Yes, the Atkins diet does allow such non-Paleo foods as bacon and cheese, but
coffee, tea, cream, and butter, (mainstays of many people on this list eating
"mostly Paleo") are not Paleo either. And, more importantly, being 100 pounds
overweight, or diabetic, insulin resistant, etc. are also not Paleo
conditions.

We live in a modern world, eons away from Paleo in far more than just time.
Many folks on this list are eating Paleo to a greater or lesser degree to
combat health/weight problems, and find it very important to control carbohydrate
intake even more than approximating a strict Paleo diet. That apple your mum
eschews is decidedly unPaleo as well, probably containing more sugar than most
low carbers dare eat in an entire day. Nearly all modern fruits and many
vegetables are nothing like their Paleo ancestors.

Each of us has to find his/her own level of Paleo adaptation. Some of us are
happy to eat the bugs and such that can be caught in the wild; most of us
compromise with hunting and gathering in the supermarket. Let's not be too quick
to condemn people for their occasional low carb treats, while trying to cope
with an enormous upheaval in lifestyle, to achieve wellness/weight goals via
diet instead of drugs. At least it's a step in the right direction, and a whole
lot healthier (IMO) than that old standby, the low fat USDA Government Food
Pyramid.

Maddy Mason
Hudson Valley, NY


In a message dated 5/1/2004 4:00:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, Ashley Moran
<[log in to unmask] writes:
My mum won't eat apples because of "all the carbs" but she is quite
happy to munch on low-carb chocolate bars, the ingredients of which
read like the contents of most household cleaners.  I've explained this
too but low-carb choc is "her little treat".  At some point I will have
to admit that it's the insane people that define reality.