Back when I was pregnant with Kate there was this fun little game we used to play. G would ask, “Are you hungry?” and I’d respond with a shrug and a “Meh. I could eat.”
That’s when the clock started ticking.
If food was available anytime within a 0-15 minute window of when it was first suggested…ding, ding, ding – everyone’s a winner!
If 15:01 minutes went by and french fries were not in front of my bulging belly…ladies and gentlemen, we’d have what we quickly termed “a Code Red Situation.” In that split second I’d go from a cheerful, belly-caressing picture of maternal glow to throwing salt shakers at terrified bus boys.
Game over.
Everybody loses.
I’m no longer pregnant, but for some reason those Code Red Situations kept popping up every now and again. Actually, more often than that. Prior to starting the Whole30 it seemed like those Code Red Situations were happening almost daily, but one of the things I’ve noticed by the start of Week 3 is that I no longer feel hungry. It’s remarkable! I’m pretty much relying on the clock to tell me when I should be eating now. In fact, there have been some days that I’m so busy I look at the clock and notice it’s 2 or 3pm in the afternoon and I still haven’t had lunch – and I’m still not hungry!
Bus boys of the world rejoice!
During the Whole30 program meals center around meat, seafood, eggs, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and seeds. Foods that are off-limits include added sugar of any kind (this includes maple syrup and honey), alcohol, grains (including wheat, rice, oats, corn, quinoa), legumes (beans, soy, lentils, peanuts), dairy, corn and white potatoes.
Here’s a look at the meals (and recipes) I enjoyed during Week 3:
Meal 1: Grapefruit.
Meal 2: Nothing, thanks to a reaction I had to the grapefruit I ate for breakfast. One side of my neck ballooned up by my third bite and I spent the afternoon at Urgent Care.
Meal 3: Swelling down and swallowing capabilities returned so I enjoyed this delicious Mexican Layered Casserole for dinner. (NOTE: This recipe makes a 9×13 pan of casserole. G didn’t eat any of it, so it took me a long time to get through it myself and I got sick of it toward the end. If you’re making this just for yourself I’d recommend halving the recipe and doing it in an 8×8 dish.)
Meal 1: Creamy Paleo Bacon Pumpkin Soup
Meal 2: We had lunch at my in-law’s house and my mother-in-law made roasted turkey breast, baked sweet potato and steamed broccoli. It was so sweet of her to accommodate my Whole30 program!
Meal 3: Mexican Layered Casserole
Meal 1: Scrambled eggs.
Meal 2: Mexican Layered Casserole
Meal 3: Almond Chicken Soup with Sweet Potatoes.
Meal 1: Almond Chicken Soup with Sweet Potatoes.
Meal 2: Mexican Layered Casserole (I was definitely sick of it by this point!)
Meal 3: Chicken Bacon Alfredo with Spaghetti Squash. This was amazing, and the recipe that finally got me to like spaghetti squash!
Meal 1: Sweet potato hashbrowns seasoned with Wildtree’s California Style Garlic Pepper Blend, topped with 2 eggs. Definitely my favorite breakfast during this entire challenge – LOVED it!
Meal 2: Chicken Bacon Alfredo with Spaghetti Squash.
Meal 3: Mexican Layered Casserole (So. Over. It.)
Meal 1: Egg, kale, scallion and red pepper frittata.
Meal 2: Chicken Bacon Alfredo with Spaghetti Squash.
Meal 3: Mexican Layered Casserole. This wasn’t even the last of it but I had to get rid of it after this. Variety is the key to Whole30 and having way too much of this casserole was boring my taste buds big time.
Meal 1: Sweet potato hashbrowns seasoned with Wildtree’s California Style Garlic Pepper Blend, topped with 2 eggs
Meal 2: Almond Chicken Soup with Sweet Potatoes.
Meal 3: Pan fried tilapia with cilantro butter (I used ghee) and Brussels sprouts roasted with Wildtree’s California Style Garlic Pepper Blend. I LOVED this dinner. It’s definitely going to stay in my dinner rotation long-term!
Those of you who are doing (or have done) the Whole30 – what are some your meal and recipe favorites? I’d love to hear them!
UPDATE: Continue following along on my Whole30 journey here:
Where in the world did you find sweet potato hash browns that weren’t sweetened with sugar? I would LOVE to find these!!!
I just shredded up a sweet potato in my food processor. It only takes a few seconds!
Oh, awesome! I will have to try that!
Thanks so much for the meal plan. FYI: white potatoes are not off limits for Whole30. I think I read they used to be, but Melissa has changed her stance on the white potatoes.