You want fries with that? Negociating the Fast Food Waters.

Strict Paleo rocks! Why? Because of the focus it gives me, and because of last week’s Mexican fast food triumph.

I had a two day workshop in King of Prussia last weekend. Late to bed and late to rise, I didn’t have time to pack anything for lunch. Saturday was going to be an 8 hour session, so skipping lunch wasn’t an option (as if it ever is). I knew there was a Baja Fresh across from the workshop site, so I hoped for the best.

A little background is in order here. I’m a sucker for Mexican food. The real thing, the pseudo stuff (Qdoba, Chipotle, Baja Fresh but definitely NOT Taco Bell) and the fancy nouveau Mexican cuisine.  Stick salsa, cheese, guacamole and sour cream on anything and you’re alright with me. Luckily salsa is Paleo/Whole3o approved as long as it’s sugar-free and made from real food. Even guacamole is approved, and since I make my own simple guac with avocados, fresh lime juice and sea salt, I’ve been able to indulge freely. But cheese, black beans and sour cream, not to mention tortilla chips, are not on the Paleo list.

So, it was with a bit of trepidation that I entered Baja Fresh on Saturday. I scoured the menu board for approved fare. It seemed like everything was on the “no” list. Time to get creative.

Luckily BF does actually have lots of fresh, “real food” items. So, my creativity involved omission and substitution.

“I’ll have the Skinny Chicken Bowl with no corn, rice or beans.”

“That’s what I like”, said the workshop attendee standing next to me, “a woman who knows what she wants.” (Little did she know I had spent the last 5 minutes staring at the board in absolute indecision).

“That’s all you want?”, said the cashier as she looked at me as if I was crazy. “Yes”, I said. “You don’t want any corn?” “Nope. Oh! But could I have avocado?!”, I said like a child asking for her favorite toy.  “Could you put extra avocado on it?!”

Then she went to get the chips. “Oh, no chips please” (the hardest words I have ever uttered at a BF). Second crazy look from the cashier.

Lunch that day (and the next) was a Baja Fresh Skinny Chicken Bowl with Pico de Gallo, onions, chile peppers, extra avocado, double extra salsa from the “fixins bar” and half an orange from home. It was a delish, and a triumph for me.

I have 3 full days left on my Whole30, and although I’m going to break it for a few days for Thanksgiving, I’m thinking that this is the life.