The Beginning of a new year!

  Today is a special day, it is my son Lucca's first day of second grade!  I know it's a special day for most parents (or the day you jump for joy because summer break is over) but considering last year we didn't know if this would be possible, it makes it a little more special to us (plus I am glad summer break is over).  

  Last year we had the dreadful call from Lucca's first grade teacher questioning whether Lucca would be able to handle second grade which makes any parent's heart sink. Academically, he was "okay" but his behavior and inability to sit still was his major issue.  As he got worse we finally got the diagnosis of PANDAS. 

  We are now on the right track and figured out what works best for Lucca and our family.  One of those things is the Paleo Lifestyle.  We have to keep inflammation down in his body and removing grains, dairy and sugar have proven to help him along the way. It's been pretty tough to convince a seven and three year old (our youngest Kaine) that mommy's muffins are better than the ones they see in Starbucks, but they have definitely been great sports with learning what works and doesn't work for their bodies. We went at this as a family and knew it would only work if we did it together. Isn't there a saying The family that eats healthy together stays healthy together...or some sappy thing like that.  I'm not too sappy of a person, but hey, sometimes I like to throw it out there. 

  Believe me it has taken some time and I have had my share of disastrous recipes that even my husband, Damon, wouldn't eat. He is pretty much a human garbage disposal so if he wouldn't eat it, well you get the point.  Over time I have come up with some awesome dishes that people always wanted the recipes to or just couldn't stop eating it.  

  So here you go, I am starting this adventure of paleo recipes that anyone can enjoy, some geared towards kids, some geared to our spicy palette (because Damon and I like to see who can handle the most heat, we compete with everything...we have issues but that's for another blog), some leaning towards the good old comfort foods or some I just threw together that work.  

Hope you enjoy!  Happy cooking and eating!

Jen