About Merlene Paynter

Merlene Paynter is a mid-40s mom of two very different but equally amazing kids. Refurr-ee to two cats who despite their advances years still act like juveniles, and is a freelance writer and designer.

Paleo Breakfast Ideas

Steak and Eggs Paleo Breakfast

Breakfast can be one of the more frustrating meals when you first decide to follow a Paleo diet. Many of the so called “breakfast foods” like toast, bagels, muffins, pancakes, oatmeal and breakfast cereals are now off the menu. Now is a good time to rethink what breakfast really means. Breakfast or “break fast” doesn’t [...]

Paleo Snacking

The aisle of bad decisions

The first thing you think about when you make the decision follow the Paleo Diet or the Primal lifestyle is all of the things you will now give up. Giving up grains means no more bread, donuts, cookies, pie, cake, crackers, popcorn… the list is too horrifying to continue. Giving up sugar means no more [...]

Paleo Lasagna

Eggplant Lasagna

Paleo Friendly Eggplant Lasagna Here’s a basic Paleo friendly lasagna recipe for those who, like me, miss pasta! You can change this up and customize it to your own taste by adding mushrooms, spinach and other veggies; using ground pork, ground turkey or no ground meat at all; layering some ricotta cheese; adding different spices, [...]

Introduction to Merlene’s Paleo Journal

June 2012, 168 lbs

It’s funny. I was always the skinny kid. The kind of skinny that had people asking my parents things like, “don’t you feed her?” and “is she sick?” on a regular basis. In high school and even in my 20s, after the birth of my two children, I was still slim. I could eat whatever [...]