Make Mine Paleo Pancakes

I am not a registered dietitian nor am I dispensing medical advice in this post. I am merely disguising some dietary changes I am making in my own diet based on my own personal research and dietary needs. Please consult a medical professional before making any diet or medical changes of your own.

I ordered Practical Paleo from Amazon two weeks ago and have been gobbling it up. 

                                                       
          Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle (affiliate link)

If you have been following along my journey on this blog it is no secret that my recipes and foods I consume model the "eat clean diet" and are "whole foods" based. I really hate saying I follow any set diet or mantra when it comes to my eating; you may as well paste "groupie" on my forehead. Instead I strive to create recipes and eat foods that are minimally processed and natural.
This past fall I became increasingly intrigued with the Paleo movement and 90% of what and how I eat would be considered primal. Despite my best efforts of eating 100% gluten free due to being gluten sensitive I am still finding that I am occasionally having tummy troubles and some other health issues. I have been sick several times with head colds and respiratory infections since this summer. I eat well, exercise regularly, and take good care of myself which leads me to believe my tanking immune system is being caused by something else. I am considering being tested for food allergies and also gluten cross sensitivity reactions to certain gluten free foods.
Practical Paleo identifies foods called anti-nutrients which are plant based defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms  found within the seed or grain fight against the digestive system of the person who eats them causing  the inability to fully break the grain down into amino acids that can be easily absorbed by the body's cells. 

 Anti-nutrients include:

1. Whole grains, whole grain products, grain like seeds, and legumes. These include gluten containing grains like wheat, barley, spelt, and rye. It also includes gluten free foods such as quinoa, lentils, corn, brown rice, red beans, black beans, pinto beans and navy beans.
2. Refined grains and gluten free refined grain products including white rice, flour, bread, cereal, crackers, pasta, and cookies.

By no means am I demonizing quinoa or the foods listed above and saying "these are bad for you or evil foods." Nor am I suggesting you cut these foods out of YOUR diet. Rather I am explaining what I learned in Practical Paleo is these foods, in SOME people, can trigger an immunological reaction and cause digestion havoc.

 I have been doing more and more research into the Paleo lifestyle and decided to "go primal" this year. This will not be changing much in the way I cook or blog. 

So what will I be changing?
1. Cutting out all anti-nutrients/gluten free grains (quinoa, teff, brown rice ect.)
2. Cutting out all dairy except organic butter and ghee
3. Incorporating more grass-feed and organic meats into my diet
4. Eating more animal based fats & ditching man made refined seed oils ( sunflower oil, safflower oil, and grapeseed oil to name a few.)
5. Stop buying and consuming gluten free pre-made products including cereals, crackers, chips, cookies, and flour mixes.
6. Baking more with nut flours and coconut flour.

My excitement is equally matched with my sadness of giving up my much loved baked oatmeal, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and hummus. I will let you know how it goes. Today's recipe is my first attempt at grain free pancakes.

Paleo Pancakes

1/2 cup blanched almond flour

1/2 cup of coconut flour

1 tsp baking powder

Dash of ground cinnamon

6 eggs
2 TBS of melted coconut oil

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

2 TBS coconut sugar





In a large bowl whisk together almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and coconut sugar. In a separate medium size bowl with hand mixer blend eggs, coconut oil, almond milk, and vanilla extract. Next blend in flour mixture in thirds blending after each addition. Heat griddle and oil with organic butter or coconut oil. Pour pancake batter onto hot griddle into desired pancake shape. Cook until edges are set and top of pancake begins to bubble then flip and cook on other side. Top as desired. Might I suggest these are delicious with fresh berries and syrup or apple butter spread. I love Tap'n Apple Butter the only ingredients are apples and apple cider vinegar.