Today is day 22 of Whole30 so I’m (kind of) in the homestretch. This last week was the first time I started to ask myself “is this over yet?” Not because I miss certain foods, but because I’ve been inspired to bake. That’s a Whole30 “no-no,” even if the treats are made with compliant ingredients. Hence why this is Whole THIRTY and not Whole-forever.
I actually made some banana bread last weekend because, 1) we had a bunch over-ripe bananas and 2) my non-Whole30 dad requested it. I want to share the recipe but there’s no way in hell I’m posting something without trying it first! So it (and I) shall wait….8 more days.
Other than that very mini-roadblock, all is well. Here are some of the food-highlights from the week.
Whole30 Week 3
Breakfast
It’s becoming a routine now to cook vegetables in the morning.
Lunch
Salads with leftovers. I roasted beets, cauliflower, carrots and potatoes at the beginning of the week to use whenever.
Dinner
I got that steak I wanted! Steak salads with roasted beets, grapes, apples, carrots, avocado and potatoes on the side.
A few other highlights….Cashew and spinach stuffed chicken. My mom and I served it over individual salads and potatoes.
Per usual, zoodles and salmon (with an ugly but delicious Japanese sweet potato on the side)
Snacks
Again, slacked on pictures but this was the gist of it. Crunchy Barney Butter melted = heaven.
How I’m Feeling
-No change from last week, which is a good thing!
-Still very thirsty, but I’m starting to think that has more to do with the dry weather.
Other Notes
-Not a physical change, but Whole30 really gets you in the (good/bad) habit of looking at the ingredients on packages. It’s crazy what they add sugar to (sauces, marinades, canned tomatoes to name a few).
-My mom said she’s gotten used to drinking her coffee black. She used coconut milk and homemade almond milk occasionally as creamer but said it didn’t do much difference to the taste.
-Cashew butter is my new favorite thing. I’m on my not-going-to-tell-you-the-number jar of Maisie Jane’s.
-I have two new recipes coming your way! Whole30 allowed :)
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Man, I wish I had your posts when I did the Whole30 lol I failed so hard. Every meal looks so delicious!!
Christina recently posted…Chocolate Chip Coffee Muffins
If I wasn’t seeing such great results it would have been harder to stick to. That and I get to eat sweet potatoes at basically every meal, which helps ;)
You have practically convinced me to do Whole 30, your food looks so good! But I would not be down with the no dairy. Or chocolate. That is MY no-no!
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Super Savory Oatmeal Patties (Gluten Free, Vegan)
I totally agree! If I knew I could eat this good, I might try the Whole30 myself!
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me recently posted…Books I’ve Read So Far In 2016 (Recent Reads #1)
I feel really nourished and strong with all of this good food!
Yeah the chocolate and (oddly) honey is hard. Just a little bit of both add so much flavor!
That steak though! It must be so fun doing whole30 with your mom and getting to cook together slash having her to cook some of the meals! I’m cooking with my sister and her husband and doing somewhat Whole30 and it’s so time consuming and there’s so much pressure to be cooking healthy for 3 of us! I’m with you on that the hardest part of whole30 isn’t that I want pizza or french fries, but I usually want lemon coconut bread or paleo brownies!
Margaret @ youngandrungry recently posted…Healthy Restaurants in Memphis
YES. Having my mom do it with me has made a world of a difference. We bounce ideas off of each other and compare how we’re feeling. It is time consuming but with two of us prepping food it takes some of the pressure off.
wowowow! your salads and meals are beautiful!!! I have just a couple more days left of Whole30, but I’ve been baking paleo treats once a week to keep my baking binges at bay! Haha! :)
haley @cupcakes and sunshine recently posted…Athens, Georgia Spotlight: Ladydale Letters
I have a bunch of ideas for treats now! Who knew going just 30 days without them would give me so much inspiration for baking.
Cashew butter is my new favorite too!! I made a deal with myself that these last 3 days of my whole30 I’m not going to eat nut butter. I’ve used it a bit too much…but oh well. I feel you with the day 22/23 roadblock. I felt that way on day 27 for me (on day 29 now). I was soooo tired and really wanted to bake something because I enjoy it so much. Only a couple more days! Glad everything seems to be going well for you.
That is a deal I should probably consider making with myself. I knew from the beginning that nut butter would be a staple throughout my Whole30. Even if it’s not a “perfect” 30 days, I’ve still seen great results. Happy day 30 to you!
I would totally eat that banana bread too, you don’t want that to go to waste :) Your allowed a slip-up from time to time, we are all human and make mistakes, plus it’s hard to resist fresh-out-of-the-oven banana bread!
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…11 Unique Healthy Banana Bread Recipes
I didn’t eat it! Just (painfully) watched my dad eat it. Couldn’t waste food though.
My favorite thing to drink coffee with is a scone. A lovely scone toasted with melted butter or PB on top. Other than that, really I drink coffee with breakfast everyday so whatever that is lol
I am glad this experiment has produced some results for you ??
Ellie recently posted…Week In Review [Ugali, confidence and 50 degrees]
Well that sounds delicious! Thanks, Ellie :)
Your meals look SO good. Can’t believe you are already in the homestretch!! I drink my coffee with just a splash of almond milk, but if I am out I am perfectly fine drinking it black.
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…20 Healthy Superbowl Appetizers
That’s all I need in my coffee too! I like putting a little cinnamon in it before brewing too.
I am a black coffee person as a rule but will occasionally go for a cappucino with almond milk or skimmed dairy milk (I know this wouldn’t be allowed on W30 though!).
