So my H and I are starting the Whole 30 on Thursday. I searched but didn’t find any threads (although that seems impossible) so posting.
Any tips, tricks, recipes you loved, things you wish you knew, etc?
I am feeling so sluggish and gross lately and am completely addicted to junk food so hoping this can help me get my act together.
Nervous about two upcoming events - my Hs bday party and a family vacation, both of which will occur during the 40 days. I can’t postpone though because I feel like if I allow myself to wait some other special event will pop up and I’ll never do it.
There is actually an entire Whole 30 board on here. It’s dead, but you can find a lot of great info reading through old posts.
I’ve done 2 Whole 30’s and really enjoyed them. My 2 biggest pieces of advice - get ALL of the junk food out of your house and plan, plan, plan.
Oops! Ha will definitely check it.
So about the cleaning out ... this is another thing I’m sort of worried about. I have three kids, one of whom is a VERY picky eater. Her main food groups are cheese and bread (pasta, pancakes, waffles, etc). I realize this is completely unhealthy and we do try to work with her but she has several other issues that we are working on (lots of sensory needs) that the food one just isn’t he priority right now. All that to say - I don’t think I can effectively clear out all of the non-compliant foods from the house.
So any tips for taking other household members preferences into account while still eliminating the from your diet? Esp if you have to be the cook?
Post by ilovecandy on Jul 14, 2019 17:38:53 GMT -5
I am on day 14 right now.
If you can't entirely clean out try to keep it in place where you don't see it. My niece lives with us and she often has Oreos and all sorts of surgery stuff around. We keep it in the upper part of the pantry that I rarely open. It has been a struggle the past day or two to now break down and eat something.
Prep, prep, prep. And prep some more. Seriously, you need to have stuff on hand and ready to go (either to eat or cook) so that you won’t go reaching for the easy packaged stuff.
A carry over from doing Whole 30 for me is prepping a week’s worth of food at once. While I don’t do whole 30 anymore, that continues to make my life easier and I’m more likely to make good food choices if I have prepped stuff.
This week, I cut a ton of veggies to mix with scrambled eggs, cooked turkey bacon so it can just be warmed in the microwave, made a big batch of two different casseroles. We’ll eat on that the whole week rather than relying on cooking when we’re tired. You’ll also want to have some snacks prepped.
Post by brandy0331 on Jul 14, 2019 18:31:21 GMT -5
I second the prepping. I actually planned out every meal and snack and prepped as much as I could every Sunday. We had a party during my last whole30. I made sure to make some compliant peach jalapeño wings that came out awesome! A fried egg or two, some bacon over spaghetti squash is also still on regular rotation.
Keep the minimum needed for the eater you have to cater for. If you don't want to toss everything, box it and put it out of the way.
When you plan, plan a single serving for her of what she will eat. Or a larger recipe and reheat for multiple meals. (one box of Mac and cheese vs single microwave cups). I get it. DD is there.
We do have a rule now at the point we're at with her and food issues of she has to try something, but doesn't have to eat more than the bite. And it took us awhile to get to where she didn't pysch herself out over that taste. Actually we're not totally over it.
As for the actual whole 30, always have backups planned of basic meat and veggies. No need to complicate it every night. And still thinking you need a filler and is easier to skip the pasta.
And Lara bars were good for something sweet now and then.
Or if like me this weekend and had some unexpected things come up necessiting one at lunch time because I couldn't get home to eat like planned. (I ate lunch about 3 hours after planned but the Lara bar helped me not go off plan and just pick something up while I was drive 3 hour round trip out to my in laws and back for something that had to get done then)
I’d suggest rx bars instead of Lara bars, I find Lara bars to be too delicious and very sweet and I figured the point is not to be chowing down on delicious sweet things if it can be helped ... but rx bars are much less delicious lol but still edible, and they have protein which helps.
I’d suggest rx bars instead of Lara bars, I find Lara bars to be too delicious and very sweet and I figured the point is not to be chowing down on delicious sweet things if it can be helped ... but rx bars are much less delicious lol but still edible, and they have protein which helps.
I find Lara bars way gross 🤢 haha so no worries there b
I’d suggest rx bars instead of Lara bars, I find Lara bars to be too delicious and very sweet and I figured the point is not to be chowing down on delicious sweet things if it can be helped ... but rx bars are much less delicious lol but still edible, and they have protein which helps.
I find Lara bars way gross 🤢 haha so no worries there b
I tried a couple of the larabar protein recently and they were super gross actually. But I think it’s pea protein or something so that would explain it lol
Post by sandandsea on Jul 14, 2019 23:24:23 GMT -5
Meal planning was my key. And having things like cashews or apples around for easy snacking. I joke that apples got me through it. I lost 20 pounds doing it and have maintained for 6 months. I still try to stick to it 4-5 days a week.
