Alright…2nd week of Whole30 in the books!
When you feel like giving up, remember why you started
Week 2 was no doubt a challenging week for me. I felt a little irritable, energy waxed and waned, and I was starting to feel bored. I think this is common when you are making any type of change in your life. At first it’s exciting and new and then, just like any challenge, you start to wonder, “can I really do this for a few more weeks?” Keep in mind that while Whole30 is only 30 days, it is meant to reset your mindset around food, give you the opportunity to try new things and see how your body feels when it eats REAL, WHOLE FOODS. Yes, it is extreme for some, but it gives us the tools to live healthier even after the 30 days is complete.
I also noticed this week that even thought I had planned it all out, there were days where I wanted something else or didn’t have the time or energy to make what I had thought I would. That’s ok… this week I will give you several tips and tricks to help when you feel like giving up.
Breakfast
- Breakfast Casserole with blood oranges or tangelos
Lunch & Dinners
- Leftover Creamy Butternut Squash Soup (from last week’s meal plan) with Trader Joe’s Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage (only one there without added sugar) and Pan-Fried Asparagus
- Simple Rosemary Lemon Chicken with Potatoes
- Spaghetti Squash with Creamy Meat Sauce
- Zoodles with Avocado Pesto and Baked Salmon
- Seared grass-fed beef wrapped in Prosciutto with leftover avocado zoodles and potatoes
Meal Prep Sunday:
Oven:
- Roast all vegetables (red/purple potatoes)
- Bake spaghetti squash, cool, and pull out strands with a fork
Other:
- Wash all fruits and vegetables and chop as many as you can (within reason)
- Brown ground turkey
- Spiralize zucchini noodles
- Pre-portion out snacks (nuts, veggies, fruit) into single serving bags or containers
- Prepare breakfast casserole and place in containers for easy heat-and-go breakfasts
- Defrost meats, if necessary
- Everything else should come together fairly quickly during the weeknights!
Here was the meal schedule I followed for week 2:
Monday:
- Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole with citrus fruit
- Lunch: Leftover Creamy Butternut Squash Soup (from last week’s meal plan) with Trader Joe’s Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage and Pan-Fried Asparagus
- Dinner: Simple Rosemary Lemon Chicken with Potatoes
- Snacks: Celery with Almond Butter and Golden Raisins, Rx Bar
Tuesday:
- Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole with citrus fruit
- Lunch: Simple Rosemary Lemon Chicken with Potatoes
- Dinner: Chipotle (yes, I said it) – Bowl with Carnitas, Lettuce, Pico de Gallo, and Guac *these are basically the only Whole30 options at Chipotle
- Snacks: Celery with Almond Butter and Golden Raisins, Rx Bar
Wednesday:
- Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole with citrus fruit
- Lunch: Leftover Creamy Butternut Squash Soup (from last week’s meal plan) with Trader Joe’s Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage and Pan-Fried Asparagus
- Dinner: Spaghetti Squash with Creamy Meat Sauce
- Snacks: Celery with Almond Butter and Golden Raisins, Rx Bar
Thursday:
- Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole with citrus fruit
- Lunch: Simple Rosemary Lemon Chicken with Potatoes
- Dinner: Zoodles with Avocado Pesto and Baked Salmon
- Snacks: Celery with Almond Butter and Golden Raisins, Rx Bar
Friday:
- Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole with citrus fruit
- Lunch: Work Lunch – greens with pulled chicken, avocado, pico de gallo, no dressing
- Dinner: Seared grass-fed beef wrapped in Prosciutto with leftover avocado zoodles and potatoes
- Snacks: Celery with Almond Butter and Golden Raisins, Rx Bar
Saturday/Sunday: The weekends are usually for simple meals and leftovers 🙂
- This week we had a special Whole30 Friendsgiving- watch for the post tomorrow!!
Tips for eating out on Whole30
- Pick something simple: The more complicated the order, the more likely they are to mess it up!
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions about how they prepare menu items- watch the type of fat/oil they are cooking their meats and other items in, as well as added sugar & dairy in sauces, dressings, etc.
- It’s best to choose oil/vinegar for salad dressings and hold the sauces and condiments
- Places like Chipotle make it easier since you can choose exactly what you get
- Ask for seltzer or sparkling water to jazz up your beverage
- Try to avoid eating out as much as possible on Whole30. Even though I made good choices when eating out, there were still hiccups, such as the restaurant accidentally put cheese on my salad the first time.
- It IS possible to be “Whole30 compliant” by eating Rx Bars and Chipotle everyday, but is it teaching you to make good choices, cook, and eat mindfully? NO. So, my advice is to cook and eat at home as much as possible. Remember, preparation is KEY.
- For more visit realfoodwithdana. She has some great tips!
