Whole30, Round 2! Here I Come!!!

Hey there fellow Whole30ers! It's been a while since I have been able to update my blog. I was down and out for over a week with a nasty flu bug, so I have a reasonable excuse;) But I'm back and going strong. I started round two of the Whole30 last Thursday and so far, so good! I realized that when I got off the program and started the Whole9 for several weeks, how addicted to sugar I still was. If I let myself have even a little bit of sugar, then I would crave A LOT. The best solution is just to hop right back on board and now that I actually know what I'm doing and have some yummy recipes under my belt, it's a lot easier. Here are some pictures and recipes from the past week or so--hope you like them!:) 

Almond Crusted Chicken Tenders are Whole30 approved...but they don't taste like it! Seriously, so good and soooo easy. Buy a package of organic chicken tenders from the store, spray them with olive oil, and then dip them in crushed almonds. I used about 1 cup (and had leftover) raw almonds and just blended them until finely chopped. Place on a lined baking sheet and cook about 30 minutes at 410 or until done. Keep an eye on them. Sweet potato wedges are always a great, simple side dish. Just wash your sweet potatoes, cut them into wedges, toss in a bowl with olive oil and your choice of seasonings and bake on a lined baking sheet for about 40 minutes at 410 or until done. We used Cajun spices on this batch and they were really good. Serve with Whole30 approved ketchup! Made for a great Friday night meal:) 

Almonds are really becoming my best friend. You can use them for SO many things! Pictured here are Almond Flour Pancakes with paleo bacon. They taste JUST like regular pancakes and are even easier to make. Three ingredients: Eggs, Bananas, Almond flour/meal. I doubled the recipe and did 4 eggs, 2 ripe mashed bananas and 1/2 cup almond meal (I used the Trader Joes brand). Whisk all of these ingredients together in a bowl and then just cook in the skillet like you would regular pancakes. They come out fluffy and delicious. Since maple syrup isn't allowed on the Whole30, I topped with a little organic crunchy almond butter, cinnamon and bananas. Really, really freakin good. You can find the paleo, uncured, sugar-free bacon at Whole Foods or your local health foods store!

Bacon wrapped salmon has become a favorite of ours...because why not?! Bacon is amazing with everything. Also, if you get sick of cooking in the kitchen, use your grille!! Who cares if it's cold outside, it's worth it. There really is no secret recipe here. Just season up your salmon however you like, wrap with several pieces of bacon and throw on the grille. We served it with garlic roasted English Peas (these are WAY better than regular peas. I found them at Trader Joes). And of course, the handy dandy sweet potato with a little ghee, salt and pepper. Yum! 

Chicken fajitas are so simple and never disappoint. At a loss for what to make for dinner? Just whip up a batch of these. We used red and green peppers, onions and mushrooms. Chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Penzey's taco seasonings. Served with lettuce wraps, fresh homemade guac and Salsa Verde from Trader Joe's. Can't go wrong!

Homemade crock pot applesauce is one of my favorite things in the entire world, especially on a cold winter day! And hey, it's Whole30 approved! Just don't eat it every day, apples still have a lot of sugar. Just peel and slice your apples of choice (I used organic Fuji and organic Galas). Add cinnamon if you prefer and cook on high all day, keeping an eye on them. Stir occasionally. Serve warm or cold, however you like it! 

I let the apples sit all day and this was the finished product! A darker applesauce which was very naturally sweet and delicious. Yum!:) 

If you are ever at a loss for what to cook, chicken is always a great fall back. It's easy, packed with protein and delicious. I like to experiment with lots of different seasonings and enjoy either on a plate, in a salad, etc. 

This magical little number I like to call "dump soup" because I literally just dump whatever I have sitting around the kitchen into the crock pot. For this soup (which turned out amazing) I did 1qt. chicken broth, 1qt. veggie broth, 1lb. ground beef, tri-colored potatoes, carrot, onion and a can of diced tomatoes. Lots of seasonings (I love parsley, salt and pepper in soups like these) and that's it! Of course, brown up your ground beef and then add to the pot with the rest of your ingredients and let cook at least 5 hours on high. Great dish for this cold winter we are having! 

