The first thing you should know about 
The first thing you should know about 

Strauss Mann’ Paleo diet is that it isn’t 
Strauss Mann’ Paleo diet is that it isn’t 

exactly Paleo.
exactly Paleo.

When I found out, I was popping 
When I found out, I was popping 

open three boxes of tupperware and 
open three boxes of tupperware and 

unwrapping a large bowl. It was Day 30, 
unwrapping a large bowl. It was Day 30, 

and I had just finished my month-long 
and I had just finished my month-long 

self-initiated challenge of trying out the 
self-initiated challenge of trying out the 

famed diet.
famed diet.

Earlier in the week, I met up with the 
Earlier in the week, I met up with the 

sophomore goaltender for our weekly 
sophomore goaltender for our weekly 

check-in on my progress and, feeling bold, 
check-in on my progress and, feeling bold, 

I asked if he would be down for each of us 
I asked if he would be down for each of us 

to cook up something Paleo and swap — a 
to cook up something Paleo and swap — a 

celebration for the end of my trial.
celebration for the end of my trial.

He was happy to.
He was happy to.

Three days later, I presented my 
Three days later, I presented my 

masterpiece: A box of sliced chicken thighs, 
masterpiece: A box of sliced chicken thighs, 

roasted sweet potatoes, roasted brussel 
roasted sweet potatoes, roasted brussel 

sprouts and a bowl of fried rice.
sprouts and a bowl of fried rice.

I started reading off the ingredients I 
I started reading off the ingredients I 

used. Everything was tossed in olive oil and 
used. Everything was tossed in olive oil and 

roasted except some chicken, which was 
roasted except some chicken, which was 

coated with almond flour. As I went down 
coated with almond flour. As I went down 

the list, I realized the whole exchange 
the list, I realized the whole exchange 

flopped.
flopped.

For one, he forgot to bring food. Maybe I 
For one, he forgot to bring food. Maybe I 

didn’t think this through.
didn’t think this through.

Second of all, he couldn’t eat a bite 
Second of all, he couldn’t eat a bite 

of anything I cooked that day. Yeah, I 
of anything I cooked that day. Yeah, I 

definitely didn’t think this through.
definitely didn’t think this through.

“You can’t just throw me in the deep 
“You can’t just throw me in the deep 

end, say ‘Eat my food,’ ” Strauss explained. 
end, say ‘Eat my food,’ ” Strauss explained. 

“There’s details here!”
“There’s details here!”

While his diet is closest to paleo, there’s 
While his diet is closest to paleo, there’s 

a lot of small changes in between that make 
a lot of small changes in between that make 

it his own. No olive oil for cooking. No nuts. 
it his own. No olive oil for cooking. No nuts. 

No plastic tupperware. He’s the master 
No plastic tupperware. He’s the master 

of his own diet. That’s the first thing you 
of his own diet. That’s the first thing you 

should know about his diet, and at the end 
should know about his diet, and at the end 

of my 30 days, it was the last thing I found 
of my 30 days, it was the last thing I found 

out.
out.

Huh, I 
Huh, I 

guess I just did it 
guess I just did it 

wrong.
wrong.

***
***

In Greenwich, 
In Greenwich, 

Conn., there’s only one 
Conn., there’s only one 

Buffalo Wild Wings. Two, 
Buffalo Wild Wings. Two, 

depending on where you draw 
depending on where you draw 

the city lines. Some days, before his 
the city lines. Some days, before his 

junior year in high school, Strauss would 
junior year in high school, Strauss would 

walk in and order boneless wings.
walk in and order boneless wings.

Other times, he’d go elsewhere and get 
Other times, he’d go elsewhere and get 

pizza and pasta. Sundays, he would make 
pizza and pasta. Sundays, he would make 

Bagel Bites. Mornings, he’d have a bacon, 
Bagel Bites. Mornings, he’d have a bacon, 

egg and cheese sandwich. Before his diet, 
egg and cheese sandwich. Before his diet, 

Strauss was like any other teenager.
Strauss was like any other teenager.

But until that point, his role as a hockey 
But until that point, his role as a hockey 

player on his high school team was barely 
player on his high school team was barely 

a role at all. He was the third-string 
a role at all. He was the third-string 

goaltender and appeared in zero games. 
goaltender and appeared in zero games. 

Something had to change.
Something had to change.

In past years, he tried different types 
In past years, he tried different types 

of diets.
of diets.

He tried cutting out meat, and he even 
He tried cutting out meat, and he even 

attempted to eat less. While he lost a lot of 
attempted to eat less. While he lost a lot of 

weight, he lost a lot of muscle, too.
weight, he lost a lot of muscle, too.

