Ok so I'm eating yogurt...

I know technically yogurt is not truly "paleo" since it is Dairy, but it's probably one of the closer cheats you can do that still allows you to maintain the same type of calorie processing that your body does. A lot of paleo eaters do re-admit dairy into their diet, others have sworn it off completely either because they are lactose intolerant or just would like to stay super strict. I personally think adding just a little dairy into my diet is helping with my energy levels and at least giving me a few more choices that I can eat as far as meals go.

HURRAH! I've re-introduced a new food group! But I'm not going to go out and drink a gallon of milk everyday now...I'm still limiting my sources of dairy to low-lactose types. The only dairy I'm ingesting is cheeses (hard cheese, quality cheeses, feta and goat cheese), and greek yogurt.


I've become an incredible fan of Fage Total full fat greek yogurt. Yes, it has no sweetness or fruity flavor in it, and well I still can't bare to eat *plain* yogurt...it's just too sour tasting. But I love the thickness of it and the fattiness...it's incredibly low in carb too and a good way to get some more healthy fats and protein that I'm lacking still. I actually love hacking this yogurt by adding either:

• a tbsp of raw, local & organic honey (the local honeys are always the best tasting! Mmm)
• a tbsp of freshly ground almond butter from that crank in Whole Foods.
• a sliced up banana or fresh berries
• haven't tried pure maple syrup yet but I bet this is also a good combo

I'm surprised at how filling of a snack this is...one of the smaller snack containers of Fage Total on its own is a whooping 260 calories, and if I eat about that amount of yogurt with a drizzle of honey, some almond butter and a banana, I'm pretty sure the calories top at around 500. WHOA 500 CALORIES?! wait a minute aren't I trying to lose a couple lbs?

Actually, I only plan to eat this snack on my workout heavy days and days where my lunch just isn't living up to the protein/fat standards it needs to. I couldn't imagine scarfing this down on one of my lower 1200 calorie non-workout days where one of these yogurt treats is literally half my daily calorie intake. I could also always leave out the banana and it'll be a pretty satisfactory breakfast, if I don't break my other love of uncured whole foods maple bacon and fluffy eggs.

We'll see if this yogurt awesomeness will help me out on my 8.5 mile run tonight. That is, if my shins are feeling up to the challenge. (My shins are sore? AND my abs too? Since when does this happen...)