_id=63d29238ca41b

This post contains affiliate links to help support my blogging efforts.

Sometimes you want a simple batch of delicious broth. While bone broth is ideal sometimes you don't have the bones or the time to wait for a tasty broth. Or maybe you have a histamine processing issue and bone broth doesn't work for you at all. Sure, you can purchase broth but I've found that they're simply not the same and they often fall flat in the flavor department. What disappoints me the most is the caramel coloring...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/make-easy-mushroom-broth/?feed_id=333&_unique_id=63d13e62b5a7a

Keto is an abbreviation for ketogenic, a very strict low carbohydrate diet. If you've been following the food pyramid that suggests starches and grains should make up the bulk of your diet, that's a high carbohydrate diet. Conversely, a low-carb diet removes grains, beans, sweeteners, and most root vegetables. As I write this the keto diet is very popular on the web. Since most diet trends tend to follow weight loss results it explains why the keto diet is very popular. Unfortunately, most pe...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/keto-flu-signs-and-symptoms/?feed_id=327&_unique_id=63cfeb7e6844e

The definition of primal is the original lifestyle. What did the human lifestyle look like before the modern world took over? We definitely didn't spend all day sitting in chairs behind computer screens. Food wasn't easily available on every corner we had to go out and find it in the wilderness ourselves. I've been a lover of the outdoors ever since I can remember. We camped a lot when I was a kid and growing up in the '80s our days were spent outside. If you're as old as I am you likely remembe...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/bow-hunting-the-ultimate-primal-experience/?feed_id=321&_unique_id=63ce9a6933760

Whether you decide to go keto or paleo it often leaves most people wondering what they're going to eat. More often than not people find their way to a low carb diet due to blood sugar concerns. Weight loss is popular but honestly elevated blood sugar and weight gain are one in the same. Does that mean you can never eat carbs again? No. The biggest factor is how many carbs you can eat is how your body tolerates them. With time most people find their insulin resistance significantly improves when...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/low-carb-swaps-infographic/?feed_id=315&_unique_id=63cd486349464

Is sticking with paleo hard for you?
Claim Your Spot Today And Save 75% Off Of The Regular Price.
Are you inspired by the idea of eating paleo, but still have trouble sticking with it? Paleo Cooking School might be a good fit for you.

Maybe you get excited reading my blog or have seen others having success with paleo and you really want to make it work for you.

You’re busy with work, taking care of your family, socializing, and being pulled in a million different directions. You don’t al...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/paleo-cooking-school-basics/?feed_id=304&_unique_id=63cbf802add32

If you've ever read Daniel Lieberman's book The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease you'd see that hunter gatherers had it pretty good. Sure people talk poorly about hunter gatherers and the paleo world because the average age of death was about 30 years of age due to a high infant mortality rate. Other than that they mostly died from injuries or infections (things we could easily cure or fix today), not chronic disease. People who have studied modern day hunter gatherers d...

https://www.jennifermichelle.co/spine-lower-back-pain/?feed_id=298&_unique_id=63caa3d0bf126