Ok....I MAY have an obsession with fajitas. I admit it. Just so happens pretty much the only restaurant in town we can eat at and stay along Whole30 guidelines is the Mexican place near our house. They cook the fajitas with only oil and then I add some salt, pepper and always top with their yummy guacamole. It's become a Friday lunch tradition for us:) 

I'm usually in a hurry in the mornings, so green smoothies are my go-to. I just fill my blender up to the top with whatever greens I have, usually kale or spinach. Add 1cup coconut milk, some frozen fruit, chia seeds, a raw egg and I'm full until lunch! Don't be scared of the color....they taste MUCH better than they look;) 

And then for the mornings when I really don't have time to make anything, I reach for fresh berries and a lara bar. Quick fix and keeps me full until lunch. Also: herbal teas ARE allowed on Whole30 and I absolutely love the new peach herbal tea from Starbucks. Give it a try and see what you think! Way better for you than those 1,000 calorie latte drinks!

These may not be the prettiest food item you have ever seen...but they sure taste good! Pumpkin pie bites are a yummy and relatively quick treat if you follow the directions step by step. Here is the recipe:

1 cup pitted medjool dates

1/2 cup pecans

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

2tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Pinch of salt

- Soak the dates for at least several hours. I didn't soak mine long enough and it was difficult to blend. Then, place the pecans in blender and blend until finely chopped. Then add the rest of the ingredients including the dates and pulse untill combined. Place this "dough" in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill. Then use your hands to form the dough into small balls and store in an airtight container. They really do taste like pumpkin pie, which is amazing:) 

These are just a really yummy snack for when you are on the go or if you need something "sweet" to take to the movies. I've never had different kinds of raisins before, so these opened my eyes to how yummy they can really be. Trader Joes is the best:) 

Just posting this to remind you how important prep days are! I usually do most of my prep on Sundays and I always create a batch of homemade Whole30 Mayo and homemade Whole30 ranch which last me the entire week. See recipes in previous posts:) This ranch really is a lifesaver for salads. I am just NOT a fan of olive oil and vinegar, so this guy gets me through. 

Side salad with Whole30 ranch and Spaghetti squash with meatsauce. This has become one of my favorite Whole30 go-to recipes. It's so easy and tastes amazing. See recipe details in previous blog post. But really...it's easy. Just bake your squash for 45 minutes and make your own sauce. Get creative:) 

Because who doesn't love a good ole' steak and potato now and then? White potatoes are OK once and awhile. I like to drizzle mine with Whole30 ranch, salt and pepper. We always season up our steaks and throw them to smoke on the pellet grill. So, so good. See!?!? The Whole30 isn't so hard after all!!! 

Lunches are quick and simple. I love making big batches of either tuna or chicken salad ahead of time, that way they last most of the week. Here, I just topped on some romaine with some onion, tomato, a handful of almonds and some Whole30 ranch. YUMMO! 

The last recipe I want to share with you this week has also become a big favorite of ours. This is Spanish "rice" and it literally tastes just like the real thing, but instead of rice, you will use cauliflower. Brown up 1lb. ground beef with some diced green pepper and whatever "spanish-like" seasonings that you want. Boil a head of cauliflower until tender, then place in blender and pulse until rice-like texture forms. Then just dump the "rice" cauliflower in with the sauce, stir together and enjoy! My grandfather is the pickiest eater on Earth and he couldn't even tell that it wasn't real rice, so you should be able to sneak this recipe in for your entire family. Enjoy:) 

I hope you have enjoyed this week's recipes. Please comment or email me if you have any questions. Hopefully now that I am better, I can keep up with my usual timely blog posts! Until next time, I leave you with this. PERSPECTIVE. 

Living the Whole9 Lifestyle

Well, not much has really changed since we finished our Whole30. In fact, our eating habits have stayed almost identically the same. We did add in some organic brown rice on Sunday evening to go with our smoked salmon, but it IS still a grain, so I wouldn't go too crazy with it all the time. It's just a nice staple to have when you get sick of potatoes. I paid close attention to how I felt after eating it and the results were totally fine. If you decide to add anything that isn't Whole30 compliant back into your diet, be sure to pay close attention to how your body reacts. This is the "sciency" part of the Whole30 that we probably all breezed through in the book, but it really is important. Also, our anniversary was on Saturday, so we decided it was occasion enough to enjoy a glass of yummy champagne:) Again, back to the point that I have made in previous posts, everything in moderation. We didn't go crazy and drink a whole bottle, we just had a small glass and it was very satisfying.