The summer after his sophomore year 
The summer after his sophomore year 

in high school, though, Strauss found out 
in high school, though, Strauss found out 

there was a gym in town where a lot of 
there was a gym in town where a lot of 

NHL players would work out during the 
NHL players would work out during the 

off-season. 
off-season. 

Strauss begged his mom, Sally, to go. But 
Strauss begged his mom, Sally, to go. But 

she wouldn’t let him.
she wouldn’t let him.

Instead, a friend of his went and 
Instead, a friend of his went and 

chanced upon a nutritionist who gave him 
chanced upon a nutritionist who gave him 

an entire dietary meal plan. When Strauss 
an entire dietary meal plan. When Strauss 

saw it, he simply took it for himself. Hockey 
saw it, he simply took it for himself. Hockey 

had become a commitment, and he had to 
had become a commitment, and he had to 

go all in.
go all in.

“Strauss made a decision for himself 
“Strauss made a decision for himself 

that he really wanted to take hockey as 
that he really wanted to take hockey as 

far as he could,” Sally said. “And I think 
far as he could,” Sally said. “And I think 

he started recognizing at that point that 
he started recognizing at that point that 

wishing wasn’t going to be enough.”
wishing wasn’t going to be enough.”

Strauss cited that summer as a turning 
Strauss cited that summer as a turning 

point in his career.
point in his career.

But he didn’t start all-in — instead 
But he didn’t start all-in — instead 

cherry-picking what he liked from the 
cherry-picking what he liked from the 

base Paleo diet. Over time, he did more 
base Paleo diet. Over time, he did more 

research and started pinpointing specifics 
research and started pinpointing specifics 

he thought he could improve. He talked to 
he thought he could improve. He talked to 

as many people as possible and even met 
as many people as possible and even met 

with the nutritionist who made the original 
with the nutritionist who made the original 

meal plan for his friend.
meal plan for his friend.

“It was hard, but he kind of stair-
“It was hard, but he kind of stair-

stepped into it at the beginning,” Sally said.
stepped into it at the beginning,” Sally said.

Because of the gradual start, Sally and 
Because of the gradual start, Sally and 

others had just labeled it a phase. His 
others had just labeled it a phase. His 

family was no stranger to unorthodox 
family was no stranger to unorthodox 

eating habits. One of his three sisters was a 
eating habits. One of his three sisters was a 

vegetarian; another had food allergies. So 
vegetarian; another had food allergies. So 

when Strauss declared he was trying out 
when Strauss declared he was trying out 

this new diet, they all just wondered how 
this new diet, they all just wondered how 

long it would last.
long it would last.

But it lasted, and the conviction showed. 
But it lasted, and the conviction showed. 

When Sally went shopping, Strauss asked 
When Sally went shopping, Strauss asked 

for ingredients aligned with what he could 
for ingredients aligned with what he could 

eat. And when it wasn’t made for dinner, he 
eat. And when it wasn’t made for dinner, he 

made it himself.
made it himself.

“It’s something that gives me 
“It’s something that gives me 

discipline,” Strauss said. “I was the third 
discipline,” Strauss said. “I was the third 

goalie on my high school team, and then, 
goalie on my high school team, and then, 

everything started to change. So it’s like, 
everything started to change. So it’s like, 

you’re not gonna just stop doing it.”
you’re not gonna just stop doing it.”

***
***

The problem for me was never stopping, 
The problem for me was never stopping, 

it was starting. And honestly, I can’t say my 
it was starting. And honestly, I can’t say my 

reason for starting the diet was as inspired.
reason for starting the diet was as inspired.

From the start, I knew I wanted to do 
From the start, I knew I wanted to do 

it for an article — and also so I could get in 
it for an article — and also so I could get in 

better shape for spring break.
better shape for spring break.

I didn’t have a bottom line. I wasn’t 
I didn’t have a bottom line. I wasn’t 

trying to improve my hockey skills. I was 
trying to improve my hockey skills. I was 

just … going to do it.
just … going to do it.

I kept pushing it off until January, and I 
I kept pushing it off until January, and I 

had run out of excuses. That didn’t stop me 
had run out of excuses. That didn’t stop me 

from trying, though. Anything to get out 
from trying, though. Anything to get out 

of doing it. 
of doing it. 

Give up candy and chips? I ate those 
Give up candy and chips? I ate those 

every day. Wings and pizza, too? Those two 
every day. Wings and pizza, too? Those two 

made up my dinner every day.
made up my dinner every day.

And not having a legit reason to do the 
And not having a legit reason to do the 

diet made it that much harder to flip the 
diet made it that much harder to flip the 

switch. But tequila helped. Literally. I was 
switch. But tequila helped. Literally. I was 

at Skeeps on Jan. 7 when the fifth shot 
at Skeeps on Jan. 7 when the fifth shot 

started to kick in. 
started to kick in. 

