Dietitian to speak on paleo diet

The Paleo Way can help navigate health conscious individuals to a simple and healthy diet.
Katrina Regehr Springer will explain the protein rich diet at 7 o’clock Thursday night as part of the Creitz Recital Hall Speaker Series.
A  Paleolithic diet harkens back to the days of the hunter and gatherer time frame in history.
“Studies have shown they were more healthy than those who were Neolithic and farming,” she said.
On the diet people can eat vegetables (except white potatoes), meat (fish, beef, pork chicken, eggs), fruit, nuts, healthy fats like coconut and olive oil and spices. So what’s not on the list? Grains, legumes, dairy, sweeteners, refined oils and anything artificial. This might sound rough for today’s average American, but Springer assures it’s quite simple.
“What we know as nutrition is a low-fat diet but this diet is actually a high fat diet,” she said.
Her family of four still gets all the nutrients they need. They receive calcium and fiber in vegetables and fruit. Meals are based around a protein.
Springer hasn’t always been on this diet. Her brother, Sean, does a lot of Crossfit and suggested Springer and her family read a book about the paleo diet to get them started.
“Before the diet my energy level always dropped and I would carry snacks around in my purse because I craved a constant source of energy,” she said.
Now the snacks are gone and she said she feels better than ever.
The Springer family has been on the diet for two years now and has seen vast improvements in their health and everyday life. Springer credited the new diet for eliminating her eczema and lowering her husband’s blood pressure. Their children, Rohan, 6, and Moriah, 2, are also on the diet.
Nutrition has always been a large part of Springer’s life.
“When I was younger I had this dream to own a health restaurant and a fitness center right next door to each other,” Springer said.
She is a 2000 graduate of Iola High School. Springer was born in Germany and moved with her family, the Regehrs, a lot because her father was in the Air Force. She moved to Iola with her family in eighth grade when her father, Walt Regehr, retired from the Air Force. After high school Springer attended Kansas State University and studied abroad for a semester at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia. She earned three bachelors of sciences in nutrition, dietetics and kinesiology in 2006. She did an internship at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.
“I moved to Ardmore, Okla., with my husband and I worked with Women, Infants, Children, as a dietitian and did some private consultating,” she said.
The Springers moved to Iola in December 2013. Job works at Landmark Bank and Springer is the PRN clinical dietitian at Allen County Regional Hospital.
When they started the paleo diet it was a transition. They first started the whole 30-meal plan and followed it to a T. This plan introduces only whole, clean foods and recipes.
“I liked it because it gave me a structure to follow but then I got the hang of it,” she said.
Depending on their schedule she will plan meals ahead of time or put them in the slow cooker.
As many grocery shoppers know, fresh fruits and vegetables can be a little more expensive than a box of Hamburger Helper.
“You prioritize your food in terms of nutrition and get a lot more for your dollar,” Springer said. “Yes, it’s going to be a little more but you’re less likely to get a multitude of diseases and less likely to have health problems later on.”
The Springers buy meat in bulk at the Moran Meat Locker and in the summer they grow vegetables so the produce is cheaper. Letting go of grains was slightly difficult at first for Springer and so were the holidays. This Thanksgiving they had no rolls and they didn’t even notice.
“This changes your mindset and not eating grains has gotten to the point where it’s normal for us,” she said.
On Monday Springer will start the Iola Whole 30, a meal plan that promotoes the Paleo Diet. It’s a support system in the community to start clean eating together. Springer started a Facebook page to have people communicate about struggles and accomplishments.
“There is no harm in trying something new,” she said. “The whole thirty is not that long and you can see how your health can be affected.”