Whole30 Update #2

The Whole30 is winding down. It's definitely been an experience, sometimes better than others. It would probably be best to not do this challenge during one of your busiest months of the year, but what can I say I like a challenge.

How am I feeling? Still tired (not really more than usual) but I'm still waiting for the endless energy to come. I definitely don't crave sweets (cookies, etc) anymore and I have no desire for diet soda (finally!). I really have no desire to have dessert after dinner and I'm getting used to eating eggs in the morning. The hardest part for me is the afternoons when I'm at work. I still want to snack. I try to have an apple or a Lara Bar (lifesavers on this challenge) - they both are still sweet but much better choices than snacks I used to eat (Sunchips, crackers, or popcorn and occasionally some candy). 

I've actually really enjoyed some of the meals I've made this month, some are definitely keepers.  Vegetables and sweet potatoes are so good and there are so many ways to cook them up. We've also found some great things at Whole Foods that make the days a little easier. Italian Sausages and natural rotisserie chicken are some of our favorite finds from Whole Foods. We were able to go out last weekend and we ate at Colton's in Russellville. We had a good waitress who really took our restrictions seriously. We both had 9 oz steaks (no butter or seasonings), baked sweet potato (sans butter, cinnamon, and sugar), and steamed veggies. It was really good and a nice break from the kitchen.

However, I am ready to have more flexibility in what we eat. I think this is a good way of eating to adopt but worrying if there is sugar in things like bacon or sausage is exhausting. I'm also ready to take a break from the kitchen at least once per week. Again, the worst part about this challenge is prepping, cooking, and cleaning at every meal.

One more weekend to go! Our 30 days ends on Monday. We are going to be in Memphis (on Beale) this weekend so that will be a challenge. I think we can make it and hang in there for 4 more days.

Here's a few of my favorite meals on the web from the Whole30 Challenge:

Pan-Fried Sweet Potatoes - These are so yummy, I could eat half the pan!
Sausage and Bell Peppers - So good with cauli-rice - we used sausages from Whole Foods, made this so tasty
Roasted Veggies - I've made these at least 2x per week during this month
Crockpot Roast and Root Veggies - So good and easy - we used parsnips and carrots

I also did a food photo journal on Tuesday of this week - this is a picture of (almost) everything I ate that day:

Breakfast: Coffee (Black) and Grain/Dairy Free Banana Muffins - these are lifesavers on the Whole 30

Scrambled eggs and Fruit for Mid Morning Snack

My food for the day - unsweet tea, Lara Bar, fruit, and leftovers for lunch

Part of my lunch - celery and almond butter (nothing like PB :(  )

Lunch: Leftover Crockpot Roast with carrots and parsnips - I also made a side of mashed cauliflower with ghee.

For dinner, I threw together any leftovers from the fridge. I made a stir-fry from leftover roast and rotisserie chicken. I added a bag of stir fry veggies,  onion, and garlic with a few other seasonings. It was really good and easy. We took the leftovers for lunch the next day.

The muffins above are technically approved to eat because they have all approved ingredients in them. However, they are a lot like regular muffins which is a big no-no on Whole30, no paleofying off-limit food to make it Whole30 friendly. Still, they helped me get through this and they are really good, so I don't feel any guilt about eating these.