Review: Everyday Paleo

If you're part of the online paleo community, you're probably familiar with Sarah Fragoso and her family-oriented paleo blog Everyday Paleo. If not, here's the Cliffs Notes version: she's a CrossFitter and paleo eater, but she wasn't always that way. She and her family have redefined what family meals and family time in the kitchen can be – and she's sharing her hard-won knowledge in her new book Everyday Paleo.

I know, I know. You think you know everything you need to know about paleo already. You've done a Whole30 or you've been primal with Mark Sisson for months or you read The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf.

To that I say, there is always something new to learn.

And to convince you, I present...

Five Awesome Things About Everyday Paleo

1. Sarah shares her "pre-paleo" life story – and she pulls no punches.
It's a touching story that's really about family first and nutrition second. I particularly liked this quote:

"If you are eating paleo, exercising, sleeping enough, and finding time to play, all the other difficult stuff does not disappear, but it does become manageable."

And isn't that we we're all really looking for? A full life with "manageable" bumps in the road.

2. Information is presented in tasty, easy-to-digest chunks.
Oh, the helpful lists! A fridge list. A pantry list. An "approved foods" list. A kitchen equipment list. And a handy breakdown of common questions like "What's the deal with bacon?" and "What about eating out?", along with some straight talk on nuts, salt, and paleo treats.

Ahem. "Anything in the recipe section that looks like dessert should be considered something for a special occasion."

I like the way she thinks!

3. Recipes!
A paleo/primal/Whole30/dino-chow eater can never have too many recipes! And Sarah's contributions to our growing body of good eats are easy-to-make and will get you in and out of the kitchen in a flash. Remember, this is a busy mom, so her recipes are designed to get tasty food on the table with a minimum of fuss. There's plenty of variety, so even picky eaters (a.k.a., kids!) will be willing to dig in.

4. Your plans are made.
Getting started can be a dicey proposition, but Everyday Paleo lays out both a 30-day meal plan (with shopping lists) and workout programs for newbies and veterans that include step-by-step photos. No CrossFit gym nearby? No problem. Sarah shows you how to get a killer workout with just your bod and your motivation.

5. The wee ones!
Throughout the book, photos of Sarah and her kids bring the information to life. The chapter on kids' fitness delivers helpful tips for moving your kids away from the XBox and into the yard where they can run around like the little maniacs they're meant to be. Photos of the wee ones demonstrating exercises are not only informative, but just might convince a reluctant child you know to give it a try. And bonus! Sarah demonstrates how to use your sweetheart for added resistance and stretching assistance. I can't wait to tell Dave we're doing partner pushups!

Everyday Paleo will be officially released on April 25, but you can pre-order now... and Sarah's running a fun drawing on her site from now 'til the publication date. Visit Everyday Paleo now to learn more about how you can win! And definitely bookmark/subscribe to her blog – you can never learn too much about nutrition, exercise, good health, and yourself.