The Whole9 lifestyle has been an easy transition from the Whole30 and we still are feeling great and losing weight. Hey! That rhymed. My inner Dr. Seus is coming out again today. Anyway, I wanted to share a few recipes from my first week transitioning to the Whole9 lifestyle. Hope you like them:)  

OK. This is SO YUMMY and the perfect Friday night dinner. Throw some grass fed burgers on the grille after seasoning them up nicely and then stuff into several lettuce "wraps" from a head of iceberg lettuce. Be sure to cut the lettuce from the head and peel off slowly to keep the wrap as in-tact as possible. These are messy, so I like to use 2 wraps. Place the burger in the middle and add your toppings. I did a special sauce of paleo mayo/dijon/coconut aminos mixed together and just spooned a bit on. Also added some fresh tomatoes and chopped red onion. Then tuck in the sides of the lettuce and flip over. Cut in half with a sharp knife. Enjoy your lettuce "bun" burger. Yum! 

Perfect side dishes for your lettuce burger are a baked russet potato topped with a little homemade Whole30 ranch and some stir-fried broccoli. I just add a little ghee and a little coconut aminos with a dash of salt and pepper to taste. Totally satisfying after a long week at work. You could even do just this alone for a quick lunch! Wash, poke holes in with a fork, and microwave the potatoes for about 7-10 minutes. If you want you can finish off in the oven. 

I just HAD to share this amazing meal with you. I can't take credit, however. This was prepared by my awesome boyfriend who should probably pursue being a chef in his spare time. Bacon wrapped salmon smoked on the pellet grille on a piece of maple wood. You can't go wrong with that! Healthy...but it feels naughty. Just season up your salmon with whatever Whole9 approved spices you would like and then wrap with salmon, placing toothpicks through the middle to hold in place. If you have a pellet grille, smoke for about an hour. This could also be done in the oven or on a propane grill as well, just use your best judgement for cooking times and remember salmon doesn't need long! He finished it off by broiling in the oven for about 10 minutes to crisp up the bacon on top. This was really, really heavenly. 

Breakfasts haven't changed much. EGGS are still the key factor in usually 5 days out of the week. Weekends we have a little more time to get creative. This was a green and red pepper egg scramble with local, sugar free sausage and a side of strawberries with pineapple. Also served with a coffee with a little homemade vanilla almond milk (recipe included below). 

Leftovers are still a great, speedy option for lunches. Here I have a little leftover shrimp stir fry with a leftover lettuce "bun" burger. Ready in 5 minutes. Yum!!! 

If you are REALLY starving when you get home from the gym before dinner, side salads with veggies are always a quick yummy option. Here I just did spinach mixed with romaine, some chopped tomatoes and red onions, topped with my homemade Whole30 ranch. Delicious and held me off until dinner was done. 

On the days that I'm not in the mood for eggs or in a little more of a hurry, I will whip up a big green smoothie. So filling and always holds me over until lunch. This was 1 cup homemade almond milk, 3 large handfuls of organic baby spinach, 1 cup of frozen berry blend, 1/2 avocado, 1 pastured egg, a dash of chia seeds and voila! Topped with a little unsweetened shredded coconut. Perfect quick breakfast on the go. 

So, how about that almond milk? I was totally intimidated for the longest time to try making my own and now I have no idea why! It really is SO easy if you have the right tools. Invest in some mason jars with these white lids. I like the large-mouth jars the best with the large-mouth lids. I got these at target, but I am sure they carry them just about anywhere. You will also need a nut straining bag. I got mine for under $10 on amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Nut-Milk-Bag-Coffee-Strainer/dp/B00G3ZHOLY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423505351&sr=8-1&keywords=zimtal+nut+milk+bag
Here is the recipe: 1 cup raw almonds soaked for 12-24 hours in 4 cups of water. Once done, wash them off and strain them and add to your high-powered blender. Add 3 cups of purified water to the blender and if you prefer, a little all natural vanilla extract. Blend on high for 1 minutes. Then, put the nut bag over a container and pour the milk slowly into the container. Then slowly squeeze the bag until all of the milk is drained out into the container. This 1-cup recipe yielded almost a pint. It lasts about 4 days in the fridge. Great in smoothies, coffee or just to drink. Enjoy! 

