the best and worst of whole30;
I’m FREE! Which is not the appropriate way to think about Whole30, haha. It’s supposed to be more a lifestyle change and you’re not supposed to binge on all the things you couldn’t have. But guess what, that’s exactly what I did. And I won’t lie, I don’t really regret it.
For all of you starting Whole30, or in the thick of things, or even just wondering what it’s like, here’s my comprehensive list of food do’s and don’t’s for Whole30 from my first go-around.
Favorite breakfast: breakfast nests;
This got me through quite a few weekends. Having a hearty nest of hash browns topped with a perfectly poached egg and any or all of the compliant toppings you can imagine, makes this a hearty substitute for weekend brunch! Pop open a LaCroix or sparkling water for that fancy kick. It’s no mimosa, but it makes your morning feel luxurious. (A post for this recipe is in my queue! Check back for my secret to poaching the perfect egg every time, but in the meantime I’ve linked the original recipe from Organic Kitchen)
Favorite lunch: avocado egg salad;
This was a surprising favorite. I love that I can make it ahead of time, and it really tastes similar to regular egg salad, so you don’t even know what you’re missing. Add some ham, and you’ve got green eggs and ham!
Favorite dinner: salmon cakes;
I love when I can adapt recipes I’ve already shared. It means they’re already tasty! The featured image on this post is my tried and true salmon cake recipe, but keep in mind that the edamame in the background is not Whole30 compliant. To make the Salmon Cake recipe whole30 compliant:
- Swap in whole30 approve mayonnaise or make your own
- ditch the soy sauce or substitute coconut aminos
- make sure to drain the salmon well and use crushed pork rinds instead of the panko breadcrumbs
Would not eat again: coconut flour
This is really a personal preference, but I am NOT all about that coconut flour. It, in fact, tastes like coconut. Even when mixed into things that I would rather not taste like coconut (like meatballs). As as someone who doesn’t like coconut to begin with, I highly prefer almond flour which is (1) much more mild, and (2) has a much more amenable flavor to me. Neither is the same as regular flour though, of course.
Favorite snacks: salt & pepper pistachios, lara bars, dried and fresh fruit
As mentioned in previous posts, I snack. For clarification, you are not supposed to snack on Whole30, but rather eat hearty and filling meals that don’t require you to snack in between. However, I exhibit hangry tendencies, and I like my snacks thank you very much. Tyler’s favorite larabar was the apple pie larabar, whereas mine is the cherry pie, but I suspect only because the key lime pie flavor has been elusive and I’ve yet to try it. Shout out to trader joe’s salt & pepper pistachios that have been my obsessive favorite recently, and I’ll even eat them for breakfast.
Would not eat again: buffalo chicken meatballs;
While someone else might have differing success with this recipe, the texture of the meatballs coupled with the coconut flour I used made this the opposite of a star dish. Also, I find the photos from physical kitchness a little misleading since they feature blue cheese, a no-no on whole30. Perhaps with almond flour it would be better, but as I am not over the moon at buffalo chicken to begin with, I’ll take a pass.
Favorite meal to look forward to: garlic peri-peri wings;
I love me some crispy wings, and this is a meal to look forward to! You can get creative with your flavorings, just be conscious of the ingredients. Old bay wings are perfect, but you can also use nando’s garlic peri-peri sauce, or even salt and vinegar. If you do need to use butter, make sure you’re using clarified butter (ghee) to be whole30 compliant.
Would not eat again: whole30 muffin frittatas;
The texture of microwaved eggs is not my jam. Coupled with the fact that pre-whole30, all eggs I eat are smothered in cheese and obviously these are lacking in the cheese deparment. They were dry and would have a rubbery texture and I don’t think I put enough fillings of veggies to make it hearty anyway. I’d much rather stuff a baked sweet potato with eggs and sausage and munch on that in the morning.
Favorite prepared meals: Kirkland pulled pork lettuce wraps, Trader Joe’s beef sirloin roast
This diet goes hard on the preparation. So when you’re looking for easy meals after a long and tiring day without blowing your whole30 diet, these are two of my go-tos. All you need is lettuce and pulled pork for the lettuce wraps, maybe some whole30 approved ranch if that’s your thing. The sirloin roast is so tender and delicious and perfect over a bed of fresh or frozen veggies.
Honorable mentions to: loaded whole30 french fries; which didn’t make the list only because of the time investment, vegetable fried rice with cauliflower rice which tasted surprisingly similar to regular fried rice;, and banana almond butter chia pudding; another easy morning favorite.
