After a day at his homelearning program -which included 40 minutes of walking, then recess, then another hour of physical activity- my son was very hungry. From the fridge I pulled out the rest of a previously-roasted and still intact chicken, placed the whole thing into a huge glass mixing bowl, asked my son to wash his hands, and invited him to dig in. Yes, like a tiny caveman! (Well, maybe not the hand-washing part…) He just ate and ate and ate to his tummy’s content. I joined in, too, focusing on the skin.
And that was the meal. Sure, usually a dish here is more involved -but often not much! Just because GAPS meals have the potential to be fancy and beautiful, doesn’t mean they have to be. Give yourself a break -not just once in awhile, but regularly. Get some basic nutrition in then go play!
Often, we start out in GAPS wanting to prove to our kids and to the people around us that GAPS can be every bit as layered and delicious as non-GAPS foods. Once that’s out of the way, we can sit back and breathe, aiming simply for nutrition and relaxation -which is all that’s actually needed for health.
Note: The first step to this week’s simplicity was to buy the chicken from Whole Foods already roasted. This is a new-to-me luxury, giving this working, homeschooling, single parent much needed respite once a week or so. We first used some of it in a stew, and when my small caveman was done with the second half of its meat, I threw the little that remained -bones, joints, etc- into a small pot with a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar, plus water to cover it, and set it to simmer. So much nutrition, so little effort! Also of note is that for his bedtime snack, my son chose a medley of veggies -both cooked and raw. The body will balance the day’s need over the course of a day or so.
Absolutely love it! Simplicity is beautful. In this ‘season’ of consumerism; I appreciate this post. I also think of the amount of quality time you had during this feast vs. the usual prep of trimmings that get in the way.
I am going to duplicate your meal in the coming week. Merry Yule!
A wonderful, peaceful and simple season to you, dear CJ!
All my best,
Baden
Hi. I have been reading and very much enjoying your blog. I am planning on starting intro for the first time this coming Monday January 9, 2012. I have Celiac Disease and with it a long list of food intolerances , my digestion is very poor even though I have been Gluten free and eating a Paleo diet for while. I have seen great inprovement but I am still not what I would call healthy and well. I am hoping GAPS can resolve many of these issues for me.
I have a few questions. On which day could I add coconut milk in the form of keifer or yogurt? I am lactose intolerant/casein intolerant. I am not really sure which. What I am sure of is, I cannot eat store bought dairy in any form without getting very ill. I have recently discovered to my delight, that I can enjoy raw pastured cream, butter and milk without any problems. YAY! We have a local source that we were able to buy into the herd share giving us acces to fresh dairy, however, it is winter the cows are not producing any milk at the moment. In that case what would I use in place of ghee during intro?. Also In terms of ACV in water 15 minutes before a meal . I have tried in the past to drink this and the result was nausea, severe heartburn and gas. Can home brewed kombucha be used instead?
Thanks in advance
Paula
Hi Paula,
Treat coconut kefir and/or coconut yogurt just as you would the dairy versions of these. That is, start with the yogurt only, using just a teaspoon (or less) of it, and work up, eventually introducing the kefir. I recommend starting with no probiotic source, then the juice of fermented veggies, then the fermented veggies, then the fermented fish (if using whey), then yogurt, in which case one would be starting yogurt several weeks into intro. Starting it sooner is also fine for most people.
It’s common for GAPSy people to be unable to tolerate commercial dairy, yet to do well with GAPS dairies (fermented at home for 24-36 hours, etc). If you’re already good to go with raw, you’re all set to simply ferment those for your GAPS program.
It is not necessary to use ghee during intro; feel free to skip it until dairy is available to you again. For cooking and eating, you can use fat from the inside of any animal -rendering your own or even buying it by the litre from a local butcher or farmer. Duck fat is popular. Simply avoid coconut oil during intro, as its anti-fungal properties can trigger tremendous die-off.
As with all things listed in GAPS, if your body cannot tolerate ACV, skip it altogether. You may not need this aide.
Kombucha can be introduced a few months in, after significant healing.
All my best,
Baden
Thanks. we have been brewing kombucha for months and I tolerate it well.. do I still need to wait to intoduce it?
Hi Paula,
Regardless of what a person’s diet was before GAPS, it is recommended to follow the steps as-is when coming to GAPS. Doing so can make a world of difference!
All my best,
Baden
Ok.. will do.. I really want and NEED GAPS to work it’s magic for me.Thanks for the info.
Yay for homeschooling single parents!! I’m working on my doctorate. New to GAPs with a normally perfectly healthy, mostly TF 6.5 yr old. But she’s been complaining of tummy aches for several months now and very gassy
Wow, Rebecca!! Inspiring!!! Good to hear from you
All my best,
Baden
hi Baden. i love your blog. i am a breastfeeding mama who has come to GAPS full on due to breastfeeding. do you think i should still give drinking kombucha a rest? i’ve been drinking a small amount daily and have been on GAPS for two weeks thus far. everything feels okay. . .what are your thoughts?