New year, time to start out the year and get back on track with eating cleaner and healthier, right? My suggestion– do a Whole30®!
It is going to take patience, planning, and a whole lot of willpower. But I know you can do it!
Not sure where to begin? Check out my break down of the Whole30 to get started or check out my helpful hints below!
Know it all – I can’t stress this enough- read, read and read some more. Learn all there is to learn about the Whole30. Knowledge really is power and the more you know, the easier the program will be. Read blogs, cookbooks, reviews and anything else you can get your hands on before you get started.
Plan it out – Planning out your meals in advance is one of the most helpful tips I can give to anyone doing a Whole30 or starting to eat paleo. Let’s face it, life is crazy, and at least for me,can throw a major wrench in your goals to cook healthy, homemade meals every night. By taking the time over the weekend to look through blogs and cookbooks for inspiration and plan my week of meals in advance, I can be prepare myself for the week ahead.
Need some help? Melissa Joulwan offers Whole30 weekly meal plans over on her blog The Clothes Make the Girl.
Make a list – A grocery list that is! After you have planned out your meals for the week, sit down and write a detailed grocery list so that going to a store is a breeze. Not only will making a list help to ensure that you don’t forget anything for you recipes but it will also keep you from picking up anything you don’t need, saving you time and money – a win win! So when in doubt, stick to the list!
Write it down – Keeping a journal (or in my case a blog) was a great way to keep myself accountable during my first Whole30. Write down everything! Share how you are feeling, what you are eating, if you are exercising and how much sleep you are getting each night. This is also a great resource if you do a second Whole30 as you can learn from what you did the last time.
Cook it up – If you’re anything like me life (namely work) can easily get in the way of cooking dinner every night. The best way to combat this is to have a cooking day (for me, usually over the weekend) where you cook all of your meals for the week. This will help save you time throughout the week and help save you money since you won’t be tossing out any produce that goes bad.
Check out my Whole 30 recipe round-ups here and here.
Interested in learning more about doing a Whole30? Find more Whole30 recipes and resources here or check out the official website for the Whole30 program.