How to achieve a successful Whole30

Happy #JanuaryWhole30 friends! I woke up this morning feeling really excited for the month ahead. Even though I eat Whole30 about 80% of the time already, I always have so many wonderful improvements (better digestion, sleep, more energy, clearer skin, etc.) when I follow the program 100%. I’m also making consistent exercise a priority this time around (something I wasn’t doing last time). I’m doing it with my friend, Meg Hall, (if you’re not following her on Insta, you should be – she is one of the most genuine, funny and kind people on the internet), and so many other Insta-friends that chimed in and said they were up for the challenge too. Meg and I will both be documenting our journeys and I’ll do my best to share new recipes and menu suggestions for each week.

So, whether this is your first time or 10th time doing Whole30, cheers to you for making your health and wellness a priority as we kick off 2019! And if you woke up this morning thinking “what do I get myself into,” I got you girl. I’ve put together my top 10 tips, favorite recipes and must have products to help you achieve a successful Whole30.

MY TOP 10 TIPS:

Know why you’re doing Whole30
- One of the best ways to follow through on Whole30 is to know why you’re doing it in the first place. Whether you want to identify food intolerances or you really just want to lose 5 lbs, knowing your why gives you a filter to make the best choices and stay motivated to achieve that goal. My goal this time is to start the year off on a strong note when it comes to my health and wellness. In 2018, I had a baby and all of my focus went to her. This year, I want to make my health (including fitness) a priority so that I have more energy to be a blessing to my family and others.
Get the Whole30 book
- It’s extremely helpful, straightforward, and it will get you motivated. It also has tons of delicious and easy recipes. If you don’t want to buy the book, the Whole30 website still has tons of great resources. Whichever you choose, I HIGHLY encourage reading up on the program before getting started.
Plan ahead
- This is Whole30 founder, Melissa Hartwig’s, number one tip. “Before day one, you should have your first week of meals planned, grocery shopping done, pantry stocked, and you should have some Whole30-compliant emergency food stashed away.” I also suggest buying more vegetables and protein than you think you might need. Here’s a Whole30-approved grocery list that might help get you started.
Don’t overthink it
- If your culinary experience is limited, then you may find Whole30 more challenging. I’ve heard friends complain about the difficulty of the recipes and that they’re too complicated. You don’t have to make all the fancy dishes with tons of steps. Just pick ingredients you like and keep it simple.
Eat enough food
- Food = fuel! This is not about counting calories. Eat as much compliant food as you need to be truly satiated. Listen to your body and it will tell you what to do. Just make sure you’re following the Whole30 Food Map (your plate should mostly consist of non-starchy veggies!).
Don’t skimp on healthy fats
- Healthy fats are not the enemy – they protect your brain and heart, and are vital to your physical and emotional health. Check out this article here on how to choose healthy fats. Consuming healthy fats is especially important if you are pregnant or breastfeeding! In fact, I believe my increased intake of healthy fats is what has kept my milk supply rich. I eat lots of avocados, coconut milk, pumpkin seeds, whole eggs and salmon. I also read that some mamas like to sip on compliant coconut milk throughout the day to ensure they’re getting the proper amount of fat plus it helps give you that “full” feeling that’s hard to achieve while nursing.
Make leftovers
- Whenever I can, I’ll make a little extra at dinner so I can have the leftovers for breakfast or lunch the next day. It’s so nice when something is already prepared and one less thing I have to make that day.
Drink lots of water
- This is key whether you’re doing Whole30 or not. Your body relies on proper fluid balance and when we don’t drink enough water to replace what we lose, our bodies become dehydrated and stressed. I aim to drink about 3 liters of water a day (close to 12 cups). My personal rule of thumb is if my pee isn’t clear, I need to go drink some water. 🙂
Find support
- The first time I did Whole30, I did it alone and it was tough not having anyone to talk to. This time, I did it alongside my sister-in-law, cousin and one of my best friends and it was so much more enjoyable. We had a group text going and would constantly share our successes and struggles, recipes, resources and words of encouragement. My cousin and I even did a Whole30 girls night where she came over and we each picked one recipe we’d been wanting to try and made them for each other. It was so fun!
Progress not perfection
- There is no such thing as the perfect Whole30 so just do your best! Little by little progress adds up and even if you don’t do it all perfectly, I guarantee it will change the way you think about food and your eating habits. It may sound cheesy, but it really does have the potential to change the way you eat for the rest of your life!

Bonus Tip: If a Whole30 seems way too daunting, then attempt a Whole15 – I won’t tell the Whole30 police 🙂 15 days is better than zero! Yes, Whole30 can be hard. But with God, we can do hard things. Doing hard things is the best way to experience true growth in our lives. Our greatest joys and satisfactions come not from avoiding hard things, but from joyfully embracing them.