Prep, prep, prep. And prep some more. Seriously, you need to have stuff on hand and ready to go (either to eat or cook) so that you won’t go reaching for the easy packaged stuff.
A carry over from doing Whole 30 for me is prepping a week’s worth of food at once. While I don’t do whole 30 anymore, that continues to make my life easier and I’m more likely to make good food choices if I have prepped stuff.
This week, I cut a ton of veggies to mix with scrambled eggs, cooked turkey bacon so it can just be warmed in the microwave, made a big batch of two different casseroles. We’ll eat on that the whole week rather than relying on cooking when we’re tired. You’ll also want to have some snacks prepped.
I completely agree with this.
Every time I am being super conscious of my eating and really working at it, EVERY time, my downfall is when I am not prepared and I am tired and I don't know what to have for dinner and then I end up going off my plan.
I am not a natural planner and my general style is to "wing it" in lots of circumstances but with food it doesn't work well for me.
I am not as on top of it as Isabel but I make sure I always have chopped veggies in the fridge ready to go, and I also always cook up a pack or two of bacon so it's easily heated up. I try to choose recipes ahead and make sure I have all the ingredients ready to go when possible.
As far as recipes go, I like Nom Nom Paleo and Well Fed (both bloggers/authors have websites and cookbooks). There are so many resources out there though.
Melissa (Well Fed) has a great section at the front of her book about meal prep and how to have things on hand so you can combine ingredients to make new flavors without having to make an entirely new meal. More than anyone else, I think her approach helped me understand the best way to do Whole 30 for me.
The salmon cakes in Well Fed are still one of my favorite carry over recipes. They’re freaking delicious.
Ok so I’ve got my meal plan for the week mostly set but could hollies some ideas for a few things.
We are invited to a public pool on the weekend. It will be in the upper 90s. We will be there over at least 1 meal.
What can I pack? Usually would do things like yogurt smoothie, pb and J sandwich. I’m stumped on what I can easily eat and pack that won’t be gross in the heat.
I had another one I was stuck on but I can’t remember right now.
What can I pack? Usually would do things like yogurt smoothie, pb and J sandwich. I’m stumped on what I can easily eat and pack that won’t be gross in the heat.
Raw, sliced veggies, rolled up deli meat or sliced chicken breast, sliced fruit, some almonds or other nuts, olives, grape tomatoes with sliced basil and reduced balsamic vinegar, prosciutto and melon, salad with a separate container of oil/vinegar dressing. I feel like there's lots of options for this as long as you have a basic lunch cooler and ice pack.
I'm glad you posted this because I was just about to do the same thing. I need a major diet overhaul and a friend just finished a round of Whole 30 so I've been thinking about it. I'm just having a hard time with a program that allows for sausage/bacon (I make sausage and know what we put into that shit, I can't imagine what the big processors put in it - "organic" or not!) and processed bars, but doesn't allow for whole grains like rice and oatmeal and allows fruits only in moderation. I'm not really sold on the fact that an Rx bar is better for me than a banana. Some of the healthiest cultures in the world have diets centered around rice.
I'm glad you posted this because I was just about to do the same thing. I need a major diet overhaul and a friend just finished a round of Whole 30 so I've been thinking about it. I'm just having a hard time with a program that allows for sausage/bacon (I make sausage and know what we put into that shit, I can't imagine what the big processors put in it - "organic" or not!) and processed bars, but doesn't allow for whole grains like rice and oatmeal and allows fruits only in moderation. I'm not really sold on the fact that an Rx bar is better for me than a banana. Some of the healthiest cultures in the world have diets centered around rice.
From what I understand, the issue with grains is that they are hard to digest for a gut that has already been damaged or is inflamed (leaky gut). Here is an article about it. www.thepaleomom.com/how-gluten-and-other-prolamins-damage-the-gut/. After doing Whole30, when I reintroduced non-gluten grains I definitely noticed that my joints were sore and achy again so I do try to avoid them now. I have white rice on occasion.
I'm glad you posted this because I was just about to do the same thing. I need a major diet overhaul and a friend just finished a round of Whole 30 so I've been thinking about it. I'm just having a hard time with a program that allows for sausage/bacon (I make sausage and know what we put into that shit, I can't imagine what the big processors put in it - "organic" or not!) and processed bars, but doesn't allow for whole grains like rice and oatmeal and allows fruits only in moderation. I'm not really sold on the fact that an Rx bar is better for me than a banana. Some of the healthiest cultures in the world have diets centered around rice.