Just adding this to show my new addiction: unsweetened micro-brewed tea. I absolutely love this stuff over ice and with lemon, especially after a long workout at the gym. DELISH and Whole30/Whole9 approved!

My last photo for this post is of the amazing Surf and Turf dinner that we made for our anniversary. We decided to stay home and cook as it is MUCH cheaper, plus we know what's in the food. We bought 2 pounds of snow crab. For these, you just wash them off and then boil for about 8-9 minutes. For the "butter sauce" I just melted a little ghee with some red pepper flakes. The steaks were grass-fed filet marinated in Whole9 approved dry rub and smoked on the pellet grille. The potatoes were rosemary roasted red potatoes. Very easy-- just boil them until tender, cut up and place in an aluminum pouch, drizzle with olive oil, rosemary, salt and pepper and then bake in the oven for about 20 minutes at 400. SO GOOD. Obviously the champagne isn't Whole9 approved, but hey, your anniversary only comes around once a year:)

Remember, don't let yourself slip back into old ways. I found myself reaching for chocolate from the freezer last night, and after I had a few pieces, I felt not only sick to my stomach, but guilty. It just isn't worth it. If you feel your sweet tooth coming back to haunt you, reach for some fresh fruit, or go take a walk and remove yourself from the temptation. I ended up just throwing out most of the chocolate and bringing the rest into work for others to enjoy. I don't need that constant temptation in my freezer and my sugar demon is still very much alive (I will probably be doing several more Whole30s in the near future in an attempt to slay the dragon). Until then, I will be giving my best every single day to stick to the lifestyle and keep up with my fitness goals. Have a great week everyone! And until next time, remember this quote! I know I will be keeping it in mind. So true! 

We Finished the Whole30! BOOM!!!!

Word on the street is that we finished the Whole30 without one slip-up or cheat and....it's true!!! I can't believe yesterday was already day 30 on the program. It went by SO fast. Mostly because I enjoyed what we were eating and it didn't FEEL like a diet at all. The results have truly been incredible. Besides the decreased brain "fog" and the energy increase, I lost a significant amount of weight and so did Nick. I lost a total of 12 pounds and several inches around my waist as well as being down a pant size. Nick lost 14.5 pounds and several inches as well. Together we lost a whopping 26.5 pounds in just 30 days. Let me just tell you that for me, this is a HUGE deal as my stubborn fat has been very difficult to lose... but this program just works. It's the right way to lose weight. You aren't starving yourself. You don't have to count calories. You just have to use your head with portion sizes and eat healthy, whole foods. No processed junk, gluten, dairy, sugar or alcohol and I am happy to say that we will be sticking with the Whole9 lifestyle. What is the Whole9 lifestyle you may ask? Well, you basically eat exactly what you ate on the Whole30...only for good, for the rest of your life. This isn't to say that we aren't going to enjoy a drink on the weekends, or a real slice of pizza every now and again, because you can't keep me from the za' forever. That's just unreasonable. However, for at least 95% of the time...we will be following the rules;) 

I have learned to be a crazy grocery shopping lady who spends two hours reading labels and annoying all of the other shoppers in the aisle and I am totally OK with it. At first, the long shopping trips annoyed me, but I realized it's SO worth it to set the time aside and realize that you will be in the store longer than you used to when you were piling up on Kraft Mac N Cheese (have you ever looked at the ingredients on a box of that cheesey goodness? It is SCARY. lol). Anyway, the Whole30 really has been nothing short of an incredible lifestyle change. I think differently, shop differently, look differently and most of all I FEEL differently and I highly recommend it for anyone on the weight-loss journey. I wish you all of the success that we had on the program. Just know that the first week is brutal, but once you get past that, it's a piece of cake:) 

I will continue to blog posting lots of yummy Whole9 recipes for any of you who are living the Whole9 lifestyle or for any of you Whole30ers who are still within your 30 days. Good luck on the journey. It is SO worth it! Here are a couple photos for my last official "whole30" post. 