Now is the time, I told myself, as beer 
Now is the time, I told myself, as beer 

and 
and 

other 
other 

gluten-
gluten-

infested 
infested 

drinks spilled 
drinks spilled 

all around me. 
all around me. 

Tequila is technically 
Tequila is technically 

Paleo, so I was off on 
Paleo, so I was off on 

the right foot. But I took my 
the right foot. But I took my 

declaration seriously. I’m a man of 
declaration seriously. I’m a man of 

my word.
my word.

I went in to media availability the next 
I went in to media availability the next 

day and asked Strauss for tips. I wanted to 
day and asked Strauss for tips. I wanted to 

do the diet right.
do the diet right.

“You can’t just be eating like carrots for 
“You can’t just be eating like carrots for 

lunch or something,” Strauss said. “That’s 
lunch or something,” Strauss said. “That’s 

just not enough for your body. I have to eat 
just not enough for your body. I have to eat 

like a ton of food.”
like a ton of food.”

I had, indeed, only eaten a bag of carrots 
I had, indeed, only eaten a bag of carrots 

— not for lunch prior to talking to him, but 
— not for lunch prior to talking to him, but 

for the entire day. I hadn’t gone grocery 
for the entire day. I hadn’t gone grocery 

shopping for the week yet, nor did I have 
shopping for the week yet, nor did I have 

the time.
the time.

So for the first 72 hours of my trial, I had 
So for the first 72 hours of my trial, I had 

three eggs, a bag of carrots and two bags of 
three eggs, a bag of carrots and two bags of 

Clementines.
Clementines.

And to be honest, I was miserable. I 
And to be honest, I was miserable. I 

was gassed doing the simplest things, tired 
was gassed doing the simplest things, tired 

all the time. My sight was a little blurry, I 
all the time. My sight was a little blurry, I 

constantly felt like passing out and it was 
constantly felt like passing out and it was 

hard to think straight. So nothing changed, 
hard to think straight. So nothing changed, 

really.
really.

But I stuck through it. Tough times 
But I stuck through it. Tough times 

make tough people or something like that, 
make tough people or something like that, 

right? It didn’t help that I had to travel to 
right? It didn’t help that I had to travel to 

South Bend on Day 4 and 5 to cover the 
South Bend on Day 4 and 5 to cover the 

hockey games. I packed an extra bag of 
hockey games. I packed an extra bag of 

carrots.
carrots.

Luckily, my fellow writers noticed my 
Luckily, my fellow writers noticed my 

famined state and brought me to a Paleo-
famined state and brought me to a Paleo-

friendly brunch place. I ordered everything 
friendly brunch place. I ordered everything 

that I could eat.
that I could eat.

“How do you cook your bacon?” I asked 
“How do you cook your bacon?” I asked 

just to make sure it was Paleo-approved. 
just to make sure it was Paleo-approved. 

It was the final question from the long list 
It was the final question from the long list 

of things I had to check off every time I 
of things I had to check off every time I 

ate out. She already noted they use sea salt 
ate out. She already noted they use sea salt 

and that the sweet potato fries were baked 
and that the sweet potato fries were baked 

instead of fried.
instead of fried.

“Not too crispy,” the waitress replied. 
“Not too crispy,” the waitress replied. 

Perfect.
Perfect.

The start was by far the hardest part, 
The start was by far the hardest part, 

and the adjustment period my body 
and the adjustment period my body 

underwent — Days 1 through 5 — made 
underwent — Days 1 through 5 — made 

me question my existence. But I started to 
me question my existence. But I started to 

actually feel change, effects that Sally listed 
actually feel change, effects that Sally listed 

off that Strauss felt too, like waking up 
off that Strauss felt too, like waking up 

every morning with a clearer head. 
every morning with a clearer head. 

Maybe it was worth it after all.
Maybe it was worth it after all.

***
***

Strauss continued the diet throughout 
Strauss continued the diet throughout 

high school. It became easier with 
high school. It became easier with 

experience.
experience.

He realized he couldn’t just turn the 
He realized he couldn’t just turn the 

diet on and off as he had the previous 
diet on and off as he had the previous 

ones, because it would be too hard to start 
ones, because it would be too hard to start 

again. No more spending Saturday nights 
again. No more spending Saturday nights 

snacking 
snacking 
on 
on 

chips. No more eating any refined carbs of 
chips. No more eating any refined carbs of 

any sort. No cheating for anything. But it 
any sort. No cheating for anything. But it 

wasn’t difficult — he grew to really like the 
wasn’t difficult — he grew to really like the 

Paleo palate.
Paleo palate.

“I think he finally realized that he kind 
“I think he finally realized that he kind 

of needed to be more focused about (the 
of needed to be more focused about (the 

diet) if he was really going to do it,” Sally 
diet) if he was really going to do it,” Sally 

said. “It’s funny. It’s just kind of got to the 
said. “It’s funny. It’s just kind of got to the 

point where it became what he liked to eat.”
point where it became what he liked to eat.”

