The Costco Connection - January 2014

high-quality foods and remind critics that it’s actually possible to save money on a Paleo diet by ditching expensive packaged snack foods. “Many of us spend so much money on junk processed foods,” says Sisson. “I can show you many families who, once they took out a bunch of junk, saw their food bills actually decline. You can literally save money doing this.”

Dining out and traveling

Another oft-heard criticism of Paleo is the difficulty the diet presents for traveling and dining out. While the convenience factor definitely takes a hit with the Paleo lifestyle, adherents find that a little prep-work enables them to enjoy the freedom of travel without compromising their dietary principles. “For traveling, I usually tell people to think ahead and prepare,” says Sanfilippo. “Pack snacks like jerky, nuts, hard-boiled eggs and cut-up veggies. I take wild canned

Winter Kale &
Persimmon Salad

THIS FRUITY, TANGY salad is mega-tasty and super nutritious. Plus, it takes only five minutes to prepare, so you can hastily assemble it to pack for lunch in the office or to accompany a hearty dinner on a cold night.

And unlike many other salad greens, kale holds up beautifully and tastes even better the next day. How nutrient-packed is kale? On the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index, which measures nutrient density per calorie, kale’s the only food with a perfect score of 1,000.

3 cups baby lacinato kale

1 medium Fuyu persimmon, peeled and
thinly sliced
¼ cup citrus vinaigrette
¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted

Cut the kale into a chiffonade by stacking the leaves, rolling them tightly and cutting across the rolled leaves to produce fine ribbons.

In a large bowl, toss together the kale and the persimmon slices. Dress with the vinaigrette to taste, and massage the dressing into the kale with your hands. Top with slivered almonds and serve.

Makes 2 servings.

; For this recipe, use a tomato-shaped Fuyu persimmon. Fuyu persimmons have a crisp, apple-like texture, and add a floral sweetness and crunch to this salad.

; Kale salads aren’t just for the winter. In the summer, use sliced stone fruit (peaches, plums, pluots, nectarines or even pitted cherries) in place of the persimmon for a sweet and tangy variation.

salmon and make my own salmon salad. I
pack it in a container with lettuce and 2
ounces of dressing on the side. Then I can
put it together once I get on the plane.”
In fact, Costco member Michelle Tam
started her Paleo journey while traveling.
On a family cruise, she was feasting her eyes
upon the culinary cornucopia of the ship’s
buffet when she observed an overweight
man confined to a motorized wheelchair
piling his plate high with bread and maple
syrup. The scene flipped a switch for Tam,
and she decided to go Paleo then and there.
Armed with a bachelor’s in nutrition and
food sciences, a doctorate
in pharmacy and a love for
cooking, she used her
knowledge to craft creative
Paleo recipes for her family
and shared them on her
blog, NomNomPaleo.com.

After making the dietary switch, “things that I thought were normal [went away], like rumbly [gastrointesti-nal] stuff, nagging tendon-itis and my muffin top,” she says. “It definitely changed my body composition. I’m definitely stronger and can run around with my kids.”

Cookware

Tam admits that she’s a kitchen “gadget queen,” but says “you just need a frying pan and a good knife” to cook most Paleo recipes.

However, as a busy working
mom, she finds that adding
a few gadgets to her kitchen
arsenal helps maximize
cooking efficiency. She rec-
ommends enameled cast-
iron cookware, a Vitamix
blender and a water oven
called a sous vide. “With
expensive cuts of meat, it’s
perfect because you can’t
ruin them,” Tam says of the sous vide. “With
cheaper cuts, you can keep them in the water
oven long enough that they tenderize in 48
to 72 hours.”
Though it may seem challenging to dis-
card grains and other dietary staples, propo-
nents believe the benefits trump the sacrifice.
“Just try it for 21 to 30 days,” urges Tam. “See
how it feels; see if you feel better and have
more energy; see if the pain, discomfort and
lack of energy you were experiencing before
go away. It’s only three weeks to a month, and
it is only food. Just see how you feel.” C

Jennifer Babisak is a Houston-based writer who specializes in travel and wellness.

Slow Cooker
Kalua Pork

YOU WON’T FIND an easier or more succulent kalua pork recipe than this one. All you need is a big pork roast, some bacon, Hawaiian sea salt and patience.

Remember: Quality matters—especially when you’re using just a handful of ingredients—so buy the best roast you can get your hands on, and let the slow cooker do the rest.

3 bacon slices

5-pound Boston butt pork roast (bone in or boneless)

1½ tablespoons coarse (or 1 tablespoon fine)

red Hawaiian sea salt

Line the bottom of a slow cooker with the strips of bacon. Evenly salt the pork with the Hawaiian sea salt. Put the roast in the slow cooker on top of the bacon, skin side up.

Cook the roast on low for about 16 hours.

Remove the meat from the pot and set it on a plate.

Shred the meat with a couple of forks and adjust the seasoning with some of the remaining cooking liquid.

Once the pork’s properly seasoned, remove the remaining liquid from the pot and return the meat to the slow cooker to keep it warm until you’re ready to serve it. Makes 8 servings.

Recipes courtesy of Michelle Tam

Athlete and author Mark Sisson attributes the Paleo lifestyle to his impressive health and fitness.

The Costco Connection

Costco members will find a variety of Paleo cookbooks in select warehouses, along with cookware, fresh meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts and blenders. You’ll also find blenders and a sous vide water oven on Costco.com.