Anyone doing a January Whole 30?

[MrsE]

It's my first time! I have debated trying it a few times over the last couple years and I finally decided its time. What do I have to lose? (Other than the delicious yumminess of carbs and dairy lol). My DH is on board too and we're doing it together.

Anyway, I know several of you ladies have participated in a whole 30 or two in the past - and some of you are fully committed to a paleo lifestyle - so please let me know if you have any OMG delicious recipes. .

So far, I've discovered the Whole 9 and Whole 30 website, Mark's Daily Apple, Nom Nom paleo, and several other websites.

I think breakfast will be my biggest challenge. I am usually an oats or bagel w/ almond butter and banana kinda girl. I like eggs, but they get old quickly to me. I'm planning to make some type of veggie frittata in a muffin pan so I have some quick go-to items for tomorrow and Friday.

Any tips are welcome! If anyone else is participating, let me know and we can encourage each other along the way.

Here goes... Oh any my first Whole 30 breakfast is PIP below. Coconut oil sure gives eggs a different taste.

[wambam]

I started on the 26th This is my 5th one. I do it a few times a year to reset.

If you're willing to shell out some money for a cookbook, I can't recommend Diane Sanfilippo's books (Practical Paleo and 21DSD Cookbook) enough. At least 3 of my meals every week consistently come from her. I also really like both of the Well Fed cookbooks, but the recipes are more fussy.

Branch out from "breakfast foods." I almost never eat breakfast for breakfast. I just eat food like any other meal - meat, fat, veggies. And if you don't like coconut oil on eggs, I recommend clarifying some Kerrygold. I like that a lot better.

Let me know if you need help in any way. I eat paleo all the time anyways, so Whole30 is just sort of tightening the reigns for me.

[spunkypenguin]

I am! I did my first just before Thanksgiving, but fell off the wagon...WAY off the wagon during the holidays. I started on Monday.

Some of my favorites from last time around that are back on the menu plan:
rivernorthpaleo.blogspot.com/2012/03/mini-italian-egg-quiches.html
fastpaleo.com/recipe/avocado-deviled-eggs/ (these are my pre-WO snack)
www.mellowmomma.com/2013/09/27/stuffed-acorn-squash/ (had this monday and tuesday)
www.fitnessisdelicious.com/2013/06/05/sweet-potato-basil-gnocchi-recipe/ (They sell spinach/red Pepper sausages at Costco that are compliant and are super tasty with this!)
www.supergluemom.com/paleo-chili-recipe-all-meat-veggie/ (I tried a couple different chilies and this was my favorite one)
dashingdish.com/recipe/italian-style-stuffed-red-peppers/ (leave off the cheese - I sprinkle a little nutritional yeast for a parmesan-like flavor)
www.halfbakedharvest.com/healthy-chipotle-chicken-sweet-potato-skins/ (again w/o cheese - these are good post-WO the next morning, too)
paleomg.com/paleo-southwest-meatloaf/ (Definitely top w/ guac! yum)
www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/italian-chicken-salad-sandwiches (This is my favorite recipe for lunch - I had to make my own giardiniera and mayo, but it is AWESOME on romaine leaves! I've even fed it to non-paleo people and they have liked it )

I browsed pinterest and found a couple things, then just kept clicking other recipes/links on the blogs I stumbled upon. Most of what I made was good - we had a couple duds, but there is a lot of good stuff to choose from out there! I also got well acquainted with my crockpot - easy to just throw a bunch of stuff in there and come home to a meal - pot roast, chili, roast chicken, pulled pork, etc...there's even a blog for Paleo Crockpot meals: paleopot.com/

[wambam]

spunkypenguin - that PaleOMG southwest meatloaf is my FAV! I don't do well with large quantities of nuts, so I usually skip the almond flour and do burgers with them. So yummy!

[spunkypenguin]

Jan 1, 2014 12:59:50 GMT -5 wambam said:

spunkypenguin - that PaleOMG southwest meatloaf is my FAV! I don't do well with large quantities of nuts, so I usually skip the almond flour and do burgers with them. So yummy!

Yes! My dad lives with me as does my significant other, but they are not really into my "caveman diet" and they both LOVE when I put this on menu!

[taratru]

I need like a "halfway" whole plan. I honestly can't afford to substitute all the things - the flours, the oils, etc - for food only for me. Is there anything like that floating around out there?

