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Whole 30: What It Is and Is It Right for You?

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If you have browsed through Pinterest, turned on TV, or read many health and fitness blogs recently you have probably heard about the Whole 30, but hearing the term and knowing what exactly the Whole 30 entails are two different things. If your interest has been piqued and you want to know what the Whole 30 is, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll take you through all you need to know so you can decide if it’s the right thing for you and your family.

 

What Is the Whole 30?

Let’s start with the basics. The Whole 30 is a set of dietary guidelines that you follow for 30 days as a jumpstart to healthier eating, GI healing, and better health. During that time, you abstain from eating sugar, grains, legumes, alcohol, processed foods, artificial ingredients, and dairy. During the 30 days, you are to strictly adhere to the guidelines with no “cheat” days.

If this sounds familiar to you, it may be because there is a great deal of overlap between the Whole 30 and the paleo diet. The key differences between the two are that unlike a paleo diet, the Whole 30 does permit white potatoes as part of the diet. Unlike the paleo diet though, you do not eat any form of added sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup. Additionally, you do not eat any approximations of the foods you are not supposed to eat. For example, you would not try to make a bread using Whole 30 approved ingredients since conventional bread is not on the diet.

After you have completed your 30 days on the plan, you may gradually reintroduce some of the off-limit foods if you’d like, but the idea is that during the 30 days you have reset your taste buds and changed your relationship with food.

The Pros

The foods included on the Whole30 are nutrient dense, healthy foods. The diet eliminates many foods that are common allergens, inflammatory, and hard to digest. Rather than focusing on weight loss, the goal is to increase energy levels, fight disease, and improve overall health. It provides structure and guidelines which can be especially helpful to those new to this way of eating.

The Considerations

The Whole 30 is a fairly strict way of eating. Though you don’t have to count calories or watch portions, you do have a defined list of foods you need to avoid. Because of these defined guidelines, eating out can be a challenge during your 30 days.

The Bottom Line

Since the Whole30 is based on healthy, real foods and has no membership fees or supplements you have to purchase, I see no reason not to try the Whole 30 if you are interested in it. Though it is strict, the limited time frame makes it more realistic to complete.

If you have tried the Whole 30 or are planning to, come back and let me know your thoughts and experiences in the comments section.

PDF Info & Sample Day on Whole30 Menu

Curious as to what a day on the Whole30 might look like? It’s simpler than you might expect. Check out this sample day’s menu.

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs cooked in coconut oil with a side of all natural bacon and side of blueberries

Lunch: Turkey wrap made with organic turkey meat with diced tomatoes and avocado slices all wrapped together in large leaf lettuce

Dinner: Roasted spaghetti squash topped with meat sauce made with grass fed beef and no sugar added tomato sauce

Snack: Almonds and an apple


Author: Diana

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