CREDIT: CANDIS BROSS
When adhering to a Paleo Diet, avoiding foods like popcorn, coffee and snacks with added sugar is essential.

It seems like every month there is a new fad diet that enters the media. Some of them may have actual value, where others are a complete waste of time. One of the most important things to remember when starting a new diet is how long you can actually maintain it. Whatever diet you choose needs to be one that you can commit to, not just for a week or two to fit into a bikini, but for a lifetime.

Kelsey Wardrop, a graduate from the Fitness and Health Promotion program at Fanshawe, has recently taken on the new lifestyle of the Paleo Diet. “The Paleo Diet goes back to the early years when people would only eat things that they could hunt or find naturally in our environment,” Wardrop said.

With the Paleo Diet, you can eat things like grass-fed meats, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, nuts and seeds. The big things to avoid in this diet are cereal, grains, dairy, refined sugar, processed foods, salty foods and junk foods.

“Originally I just wanted something to help me shape up for the summer,” Wardrop said. “After some research, I found that the Paleo Diet is actually something that can be maintained.” Wardrop has been successfully maintaining the diet for about a month now.

“This diet is more than something to lose weight for the summer, but something I know I can make as a lifestyle commitment,” Wardrop said.

With the Paleo Diet, there are no food groups that are completely neglected, like some diets tend to do. They do not restrict how much you can eat either.

“So many other diets focus on cutting things out completely, whereas this is more about getting the nutrients you need in the healthiest and most natural way possible,” Wardrop said.

Rather than snacking on food that has been highly processed, this diet suggests choosing something more natural and more filling to eat instead.

“Some other diets limit your portions and cause you to be hungry throughout the day. This diet allows you to eat when you’re hungry and the foods you get to eat are nutrient-dense and not full of empty calories.”

So instead of snacking on treats you can choose something healthier and more natural which will in turn be more filling.

“I like to snack on vegetables. Even though they still have calories, you are getting more nutrients from them. Also because they are high in fiber they will keep you fuller for longer.”

For someone looking to try and start this diet, Wardrop suggested easing into it.

“For beginners, they should start by just trying to cut out the junk foods, like chips and chocolate. After that, you can begin to cut out some of the other things, like grains and processed foods, but continue to have them in moderation.”

Wardrop gave advice to anyone who may feel discouraged. “It is an easy diet to maintain, however at first, it is difficult to cut out some of the more decadent things in life, like chocolate. You just need to keep at it, even if you slip up it’s okay, just get back on track as soon as you can.”

Wardrop finished by saying, “Before getting started, do your research. You need to figure out if this kind of diet is right for you.”

There are many books and blogs out there about the Paleo Diet and it is important to be well informed before jumping into this,” Wardrop said. “This isn’t just a diet, it is a lifestyle. That means you need to incorporate physical activity into your day too, whether that means walking to and from school or going to the gym. You need to commit to both eating healthy and active living.”