The shiny newness of Whole30 became more routine during Week 2. I don’t think about the program “label” as much and, for the most part, feel like I’m eating as normal as ever. More of my thoughts below, but first let’s do the food.
Whole30 Week 2
Breakfasts
Nothing really changed from last week! Still lots of veggies, potatoes and eggs. Leftovers are THE best. You can repurpose them in so many way.
Lunches
Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink salads.
Dinners
More zoodles, coodles and swoodles. Can I coin that phrase now? Every single meal has a starch on the side (a baked regular or sweet potato) but, like I said last week, potatoes the size of my face don’t photograph well. I’ve already decided I want steak this week. I’ve never cooked steak but I’ve gotta learn sometime.
Lemon zoodles with salmon. This is a simple staple and takes 15 minutes to make.
Asian-inspired grouper, sautéed broccolini, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots
Zucchini noodles, carrot noodles, sweet potato noodles, sautéed kale + Dijon-rosemary salmon
Turmeric chicken with vegetables (roasted regular and purple sweet potatoes + green beans) over zucchini noodles. Love the magic red pot (aka the Le Creuset braiser).
Snacks
I slacked on snack pictures but there was a lot of kombucha and nut butter involved, trust me.
Almond butter stuffed dates…go try ’em.
How I’m Feeling:
Awesome! No stomach pains and I feel like I’m regaining some of the strength I lost from being sick last year. There’s not much else to say in this area, but I guess that’s a good thing.
Other Notes:
-I thought I would be missing smoothie bowls by this point (smoothies are allowed but discouraged on Whole30) but it’s been so chilly here that I haven’t thought about them.
-I do miss granola and nut butters with maple syrup or honey. Not much else.
-I said this last week but I probably could be eating less nut butter (quantity and frequency). That would make me crazy, though. I don’t care that this isn’t a “perfect” Whole30 because I’m still seeing many positive changes.
-My mom (who is doing it with me) is counting down the days until wine but is feeling great otherwise.
-I feel like I live in the kitchen and I don’t hate it. Whole30 doesn’t have to be that way at all but I’ve been experimenting and cooking more than normal because I have the time.
Source
This Friday I’ll be sharing my first recipe post…something that is Whole30 AND Dad-approved. It’s the epitome of healthyish.
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Yay for feeling good and cooking lots! Your meals look seriously delicious!
Thanks, Ellen! :)
Feel the same about nut butter! Love those food combinations as always.
Kaitlin recently posted…Life of Late ~ 1.22.16
Thanks, Kaitlin! I seriously don’t know how people give up nut butters all together…
Husband is still on week one. Again :-) I’m sending him your post :-)
Carla recently posted…Sleep Consistency Matters.
Hey, at least he’s trying :)
I literally LIVE in the kitchen during whole30! It’s crazy, but the amazingness (word?) of the food definitely makes up for the time that it takes. My brother in law is at the point where he seriously prefers Whole30 food because he says it’s like eating at the nicest restaurants. He’ll get a burger at like a bar, but when he goes somewhere really nice you get fish or steak with a side of potatoes and veggies. When I’m in the kitchen he gets that every night! I miss plain Greek yogurt the most and I think it’s because I just want something creamy.
Totally a word and I completely agree. It feels so satisfying to sit down to a good meal I made for myself!
Great post and excellent meal ideas, thanks so much for sharing pinned for later.
Thanks, Ivanna! Hope you had a great day!
Love all those colorful potatoes you are adding to your dishes…I don’t know how you are doing without nut butters…I do not think I would give up that healthy fat for anything. It is my thing and it just makes me happy. Glad you and your Mom are doing well with the Whole 30. I enjoy looking at your pretty food pictures…You are rocking it girl!
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…What The Single Woman Buys At Costco Part V
Oh girl, I did NOT give up nut butters at all! If anything I’ve been eating way more than the program recommends. They make me happy too :)
I struggled so hard with breakfast when I did Whole30, but packing in more veggies in the morning will do the trick! Dates + almond butter are one of my favorite snacks. My go-to easy meal is cooking salmon with butter, salt, + lemon pepper, + sliced lemons. Sooo yummy!
That is so similar to my go-to meal! I just used coconut oil instead :)
Everything looks so fresh and clean! Glad you’re doing well with this! PS: How did you make that first graphic!? It looks awesome!
[email protected] recently posted…Chocolate Cherry Mocha Brownie Bites [vegan + gluten-free + high protein]
Thank you! I made it on inDesign :)
I haven’t really missed much yet, but I did go and buy some special beers for day 31 :) Besides that, I’m doing great and don’t think I’ll change my habits much after this is over (which is this weekend!) Glad to hear this is helping you already :)
I still haven’t decided what I’ll do after the 30 days but some new habits (and food) will definitely stick around.
Last night I had dates stuffed with cashew butter. I felt so fancy hahaha I like room temperature foods most times because then I don’t have to worry about them getting too cold or melting before I get a chance to finish them. I like to eat slow so this is a problem sometimes. A staple for me is bananas or rice. They go with everything and are really satisfying.