[wambam]

Jan 1, 2014 13:10:33 GMT -5 taratru said:

I need like a "halfway" whole plan. I honestly can't afford to substitute all the things - the flours, the oils, etc - for food only for me. Is there anything like that floating around out there?

If it makes a difference, you definitely to HAVE to have any special flours to do a whole 30. You would need the appropriate oils (coconut and olive oil would be sufficient, I think). But the meal template is just protein + fat + veggies + sometimes fruit. So you could definitely do it without buying expensive flours.

[MrsE]

Oh my goodness, thank you so much for all the links and recommendations! I just got home from the gym and I am super excited to browse through all these links!!

wambam - thanks for the book suggestion - I will definitely look into it!

spunkypenguin - good to know about Costco! I just joined yesterday!

taratru - what about clean eating? IMO, it's kind of a half way point. WDYT?

[taratru]

Jan 1, 2014 13:29:31 GMT -5 MrsE said:

Oh my goodness, thank you so much for all the links and recommendations! I just got home from the gym and I am super excited to browse through all these links!!

wambam - thanks for the book suggestion - I will definitely look into it!

spunkypenguin - good to know about Costco! I just joined yesterday!

taratru - what about clean eating? IMO, it's kind of a half way point. WDYT?

We eat pretty clean as it is, in terms of whole foods and not a ton of processed food.  It might be a good place to start as a focus.  I just read the Whole 30 info to DH and he seems interested...maybe I'll go get the book today.  I think if I'm not doing a lot of running, I should focus on my diet.  Instead of just eating whatever the hell I want, like I've been doing for the past week. 

[gt7301b]

I thought about it - but I got a Starbucks mug that gives me a free espresso drink each day in January. I might give it a try in February.

[spunkypenguin]

Jan 1, 2014 13:10:33 GMT -5 taratru said:

I need like a "halfway" whole plan. I honestly can't afford to substitute all the things - the flours, the oils, etc - for food only for me. Is there anything like that floating around out there?

You can definitely get by without all the special things.  I made it through my first whole30 only using about half a bag of almond flour - those are used more for paleo treats, which are not allowed on Whole30.  When I was almost done w/ Whole30, I found almond meal at the bulk food store for much cheaper than the brand name stuff in the health food section/store. I bought Ghee, but didn't use much of it - mostly just Coconut Oil - they sell a huge vat of it at Costco relatively cheap (about the same as Olive Oil).

[spunkypenguin]

Jan 1, 2014 13:29:31 GMT -5 MrsE said:

Oh my goodness, thank you so much for all the links and recommendations! I just got home from the gym and I am super excited to browse through all these links!!

wambam - thanks for the book suggestion - I will definitely look into it!

spunkypenguin - good to know about Costco! I just joined yesterday!

taratru - what about clean eating? IMO, it's kind of a half way point. WDYT?

Costco is great...I usually go every other week.  Here are some of the things I get:

*Spinach/Red Pepper Sausages & Chicken-Apple Sausages
**Kirkland Organic Chicken Broth/stock (this has been the only one I have found in my area that does not have random unnecessary unapproved ingredients!)
*Bulk Produce - Sweet Potatoes, Romaine Lettuce, Asparagus, Avocados, Bell Peppers (these are all usually cheaper than the store sales)
*Coconut Oil & Olive Oil
*Dried Dates & bulk nuts (for homemade larabars if you want them)
*Meat & Eggs (man I go through a lot of eggs!)

They also sell the Wholly Guacamole which is approved.  They used to carry Marantha Almond Butter, but haven't had it in a while - I just went this weekend and they have a new kind of Almond Butter, but it has yucky stuff in it (some kind of preservative - forgetting now).  Hoping that they bring back the Marantha.

[sadlebred]

No, I like my carbs and sugar too much! I can agree with the idea of "resetting," though. I plan to give up most sweets for a week starting tomorrow....maybe. Who am I kidding? No. I will get back into my regular eating pattern with the holidays over.

[mandiespharm]

Starting my first whole 30 today. My box is starting on the 13th - I decided to get a jump start since I'm going on a cruise at the beginning of Feb. I made it through one day. I don't really use cookbooks to cook anything. I'm pretty creative and cook a lot anyways, most of it being paleo and clean. Good luck ladies! We can do this!