What is Whole30?

Hi All! Ambassador Amber here!

Today I am going to be sharing all the details on a way of eating that I am a big fan of, the Whole30 Program. We will be following this post up with some Q&A videos later this month, so definitely reply with your comments below. Let’s jump right in!

What is Whole30?

In my own words, the Whole30 Program is a 30-day elimination diet to help you understand if there are certain types of foods that might be problematic for you, that also helps curb sugar cravings. You eliminate the most common foods that cause sensitivities in people and focus on WHOLE (get it?) mostly unprocessed foods for the 30 days and then slowly reintroduce food groups one at a time to see if they make you feel bad.

What food groups do you avoid?

It’s going to sound like a lot, but here it goes.

• No dairy
• No legumes (beans and peanuts)
• No grains (Stuff like oats, wheat, quinoa…corn is a grain, surprise!)
• No alcohol
• No added sugars in sauces and condiments (it is hiding everywhere)
• No fake sugar
• No carrageenan, MSG or sulfites

Wait, so what can I eat?

More than you think! Eggs, potatoes, lean meats, not so lean meats (bacon without sugar is out there and is delicious), fruits and all the veggies.What I love about challenging myself with a Whole30 is it forces me to get out of any mealtime ruts I might find myself in. There are so many cookbooks specific to this program that you can borrow from your library or buy used for pretty cheap on eBay. And even better, the iTrackBites recipe section has a Whole30 filter! On my last round of Whole30, I made egg roll in a bowl for the first time in years and remembered how amazing that combo of flavors could be.

What are some of the benefits you have experienced?

I wake up less groggy, have better skin and usually lose a decent amount of weight. Whole30 isn’t a weight loss diet but I find that when I am not sneaking mac and cheese off my son’s plate or sampling everything on the kitchen counter, I always have a great weight loss on the program.Another lasting benefit is the habits I form. I did a Whole30 in September and kept my breakfasts and most weekday lunches “Whole30-approved” afterwards. I also stuck to no fake sugar in my at-home coffee and MOSTLY seltzer water instead of Coke Zero.

Do you track while you do Whole30?

I need to let you know that according to the official program, you aren’t supposed to track your food or weigh yourself. I am a rebel. I track almost everything, and I still weigh in because I am just not great with sticking to portion control. If I didn’t track, I guarantee I would eat 3 servings of vanilla almond butter daily and go for allllll the bacon. I say do what works for you!

Where can I learn more?

Whole30.com offers so many resources for free! I also recommend the book “It Starts with Food”. As mentioned earlier, try your local library or eBay for a used copy.What else would you like to know? Drop your questions and look for the video Q&A later this month!Happy tracking!