The alternative title to this post was 'Confessions of a Whole30 Drop Out'. It's true! We were just about done with Day 5, grocery shopping on a Sunday evening in Central Market when I turned to Aaron and said, "I don't think I want to do this anymore." I'm an impulsive person and we hadn't exactly planned ahead. We knew we were going to be spending the coming weekend with friends out at a house on the river in the middle of nowhere where we would have to bring all of our own food and eat totally separate meals from everyone which just sounded so high maintenance and not fun. Plus, I kept thinking about how I was about to be home bound with a newborn in roughly 75 days and didn't want to spend the next 25 eating at home, but rather out enjoying date night and new restaurants with my hubs! I immediately grabbed a chocolate chip cookie from the bakery and bit right in to make it official. A few things I learned:
- Planning ahead is essential! You can't open the door hungry to an empty refrigerator. Also, I love doing the Tessemae's Ketchup, BBQ sauce, and salad dressings to keep down the already exorbitant amount of food prep. Next time I would have these on hand from the beginning.
- Don't over do it on Sweet Potatoes and Avocado. It feels like they're in nearly every Whole30 recipe and 5 days in I never wanted to see another sweet potato again.
- Make extra of everything, especially meats. Last night's ground turkey stuffed peppers easily becomes today's taco salad for lunch when there are leftovers in the refrigerator.
- Plan for snacks. We were constantly looking for those little things to munch on between meals or to take with us in the car. Almond butter packs, fruit, and nuts were our go tos, but in the future I would make compliant bars and other things
Anyways, I figured we would continue this Whole30 Meal Plan series for any of you out there who are in the thick of it and also so I can reference it come January when I'm ready to finally complete this challenge! (Here are Week 1 and Week 2)
DAY1:
breakfast: Two slices of Whole30 Bacon and 2 Over Easy Eggs (make extra bacon for lunch)
lunch: BLT Lettuce Wraps via Jackie's Happy Plate
snack: Coconut Cashew Bars via The Bewitchin Kitchen
dinner: Cider Glazed Chicken and Apples via Dinner at the Zoo (sub butter for ghee or avocado oil) and an arugula salad with lemon juice and black pepper (Make extra chicken for tomorrow's dinner)
DAY 2:
breakfast: Turkey Sausage Egg Muffins via Pop Sugar (skip the cheese)
lunch: Chicken Tenders via Little Bits Of
snack: Dried Mango + Apple with Almond Butter
dinner: Leftover Chicken from the night before and Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts via The Food Charlatan
Day 3:
breakfast: Two slices of Whole30 Bacon and 2 Over Easy Eggs
lunch: BLT Lettuce Wraps via Jackie's Happy Plate
snack: Turkey Sausage Egg Muffins (skip the cheese) via PopSugar
dinner: Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup via Taste, Love, and Nourish
Day 4:
breakfast: Turkey Sausage Egg Muffins (skip the cheese) via Pop Sugar
lunch: Chicken Tenders via Little Bits Of
snack: Coconut Cashew Bars via The Bewitchin Kitchen
dinner: Chicken Avocado Salad via Sweet Nicks
breakfast: Two slices of Whole30 Bacon and 2 Over Easy Eggs
lunch: leftover chicken salad lettuce wraps
snack: Dried Mango + Apple with Almond Butter
dinner: Shredded Salsa Chicken via Just Jessie B
breakfast: Sweet Potato Breakfast Sandwich McGriddles via 40 Aprons
lunch: Leftovers from Dinner or BLT Lettuce Wraps via Jackie's Happy Plate
snack: Coconut Cashew Bars via The Bewitchin Kitchen
dinner: Grilled Salmon with Arugula, Avocado, and Pine Nut Salad via Delicious Magazine
breakfast:Sweet Potato Breakfast Sandwich McGriddles via 40 Aprons
lunch: leftover salmon made into tacos using cassava root tortillas
snack: Dried Mango + Apple with Almond Butter
dinner: Baked Eggs in Stuffed Peppers via Foodie Crush
(Whole30 Meal Plan Week 1 + Whole30 Meal Plan Week 2 + Other Meal Plans)
chel says
Jen Jen Jen...this is why your blog is my go to for recipes and decor...also thanks to your blog I purchase my chinet plates and cups for my Girls day...this Saturday xx
Jen Pinkston says
Aw, thanks, Chel! Hope you had a wonderful Girl's day!
Jennifer says
These all look so good!
xx Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
Jen Pinkston says
Thanks, Jennifer!
Cheryl says
Ha! Confessions of a Whole30 Dropout sounds good to me, too 😉 Thanks for making my Whole30 McGriddles, and they just happen to include both sweet potato and avocado! I get soooo tired of sweet potatoes on a Whole30, too. But nothing like compared to my egg fatigue!
Jen Pinkston says
Egg fatigue! Oh my gosh I can relate! Your Whole30 McGriddles are delicious! XO