There were still sacrifices, though.
There were still sacrifices, though.

Immediately after he chose to forgo 
Immediately after he chose to forgo 

processed food, gluten and dairy, he was 
processed food, gluten and dairy, he was 

tested that first summer. His birthday was 
tested that first summer. His birthday was 

in August, and his mom was adamant he 
in August, and his mom was adamant he 

have a cake.
have a cake.

“It’s his birthday,” Sally said. “I feel like, 
“It’s his birthday,” Sally said. “I feel like, 

I’m a mom, I want to be able to celebrate his 
I’m a mom, I want to be able to celebrate his 

birthday. It’s just our tradition in our world 
birthday. It’s just our tradition in our world 

to have a cake and candles. So it feels like 
to have a cake and candles. So it feels like 

the birthday’s a miss if you don’t have that.”
the birthday’s a miss if you don’t have that.”

But he was unwavering with his diet, 
But he was unwavering with his diet, 

even though he had only started a few 
even though he had only started a few 

months prior. 
months prior. 

So they compromised. She would make 
So they compromised. She would make 

a gluten-free, dairy-free cake, using only 
a gluten-free, dairy-free cake, using only 

a dash of processed sugar. And he would 
a dash of processed sugar. And he would 

consider eating it.
consider eating it.

“Just had like nothing in it, basically,” 
“Just had like nothing in it, basically,” 

Sally said. “And I thought it was pretty 
Sally said. “And I thought it was pretty 

disgusting, but I don’t think he really even 
disgusting, but I don’t think he really even 

felt like it was worth the quote on quote, 
felt like it was worth the quote on quote, 

‘cheat.’ ”
‘cheat.’ ”

There was a long list of other things he 
There was a long list of other things he 

chose not to conform to. 
chose not to conform to. 

Eating and doing things with friends, 
Eating and doing things with friends, 

for one, was a big challenge for him. His 
for one, was a big challenge for him. His 

friends were at the age where they started 
friends were at the age where they started 

drinking, and he just couldn’t join. When 
drinking, and he just couldn’t join. When 

they went for pizza, he couldn’t have any. 
they went for pizza, he couldn’t have any. 

But back then, his high school friends 
But back then, his high school friends 

already knew him.
already knew him.

The only thing that changed about him 
The only thing that changed about him 

to them was the things he ate. He was still 
to them was the things he ate. He was still 

the same old Strauss. It was still awkward 
the same old Strauss. It was still awkward 

at times, but after a bit of time, they got 
at times, but after a bit of time, they got 

used to it and accepted it.
used to it and accepted it.

It was a different story when he 
It was a different story when he 

graduated high school and headed to 
graduated high school and headed to 

juniors hockey in Fargo, N.D.
juniors hockey in Fargo, N.D.

“He was thrusted into a team situation 
“He was thrusted into a team situation 

where nobody knew him beforehand at 
where nobody knew him beforehand at 

all,” Sally said. “And it was like, ‘Who is 
all,” Sally said. “And it was like, ‘Who is 

this? Who is this guy? What is he doing? 
this? Who is this guy? What is he doing? 

Why does he have all this stinky food on 
Why does he have all this stinky food on 

the bus? And why is he not getting off when 
the bus? And why is he not getting off when 

we stop and grabbing a pizza with us’ ”
we stop and grabbing a pizza with us’ ”

He didn’t really know anyone — 
He didn’t really know anyone — 

teammates or billet family. Fargo was 
teammates or billet family. Fargo was 

a reality check from the bubble he had 
a reality check from the bubble he had 

previously lived in. His billet family wasn’t 
previously lived in. His billet family wasn’t 

prepared to cook around his diet, so he did 
prepared to cook around his diet, so he did 

all this shopping and all his cooking. His 
all this shopping and all his cooking. His 

teammates learned about his diet before 
teammates learned about his diet before 

they learned who he really was, so he 
they learned who he really was, so he 

learned the extent of his commitment.
learned the extent of his commitment.

“He’s figured out a way to kind of take a 
“He’s figured out a way to kind of take a 

deep breath and wait for everybody to start 
deep breath and wait for everybody to start 

accepting that this is just who he is and get 
accepting that this is just who he is and get 

to know him past (his diet),” Sally said. 
to know him past (his diet),” Sally said. 

READ MORE ONLINE AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
READ MORE ONLINE AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM

Sports
8 — Wednesday, February 12, 2020
michigandaily.com

Photos courtesy of the Mann Family 
Design by Jack Silberman

TIEN LE
Daily Sports Writer

I’m

someone tha
t

puts these 

routines over 

wha
t people 

think of me

