At the start of September 2012, I decided to make a change to start living a healthier life. I had been living off of a diet of cheese quesadillas, ice cream and red wine. Pretty much the anti-paleo. Since I was 17, I have tried probably every diet out there, but I eventually gave each up. I was always striving to be skinny rather than to be healthy. Throughout the years I never consider how terrible all the low-fat, no carb, cardboard junk was negatively impacting my body.
I first heard the word Paleo in 2011. It sounded restrictive and awful. The idea of giving up grains, dairy and sugar seemed impossible at the time. After extensive research, I discovered Paleo isn’t about the restrictions but eating clean and less processed. After three years, I can’t imagine not eating Paleo. I am absolutely in love with it. It isn’t a diet but truly a lifestyle. Cheesy I know!
In June 2013, Plaid and Paleo was launched. What started as a hobby has grown into a full-blown passion. I post new recipes weekly along with healthy living tips and all-natural remedies! I enjoy recreating some of my favorite dishes “Paleo Style.” I am obsessed with ethnic food and still in pursuit of making the perfect tom kha soup! When I am not cooking or drooling over other blogger’s food, I’m reading, talking about my love of Jayhawk basketball or spending too much time on Pinterest. If you have any questions about a recipe or life, feel free to email me at vanessa@plaidandpaleo.com. PS: I love comments!
After six years of eating fairly strict paleo, I have transitioned to a more naturally gluten-free approach. Eating healthy is all about listening to your body. I love corn, rice and white potatoes, and my body doesn’t have any adverse reactions to those foods.
In 2014, my love of traveling was ignited when I went on a month-long tour of Europe. It was everything I could have ever imaged and more. Since that time, I have visited countless new cities and new countries. I love sharing my travel adventures on Plaid & Paleo and sharing the best places to stay and eat in those destinations!
x vanessa
Hi Vanessa! I recently found you through pinterest. I am enjoying your blog. I am also a Jayhawk fan! Graduated from KU in 2000. Anyway, I am wanting to try your Tex Mex Chicken Lettuce Wraps, but I can’t seem to pull up the recipe. Can you help me out? Thank you so much and have a great day! Kera
Rock Chalk! I’ve included my link plus the link to the original recipe! Let me know if those don’t pull it up.
http://www.plaidandpaleo.com/2013/07/paleo-tex-mex-chicken-lettuce-wraps.html
http://www.eatliverun.com/crock-pot-tex-mex-chicken-lettuce-wraps/
You are my new hero. Your recipes are SO creative! I have been doing paleo for a few months and after a while you get stuck in a rut of making the same things, you have helped me a TON!
I want to let you know this absolutely made my day!! I try really hard to come up with unique dishes and to know even one person is loving them means the world to me!!
Hi Vanessa! I discovered your blog through the fabulous Eighty Twenty blog…LOVE your recipes!!! I’m a Paleo noob (17 days and counting!) but totally loving the way good, clean food is making me feel. Inspired to cook lots of your foodie ideas – just can’t decide which one to do first! Hehe 🙂
I’m so glad you found me! I’m glad you are liking the recipes!! It can be hard at first but so rewarding in the long term!
Just found your website via PaleoMom, LOVE your recipes and philosophy! I can’t wait to peruse more 🙂
Yeah I’m happy you found my blog!!
Hi Vanessa! I’ve recently discovered your site, and LOVE your recipes! I’m hoping to attempt the Paleo Pot Roast tomorrow, but was wondering what the difference between a pot oven and a crockpot is? I’m not the handiest in the kitchen… Any specific tips you could give me to guide me through?
Thanks!
