We’re already three weeks into January and I hope everyone is succeeding in their New Year goals whatever they may be!
Personally I’m on day 21 of Whole30 and feeling great! I’ll be writing more later after Whole30 is over about how it went. In today’s post I wanted to talk about my favorite resources for success in living a healthy lifestyle…
Part of the key to success in Whole30 and continuing to eat healthy afterwards is having a lot of options so you don’t get bored. I know healthy food seems like it should be bland and boring but that is a lie! It should be flavorful, colorful AND healthy. I’ll never be the kind of person that can just eat chicken breast and broccoli for every meal. There are so many more options out there, spice it up! Literally… learn to use more spices. It’s easy to get started, just try to make one new recipe a week. There are thousands of free recipes online and you can get well priced cookbooks off of Amazon or at Costco. If you buy any kind of cookbook you have at least 100 recipes already at your fingertips. I should know, my cookbook collection has grown to about 15 now and it’ll take me years to make all of the recipes. Or maybe it would only take a solid year of commitment… who knows!
Meal planning can seem overwhelming or time consuming at first, but after awhile it will be second nature. In the beginning it can be as easy as just thinking a couple days ahead to make sure you have a plan for every meal. After that plan for a whole week. You’d be surprised how easy it is to stick to your plan if you write down, execute it and then all you have to do is just cook and eat. Most importantly is plan to eat leftovers. If you’re one of those “I don’t eat leftovers people,” you’ve got to cook three meals a day and no one has time for that. Or you’re a food waster and that’s just unacceptable. Don’t be a leftover hater!
That’s why I wanted to share this list of my favorite resources that keep me inspired and ready to eat delicious food all the time. I love following all types of different bloggers for an array of different types of recipes, workouts and tips for a healthy lifestyle.
If you are needing some recipe inspiration this week, here are some of my favorite Whole30 Recipes (that really fit into any healthy eating plan):
–Bora Bora Fireballs from Mel Joulwan, Well Fed
–Chocolate Chili from Mel Joulwan, Well Fed
–Pizza Spaghetti Squash Pie from Juli Bauer, PaleOMG
–Super Porktastic Bacon-Topped Spinach & Mushroom Meatloaf from Michelle Tam, Nom Nom Paleo
–Easy Sunday Morning Frittata from me!
–Smashed Potatoes from Diane Sanfilippo, Balanced Bites
–Slow Cooker Kalua Pig from Michelle Tam, Nom Nom Paleo (for all my fellow Hawaiians!)
–Whole30 Recipes on the Whole30 website itself.
All of these bloggers are also insanely great resources for all types of recipes and healthy living tips:
Diane Sanfilippo @ Balanced Bites – she also does a podcast with Liz Wolfe @ Real Food Liz that I highly recommend, it’s my favorite!
Michelle Tam @ Nom Nom Paleo
Mel Joulwan @ Well Fed
Cassy Joy @ Fed & Fit
Juli Bauer @ PaleOMG
Hayley & Bill @ Primal Palate
The Whole30 has become SO popular that it’s so easy to google Whole30 + whatever ingredient you have or want to use and bam! There’s a ton to choose from. Don’t be lazy, do some research and you will find great things. Also don’t stray away from Whole30 recipes if you’re not doing one. They are really just extremely clean with protein, lots of veggies and healthy fats. It’s a great choice for any kind of plan/ everyday life 🙂
I’m off to a busy Sunday of food prep- a butternut squash soup for the blog and Bora Bora Fireballs for lunches for the week for my husband and I. Go rock your week!
Comments
Hi Bernie, its Ian from your class. Good post! Many years ago I remember how much we wasted. It seemed like my wife and I were always throwing something away. But then again it wasnt really “whole” food so much as it was junk food back in those days so maybe the trash wasnt a bad place for it. Seriously though, we dont waste a thing now since I have been doing GAPS. Its really given me a whole new respect for food and flavors over the last year or so. Sounds like you have had some real positive life changes with your whole 30 initiatives, great for you!! As far as planning I do tend to take things to the extreme so I have had to tailor that down a bit and I am always a few days ahead in my head taking this out or prepping that, but nothing really on paper. It gets a little overwhelming sometimes, the diet. Maybe a week planner would be a good thing. Anyway, wanted to say hey and comment on your post. Look forward to meeting you at the workshop weekend!
-Ian
Hey Ian! Thanks for stopping by! I am really looking forward to meeting you as well!! I agree that I have noticed I waste much less with real whole food. Probably because we cherish it a lot more, I know that it’s given me much more respect for the environment and especially the animals and I feel so bad wasting stuff. My husband always teases me because I’ll save stuff even if it’s the tiniest amount, but I always eat it!! I don’t know what your work schedule looks like but planning helps me sooo much since we work full time and sometimes you just don’t feel like cooking, it’s nice to look at a list and let it almost decide for you! haha
I know the GAPS diet is even more particular than even whole30 so I can imagine it gets overwhelming at times. I got this sweet list that has the whole week on it and has a magnet so I just keep it on the fridge so I HAVE to look at it. Maybe that would help? See you soon!!! 🙂
-Bernie