The actual program does not allow for bars and only sausage/bacon with no added sugar or other ingredients/additives that aren’t program approved. Actually makes it really hard to find compliant options. That includes lunch meat.
What can I pack? Usually would do things like yogurt smoothie, pb and J sandwich. I’m stumped on what I can easily eat and pack that won’t be gross in the heat.
Raw, sliced veggies, rolled up deli meat or sliced chicken breast, sliced fruit, some almonds or other nuts, olives, grape tomatoes with sliced basil and reduced balsamic vinegar, prosciutto and melon, salad with a separate container of oil/vinegar dressing. I feel like there's lots of options for this as long as you have a basic lunch cooler and ice pack.
I think my prob is imagining eating these quickly and while running after my kids. Like sandwich or yogurt can easily be eaten “on the move”. I know the whole point of this program is to reframe my thinking and sit down and eat properly but with three kids at a pool I just don’t know that I can make a sit down meal happen.
I'm glad you posted this because I was just about to do the same thing. I need a major diet overhaul and a friend just finished a round of Whole 30 so I've been thinking about it. I'm just having a hard time with a program that allows for sausage/bacon (I make sausage and know what we put into that shit, I can't imagine what the big processors put in it - "organic" or not!) and processed bars, but doesn't allow for whole grains like rice and oatmeal and allows fruits only in moderation. I'm not really sold on the fact that an Rx bar is better for me than a banana. Some of the healthiest cultures in the world have diets centered around rice.
You shouldn’t be eating bars or processed meat. There are certain bars (very few) that are complaint with their rules but they are definitely not part of what they want you to be eating. However it makes me feel better knowing I have something I can stash in my purse for when I have some kind of “emergency “ where I might instead run through a McDonald’s.
I'm glad you posted this because I was just about to do the same thing. I need a major diet overhaul and a friend just finished a round of Whole 30 so I've been thinking about it. I'm just having a hard time with a program that allows for sausage/bacon (I make sausage and know what we put into that shit, I can't imagine what the big processors put in it - "organic" or not!) and processed bars, but doesn't allow for whole grains like rice and oatmeal and allows fruits only in moderation. I'm not really sold on the fact that an Rx bar is better for me than a banana. Some of the healthiest cultures in the world have diets centered around rice.
I ask this without a hint of snark: where did the program say that?
Raw, sliced veggies, rolled up deli meat or sliced chicken breast, sliced fruit, some almonds or other nuts, olives, grape tomatoes with sliced basil and reduced balsamic vinegar, prosciutto and melon, salad with a separate container of oil/vinegar dressing. I feel like there's lots of options for this as long as you have a basic lunch cooler and ice pack.
I think my prob is imagining eating these quickly and while running after my kids. Like sandwich or yogurt can easily be eaten “on the move”. I know the whole point of this program is to reframe my thinking and sit down and eat properly but with three kids at a pool I just don’t know that I can make a sit down meal happen.
I don't see veggie/meat slices or nuts as things that require more sitting down than a sandwich. "Hold food in one hand and bite" works for both!
I think my prob is imagining eating these quickly and while running after my kids. Like sandwich or yogurt can easily be eaten “on the move”. I know the whole point of this program is to reframe my thinking and sit down and eat properly but with three kids at a pool I just don’t know that I can make a sit down meal happen.
I don't see veggie/meat slices or nuts as things that require more sitting down than a sandwich. "Hold food in one hand and bite" works for both!
Yeah, I'm here... veggies and deli meat actually seem easier to eat on the run because you can grab a single roll of turkey and go, as opposed to carrying around a whole sandwich that you'll inevitably have to put down somewhere.
I don't see veggie/meat slices or nuts as things that require more sitting down than a sandwich. "Hold food in one hand and bite" works for both!
Yeah, I'm here... veggies and deli meat actually seem easier to eat on the run because you can grab a single roll of turkey and go, as opposed to carrying around a whole sandwich that you'll inevitably have to put down somewhere.
Idk why I’m having a hard time adjusting 🤣🤷🏼♀️ I do have a hard tome with lunch meat - not a fan but guess I will have to get over it!!
Yeah, I'm here... veggies and deli meat actually seem easier to eat on the run because you can grab a single roll of turkey and go, as opposed to carrying around a whole sandwich that you'll inevitably have to put down somewhere.
Idk why I’m having a hard time adjusting 🤣🤷🏼♀️ I do have a hard tome with lunch meat - not a fan but guess I will have to get over it!!
You could do sliced chicken breast instead, or make tuna or chicken salad.