Have a great week. I’m so glad this change is working for you
Ellie recently posted…Week In Review [01/18-01/24]
I don’t like it too hot or cold. Especially too hot because I burn my tongue so easily.
Your pictures have always been beautiful but WOW your photography has been even more amazing lately! Nice work, girl! When I did my Whole30s, I pretty much ate the same staple things every day. Eggs for breakfast, salad with everything from the fridge for lunch, chicken burger and a sweet potato for dinner. It was easy and it worked!
Sami recently posted…Marathon Training Recap Week 8
Sami, this comment made my day! It’s a work in progress but it’s fun playing around.
I’m the same with meals…why mess with what works?
You have me craving all the zoodles now! I haven’t had any in a while but after seeing all these I just may hop back on board with them. So glad you are still feeling such awesome results with the program! And I would be feeling exactly what your mom is too- wine! haha
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…Winter Weekend Snapshots
So versatile! Goes with everything. Thanks, Brie!
Make my food!!!!
Come home, please.
I’m so glad it’s going well for you!!! Good signs, good signs!
Thank you! :)
I love that quote at the end! Haha one of my go-to meals is chicken or shrimp with roasted sweet potatoes and zucchini. I swear I eat those with every meal.
Amanda @ ExploringLifeAndThings recently posted…Currently: January
YES, I could too. Can never get sick of it!
Your pictures are gorgeous!!! That dijon salmon sounds really good…how did you make that? I have a salmon fillet that I need to use this week and can’t decide what to do with it. Love that you’re feeling so great on this and experimenting in the kitchen! Go girl.
My go to…400 degrees, coat pan with coconut oil, squeeze lemon and rub about good squeeze of Dijon mustard on each piece. I like to sprinkle rosemary on too! Then bake for 15-20 min (depending on the thickness of the filet).
Looking forward to the recipes
I have to say, Whole 30 may be labor intensive, but DAMN it makes for tasty food and gorgeous pictures!
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Inching Ever Closer: Progress and Rest
I feel like I eat the rainbow every day! So many colors.
I’m almost finished with Whole30, but for the first time in months I have not had stomach pains! I stopped eating gluten this past summer, so now I have to figure out what else I have eliminated while doing Whole30 because I feel fantastic!!! LOVE your whole30 posts!
haley @cupcakes and sunshine recently posted…Favorites Whole30 Snacks and Healthy Finds
I’m so glad you’ve found relief too! I have celiac disease so gluten was always a no-go for me but this is the first time I’ve eliminated GF grains.
All of your meals look great and so nutritious. Love all the fish! Almond-nut butter dates = my idea of perfection before, and after a long run.
Sarah @ BucketListTummy recently posted…Chia Seeds: The secret nutritional bigwigs
SO good before/after a run! Maybe even during a run if I could figure out how to carry it properly.
LOL I love how you say your mom is counting the days until wine. I would have a really hard time sticking to it for 30 days and not giving into cravings!
Kristin recently posted…Finding Our Balance (2016) (Volume 1) by Lauren Hopkins
We haven’t kept it in the house but she went out with friends the other night and came face to face with it for the first time. Major willpower!
It does sound you are getting into a great routine with it. I’ve actually never been that big of a fan of smoothies. I never feel as though they are filling enough! Everything looks great Emily and good luck this week as well.
Hollie recently posted…Dropping 9 minutes from my Half Marathon Time
I agree! I usually have them as second breakfast or an afternoon snack. Always with lots of toppings!
I love ice cream all year-round! There’s an amazing ice cream place by us that is open all year, and I would still get milkshakes from the Dairy Store in college no matter the weather. Though I do love having an excuse for lots of hot cocoa in the winter, too.
Rebecca @ Vitamin OH! recently posted…Coastal Delaware Running Festival Marathon Training: Week 3
I like the excuse of having warm foods in the winter too, even if it doesn’t really get warm down here!
do you cook your zoodles or eat them raw? i can’t ever decide which i like better. i feel like they taste weird raw, then i cook them and dont like them, haha.
My “trick” is to cook half (for just a few minutes in a pan) and then mix those with raw zoodles. That way they don’t get too soggy but are softer and more noodle-like :)
You’ve just sparked a MAJOR roasted veggie craving for me! I’m dying to roast some carrots now and will have to do that this weekend after I go grocery shopping :) Your whole 30 meals look so, so yummy and your photography is wonderful!
Liv @ Healthy Liv recently posted…Homemade Dark Chocolate Almonds
Raw carrots just don’t compare to roasted. Just so good with cinnamon! Ah, thanks Liv. I’m working on it ;)
i must say that all of these meals look amazing! I think anyone would agree going on the whole 30 if they saw all of your veggie filled goodness and those nut butter dates! Can’t wait for that recipe friday <3
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…Warm and Nourishing Bowl of Frothy Chai Spiced Oatmeal with Apple Noodles
Thanks, Rachel! Thank goodness nut butter is still allowed :)