Whole 30- Week 1

After I saw a friend starting Whole30, I decided to try it myself.  For this plan, one avoids alcohol, dairy, grains, any baked goods (even non-grain), beans/legumes, no added sugar and MSG.  There are a few other food additives to avoid.  If one chooses to try this, read the Whole30 site very carefully.  I didn't and realized I'd consumed an off-limits food additive (sulfites in a can of coconut milk).  I also realized that my awesome multivitamin does have some grain and legumes on the long list of raw whole foods.  It has a long label, tiny print and I didn't scrutinize it.  The main thing is to read labels carefully, which we should do anyway to support healthy eating.  Both of the above mentioned items have been nixed for now and I'm committed to being more conscientious moving forward.  That said, this has been a positive experience and mostly successful.  It's something I plan to do again.  The primary goal of this program is to develop a healthier relationship with food.  Think about it: if you aren't eating added sugar or grains, you won't reach for mac and cheese or a chocolate bar because it's been a bad day.  When the month ends, you gradually begin adding the off-limits items back in.  If one or more of these was causing you health issues, you'll be able to determine what the problem was. 

I'm sharing my foods from week one to show that this isn't all boring.  Snacks have mostly been fruits, veggies and nuts, but I've also made homemade Lara Bars (blueberry muffin and cashew cookie).  I like toasted almonds with salt and rosemary.  You'll notice a lot of repeats, but a I do a lot of leftovers.  ;) Smoothies are discouraged, but not ''banned.''  The reasoning is they aren't as filling and you don't want to overdo it on sugar and fruit.  I'm still working on a better fruit, veggie balance, but holding off on smoothies for now.  By the way, snacks are discouraged, but not off-limits.  The point is to eat a hearty enough meal that you don't need them.  But I'm a work in progress.  :)

There are a few things I wouldn't repeat, but have enjoyed most foods.  Trying to keep track of all I'm eating, mainly for sharing purposes, is a challenge, but this is mostly accurate.  ;)

Day 1- January 23, Wednesday
Pumpkin banana smoothie with coconut milk (like day 2, but uses more pumpkin), eggs, orange
Garlic shrimp, fresh fruit, almonds
Garlic rosemary meatballs, roasted carrots and broccoli, sweet potato fries

Day 2, Thursday
Pumpkin Coconut Smoothie,  almonds
Garlic rosemary meatballs, roasted carrots and broccoli, sweet potato fries
Coconut lime chicken, steamed mixed veggies, garlic lemon roasted potatoes

Day 3, Friday
Banana date smoothie, garlic rosemary meatballs 
Coconut lime chicken, garlic lemon roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and broccoli
Garlic rosemary meatballs, baked carrot fries ;garlic lemon roasted potatoes

Day 4, Saturday
Homemade Lara Bar bite and meatballs for running fuel (don't knock it till you've tried it ;)
Flourless blueberry banana blender muffins, pineapple agua fresca
Coconut lime chicken, garlic lemon roasted potatoes.

Day 5, Sunday
Whole 30 sweet potato protein breakfast bowl, homemade sausage using this seasoning recipe

Coconut lime chicken, salad with homemade italian, baked carrot fries   

The World's Best Oven Baked Meatballs with seasoned tomato sauce, slow roasted tomatoes, roasted broccoli

Day 6- Monday
Secret ingredient chocolate smoothie, homemade sausage using this seasoning recipe
Coconut lime chicken, roasted broccoli, baked carrot fries
The World's Best Oven Baked Meatballs, crispy smashed potatoes, slow roasted tomatoes

Day 7- Tuesday, January 29 
Scrambled eggs mixed with spinach and homemade sausage using this seasoning recipe, banana
The World's Best Oven Baked Meatballs, crispy smashed potatoes, slow roasted tomatoes
Chicken sausage from Sunburst Market on main, sausage/greens/potato soup from Sunburst, maybe something else.