Here is my weigh-in results pic. My jeans that fit tightly before are now BIG on me. Down 12 pounds and down a pant size. WOHOOOO:) 

Here is a fun pinterest project that I will be using to keep track of my weight loss. Each gem = 1 pound. I filled one vase with how many pounds I still need to lose and the other vase with the pounds that I have lost. As you lose more weight, transfer the gems over and visually watch your progress. How fun!:) 

OK I just had to share my lunch photo because it was too dang delicious. Nick and I decided to go out for a celebratory lunch (the first lunch we had out in over 30 days). We went to a Mexican grille in town and requested the fajitas be cooked with only oil, no butter. They were very accommodating. With a side of guac and pico, it was truly satisfying. Normally, before the Whole30, I would have ordered it with rice and sour cream too, but NOT today. Ain't nobody got time for that! lol

Until next time Whole30/Whole9ers!
-Jordan 

Whole30 Super Bowl Sunday!!!!

The Super Bowl basically DEFINES junk food. It is the second biggest eating day in the U.S. next to Thanksgiving and for years, I took part in the junk. Our typical Super Bowl meal would consist of fattening buffalo chicken dip, pizza rolls with processed ranch dressing, chips and dip, cookies, the list goes on and on. When I think back on it, I actually kind of want to throw up. We had an awesome Super Bowl party this year with delicious AND nutritious food. We felt full, but not over-stuffed. We didn't over-eat. We didn't drink a ton of booze (we didn't drink ANY booze. NO-NO on the Whole30!) and we didn't have to deal with a post-game day hangover. Win/win! If you think eating healthy for the Super Bowl isn't possible...think again and check out these recipes!!!:) 

Fruit salad is a great healthy staple for any get together. People love to munch on it. I used organic strawberries, red seedless grapes and fresh whole pineapple diced up. Mix together and Voila! How easy is that?!?

One word. GUACAMOLE. One of my favorite things to make to add to just about any recipe. For my guac, I usually do about 3 ripe avocados, a dash of cayenne, a decent amount of salt, a few drops of lemon and lime juice, and a little garlic and onion powder. Mash the avocado with the above ingredients until creamy and then store in the fridge in a sealed container. It will only last for a few days. The only down side of avocados is that they go bad fast. Enjoy it while you can! We used this guac as a topping for our "build your own nacho" bar. 

Another staple favorite of mine is homemade salsa. I make mine in my vitamix (which just may be the best kitchen purchase ever. Don't have one? You won't regret investing in one). I use 2 large tomatoes, washed and cut into 4ths. Then I throw them in the blender. 3 cloves of minced garlic. 1/2 jalepeno pepper. 1/2 of a large onion. Garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper to taste. So dang tasty! I love it on eggs, meat, veggies...you name it! Here, we use it for a topping for our "build your own nacho" bar. Yum! 

Whole30 Ranch tastes just like regular ranch...only better and not as "chemicall-y" I have always been a huge ranch fan (terrible, I know). This is a really great alternative and goes perfect with buffalo chicken tenders for a party (recipe to come) and it also goes great with veggies for dipping. All you need is 1/2 cup of Whole30/Paleo mayo. See previous blog post for recipe to that. And then just 1tbsp. dill. 1/2tsp. salt (add more if desired), pepper to taste and 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk. Whisk together and your done! Chill in the fridge for an hour before serving. Sooooo yummy! 

Sweet potato chips are a-maz-ing. They will turn non-sweet potato lovers into believers. Simple to make. These were the base of our nachos. Our "chips" if you will. Slice 4-5 washed sweet potatoes thin. Toss them in a bowl with light olive oil, pepper, salt and spice (we used Penzey's bangkok blend"). Then line evenly on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Sprinkle all spice overtop and then bake in the oven 10-15 minutes each side at 400. Just watch them closely. They can burn easily because they are so thin. I like a little burn though, it crisps them up more and gives them more of a "chip" consistency. These are honestly delicious by themselves. Yum! 

