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picky eater paleo diet fussy 2-min

How to Get a Picky Eater to Go Paleo

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We’ve all heard about those people who come with a huge list of foods they cannot possibly eat. Or worse still, those who can only eat from a restrictive list of very specific foods – and the acceptable foods always seem to be things like pizza or chicken nuggets, rather than green vegetables.

So when you know a paleo approach will benefit the picky-eater’s health, how can you help them break through their fussiness, to give paleo a fair go?

picky eater paleo diet fussy 2-min

Firstly, start off with a list of what your picky eater will and won’t eat (at the moment).

Why are they a picky eater?

Firstly, you need to understand why they’re a picky eater. Are they just a creature of habits, deeply stuck in their ways? Have they been eating the same restricted foods since childhood? If this is the case, could these familiar foods be somehow comforting to the picky eater? Or perhaps the reality is your picky eater is addicted to processed foods?

If they do lean heavily towards these foods, it’s best to ease them into paleo slowly. They like pizza – so make them a paleo pizza. Pasta addict – give them some pasta alternatives. Cake fan – wean them off slowly with some paleo baked treats.

What if they genuinely don’t like lots of foods?

If they absolutely hate the taste of lots of paleo-friendly foods, have they actually tried them recently? Is a memory of nasty Brussel Sprouts from school-days putting them off all green vegetables? Try re-exposing them to these foods again, if they’re willing to try them several times, they may find their tastes change. If this doesn’t work, how about hiding the veggies in a sauce, smoothie, or other dish and starting from there? Spinach is a great vegetable to add to dishes, as it vastly reduces in volume once it’s cooked, so could be barely noticeable in a curry.

Another possibility is that your picky eater has sensory issues – that is they are bothered by the texture and flavour of the foods they eat. Find out what is acceptable to them, and see if it can be replicated. If they like a crunchy texture, perhaps a dehydrator will be key.

Have you helped a formerly picky eater expand their food horizons? How did you do it, do share, in the comments below.

Breakfast for a prime minister paleo diet healthy-min

Breakfast Fit for a Prime Minister?

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I was interested to see photos of a typical Breakfast for British Prime Minister David Cameron.

  • Lurpak butter ( Ingredients: Organic butter (69%), organic rapeseed oil (25%), lactic culture, salt (0.9%))
  • Shredded Wheat Cereal (judging by the rest of the meal, I bet the milk isn't whole fat)
  • Toast with Jam
  • Low-fat yoghurt
  • Fruit

That's certainly a very carb-heavy Breakfast, without much fat or protein in sight. They must need regular carbohydrate based snacks for when their blood sugar levels crash shortly after eating.

I'd have loved to see them tucking into a proper cooked Breakfast! Perhaps Julia Gillard starts the days with bacon and eggs, cooked in coconut oil?

Paleo breakfast plate featuring nutritious whole foods, inspired by a healthy start for a prime minister

What Does a Leader’s Breakfast Say About the Nation?

While it might sound like a small thing, what our leaders eat for breakfast actually paints an interesting picture. The foods they choose reflect the prevailing attitudes of the time – and influence millions of people watching from around the world. So when the British PM is snapped starting the day with a beige buffet of low-fat yoghurt, cereal and toast, what message does that send?

It seems that even at the highest levels, we're still stuck in a nutritional time warp – one where fat is feared, cereal is king, and protein barely gets a look-in before midday.

But what if the next Prime Minister chose a breakfast of pasture-raised eggs, grilled tomatoes, avocado, and a few rashers of free-range bacon cooked in ghee or coconut oil? What if world leaders normalised nutrient-dense, protein-rich, whole food breakfasts?

That shift could be revolutionary.

The Low-Fat Legacy That Won’t Die

The obsession with low-fat everything – yoghurt, milk, butter alternatives – has lingered since the 1970s, despite mounting evidence that it was based on shaky science. Governments around the world promoted it with the best of intentions, hoping it would reduce heart disease. Instead, we’ve seen skyrocketing rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory conditions. Replacing fat with sugar and ultra-processed grains didn’t make us healthier – it just made us hungrier.