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” Psalm 54:4

MY GO-TO MEALS + RECIPES

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs + veggies cooked in coconut oil or ghee
Applesauce oatmeal (if I wanted something sweet/comforting)
Sweet “potatoast” with avocado, red pepper flakes and Himalayan pink salt
Egg Muffins
Whole30 Breakfast Bake

Lunch

I usually eat leftovers for lunch, but if not here are some other things I like to make:

Turkey lettuce wraps
Everything but the kitchen sink salads using my Oxo Salad Chopper
Easy chicken salad
Egg salad with cucumber slices and Everything But the Bagel Seasoning from Trader Joe’s
Strawberry/avocado salad with Primal Kitchen green goddess dressing
Crunchy Detox Salad (omit honey in dressing)

Dinner

Chicken Fried Cauliflower Rice
Taco Frittata (omit sugar in spice mixture)
Shrimp and Veggie Skillet
Turkey or Bison Burgers + Broccoli Slaw
One-Pan Shrimp Fajita Bowl
Egg Roll in a Bowl
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ground Turkey Taco Salad
Breakfast Fried Cauliflower Rice
Cheeseburger Soup
Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner
Chinese Orange Chicken
Butter Lettuce Wrapped Shrimp Tacos
Shredded Chicken Slaw
Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Squash with Bacon and Asparagus
Tuna Zoodle Casserole
Sheet Pan Salmon with Dijon Cream Sauce
Zoodles + Ground Beef or Turkey Meat Sauce
Tomato Basil Bisque with Italian Meatballs
Turkey Zucchini Burgers
Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

Snacks

Zucchini Hummus + Veggies
Apple + Hard Boiled Eggs
Bowl of Diced Strawberries, Blueberries and Blackberries
Carrot sticks, diced bell peppers and cucumbers with Primal Kitchen Ranch
Homemade plantain chips + salsa or guac

Sweet “Treats”

2-3 Dates
Unsweetened applesauce
Strawberries and blueberries with coconut whipped cream (no sweetener) and cinnamon
Box of raisins

MY FAVORITE PRODUCTS

Vegetables

Organic Riced Cauliflower

Fresh Cubed Butternut Squash

Organic Girl Greens

Hydropnic Butter Lettuce – Love using these as hamburger buns, taco shells, or with turkey and mustard for lunch.

Meats

Aidell’s Chicken & Apple Sausage – Whole Foods or Publix

Pederson Farms Bacon – Whole Foods

Trader Joe’s Organic Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage

Applegate Farms Organic Turkey Burgers – I always try to keep a box of these in the freezer. Even if we don’t have time to grill them, they only take a few minutes to cook in the skillet. I like to put these in a lettuce cup, top with some avocado and Primal Kitchen ketchup and mustard, or throw it on top of a bunch of mixed greens and raw veggies in my salad chopper for a delicious chopped salad.

Trader Joe’s Organic Deli Turkey – Ate this on lettuce wraps for lunch with a side of veggies.

Condiments

Primal Kitchen Regular Mayo & Chipotle Lime Mayo – I use these year-round whether I’m doing Whole30 or not.

Primal Kitchen Ketchup – Takes a little getting used to after having regular ketchup aka “candy sauce” for years, but it’s really good. Reminds me of Whataburger’s fancy ketchup.

Primal Kitchen Salad Dressings – Not all of their salad dressings are Whole30 compliant as some contain honey so just read the label. My favorites are their Ranch (if you’re not a fan of dill you probably won’t like this), Green Goddess and Balsamic.

French’s Yellow Mustard – One item you might already have in your fridge!

Frank’s Buffalo Hot Sauce – I use this in my buffalo chicken stuffed bell peppers.

Coconut Aminos – I use this in Asian dishes or anytime something calls for soy sauce. It tastes just like soy sauce to me. In addition to having a soy sensitivity, 87% of soy produced in the US is GMO so I make sure to steer clear!

Siete Family Foods Hot Sauces – I can’t find a link to these online, but you can get them at Whole Foods. Love these on my eggs or to spice up my Mexican dishes.

Vinegars, Oils + Ghee

Trader Joe’s Organic Coconut Oil

4th and Heart Ghee

Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray

Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar – I like making this vinaigrette for salads

Salsas

Mateo’s – Favorite salsa ever. I get mine at Publix or Whole Foods.

Trader Joe’s Salsa Authentica – Nice kick to it!

Coffee Creamer

Homemade Coconut Milk Creamer

Nutpods – I have a nut allergy so I can’t use these, but my friends love them.

On-the-go snacks