65 Delicious Whole30 Recipes for the New Year (2024)

FAQs

What is the one bite rule on Whole30? ›

And on the Whole30 that is a big no-no. The rules state that if you take even one bite of an outlawed food, you have to start all over again.

–Jess, Missouri Dear Jess, First, remember that our “three meals a day” recommendation is just that—a recommendation, based on most people's general needs and fitting into most people's regularly scheduled lives.

While grains (including rice) are not compatible with the Plant-Based Whole30 elimination, rice is often used for the fermentation and processing of certain forms of soy, such as miso and tempeh.

Foods allowed on the Whole30 diet mostly consist of minimally processed foods, including: Meat, eggs, and poultry: beef, veal, pork, horse, lamb, chicken, turkey, duck, etc. Fish and seafood: fish, anchovies, shrimp, calamari, scallops, crab, lobster, etc. Fruits: fresh and dried fruits.

Cravings for the foods or drinks you've eliminated can also make you cranky, fidgety, and easily irritated. (Food dreams are common here, too.) You may also experience bloating, constipation, or loose stools as your gut adjusts and learns to process these new foods more effectively.

Though diet sodas and sugary beverages are off-limits on the Whole30 diet, you can drink water, herbal teas, coffee, and any other liquids that don't contain any sugar or artificial sweeteners. Fruit juice, when 100% pure, is also acceptable on occasion.

Day 10 & 11 – The Hardest Days

These days are notoriously the hardest days on Whole30 because you've gone through almost two weeks of the program, but haven't seen any of the benefits yet. We've both watched as friends/coworkers ate cookies & bread, and had to turn it down and explain the program.

Our meal template recommends around two servings of fruit per day, eaten with your meals (and not on their own as “dessert” or a snack). However, that's just a starting point, not a hard and fast mandate. We're really not concerned with the amount of sugar in whole foods, in the context of your Whole30 meals.

Whole30 has gained a reputation as an effective program for weight loss and overall health improvement. Many individuals have reported successful weight loss outcomes while following the Whole30 guidelines.

Are Potatoes Whole30? Yes! As of January 2021, all varieties of potatoes are included in the Whole30 diet. Yet, the catch is that fries and chips are not included in the diet as they are not considered to be “real” or whole foods.

Is butter OK on Whole30? ›

Clarified butter and ghee are the only sources of dairy allowed during your Whole30, as they've had their milk solids rendered out. Plain old butter is not allowed, as its milk proteins could impact the results of your program.

Almond butter is the most popular alternative to peanut butter when completing the Whole30 diet. It is a delicious, high-calorie, high-fat food that helps prevent oxidative damage, has magnesium that helps the nervous system, and contains iron that helps your blood deliver oxygen.

What about bananas? Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30. Yet if they are a potential trigger food for you (for instance, the sweetness of bananas sets off a craving for other treats or makes you want to binge on the fruit), then you may consider including them on your “don't eat” list.

Hit the dairy case for organic, pastured eggs - even at $5 a dozen, they're still one of the cheapest sources of protein. Good choice: If you just can't afford grass-fed or pastured meat, go for ruminant animals (beef, lamb, goat, elk, bison, venison), fish and eggs first; chicken and pork second.

Understanding Whole30 “Cheese”

Although traditional, dairy-derived cheese is a no-go during a Whole30, there's a world of dairy-free cheesy elements that's compatible. These include: Almond-based “ricotta” or “cream cheeses,” like select varieties from Kite Hill.

Many people use the one-bite rule. They insist that a child put one bite of food on his plate. Then, the child must take at least one bite of that food before he can leave the table, or have a second helping of a preferred food. Think about the dynamics of requiring children to eat a specific food.

Ghee or clarified butter.

These are the only source of dairy allowed during your Whole30. Plain old butter is NOT allowed, as the milk proteins found in non-clarified butter could impact the results of your program.

However, it is possible to eat too much fat on a Whole30, and that can negatively affect your hunger levels, energy, and digestion. We see this most often when people mindlessly snack on nuts and seeds.

You can not eat popcorn on a Whole30 diet, but that doesn't mean you satisfy your craving.