Stress-Proof the AIP Diet
Does the thought of giving up coffee and tomatoes for a month make you wanna break out in hives? If so, I’ve got my top tips here for you to Stress-Proof the AIP Diet.
Many an autoimmune warrior has a difficult time with the elimination phase of the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol – so don’t feel alone!
I myself have done a few AIP resets over the years to get myself back to basics, and each time it does naturally bring on a little anxiety. But I take a step back, then remind myself to chill TF out, and calmate wey – that I’ve got this down pat.
So I want to share my easy strategies with you today so that you too can Keep Calm and AIP On.
Clear the Temptations
I say this with so much LOVE – get the crap out of your kitchen, honey!
Conventional candies and chips, bread, frozen low fat dinners, nitrate and corn-riddled hot dogs and lunch meats….BYE, girl.
Put it all in a box, then donate it. Give it to your unsuspecting neighbor. Or throw it in the trash. Whatever makes you feel like you purged it your way and got it out of the house.
This may actually seem to bring on more stress initially, but in the end it will be soooo worth it.
When a craving siren sings to you down the road – you will be thanking yourself for making your home AIP-proof.
This majorly helps you avoid the temptation to eat something non-compliant in a fluster – something that may set off a flare and set you back on your road to anti-inflammation and to Stress-Proof the AIP Diet.
Stock Up on AIP Pantry Essentials
Now that you’ve purged the temptations, it’s time to replenish your pantry with the good AIP stuff.
It may take a small investment at first if you are just getting started, but these types of products will last you a long time, since most of them you may not likely use every single day – and when you do use them, you won’t be using a ton of product.
Some of my go-tos are:
Coconut flour
Arrowroot starch
Date and/or maple syrup
KC Natural nightshade-free ketchup, no-tomato sauce, dressings, and faux mustard
I highly recommend a starter pack or two from ShopAIP! Grabbing a bundle can save you a bit on your budget and take the guesswork out (which tends to cause stress) upfront by purchasing them as a curated pack.
Don’t Forget the Snacks
It’s great to keep snacks around – just not so that all you eat all day long is snacky packs of sugary carbs (even those can be overdone on the AIP).
A focus on around 70% veggies is the goal of the Paleo diet – and the AIP takes that ideal a step further by keeping the variety of produce wide so that nutrient density is the focus.
But…sometimes we need chips, yo.
I love me some pork rinds from Epic, sweet potato chips cooked in compliant coconut or avocado oil, and Inka plantain chips dipped in my AIP Sour Cream. These have all saved me many a time from the hangries!
Keep Your Recipes Simple
Double up on AIP-friendly spices to add extra flavor to your recipes.
My top tip is to rotate the seasonings you use so that you don’t become bored with them.
For example: One day use dried dill, garlic, and lemon juice – the next try balsamic vinegar, onion powder, and orange peel.
Take a deep breath in, and when you breathe out – let go of what food is “supposed to taste like.”
Instead of making things super complicated in the kitchen and stressing over recreating your favorite grain-laden flavors, choose recipes whose ingredients are easily available and don’t require a lot of prep or guesswork.
My eBook AIP Sheet Pan Recipes takes you from mixing bowl to sheet pan to a quick dish-wash with each tasty, simple, and compliant recipe!
AIP-ify Your Kitchen with Tools
Other than food items, you might also like to invest in some quality tools for your kitchen to make food prep easier.
Since you will be likely spending a little more time there than usual, let’s invest in some ways to cut back on that time as much as possible.
Some of my favorite, basic tools that I feel every kitchen should have to Stress-Proof the AIP Diet:
1) A good, sharp chef’s knife (I keep both a higher-end Wustov as well as a sleek, stainless and frugal Farberware as options in my knife drawer)
2) Safe non-toxic cookware like a cast iron skillet and some stainless sheet pans for those easy sheet pan recipes
3) Glass storage containers (Pyrex Snapware has been my BPA-free standby for over a decade now)
4) A high-speed blender (Vitamix is my favorite)
5) The ever-speedy pressure-cooker and robot-in one, the Instant Pot – for cooking all-day stews or roasts in like an hour
6) Spiralizer for making oodles of zucchini noodles for Chili Mac!
Buddy Up
A sure-fire way to make things fun, easy, and to Stress-Proof the AIP Diet is to use the buddy system.
Do you have a friend who is interested in improving their health? If so, invite them on your AIP journey…even if that means you find and meet them online!
It’s a lot of fun to get together with a friend and batch cook over Skype, make bone broth or try new recipes together in the Instant Pot, or even make fat bombs!
Having a special group of gal pals is a also a good way to remain motivated, vent when you feel frustrated, and stay on track.
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