Looking at how food impacts mood, anxiety, and sleep was the reason I said yes to the Whole30 idea. Eating whole foods appealed to me over other options that included synthetic supplements. My goal was wellness, not weight loss. I wanted to detoxify my body and eliminate the primary allergen food groups while transforming how I thought about food and what I was putting into my body. Thirty days without dairy, soy, grains, alcohol, refined sugar, and processed foods. Sounded simple enough.
I'll admit that it took a lot of planning to get through my first Whole30. First, I read the Whole30 book cover to cover. I wanted to understand the why as much as the how. The book did a great job of preparing me mentally. It also served as a great starting point for meal planning thanks to a generous recipe selection. I planned every breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an entire month ahead of time. I shopped for my meat in bulk twice in the month. Costco for organic, grass-fed beef and organic chicken breast - Sendiks & Trader Joe's for the rest of the meat. I purchased all fresh produce (the bulk of the budget) every three days or so. Again, most of my produce came from Sendiks but I did buy some things in bulk at Costco like avocados, sweet potatoes, Kale, and spinach. Meal planning on paper, shopping around at a variety of stores, and advanced meal prepping (cooking & seasoning meat, washing & chopping veggies) were essential to the success of my Whole30.
I kept my meals simple. Protein, veggies, a handful of fruit, and healthy fat for three meals a day. I limited snacking with the exception of post-workout during the mid-morning. Before I share some of my favorite meals, I have to add that I did not eat a single egg or salad during my entire Whole30. There is a misconception that you can't do a Whole30 without living on eggs and salad. I personally don't like eggs, mostly because of the smell and texture. I'm also not a huge salad fan unless I don't have to prepare it myself. I also never got around to finding a Whole 30-compliant dressing and I didn't take the time to whip up one on my own.
Now, for a few of my Whole30 favorite recipes:
Breakfast: Banger Sausage Patties & Sweet Potato Mash; Melissa's Chicken Hash (found in the Whole30 Book or similar here)
Lunch: Turkey and Spinach Stuffed Sweet Potatoes; Butternut Squash & Apple Soup; Mexican Tuna Boats
Dinner: Paleo Italian Meatballs over spaghetti squash; Paleo Chili; Taco Lettuce Wraps; Smoky Beanless Chili; Paleo Cinco de Mayo Burgers; Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Easy Oven Roasted Potatoes; Bacon Apple Smothered Pork Chops with Cauliflower Mash; Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes; Shepherd's Pie (found in Whole30 Book); Pot Roast (also found in the Whole 30 Book)
The thirty days actually flew by after the initial hump. Eating clean became normal. Spending the time meal prepping and cooking became enjoyable. Throughout the thirty days, I noticed that my energy level increased, my headaches improved, my concentration improved, I started sleeping better (when my kids let me), my overall mood improved, my workouts became more productive, my digestive system felt restored, my cravings were gone, and I felt motivated to continue making consciously healthy decisions about the food I eat. It truly was a shift in my thinking. My first Whole30 has set the course for a new way of eating for our family, one that lends itself nicely to the Paleo approach. I look forward to challenging myself to be creative in our meals and adventurous in my eating in the months to come. Who knows, maybe I'll toss in another Whole30 soon. It really was that good!
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