What is working

This new way of eating is pretty strict most of the time.

No white flour, no sugar, no fruit, no grains, no corn, no potatoes, no dairy.

That's a lot of nos.

and a lot of meat, and a lot of vegetables :)

and a lot of thinking as to "what can i make?" (answers - there are a ton of things, and they aren't even that slower to get together, it's just a different way of thinking.)

A few things i've enjoyed lately - ham wrapped in lettuce (would have been even better with some homemade mayo, but i'm out), beef with half an avocado, sliced and placed atop slices of beef, with a little bit of nuts and some salad on the side.  Pork rinds, when i'm getting antsy for something crispy.  Chicken with the skin on, and seasoned a ton.  Eggs with salsa and guacamole.  And a lot of vegetables (i'm buying a lot of frozen veggies so the prep time doesn't overwhelm me as we make the change - we still have some fresh, but some frozen, too).  Root vegetables, roasted, are delicious and get a crispy caramelized coating if you toss them with some olive oil, salt and pepper them, and cook them in the roaster with your meat...

The other thing that is working for us is *condiments*.  When you are omnivorously eating, condiments are just something on the side, extras.  And not even that appealing.   But when your diet is more restricted, suddenly you are looking at them differently.  What we are enjoying lately are stuffed olives, mussels or oysters (tinned), grainy mustards for sauces or dips, homemade roasted garlic aioli (mmm) or mayo, homemade chimichurri (click the link for delish recipes from Tyler's Ultimate - i love them!)  of course nuts, including toasted soy nuts.  Pickles. Travis is liking him some sauerkraut (but i can't get into the kind that's packed into a little plastic bladder.  Packaging fail!)  Artichoke hearts are delicious little morsels that are allowed and that pack a punch of flavour.  Marinated mushrooms (marinated in olive oil and tamari - my 15 year old son loves these so much i have to make sure to get a few within 24 hours or he'll have eaten them all).

Condiments make a difference!  Try them again if they aren't a regular part of your diet - they may be the thing that lets you "be good" for one more day :)