Getting a Healthy Start in 2015 with the Whole30 Challenge

It’s that time again! Time for a new year and a fresh start. Some of you may remember I spent 30 days last January doing a Whole30 nutritional challenge. Well, it’s been a year since then, and boy do I need the reset!

This month hubs and I will be taking on another Whole30 to get 2015 off to a healthy start. The whole Christmas season always does a number on me, and by the end I feel like garbage. Doing a Whole30 is a lot of work, but after 30 days of no sugar, grains, dairy, legumes, and alcohol, I end up with better skin, better digestive health, more energy, and a little less around the middle. Cutting out all sugars also helps to “reset” my taste buds and my metabolism so I stop craving sugar and junk food.

What is the Whole30?

According to Dallas and Melissa Hartwig, the authors of It Starts with Food, Whole30 is a “short-term nutritional reset, designed to help you restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, calm systemic inflammation and put an end to unhealthy cravings, habits, and relationships with food.” It’s a way of eating that focuses on eating real, whole foods, not calorie restriction.

“Eat real food – meat, seafood, eggs, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and seeds. Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re totally natural and unprocessed.” (http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/)

Like last year, I’ll be sharing my meal plan and some Whole30 recipes on the blog. These will all be grain-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and legume-free, but you don’t have to be doing a Whole30 to enjoy them of course. Taste is still king!

 
Follow me on Instagram at @thiswestcoastmommy to see the Whole30 goodness I’m making and eating. I’d love for you to share your Whole30 challenge with me too! Tag your Instagram pics #Whole30BlogChallenge.

Whole30 Meal Plan for January 2-11

Friday, January 2

Slow Cooker Balsamic Pot Roast
Coconut Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Saturday, January 3

Indian Style Onion and Garlic Chicken
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower

Sunday, January 4

Leftovers (I’m working this day)

Monday, January 5

Slow Cooker Thai Green Curry Chicken
Cauliflower Fried Rice

Tuesday, January 6

Paleo Curry Beef Stew

Wednesday, January 7

Spice Roasted Chicken with Apple Stuffing
Sweet Potatoes

Thursday, January 8

Chicken Vegetable Soup
Raw Veggies with Chipotle Mayo Dip

Friday, January 9

Ginger and Green Onion Chicken
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower

Saturday, January 10

Creamy Dill and Garlic Salmon
Mixed Vegetables

Sunday, January 11

Paleo Meatloaf Muffins
Roasted Broccoli and Sweet Potatoes

 
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