Whether you agree with it or not, the Paleo lifestyle is undoubtedly one of the most talked about and perhaps the most controversial way of living in the 21st Century.
Australian celebrity chef, Pete Evans, has in recent times drawn a great deal of attention with his shift in thinking about food (along with his love of activated almonds) and is once again taking his knowledge of the Paleo life to the people in his upcoming Learn To Cook The Paleo Way tour.
What made you endeavour into the world of Paleo dieting/living?
As a kid growing up on the Gold Coast and as a surfer, I’ve always been connected with the ocean and had a deep respect for Mother Nature. As a chef who has personally cooked over a million dishes in my 25-year career, I have also developed a deep affinity and passion for delicious, healthy food. It was just over three years ago, however (when I met my amazing partner Nic) that she re-awakened my passion for nutrition and I started walking a truly conscious path towards optimal health and wellness.
Growing up on a farm in New Zealand, Nic has always been connected to her food source and after meeting her, I was inspired to cut out dairy, sugar and grains for three months. It was then I found my path of fusing my passion for food with a much more altruistic goal – to create recipes that can let others achieve optimal health and wellness through the foods that they eat. It’s about applying principles from the best nutritional research with our knowledge of what foods drive ideal, physical and emotional health.
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How hard was it for you to change your way of eating and to resist other foods?
To be really honest, once I saw how good I felt and, over time, the confidence I gained as a result of following 'The Paleo Way', there was no need to “resist” other foods because I simply no longer wanted to put anything in my body that didn’t optimise my health and wellbeing. That’s why I found it easy to cut out refined sugars, carbohydrates, dairy, grains and wheat. Once I started to learn the solid science behind it, I became driven to make sure that every day, with every forkful of food I put in my mouth, that I was eating for longevity and to achieve the best health and wellness I possibly could.
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What is 'The Paleo Way' in your own words?
It’s important to understand one thing - Paleo is NOT a diet. This is a way of life. Basically, we enjoy a delicious diet of 100 per cent grass-fed and finished meat and organ meats, pasture-raised poultry and game, free-range pork, wild-caught smaller species seafood with an emphasis on molluscs and bivalves, nuts, seeds, some seasonal fruits and lots of organic leafy greens and brightly coloured vegetables with fermented vegetables included at each and every meal. I avoid grains, legumes, dairy products, non-organic produce, and genetically modified and processed foods – most importantly because they don’t make me feel good!
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What are some of the benefits of living the Paleo lifestyle?
I went grain-free, wheat-free and dairy-free for three months and immediately noticed a huge increase in my energy levels and stamina. I was able to focus better for longer and, over time, I became more confident. I was once pretty shy and didn’t always have a clear idea of my life’s direction. But by eating for health and wellness, I’ve developed a laser-sharp focus for what I want to achieve.
Physically, I’m 41 years old and in the best shape of my life. I get outside in the sunshine and surf almost every day and I approach challenges with a far more healthy, positive attitude. In short, I’m able to be smarter, faster, fitter and stronger and I put that all down to the benefit of living 'The Paleo Way'.
Some of the other major health benefits people experience from embracing a Paleo way of life include freedom from debilitating digestive issues that gravely affect the immune system, as well as impact on emotional wellbeing. They will also experience enhanced cognitive and memory function and reap the benefits of a strong immune system that allows them to fight off bugs and minimise costly healthcare or doctor’s visits. There are also lots of other benefits, such as being able to get anxiety, depression and other emotional issues under control.
As a chef, what impact has it had on your outlook on food and your ability to create food?It’s helped me find my life’s purpose. As a chef with a 25-year career, I used to choose my ingredients based on how tasty it would make my dishes. Having always been interested in health and wellness, I was always driven to find the very best quality ingredients, but now I am much more selective about the ingredients that I choose to cook with. That’s because every day I want to make healthy choices and to use the food I eat as my medicine to fuel my body and mind.
What has been some of the feedback from your chef colleagues from around the world with regards to this new direction in your career?
I have had nothing but support from my chef colleagues all over the world because many are well aware that making healthy dishes from nutrient-dense ingredients is a way to enhance the health and wellbeing of our future generations. It’s also a sustainable way to live. Most chefs are very inspired to support local food producers who are creating fantastic ingredients and so there is a lot of support globally for this new direction in my career. And, of course, I’m deeply thankful and full of gratitude for that support that people in my industry have shown me.
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Tell us a bit about your tour, Learn To Cook The Paleo Way.
Last year we focused a lot on the science behind Paleo thanks to my mentor and US-based, internationally recognised Paleo diet expert and author of 'Primal Body, Primal Mind', Nora Gedgaudas, who came to discuss the solid scientific evidence that forms the basis of 'The Paleo Way'. This year, we are focusing more on the practicalities of living 'The Paleo Way' so there’s going to be a lot of cooking! I’m once again joined on tour by personal trainer and Paleo advocate, Luke Hines; my buddy whom I met when he was a contestant on 'My Kitchen Rules'. Not only is Luke the trainer for our 10-week Paleo Way activation programme, but he will also be joining me on stage to demonstrate skills that will let you live the Paleo way on a budget, as well as talking about the importance of moving your body every day in the ways that you love most so that exercise isn’t seen as a chore, but as a source of increased vitality and energy. We will also have some other special guests along for the ride and Nora will be joining us for some of the 26 dates, so I’m excited about that.
Is this kind of lifestyle something you think anyone can realistically maintain – yourself included?
Of course I do or I wouldn’t be so passionately driven to share the knowledge I have gained from nutritional experts around the world. Remember like I said earlier, Paleo is NOT a diet. It is a way of life and because of this, it is incredibly sustainable. Ultimately though, it’s all about personal choice and seeking out knowledge for yourself. I don’t purport to know all the answers, I just know what’s made me feel great and what’s worked for the health and wellbeing of my friends and family.
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If you had one food that you could have as a sneaky treat that didn’t fit under the Paleo Diet, what would it be?
I don’t honestly don’t have one. I like to make healthy choices every day with every ingredient that I put into my body so there isn’t any sneaky treat I need. If I feel like a treat, there is a range of delicious, nutritious snacks I can make that still achieve the goal of fuelling my body and mind in a positive way, which doesn’t include any refined sugars or nasties.
Knowledge is power! Seek out and try what foods work best for you, start a conversation and relationship with your body and listen to it. Then make the choices that are right for you and your family because taking control of your own health and wellness through the foods that you eat is one of the most empowering things you can do.
Pete Evans Tour Dates
Fri 6 Feb – Port LincolnSun 8 Feb – Adelaide
Sat 14 Feb – Gold Coast
Sun 15 Feb – Brisbane
Sat 28 Feb – Perth
Wed 4 Mar – Darwin
Sat 7 Mar – Canberra
Sun 8 Mar – Sydney
Sat 14 Mar – Melbourne
