When people first hear about paleo, they picture steak, avocado and expensive imported snacks. That picture puts a lot of Indians off before they even try. The good news is that the basic idea is simple, and much of it fits the way our grandparents already cooked.
The core of paleo is eating whole foods and cutting back on the processed stuff. In practice that means vegetables, eggs, meat or fish if you eat them, nuts, seeds, good fats and fruit, with fewer packaged foods, refined sugar and refined flour. Many people following paleo also drop grains and most pulses. Whether you go that far is your call. Plenty of people start by simply swapping out the obvious processed items and see how they feel.
Here is what we tell friends who ask where to begin.
Start with your cooking fat. This is the easiest change and it affects every meal. Ghee, cold pressed coconut oil, groundnut oil and sesame oil are all traditional in Indian cooking. Choose one or two that suit the food you make. Coconut oil works well for South Indian dishes, sesame oil for pickles and tempering, ghee for almost everything.
Keep your masala box. Turmeric, pepper, cumin, mustard and the rest are already paleo friendly. What to watch is ready made masala mixes and sauces that add sugar, starch or preservatives. Read the label, or grind your own blends.
Plan for the grain gap. The hardest part for most Indian households is breakfast and dinner without rice or wheat. Some easy fixes we lean on: egg bhurji with plenty of vegetables, vegetable poriyal or thoran as a main and not a side, and flatbreads made with almond or coconut flour. They take a little practice. The first few almond flour rotis will probably crack. Add a spoon of ghee to the dough and roll between two sheets of butter paper.
Sort out snacks before you get hungry. Most people slip up at 4 pm, not at lunch. Keep a jar of mixed nuts, roasted seeds or a few dates where you can reach it. A small handful is enough, and it beats a packet of biscuits from the corner shop.
Do not try to change everything in one week. Pick one meal, usually breakfast, and get it right for a couple of weeks. Then move to the next. You will learn which recipes your family actually likes, and that matters more than following a list perfectly.
A note on health: if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, or take regular medication, talk to your doctor before making big changes to how you eat. We sell food, not treatment, and a doctor who knows you is the right person for that conversation.
If you want to stock up, our Paleo / Keto Pantry has flours, sweeteners and staples, and the oils and spices collections cover the basics for everyday cooking. Start small, cook often, and adjust as you go.
Related: Paleo / Keto Pantry | Cold Pressed Oils | Spices