Day 1 on the Whole 30 challenge

So besides the extra prep time, eating this way is really not "hard". We have already been a pretty healthy eating family, but I know I need to make some better changes. So this program is very helpful for me as it is all laid out for me with the do's and don'ts and meal plans and recipes. I was already gluten free, so that part is already cut out. I have no problem not eating legumes as I already know how bloated those make me. I do like peanuts and peanut butter, so this is the first time I am cutting that out. Corn is not hard either as popcorn has bothered my gut for a long time anyway. Dairy I know I will miss at some point as I do like cheese, but I can handle it. I may miss having a glass of wine a couple weeks in, but that's okay. :) I will see how long it takes for me to crave some dark chocolate, or just sugar in general, my biggest weakness.

Below are my meals for day one. Lots of fresh veggies today. Some days will have more cooked than fresh, but at least I am definitely getting more helpings of veggies this way.

Breakfast was two fried eggs, sweet potato hash browns, and avocado.

Lunch was tuna with avocado mayo, romaine lettuce, sliced hardboiled egg, and tomatoes and cucumbers.

Dinner was grass fed burger with avocado mayo, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, and radishes.

How about you? Are you doing the Whole 30 challenge? I would love to hear what day you are on and how you are doing!

Join me on my Whole 30 challenge!!

Brushing the dust off my blog as I begin a journey with the Whole 30 challenge this month! If you have not heard of Whole 30 before you can begin by visiting their website HERE. I have spent the last couple weeks in preparation for this journey. The main things I cannot eat while on this journey are: grains, legumes (including peanuts), soy, sugar (not even natural ones like stevia), dairy, sulfites (meaning no alcohol), MSG, carrageenan. HERE are the program rules. 

I know this may sound "strict" but its only for 30 days as a way to reset the brain and heal the body. After day 30 I will slowly reintroduce some of these foods back in and see how my body responds. Basically a form of an elimination diet. I am actually looking forward to it very much! I have been wanting to do some kind of elimination diet, but I was not sure how to start. So having a whole program set up that tells me what not to eat and what to eat makes it much easier. The book It Starts With Food is on its way to me now so that I can read it and get the full grasp on this program. I did not buy their cookbook though as you can find many bloggers who have already laid out meal plans and recipes for you on their sites for free. The Nourishing Home has been one of my favorites so far.

So as part of my preparation the last couple of weeks, I have been reading labels on many products at the stores when I get groceries in order to find which foods are compliant with the program. I've also been collecting and printing out recipes and meal plans and filing them into their own notebook. I have been cooking meals that are compliant as well, at least for me personally. My family will still eat other things that I will not be eating. Pictured above are a couple of the meals I did. I made sweet potato hash browns one morning, those were amazing!

I am planning to post about my journey here and there along the way. To share recipes and tips, to see how I am feeling and how my body is responding. I know for me the biggest craving I need to overcome will be sugar. Especially dark chocolate. (Oh dark chocolate, I will miss you!) So I plan to use my wonderful essential oils along the way to help keep me on track mentally and physically too.

Would you like to join me on this journey? I would love to hear from you!