And the final result....drumroll!!!! It was delicious! This is our "make your own nacho bar" Chop up as many toppings as your little heart desires. I cooked some fajita veggies in the skillet with a little ghee and Penzey's taco seasonings, chopped onion, tomato, jalepeno, salsa and guac. Sweet potato chips and smoked brisket for the meat. You can choose any protein you like. Make chicken nachos, or steak, or ground beef. Get creative!! It's a fun, quick and delicious party meal. Super Bowl Success right here!!!!!:) 

You can't forget about munchies for the Super Bowl, even if on the Whole30! Everyone wants to munch while watching all the commercials. We had fruit salad, celery, a veggie tray, Whole30 ranch for dipping and some raw almonds. All healthy and Whole30 approved munchies. Guilt-free!!!!

These bad boys are my favorite. So easy to make. Chop several LARGE white onions up into "rings." Dip in egg (make sure to add salt and pepper to the egg) then dip in almond flour (season up the almond flour with as many seasonings as you would like. Definitely be sure to add salt). We use Trader Joe's almond meal and they turn out great. Line them on aluminum foil lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 minutes or so at 400 until golden brown. Keep a close eye on these as well. They burn easily. Serve with Whole30 approved ketchup. Perfect party snack! 

These buffalo chicken tenders may be the easiest, most delicious recipe I have discovered on the Whole30 thus far. Marinate a package of chicken tenders in light olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder for several hours. Then, line them on a baking sheet and cook for about 35 minutes at 400 in the oven, or until cooked through. For the sauce, all you need is 2 cups of Franks Red Hot and 1/2 cup of ghee. Bring them to a boil. When the tenders are done toss them in the sauce and throw back in the oven for 5 more minutes to soak in the sauce. When finished, drizzle excess sauce over the tenders and serve with Whole30 ranch. You'll thank me later. 

Remember how I said I love leftovers? Well.....yeah. I still do. Lunch today was leftover Super Bowl munchies. Onion rings with 2 tenders and some celery with Whole30 ranch. Your party snacks can fill you up for days after the game as well! Now that's a touchdown!;)

I hope you enjoyed my Whole30 Super Bowl recipes. You can use these for any get togethers or parties that you have coming up. Bring them to the office, that way you aren't tempted to dive into the cupcakes that always seem to be lurking. Enjoy for dinner, or a snack. It's totally up to you. I just want you to have them as an option for whenever you need a healthy treat. We really enjoyed all of these and I would make them all over and over again. I want to finish this entry with a quote from one of my favorite football players from THE Ohio State University. I think it pertains to us Whole30ers too;) Until next time friends! 

Whole30 Days 20-26

As our Whole30 program starts to wind down, our energy and excitement are still through the roof! We feel better, look better and are so excited that this program is changing our lives and will continue to. I want to share my recipes for Days 20-26 on the program with you, which includes a healthy, Whole30 approved Super Bowl menu! For those of you who think eating healthy for the Super Bowl is impossible, let me be the one to change your mind! I have proof because...we did it! And I can honestly say it's probably the first time in my entire adult life that I have not felt awful the day after a Super Bowl. (See following post specifically dedicated to my Whole30 Super Bowl recipes). Enjoy the recipes and if you are also on day 27 today like I am....keep going! We only have three more days! Woooohooo:)

Nothing like a down-home country breakfast in your own living room on a lazy Sunday morning! Courtesy of my awesome boyfriend-- eggs topped with salsa and some paleo bacon. We found a great brand at Whole Foods. Just make sure your bacon has no added sugars and is uncured. A side of fruit salad that I just HAD to dig into before the Super Bowl, a Paleo coffee and FRESHLY JUICED OJ!!! I can't think of anything that is more delicious than oranges just put through the juicer. Don't make  a habit of juice as it is still full of sugar (the naturally occurring kind) but once and a while it is an amazing treat! 