Alison
Hi Alison,
Sorry I just saw this! A crockpot sits on your counter and simmers the food at a low temperature for usually a long cooking time. The large pot I use for the recipe is simply a huge pot that is oven safe! I need to make that more clear in my recipe! I hope I am not too late! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Best,
Vanessa
Hi Vanessa! I just discovered you on Instagram last night and had to send you a message because I honestly think you are my brother from another mother…seriously! In addition to having eerily similar names (I’m Jenessa Kay), it seems like we have a lot in common: paleo, a love of Greece (I’ve been there twice and stayed for 3 months the second time), and your recent Eurotrip almost mirrors one I took 2 years ago. I just wanted to let you know that I am loving your blog so far and I would love to pick your brain sometime about blogging (I’m hoping to start a blog about paleo/healthy living in the New Orleans area… after I defend my masters thesis next week), how you maintained paleo while in Europe (or how it was like to come off of it for your travels), etc. Anyways, really cool to have found your instagram/blog – keep up the good work! 🙂
First I’m so jealous you spent three months in Greece. I’m so happy you found my blog. I think a paleo blog in New Orleans would be amazing. I visited in April and loved the city! My friend lives there and mentioned a new healthy (she said paleo-focused but I’m not sure) grocery store just open. Good luck on your thesis. Email me with any questions about blogging or how I did (slash did not) eat paleo in europe! My email is vanessa@plaidandpaleo.com.
Hi, Vanessa!
A friend just recommended your blog to me and I love it! I have recently been diagnosed with a mystery auto immune disease/chronic illness, along with arthritis. They are now looking for sjogrens, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, I have psoriasis. I have lived most of my adult life eating pretty clean (cheat meals here and there) and working out 6 days a week but have had to change a lot about my lifestyle and have been given new diet restrictions since being diagnosed. Hence, my friend recommending your blog and the paleo lifestyle tome. I am excited to try your recipes! Thank you for taking the time to put this blog together. I am anxious to get in the kitchen now 🙂
Love and good vibes!
Ahh I’m so happy they recommended my blog to you! I know it can be hard to transition to cutting out foods but it is crazy how much it can help! If you ever have any cooking questions or paleo questions, shoot me an email!
Hi Vanessa, I was trying to find your “how to for kombucha.” I made a batch a few weeks ago and some of my flavors were really bad. I used fresh fruit instead of juices and was wondering if I can strain them out with a fine metal strainer or will the metal create a bad reaction? Lol’ing forward to trying some of your flavors! Thanks for a great site. Tons of recipes!!
You can definitely strain them out, but I recommend using a plastic strainer like this one! I actually posted my break down on how to brew kombucha on The Eighty-Twenty here.
Hi, I’m excited I found your site. I live in NYC and (by coincidence) all of my friends here went to KU too! Jay Hawk fans…I can’t even tell you. I recently began a Paleo site because of digestive issues and have been creating and experimenting with recipes. I mostly like to make sweets, ice cream, cookies etc. Excited to try some of your recipes too! Hope you had fun in NYC!
I’m so happy you found my site! Yes Jayhawk fans can get a little extreme during basketball season :). NYC was amazing! I love the city so much!
Hey! Thanks for all the recipes! I am a personal trainer and I am always looking for paleo/primal/AIP new tasty recipes for myself and my clients. Cheers!
We made one of your recipes you emailed Kristen and can’t find on website, roasted sweet potatoes, can you email it to me.
Hey!
I just found your blog and your recipes look so great, I already saved some of them and will try them the next days!
I think People all over the world love your blog! I am from Austria, so far away, but I totally enjoy your blog!Although some recipes are not so easy for me becaue I have to calculate the weight in Kilo and some things can`t be bought here but I`ll try my best 🙂
Hi Verena!
I am so happy you found my blog! I was actually in Austria this summer, and it was absolutely gorgeous! I know some of the ingredients are unfortunately hard to find, but I am happy to hear you are trying!
x vanessa
Hello Vanessa!
I am a 32 mother of two whole also teaches Kindergarten and forces my family to eat in new healthier ways whenever I can. I am intrigued by this Paleo diet/lifestyle. Do you not eat dairy at all? I see your delicious twice baked sweet potatoes called for milk. Do you substitute coconut or almond milk? I don’t mean to criticize in any way, I am just trying to learn how this way of eating works so I can see how it will fit into our lives. Thank you for being an inspiration and for showing us all how to eat delicious, healthy food!
Hi Lauren!
I don’t eat dairy at all unless it is grassfed butter or an occasional raw cheese. If I ever call for plain milk, it is definitely a typo! I am so sorry for that confusion. I use canned coconut milk as my number one milk replacement. It is an amazing milk substitute, which still has the creamy consistency just without the dairy! If you have any more questions about paleo, feel free to reach out!
x vanessa
Have you lost any weight on the paleo diet, or maybe you didn’t have any weight to lose? thank you
Hi Joanna,
I’ve been eating Paleo for over 2 years now. I lost about 20 pounds in the first 5 months then did a Whole30 about a year in and lost another 10 pounds. I’ve been able to keep all the weight off for almost a year!
