Do you remember your first couple of days on the Autoimmune Protocol? I barely do—my memories are really just a combination of feeling light-headed and hungry due to the lack of caffeine and more importantly preparation. I now know that starting AIP doesn’t have to be that way, but I kind of just jumped in cold-turkey and didn’t spend a lot of time planning in advance. So initially I just kept wandering around the kitchen opening cabinets looking for something to eat before I finally realized that none of the food in the pantry worked for me anymore.
On the first two days, I cobbled together some recipes, but on the third day of AIP I decided to get a little fancy. My brand-new coconut flour had just arrived via Amazon and I was excited to try it out. I thought that tacos would be yummy since I had the ingredients for Mickey Trescott’s bacon guac, so I googled to find an AIP tortilla recipe that looked easy enough. I finally found one that used cassava flour, which I didn’t have but I figured, flour is just flour, right? I’ll just use the coconut kind instead. Wow, was that a big mistake! I started mixing up the ingredients and it seemed drier than it should, so I added water…and more water…and more water. It was finally moist but now I had a big ball of sticky dough. Five tortillas and an hour later, the best my husband and I could make was a flat looking biscuit that was still doughy in the middle. I tossed the whole batch and put the bacon guac on top of a salad instead. Yummy!
These days, I have learned that keeping things simple is usually the best course of action. I occasionally try out a more complex recipe, but most nights my formula for dinner is grilled meat, veggies (roasted, steamed, or chopped for a salad), and a starch, such as baked sweet potato or rutabaga fries. The funny thing is that I have found that my kids enjoy the simple meals the best, so it’s a win for everybody!
Here’s my recipe for the simple meal we had last night, completed in less than 20 minutes including prep and cook time. I served the salmon with lightly steamed asparagus and a baked sweet potato.
AIP Grilled Salmon Recipe
(AIP adaption from a Meals.com salmon recipe I’ve sworn by for over 10 years)
1 pound salmon
1/3 cup squeezed lemon or lime
1/3 cup coconut aminos
(I have used maple syrup as a substitute)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons dried basil
½ tablespoon salt
Combine all ingredients and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Grill for 2 minutes per side or bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the cut. That’s it, delicious, healthy, and simple!
What are your simple AIP dinner recipes that you live by? Comment below with your best simple meals, or post directly to our Simply AIP Facebook group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/294743447720378/).
