Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I read Robb Wolfe's book earlier this year and made major changes in my diet, cutting out all grains & dairy for a period of time, then maintained 80/20 Paleo from then on. About a month ago I received a job offer that I couldn't refuse so I'll be living in India for 3 months working as a strength coach at a tennis academy.

From the Paleohacks community, I'd love: tips on foods to eat/avoid in Northern India and/or any helpful encouragement to get back on track. I did do a search for both the former and latter and came up with a few ideas, so that's great, but I guess I'm looking for a personal touch. In other news, I have no sensitivities to foods at all, except avocado. I just feel better off grains/dairy and I'm terrified I'm about to embark on a 3 month journey of rice, naan bread, lentils and I don't know what else. Help?

edited Feb 25 2012 at 17:19

asked Nov 16 2011 at 21:41

KellyBoBelly
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India has some excellent goat -- curried goat is the BOMB, and is really good in terms of paleo principles. I am one of the folk who don't eat grains, but I might break down for a once a week splurge of basmati rice with ghee. I don't know if you do dairy, but if you do, I also think you might enjoy some palak paneer or saag paneer (saag is a spicy/tart/bitter green -- sort of like broccoli rabe or endive), which is a spicy dish of curried greens with chunks of home-made mild cheese curds. If you like vegetables, getting tandoori ANYTHING with a dish called vegetable khorma is heaven on earth. – Firestorm Nov 17 2011 at 0:00

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If you want to stay completely away from dairy and grains, I'd recommend avoiding anything with "paneer" and anything 'lassi' -- which are yogurt-based drinks. A little vocubulary helps, too. Aloo is potato, ghobi is cauliflower, palak is spinach, tandoori is food that is marinated and cooked in special ceramic ovens. Mattar are peas, Ghosh is goat (can sometimes be lamb), Vindaloo is a very spicy/hot preparation, tikka is chicken, yakni is mutton (sheep)... all of them are awesome as curries and tandoories... yes, and vindaloo if your mouth can handle the fire. grins – Firestorm Nov 17 2011 at 0:15

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Couple of things to correct - tikka's are any small peices of meat, they can be chicken, fish, lamb, etc marinated and usually cooked on sticks. Gosht is a kind of curry from northern India and is usually lamb or goat. Sorry, I hate to be that guy. – peter Nov 17 2011 at 1:53

I appreciate the mini-lesson, Firestorm (and peter). I will definitely use all of this info while I am there. Muchas gracias! – KellyBoBelly Nov 17 2011 at 6:35

Lady_Arwen · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-17 01:02:26Z UTC

I went to India with my husband in Feb 2010, and he has severe gluten issues (but not casein or dairy).

If you don't have dairy sensitivities then yogurt, lassi, paneer (often cooked in heavy cream) is fine.

Goat and lamb curries are delicious. Most chicken is now factory-farmed so do more goat, lamb, and fish.

They do have pastured brown eggs, when I was in Kolkata they called them Desi eggs and even the maid knew what they were!

You will get vegetable oils because they are cheap just about anywhere unless you have a cook at home and go to the grocery store yourself.

Stay away from all fried foods and naan, puris, breads, wheat of all sorts.

Bhajra roti is made from millet. Rice is fairly benign.

I would try to have animal protein and fat at each meal and have vegetables and potatoes too. Minimize beans/legumes/dals.

Eat ghee but stay away from dhaldha (fake hydrogenated ghee) - butter is more reliable. Most dairy has become factory-farmed unless you know the cow in the villages.

Don't overdo the carbs - Indian people are obsessed with sweets. If you can handle dairy then rosagolla, rasmlai, sandesh, kheer or payesh (rice pudding) are made from milk as a cheat. Better than the wheat sweets like gulup jamun.

Ask if any flour is used in foods you eat.

Hiring a cook is pretty inexpensive the US equivalent of maybe $5-15/day.

Don't eat raw things unless like a coconut, banana, that have a peel. Too many parasites.

Avoid street food which is mostly wheat deep fried in vegetable oil. Most illnesses come from this too.

Avoid ice, juices, and smoothies unless from a 5-star restaurant - my Mom got salmonella at an Indian wedding!

Sweet and Salty Lemonade with Mint is not bad - again from a high end place.

Good luck!

Jeff · Answer 2 · 2011-11-16 23:57:47Z UTC

Some grains are not as problematic as others. If you have a strong intolerance for gluten, I'd look for rice and vegetables of course. Also, there is a traditional dish called ragi which is like a porridge made with millet, which doesn't contain gluten. Other non-gluten containing grains are sorghum, amaranth, and buckwheat.

I'd also do a lot of eggs and potatoes and meats where you can find them. Unfortunately you won't be in Kerala (southwest) because that state consumes 95% of India's meat. North India should have more meat options than the rest of the country, so eat chicken, etc. when possible.

Resurgent · Answer 3 · 2011-11-17 04:19:42Z UTC

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The comments above are all generally excellent, but where exactly are you going to be in North India? It is a very diverse region.

answered Nov 17 2011 at 4:19

Resurgent
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Punjab region, near Ludhiana. – KellyBoBelly Nov 17 2011 at 6:31

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Ludhiana is a big town and every thing is available. If you are going to cook yourself, for meat, I will recommend eating goat meat which is available at every butcher. It is grass fed as 95% goats in India are raised by grazing. In moderation you can try local chicken which is CAFO - Avoid local Pork completely. Beef will be hard to find. There is a new local diary that sells Milk from Grass fed cows. It is called 'TruMilk' - Insist for it and you will find it. Boil your own water, that is the best, short of getting bottled water. And make your own yogurt if you can, it is very easy, if you – Resurgent Nov 17 2011 at 8:14

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have local kitchen help. Vegetables are available fresh, prefer to eat those that are in season and that are harvested daily. Ludhiana town is surrounded by farms that grow a lot of stuff, so fresh produce is easily available. Someone in the thread mentioned pastured eggs. yes, you can get these but only in the winter months - lucky for you , that you are going there now. They are known as Desi eggs, they have distinct orange yolks. Enjoy your trip. – Resurgent Nov 17 2011 at 8:26

Wow, you're very knowledgable of this specific region - lucky for me. Thanks a lot Resurgent! – KellyBoBelly Nov 17 2011 at 22:27

I had lived/traveled around that area for several years – Resurgent Nov 18 2011 at 3:27

Phazo · Answer 4 · 2011-11-17 05:12:00Z UTC

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An avocado sensitivity? I ate one today for breakfast and dinner, something I rarely do, and my stomach is killing me. But they're so damn good...

I don't have much to say except good luck getting back on track. It is certainly a rough road.

answered Nov 17 2011 at 5:12

Phazo
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I used to eat them all the time, sans problem! I think I must have overdosed and now I get a very bad stomach every time. I did still continue to eat them for a few weeks, stomach be damned, then I got sick of that feeling. I hope to reintroduce them later. – KellyBoBelly Nov 17 2011 at 6:32

Upgraded Indian · Answer 5 · 2012-11-01 12:04:24Z UTC

One interesting this is that the Desi Egg phenominon applies to all meats as well. You can get Desi Murghi (chicken) and Desi Mutton (lamb) and it means free range(ish). You tend to find these at the markets but not really an option at restaurants.

Im Going to Northern India for 3 Months - What am I Going to Eat?

5 Answers