ENERGISED is just one word Jen Shaw uses to describe herself after changing her eating habits eight years ago.

The mother-of-six made a lifestyle choice to change her diet to paleo.

Jen, who is known as the Barefoot paleo chef, says the paleo lifestyle isn't a quick fix; it's something she and her family have committed to for life.

Paleo has been labelled as a fad diet as it gains popularity throughout Australia, but Jen knows the advantages of paleo and says it's not just a fad.

Jen will bring her paleo workshop to Rockhampton next month to talk about the lifestyle and how locals can change their diet for the better.

Already 180 people have signed up for the workshop.

Jen's life changed when she met her husband, who was a boxer, and needed to constantly keep an eye on what he ate.

"Sometimes he needed to lose and gain weight quickly so I started to look at what we were eating," Jen said.

The 29-year-old said she didn't specifically go looking for paleo, she simply came across it.

But she became more involved in the lifestyle choice when she noticed her kids were healthier, her skin which had been prone to acne had cleared up, and she had mental clarity after fighting anxiety and depression for years.

While paleo has been referred to as "the caveman's diet", Jen says it's all about getting back to basics.

"I don't like the caveman term, it's quite limited," Jen said. "Let's look at 100 years ago and see what our grandparents were eating.

"We've evolved from hunters and gatherers, now our modern-day hunters and gatherers are farmers. We don't expect anyone to go and hunt their own foods."

The diet involves staying away from processed food and enjoying natural foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts and grass-fed raised meats.

But like all lifestyle choices, Jen says it can be hard to be disciplined.

"I'm not perfect, I'm a fish and chips girl, sometimes I find myself in a situation where I eat those things and I immediately regret it," she said.

Paleo Workshop

180 people have already signed up to the workshop, which will discuss the paleo lifestyle and ways to cook

June 20 (11am-2pm)

Must book via www.barefootkitchens.com.au