whole yadda yadda

I'm baaaaa-aaaack....!

Finished up my finals last week--woohoo! One semester down.....400 more to go.

For the past few months I've been hearing a whollllle lot about Whole 30. 
What's Whole 30 you ask? Check it out HERE. 
(long story short: no sugar, dairy, grains, legumes, soy and then some other little ones--for 30 days straight, then you add them back in.) 

Here has been the progression of my thoughts on Whole 30:

-total fad diet. I hate fads. and diets. moving on.

-ok, it's seeming less like a diet. but it's definitely a bandwagon. I also don't like being on bandwagons. or off bandwagons. or whatever it is you do with bandwagons....not for me.

-what?! there is a book? there is science behind this?! I love food science! I may need to read this.

-over a few weeks I looked through different Whole 30 approved meals--partly out of curiosity, and partly just looking for new meal ideas.....some of this stuff is GOOD.

-Last Monday I was cleaning up dinner and realized that my entire day had been a "Whole 30" day....and not on purpose.

-So then I was like, ok....let's see what this is all about. Two more days of it, no problem....really. I already have cut out a lot of gluten this year--I've been trying to figure out how to clear up my skin. I've curbed my sugar cravings--we've really only had treats on special occasions and a weekend here and there....so the first 3 days were no biggie.

-................and then we went camping, and because I wasn't really invested in this crazy thing, nor had I read the book, I didn't really care enough to continue through a camping weekend. So I ate chili with beans, curry with rice, and dutch oven brownies (oh yesssss).

-I started the book, and so far it is just fascinating! I'm not very far in, but I love what I'm learning so far. I've been eating 100% W30 these past couple of days and I honestly love coming up with meal ideas that work.....and yet I still have no intentions of carrying this thing out 30 days.

WHY AM I HESITANT?

-in my last few weeks of research I've found so many good recipes and helpful tips on Instagram.....but then it started feeling a lot like a clique.....and I hated that. Like fads and bandwagons, I absolutely detest cliques. They feel gross and slimy and I want no part. I think too many people have become a little obsessed with this latest health movement, and a couple of times I've witnessed (via the internet obviously) strangers belittling any other lifestyle that is not "Whole 30 approved". And I think that's LAME. I've read stupid comments like "some people just aren't strong enough to do something like this." 
You are not elite because you don't eat tortillas for a month honey, sorry.

There is no ONE right way. It's about finding what is right for YOU. Never ever ever let someone make you feel like your own healthy choices are not the "right" healthy choices. 

I really had to laugh as I read through some of these girls' comments to eachother--catty and ignorant sounding--bashing one another's lifestyles. Girls, stop it.....seriously. It's like if you're not eating by these rules, you might as well eat fast food every single meal, and you will die a slow and painful artery clogged death. Not so.
*I'm not saying everyone who does the program is this way....I just read too many snarky comments that rubbed me the wrong way. 

-I have a healthy relationship with food. I eat a little of this and a little of that, and that's how we like it. After reading alot of W30 testimonials, I have found that many of the people who started, did so because they were eating loads and loads of sugar and needed a good way to stop. If sugar is your vice--then I think this would be an excellent lifestlye change for you! Seriously, check it out.  I feel like my sugar intake is under control......so I'm not needing W30 for that.

-by taking out legumes and grains, most of the Whole 30 people I see are eating meat daily--or close to it. We only eat meat a couple times a week--for cost purposes because I buy properly raised meat, and also because meat every day just seems heavy to me.

SO WHY AM I STILL INTERESTED?

-in the handful of days that I have eaten W30, I have gotten more veggies in than ever before. We eat vegetables every day normally....but taking out grains and legumes has really made me load up--breakfast lunch and dinner--it feels good to be downing so many different colors.

-last year at the beginning of summer I had to have a colonoscopy (you're thinking "whaaaaaaaaaat") and before you go in for the procedure you have to do a total cleanse--EVERYTHING MUST GO! After I did it, I can't even tell you how good I felt. I am a naturally sleepy person....but I had ridiculous energy, I slept so well, my headaches were gone, and I felt like a film had been removed from over my brain--everything was so clear. This lasted for a while, and slowly faded as summer turned to fall. The more I read into the "WHY'S of this program--many of the things we eat cause inflammation and other health issues--a little bit of me wonders if I took out these things for a month and slowly added them back.....how would I feel? hhmmm.

-what fascinates me most is the healing powers of food. I know this already because of my history with Lyme--we completely changed our diet because of it. I have been reading of so many people with different ailments, and how they've found great success by eating this way--I really believe food can be our best medicine.

IN CONCLUSION

I'm still reading the book--I love to learn whether I end up fully applying my new knowledge or not.

I'm still thinking up Whole 30 recipes because I like the challenge of it.
I'm still planning on sharing Lucy's birthday cake this month. And she's debating between pizza or sushi, and I won't be the mom who doesn't eat her daughter's birthday dinner.
Mostly....I'm just curious....and I think that's a good thing in life.

Taco Salad

hey this is Whole 30 approved! 
To make it non-W30 and (obviously) extra tasty add tortilla chips, black beans, and pepperjack cheese.

TOSS TOGETHER
-ground beef, browned and seasoned with chili powder, ground chipotle flakes, cumin, smokey paprika, minced garlic, salt (don't buy taco seasoning--just mix up your own spices!)

-sweet potatoes, diced and tossed in coconut oil and roasted at 425°

-chopped romaine

-spinach

-cabbage

-bell peppers

-green onions

Avocado Dressing

In blender combine:

2 avocados

juice of two limes

large handful of cilantro

small handful red onion
1 jalapeno (with or w/out seeds)

spoonful of real mayo (make sure it doesn't have soybean oil or any mystery ingredients if you're going for W30)

splash of white vinegar 

salt
while blender is running, drizzle in some olive oil until smooth and creamy

To learn more about Whole 30, or just read about some really interesting food science,
 check out the book:
It Starts with Food

Not convinced on Whole 30 but want to read about moderation? 
Look into this post I wrote last fall on Eating Well

BOTTOM LINE
Just eat what you want and don't be judgmental about it.

What are your thoughts on this Whole 30 business? 
I'd love to hear your success stories, or why it maybe didn't work for you.
Are you curious? Me too!
I'll let you know my thoughts when I finish the book.