Meal Planning
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Success on the AIP is easier when you have a few good tips, tricks and tools under your belt.
What is AIP?
While I’m not about to delve deep into the science behind the AIP or attempt to re-write some exceptionally well presented and well researched material that’s already available online, I will give you a quick synapses here and point you in the right direction to the BEST resources possible.
AIP stands for Autoimmune Protocol, or as some call it, the Autoimmune Paleo diet. This diet however, differs considerably from the standard Paleo diet, so this is where we need to start. Let’s dispel any myths and give you a good foundational understanding of the AIP, the whats and whys.
The approach simplifies foods into two categories, either they promote health (nutrients) or they undermine health (because they contain inflammatory compounds). That said, the protocol calls for short-term elimination of the most commonly reactive foods from our diet to help our bodies start healing from the inside out.
Done properly, the AIP should provide you with a well-round and balanced diet of healthy, satisfying foods.
What will I eat?
Don’t worry, you won’t go hungry! While it has been suggested this is more of a plant powered diet than Paleo, trust me you won’t be stuck eating nothing but soups and salads or eating like a little bird. It’s also not a radical diet heavily weighted with fats and proteins or a carb-loader … we’re talking simply about a well balanced diet of real food – nothing scary (but facts are facts, most people don’t eat enough nutrient dense veggies, so you will be eating more of those)!
If you want to put a cool label on it, feel free to call yourself a nutrivore!
The AIP is a specialized elimination diet based on the Paleo diet. It is a starting point, a template – one that you will customize to your personal health condition and nutritional requirements, and you’ll adapt it as you go.
The primary focus of the AIP is that of nutrient density. It includes high-quality and in-season vegetables and fruits, grass-fed meat and poultry, grass-fed organ meat and wild-caught seafood.
The AIP eliminates many of the foods typically found in the standard Paleo diet, foods that may adversely effect and overstimulate the immune system and cause inflammation in the body and damage the gut.
The protocol starts with the elimination of the top food allergens: gluten/grain, dairy, eggs, soy, nightshades (like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc.), legumes, nuts, seeds, alcohol, refined sugars and in some cases shell-fish (only necessary if you have an allergy). This may sound like a lot, but AIP gets you thinking outside the box and you’ll want to concentrate on ADDING lots of amazing foods to your diet.
Elimination is not forever! Before you freak out, it’s very important to know that the AIP is NOT overly restrictive as some believe. Done properly, it should not create eating disorders and it does not require a permanent elimination of all of these foods. Careful reintroduction of foods back into your diet is a MUST, but that will be after 30 to 90 days and in some cases a little longer. Ideally you’ll want to see some improvement in your condition before reintroductions. But we’ll get to that later.
Ready to dive in? Scroll down and browse around more pages or topics that interest you, or take it step by step and start with my post – What is the AIP and Where Do I Start? – Start Here Part 1.
Everything you need …
Food Sourcing
Sourcing AIP ingredients can be tricky, but I’ve got you covered!
Check out my shopping and brand recommendations.
AIP Convenience
Being on the AIP is not exactly what most would call convenient, but thankfully there are some wonderful options!
Coaching
Big lifestyle changes and health challenges can be overwhelming. Some find the process much easier with proper coaching and medical guidance.
Self-Care
Self care is about taking proper care of yourself, taking the time to do some of the activities that nurture you, and treating yourself as kindly as you treat others.
Motivation
Healing is a journey, not a destination. Along the way we all need some motivation.
Here I’ll share motivation, stories of AIP healing and tips for success.