It has now been a couple weeks since I’ve finished Whole30 and I’ve gotten lots of questions about my experience! My biggest reason for even embarking on this dairy-gluten-legume-sugar-alcohol-free journey was to share with y’all what I thought about this strict protocol and to provide some recommendations for those who may be considering it.
Overall, I had a really great experience! I felt great, I was consuming tons of whole, nourishing foods and it reminded me of a few important principles that can apply whether you are on Whole30 or not…
You CAN adapt your taste buds to not crave sugar.
Meal prepping reigns as the king of creating success with any healthy eating plan.
Your body wants more fruits & vegetables!
Healthy food can taste really darn good.
There are still ways to socialize and enjoy the company of others, even when you can’t have a glass of wine nor plate of wings at happy hour.
The experience of Whole30 left me feeling so good, that I will be sticking to many of the Whole30 eating principles going forward, while finding a way to incorporate balance again… cause a little dark chocolate does good things for the soul 😉 The number one rule that helps me to stay on track while still enjoying all kinds of food in the culinary world is this…
IF THE FOOD DOESN’T LEAVE YOU FEELING ENERGIZED AND FUELED, DON’T BRING IT INTO YOUR HOUSE.
When I grocery shop, I make sure my cart is packed with clean, whole foods that fit my personal dietary preferences. I meal prep and pack snacks that are nourishing, wholesome and free of the ingredients that leave me feeling sub-par. This guarantees that the majority of the foods I intake are in alignment with what I know makes my body feel great!
By taking this approach, when I go out to eat or socialize with friends, I have more flexibility to choose something that may not perfectly fit the mold of my usual dietary protocol. If there is blue cheese on the salad to perfectly complement the steak, great! If I want a glass of wine, or two, you better believe I’ll have some! And if chocolate cake is on the menu for a little celebration, I will most certainly enjoy it!
This simple rule allows something like Whole30 to become a part of your life, without leaving you deprived of things you really enjoy. Some may call this a “paleoish” approach, others many call it “clean eating,” but it doesn’t matter what the name is. What’s most key is knowing what does and doesn’t work for your body and aiming to eat the most nourishing foods 80% of the time.
The beauty of Whole30 is that the forced elimination of many inflammatory food groups allows you to test what does and doesn’t work for your body as you finish the 30 days. After completing Whole30, the smartest way to test this is to try adding back one thing at a time (such as dairy or gluten) and see how your body reacts. Great example… three days after finishing Whole30 I chose to have two whey protein shakes in the same day. My tum tum said a big “no, no!” to this, which confirmed my knowledge that too much dairy doesn’t leaving me feeling awesome.
The more you learn what does and doesn’t work for your body, the more you explore recipes and foods that DO leave you feeling good. I had so much fun playing with recipes during this 30 day period! I have a few more to share over the coming weeks, but wanted to wrap up this Whole30 recap with one more recipe for my peeps <3 (Note: technically recreating treats with Whole30 approved ingredients is not a suggested protocol, but let’s be real, sometimes a girl just needs a tasty treat, even when she’s on Whole30!)
Gluten, dairy & refined sugar-free, but not free of flavor 😉
- 6 pitted medjool dates
- 2 Tbsp collagen peptides
- 2 Tbsp nut milk of choice
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp almond butter
- 1/2 cup shaved unsweetened baking chocolate
- 1 tsp coconut oil
In a mixing bowl, combine the collagen peptides, nut milk and spices until a thick slurry forms.
Add the almond butter to the mixture and stir until everything is combined into a thick nut butter.
Lay the pitted dates open on a plate and stuff each date with a heaping teaspoon of the spiced collagen nut butter.
Over a double boiler, heat the unsweetened baking chocolate and coconut oil, and stir until thoroughly melted.
Drizzle the stuffed dates with the melted chocolate and store in the refrigerator.
For any of you considering doing Whole30 here are a few great resources:
Let me know if you have any questions or share YOUR experience with Whole30 in the comments below!
Sugar-Free Chocolate Cayenne Almond Butter Cups (Whole30, Paleo)