That cashew butter looks so good too! I’m looking forward to your new recipes :)
I also feel your frustration with the amount of groceries that have sugar lurking in the ingredients list! Almost all of the sauces, soups and dips you can buy from the supermarkets here fall into this category so I have been getting a few things online instead.
I first started drinking coffee with (too much) creamer, but I really don’t mind it black! And good idea to buy certain foods online. More options and delivered right to your door :)
Great to see you’re sticking with it and feeling good! My elimination has been going really well also, although I realized the other day that I had two slip-ups without noticing – a brand of peanut butter I used one day at work had some soybean oil in it, and some small-brand (not So Delicious or any of those) coconut milk ice cream also had whey protein (milk). I’m not sure if those made a difference, or whether it means I can now pinpoint grains as the cause of stomach issues, or whether it’s just eating cleaner and eating a lot more fat in the form of sunflower seed and peanut butter recently as up to 1/4 of my calories is keeping my system more settled.
I’ve wondered all of the same things because I’m not sure if it’s no-grains, super “clean” eating or more fat that has helped my stomach. No grains is the only big change for me. Glad it’s going well for you too!!!
All good! mini-not-really-road-blocks ;) You’re still good!
AHHH cashew butter! My favorite is just from TJs! So good!!!! I go through jars as well ;)
And coffee is always black but with flavored stevias!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Vegan Rice Stuffed Dolmades
I need to try TJ’s version! I’m (too) obsessed with it now.
I’ve been drinking my coffee black for 6 months now. My son has many food allergies and I’m still breastfeeding, therefore, I must avoid his trigger foods. I’ve gotten used to the taste of it, and I don’t miss many things, but I do feel like I miss some variety. I tend to go with flavored coffees when I can to add something different.
I agree with you. Whole 30 is such a great way to gain healthy habits like reading labels. I’ve learned that through my experience with my son also. Good luck on the final stretch. Great pictures.
Thanks, Haley! I really don’t mind coffee black (I’m not a huge coffee drinker in general though). My mom has been adding cinnamon into the coffee before brewing and says that adds great flavor.
Oh yeah baking would be hard to not do for 30 days. I’m starting to drink coffee black now and I feel like such a grown up when I do, I don’t know why haha. I do have some peppermint creamer that I pour a tiny, tiny bit in just to give it some flavor sometimes.
Amanda @ ExploringLifeAndThings recently posted…BBG Weeks 3-4 + outdoor runs!
Haha I feel grown up when I drink coffee at all (still a newbie). Oh peppermint sounds like a great addition!
I can see how Whole 30 is starting to get old, but you’re doing an AMAZING job with your meals! Everything looks downright mouthwatering! <3
[email protected] Apple of My Eye recently posted…Vegas Recap
Thanks, Christine :) The benefits have made it worth sticking with!
I’ve never tried zoodles! Or any pasta shaped vegetable. They sure look pretty, as do all of these meals! Glad you’re feeling great and you’re almost done so you can try the banana bread :P
Hayley recently posted…Weekend Highlights // Dinner with a Friend & “Me” Day
I already froze some slices to try on day 31 ;)
Girl…Your eats look so so so good! I always pair my coffee with unsweetened almond milk. I recently bought Blue Diamond Unsweetened vanilla cashew and it is so creamy…My favorite so far! XOXO
ACKTIVE LIFE recently posted…What The Single Woman Buys At Costco Part V
YUM. That sounds so good! Definitely trying that after.
Everything looks DELICIOUS, I totally want a spiralizer, and cashew butter is awesome ❤️
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…Things I Don’t Do
Get one! Even one of those smaller hand-held ones. Makes vegetables more fun :)
Everything seriously looks like a gorgeous work of art. AND, cashew butter is my favorite, but it’s so expensive. :(
Emily recently posted…Why You Shouldn’t Fear Snacking
Why is nut butter so expensive?! I should try making my own.
Another week of meals that make me really jealous I don’t have your cooking skills! I completely understand your roadblock. Giving up dark chocolate was the hardest part for me! And yes to cashew butter, I love it!!
Sami recently posted…Marathon Training Recap Week 9
Haha I’m getting there ;) Ok now I want dark chocolate with cashew butter. Day 31 treat.
Well I for one, cannot wait for your banana bread recipe! ;)
As soon as I can approve ;)
Yum! All of your eats look SO good. Cashew butter really is the best – I’m not surprised you’re loving it so much!
Kristy @ Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Vegan Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Bark (Gluten Free & Sugar Free!)
I’m just surprised it’s taken me this long to get a full jar (I used to buy the smaller packets). SO good!
Your eats look so yummy! I drink my coffee black and sometime with a sprinkle of cinnamon is I remember. And just curious, why is baking discouraged on Whole 30?
sarah recently posted…February 2016 Goals
It’s actually something they call “sex with your pants on” (SWYPO). Here’s a link that describes more about it (http://whole9life.com/2011/10/sex-with-your-pants-on/) but basically you shouldn’t recreate treats even with compliant ingredients because it’s more about your relationship with food, desserts or not. A paleo brownie is still a brownie, so that’s why they discourage it.
i prefer almond milk and a tiny bit of coffee syrup. i use sugar free and only put in like a teaspoon so i allow it. i just really like some flavoring. i tried coconut milk from the paper package and think its eh. i guess maybe regular coconut milk is better but i really like the unsweetened almond milk from the store. i just cant get into making it on my own. no time and really no desire right now though i know its all over online. it just has such a short shelf life!