This Crock Pot Sweet Potato Chili was incredibly delicious!!! Also, it made so much that we are still eating on it! You will need: 2 lbs. hamburger, 1 red onion chopped, 1tsp. minced garlic, 1 29.5oz can tomato sauce, 2 cups petite diced tomatoes with juice, 3 cups Whole30 approved beef broth, 3 carrots chopped, 5 small sweet potatoes peeled and cubed, 2 bay leaves, 1/2tsp. thyme, 2tsp. salt, 1 1/2 tsp. black pepper, 2tbsp. chili powder, dash of oregano, dash of red pepper flakes. Brown the ground beef and then add to crock pot. Add all additional ingredients to crock pot, stir and cook on low all day 6-8 hours OR on high for 4-5 hours. Great with some diced avocado on top as well:)  

Always opt for wild-caught seafood! This was a delicious light-in-taste white fish (mahi-mahi) from Trader Joe's. We seasoned with Penzey's chicken and fish seasoning and a little salt and then threw it on the pellet grill for about 30 minutes. You can also broil in the oven or cook in some coconut oil on the stove top. Served with sweet potatoes that are first softened in the microwave for about 7 minutes and then baked in the oven for about 30 minutes or until tender. Coat the outside in a little ghee and salt and throw on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet (Don't cook them wrapped in Aluminum foil people!!!) Then sauteed up some broccoli and french green beans with about 2tbsp. coconut aminos and lots of seasonings. So yummy! 

Leftovers are gggggreat!! (did this remind you of Tony the Tiger? It did me. Too bad frosted flakes are so full of crap) In all seriousness, I. love. leftovers. Saves me major time in the kitchen. Here, we took a scoop of leftover chili(recipe above) and topped it on an applegate farms grass-fed hot dog served up with some french green beans. How can you possibly go wrong with a Whole30 Chili Dog?!?!?! I think YES;) 

Hey! Did I mention how great leftovers are?? Same chili, different dish. I was really craving something BAD last Friday and this baby did the trick. A "loaded" potato if you will. Took a couple scoops of the leftover chili (recipe above) and topped it on a russet potato. Added a little salt and some avocado. Perfect easy Friday night dish! 

Ok...not going to lie. I just had to include this picture on the blog because it's so darn pretty! I get REALLY excited whenever I get the opportunity to buy farm fresh pastured eggs straight off the farm. I don't get them consistently, so when I do, it's a really good day. Always opt for pastured eggs above store bought organic. The health benefits are out of this world! 

Most of you are probably wondering why I am including a picture of hot tea on my blog. Well fellow Whole30ers, I just wanted to give you an example of what to do if you get invited out for drinks with co-workers during your Whole30! You don't want to be that lame unsocial person on your team, so you still need to go. I did totally FINE at cocktail hour and instead of my usual vodka soda, I just ordered a club soda and a hot lemon tea. Your friends or co-workers will probably ask you why, but hey, that just sparks conversation! Maybe they will show interest in this awesome program too! 

My new favorite emergency snack is a Lara Bar. I didn't have one until day 25 of the program. They really are a treat. I wouldn't over-induldge in these, but they are great maybe a couple times a week or if you are in the car, traveling, in need of an emergency snack, etc. Pair it with a club soda for a delicious and satisfying snack:) P.S.- go to the lara bar website and make sure to double check ingredients. Not all flavors are Whole30 compliant, but most are!!

I probably eat too many applegate hot dogs on this program, but they are just so darn quick and easy when in a hurry! Throw some raw kraut and dijon on top and it is SO satisfying. Served up here with a russet potato topped with fresh homemade salsa (recipe to follow) and some English Peas from Trader Joe's. Way better than regular peas and not as sweet. Cooked with a little ghee, salt and pepper and they were heavenly! 

I posted this recipe in a previous Whole30 blog, but I just had to post again because this coconut ginger shrimp stirfry is just THAT good. I used a different brand of coconut milk for this batch and it turned out much thicker and creamier. Not really sure why. Cooking is all about experimentation so have fun with it! You don't have to follow my recipes to the book. Add your own personal flavor. Add more spice or less spice. That is what I love most about cooking! Yum! 

Another staple for this program has become Chipotle. Whenever we get the chance to drive to a town that has one, we are on it! Nice break from cooking. Get the carnita salad with salsas and guac. Yum!

I love this quote. So, so very true. A positive attitude and believing in myself has made a world of difference throughout this Whole30 journey and I know it will continue to be key throughout the journey ahead. Remember, weight loss doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. You have to work hard at it and the first thing to do is to change your diet. I can't wait to see what my final results will be when I weigh myself in at Day 30 and I can't wait to hear about your journey as well! Stay tuned for my Whole30 final results!