Whole 30 Beginners Guide
As far as food goes, you’re simply going to eat a lot of fresh, good-quality eats and ditch the processed stuff.
I had an incredibly hard time typing this blog because I wanted to catch all of the reader's attention by stressing how beneficial it will be to follow the trending Whole30. More than a trend, the famous program created by Melissa Hartwig is a wonderful way to start exploring a more purposeful, mindful approach to food.
Did you know that by 2030 close to half of the population will be diagnosed with some form of chronic disease? * Which means that more people are getting sicker earlier in life. So, if you have big dreams that you want to achieve, I highly suggest you to start paying attention to your diet. Health doesn’t necessarily happen in the doctor’s office. Health happens where we live, in our kitchens where we cook, and where we eat.
* Find more information about the subject here
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS WHOLE30?
Whole30 is essentially a 30-day food challenge in which you eliminate trigger foods that could be having a negative impact on your body. Those include dairy, added sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, carrageenan, MSG, and sulfites.Throughout this period of time, you are able to learn how your body responds to those foods individually. The beauty behind this program is learning how certain foods might help you improve your energy, mental clarity, hormones, and cravings, and for some certain autoimmune symptoms.
What you can't eat during Whole30
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No sugar. Natural or artificial sweeteners. This includes; honey, maple syrup, agave, splenda etc. Check your labels, and ingredients when grocery shopping. You will be surprised how many items contain sugar. e.g bacon, siracha.
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NO ALCOHOL (you will be just fine) no cooking wine, and vanilla extra is off limits.
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No grains. Not even quinoa, white or brown rice, corn,
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No beans or legumes. (No chickpeas, no peanut butter.)
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No soy.
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No dairy. This means no cheese! no sour or heavy cream. You get the point.
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No processed additives. Carrageenan, sulfites, MSG.
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No fake treats with Whole30-approved ingredients. Sorry, no coconut flour and egg white pancakes. This will help you build a healthier relationship with your food.
Buy the book: The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom, $18
What You Can Eat on Whole30
After that pretty exhausting list of foods you can’t eat, it might seem a little daunting to start the program. But there’s still a bunch of delicious ingredients that can comprise a great meal.
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Vegetables..Eat all vegetables, including potatoes!
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Fruits. Fruits are allowed, in moderation. Remember that you’re trying to limit your sugar intake during the 30 days. Try to stay away from dry fruits.
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Unprocessed Meats. Bacon is still okay, but check for added sugar and other off-limit preservatives.
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Seafood. Fish and shellfish.
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Eggs. Yes , eggs are allowed, and they will become your new best-friends.
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Nuts and seeds are okay. Walnuts, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds(No peanuts)
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Some Oils. try and just use coconut oil, avocado and olive oil, and ghee to substitude butter.
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Coffee -Yes, you can have coffee! But you can’t add any milk products or sugar to lighten it up.. This is personally the harderst challenge.
Some other benefits
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You will not be suffering day-long hangovers.
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It will also be nice to check your bank account after the weekend, and find that it is exactly how you left it. You don't really think anything of it until you cut it out , and realize how much money you actually spend while you are out socializing.
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Whole30 will not only help you create discipline, but it will also encourage you to believe in yourself. Perhaps, this will be the perfect time to start working on that project that you always wanted to achieve.
Does dairy make you tired? Does gluten give you indigestion?
You will be able to answer those questions in the reintroduction phase. By eliminating potential trigger foods for 30 days, then slowly reintroducing them you’ll also have the knowledge to make smarter decisions going forward. It’s not about prescribing a “right” way to eat, but instead giving you some formation, and implements to find out what makes you feel good.
I did my first ever Whole30 last year, and it was really educational on how my body responded to certain ingredients. I discovered that I have a hard time digesting dairy, and even though I do still eat some dairy, I am also aware of what might happen if I go overboard. Through this process I also noticed a tremendous change in my morning congestion, mood disorders and brain fog which is mainly caused by consuming dairy, alcohol, or refined sugars.
I eat pretty clean most of the times, but If you know me, you know that I like my coffee sweet, and I have a huge tendency to let desserts rule my entire life ;^) I would really eat sweets all day long If I could. So I decided to do whole30 again in hopes to start following my own advice, to get back on track, and remember how much better I look and feel when I am not eating loads of sugar.
Tag along as with me as I document what 30 days of a clean diet can do.
What do you think?
Is this something you see yourself doing? Have you ever tried Whole30? If so, what was the hardest part, and more noticeable change ? I would like to hear your opinions, and experiences on the program.