Love your passion for Paleo haha! It’s great reading your enthusiasm, I feel the same!
Ahh yeah! I love finding other people who love paleo too!
Hi Vanessa,
Happy New Year. Thanks for all your efforts in creating great, healthy recipes. I was wondering if there is any way when we check out your recipes if you could have the picture of the recipes with the names under in each category instead of just the title? It would make it so much easier to “look” through, for those of us who are visual readers/learners. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks, have a blessed year.
Hi Laney,
I love that suggestion and it is definitely on my to-do list! It might be a slow process, but I think you are right it would make the recipe tab much more used friendly!
Just found your blog on pinterest searching for paleo superbowl snacks and I LOVE it! Your about me section describes my eating to a T and your recipes are awesome!
rock chalk!
Ahh love it! I am so happy you found my blog. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
Hi! I’m writing a story about Paleo eating for a national magazine, and I wanted to ask you a few questions. If you wouldn’t mind emailing me, I’ll give you more details. Thanks! Michelle
Vanessa,
Your site is so great, the best I’ve found for paleo friendly recipes online…. and there’s no shortage of sites out there. The recipes are all so easy to follow and the ones I’ve tried have been absolutely delicious. Thank you for your generosity!
I made the decision to eat healthier and adapted the paleo diet a couple months ago. Pre-paleo I loved pretty much any type of pasta imaginable. I still crave pasta but have not been able to find any in the local stores that are paleo friendly. Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated. Places that might carry pre-made pasta (even online), easy ways to make it, etc.
Also, your spicy italian pasta looks and sounds so good…..but the recipe isn’t there.
Thanks,
Jason
Hey Jason!
Thank you so much for your kind words! A great pasta alternative is spiralizing vegetables, but if you want something closer to the real thing Cappellos is a great options! It is sold in some Whole Foods and online here -> https://cappellosglutenfree.com/.
I shared my Spicy Italian Pasta recipe on Meatified. You can find the recipe here-> http://meatified.com/spicy-italian-pasta/
Hope this helps!!
Vanessa
Hi Van, you have done an amazing job with your site,, I just Love reading the things from you,,I just wanted to say that you also look so healthy, and it must be from good eating habits,,
Have a great day, Jolene
Hi Vanessa, I just bought your e-book and I am pumped up about it! I definitely need guidance on re-purposing food.
I make your Elvis pancakes all the time and my kids love them. My batter always turns out lumpy, so my pancakes are kinda thick (don’t laugh). Can you put the mixture in the blender for a better consistency?
Thanks
I think you could definitely pulse the batter in a blender for a few seconds, but be careful to not over blend or they will be very runny. I would also add in the bacon after you blend the batter!
Thank you for the tip on the blender or I would have pureed the mixture with the bacon and had a delish mess on my hands. So jacked about cooking some recipes from your ebook!
Hi Vanessa! I make the salmon cakes from your ebook all the time. They taste great! Mine seem to fall apart in the skillet. It does not affect the taste. Do you have any recommendations for trying to keep them together.
Thanks 🙂
WES
for the last two years, my husband and I have done a Whole30 early in the year then move to paleo that slowly fades until by the end of the year, we’re back to many of our old habits. I do love to cook and love good food so we do keep it mostly homemade using lots of homemade stock and fermented veggies plus drinking lots of homemade kombucha. I, too, am a wine lover (and Jayhawks fan) and I’m excited that I recently found a way to create a residual income stream that’s fun and that supports that love! Appreciate your recipes–to the good life!!
Hi there
I love your blog post, Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies, and we would love to feature it on our website, GreenThickies.com. Would it be OK for me to use one of your photos within my post? I will of course link back to your post.
Thanks so much
Myra
GreenThickies.com
Hi Myra,
Thank you so much for reaching out! Yes you can use my photo with a link back!!
Best,
Vanessa
Hey Vanessa – I gave the instant pot bbq meatball recipe a shot and my sauce burned during the first 5 minute pressure cook, twice! I was wondering if you have any tips to keep that from happening?