Whole30: Week 1 Meal Breakdowns and Thoughts

You know all that stuff I said about prepping being the key to success? Guess what I didn't do the weekend before Week 1?? It was for a good cause though. We drove 12 hours (each way!!) to Texas to surprise my mother-in-law at her 50th birthday party. We drove through the night Friday and drove back on Sunday. A trip like this is not for the faint of heart and is quite the weekend time suck. Thank goodness I have chili and sausage to thaw and cook.

     Favorite go-to prepared meal: Southwest Egg Scramble
     Favorite new product find: Westbrae Natural Organic Stoneground Mustard (added a perfect kick to my sausage and cabbage)
     Favorite eating out meal: Modern Market's Thai Coconut Salad

Whole30 Day 0: Prepping for success

Ahhh!!! It happened again. I've made it through the holiday season heavier. Before all the madness began, I tried to consciously limit my indulgences and I joined Orange Theory in November to help the battle. Being a social person, I lose control when spending time with friends and the holiday season is all about spending time with loved ones. I drink the drinks and eat the treats.

At the beginning of 2015, I successfully completed a Whole30. I felt good and lost 15 pounds. It can be done; I will succeed...but first I have to prep and plan.

To prepare, I am reviewing the Whole30 rules, looking up my favorite recipes and making possible weekly menus. Next week, I will ease myself into the process by switching a few meals for Whole30 ones. Let's be honest, I'm going to have a few more drinks before cutting myself off. If you've never done a Whole30, don't jump right into a one; it's absolutely necessary to prepare for it.

My favorite Whole30 recipe collections are NomNomPaleo, AmericasTestKitchen, and my pinterest collection.

NomNomPaleo has an extensive collection of Whole30 resources but the recipes aren't always accessible to the busy person. America's Test Kitchen is my favorite cooking source. Reviewing the recipes carefully, I can find some Whole30 gems.

To avoid spending too much on groceries, I took inventory of my current food items. My husband was fortunate to kill an elk this hunting season which means our freezer is full of game meat. Substituting elk for beef in many recipes works great. I also have some chicken breast to use. If I'm feeling ambitious, I may cook up that extra turkey I bought during Thanksgiving. 

Cooking a batch of Chocolate Chili for the freezer

Pre-Whole30 Menu:
Breakfast
southwest egg scramble - eggs, sausage, bell peppers, onions, potatoes
1/2 Avocado

Lunch
Sausage and Cabbage
Butternut Squash soup and salad

Dinner
Thai green curry by America's Test Kitchen
Pot-Au-Feu made with Elk

Favorite Condiments - 505 Green chile, Louisiana hot sauce, Wholly Guacamole (for when I run out of avocados mid-week)
Favorite sausage - Chorizo by Boulder Sausage, Bratwurst by Polidori

Planning - done. Let's do this!