That Cameron breakfast is a prime example of this outdated advice in action. Where’s the fat-soluble nutrition? The stable energy from protein and healthy fats? The satiety?

A Better Breakfast (Even for Politicians)

If we were designing a breakfast that fuels long meetings, decisive leadership, and mental clarity, it wouldn’t be Shredded Wheat and low-fat fruit yoghurt. It might look something like this:

  • 3 eggs (soft-boiled or scrambled) from pasture-raised hens
  • 1/2 avocado with lemon and sea salt
  • Sautéed mushrooms and spinach in olive oil or ghee
  • A rasher or two of bacon from heritage-breed pigs
  • Herbal tea or black coffee, maybe with MCT oil or collagen peptides

This breakfast provides a solid 25 – 30g of protein, healthy fats, fibre, and micronutrients. It keeps blood sugar stable and provides long-lasting energy without a crash at 10:30am.

Breakfast Around the World: The Paleo Version

Curious how other countries could rethink their national breakfasts through a Paleo lens? Let’s look at a few examples:

Australia

Instead of Vegemite on toast or Weet-Bix, a Paleo Aussie breakfast might include:

  • Kangaroo sausage or lamb chops
  • Roasted sweet potato cubes
  • Smashed avocado with lemon
  • A side of fermented veggies

Japan

Rather than miso soup and rice:

  • Bone broth with wilted Asian greens and shredded chicken
  • Soft-boiled eggs
  • Pickled vegetables and seaweed salad

France

Ditch the croissant and café au lait for:

  • Omelette with herbs and mushrooms
  • Duck fat-fried potatoes
  • Black coffee with cinnamon

Reimagining these breakfasts isn’t about restriction – it’s about fuelling the body for the day ahead in a way that’s biologically appropriate and deeply satisfying.

Why Protein & Fat Matter First Thing in the Morning

Eating protein-rich, fat-dense meals in the morning has several advantages:

  1. Blood Sugar Stability: Without the spike-and-crash of refined carbs, your energy stays consistent through to lunch.
  2. Satiety: Protein and fat help you feel full longer – meaning less temptation to snack mid-morning.
  3. Hormonal Support: Protein supports neurotransmitter function (especially dopamine and serotonin), while fat is essential for hormone production.
  4. Cognitive Focus: A steady fuel supply helps with attention, decision-making, and mood regulation.

If you’ve ever felt foggy or hangry after a bowl of cereal, now you know why.

How to Politely Decline the Cereal

If you’re trying to encourage your household, friends, or workplace to rethink breakfast, you don’t need to start with lectures. Try these gentle nudges:

  • “That looks tasty – but have you ever tried eggs and avo for breakfast? I feel full for hours when I do.”
  • “I’m testing a new breakfast to see if it helps me concentrate better during the day.”
  • “It’s wild how long cereal has been marketed as healthy. Have you seen the ingredients list lately?”

Sometimes, a quiet example is the most powerful way to lead change.

Leading by Example (Even if You’re Not Prime Minister)

You don’t need to be the leader of a nation to influence those around you. Your family, co-workers, and online community are watching. When they see you consistently choosing real food in the mornings – and noticing your energy, skin, mood, and performance improve – they’ll start to wonder what you’re doing differently.

Why not make your next breakfast something worth copying?

Breakfast & the Bigger Picture

Breakfast isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It sets the tone for the day, physically and mentally. A nourishing breakfast says:

  • “I prioritise my wellbeing.”
  • “I prepare in advance.”
  • “I make choices based on what works for my body.”

Compare that to a rushed piece of toast or sugary yoghurt scoffed in the car. That sets a completely different tone.

If our leaders – and let’s face it, we all lead someone – want to show up fully in their day, a proper breakfast is a powerful place to start.

Your Turn

What do you think of David Cameron’s breakfast? What’s the most nutrient-dense way you’ve started your day recently? Have you convinced anyone in your life to ditch cereal for bacon and eggs?

Let me know in the comments – and maybe one day, we’ll see a future Prime Minister go viral for making a slow-cooked liver and sweet potato hash before Parliament.