The Busy Mom’s Guide to the Whole30

Have you drank the Whole30 Kool-Aid yet (with no added sugar, of course)? If you have no clue what I’m talking about, let me introduce you. Meet the Whole30. A 30 day eating challenge that restricts many major food groups that we consume every day.

If this doesn’t sound like your cup of unsweetened tea, let me give you a very brief overview.

Why would you want to give up your favorite diet staples including bread, cheese, and wine? The idea is that some food groups could be having negative effects on your body without even realizing it. So, by eliminating these food groups for 30 days, then slowly reintroducing them, you can pinpoint some of the dietary causes of your discomfort.

Here are the Rules:

1. No added sugar or sweetener of any kind (including honey, maple syrup, stevia, etc.). Especially be on the lookout for sneaky sugars using names like dextrose, maltodextrin, and others than run rampant in foods you wouldn’t think of).
2. No alcohol, not even for cooking.
3. No grains AT ALL—not even your super healthy quinoa or overnight oats.
4. No legumes—all beans, peanuts (and peanut butter), corn, chickpeas, soy, etc. Again be on lookout for sneaky soybean oil and soy lecithin.
5. No dairy, with the exception of ghee or clarified butter.
6. No MSG, Carrageenan, or Sulfites.
7. No baked goods or treats that are made of compliant ingredients (no banana and egg pancakes, paleo biscuits or desserts).
8. No stepping on the scale during the 30 days.

The hardest part? If you slip up, you should start the thirty days over.

No pressure right? If you’re giving me the side eye from the other side of your phone or computer, let me say this. Yes, this IS super hard. But hear me out. It’s only 30 days. It’s not meant to be a permanent lifestyle. You still get to eat, I promise! Whole foods like meats, seafood, veggies, fruit and natural fats are the biggest parts of your daily eating. Is it worth it? In my opinion, yes!

My Results and Overall Experience

I completed my first Whole30 in June and here’s what happened:

1. I found out I have a moderate dairy sensitivity and a mild gluten sensitivity.
2. I understood more about my unhealthy relationship to food, like using food for comfort and figured out healthier ways of coping with stress than shoving cookies in my mouth.
3. I had more energy (as much as a mom of two children can have).
4. I lost 12lbs when paired with 4 days per week of moderate exercise.

Tips for Making it Work for You

If you’re thinking about doing a Whole30, but feel overwhelmed by the challenges it presents to you as a busy mom, here are some tips. 

1. Make a Plan

Y’all, this thing is no joke. This isn’t something you can just start tomorrow. It takes time to prepare. Make meal plans. Pack away your cookies and ice cream. Stock up on pantry staples. Read one or all of the Whole30 books. Get advice from someone who has done it before. The thing I love the most about the Whole30 plan is that you don’t have to count calories or macros every day, but the tradeoff is the prep work that happens before you start.

2. Tell Someone!

You’re about to go through this really difficult thing, one of the best resources you can have on your side is accountability. Tell a friend (or try to convince her to do it with you). Find someone who has done this before. You may need someone to talk you off a ledge when you’re desperate for chocolate. I even created a separate Instagram account to document my journey. It may seem silly, but my measly 19 followers helped me stay on track! There are plenty of online forums and communities on Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, and the Whole30 website.

3. Keep it Simple

One of the hardest things I experienced doing the Whole30 is feeding a family without serving everyone separate dishes. Keeping simple dishes up your sleeve will reduce meal time stress! A meat and some veggies is quick, easy, and easily modifiable if your partner wants some bread or your youngins want a side of mac and cheese. Also, choose recipes you can easily modify for yourself! We still had taco night in our house each week, but I would have a taco salad with veggies and some cauliflower rice instead. I promise, you don’t have to recreate those beautiful recipes you see on Pinterest and Instagram, especially if your family isn’t going to eat it.

4. Do your Research

The second hardest thing during my first Whole30 was the lack of options I had if I was eating out. If you’re planning on eating out, do some research ahead of time. Check out online menus and even call to ask about the ingredients if necessary. It’s definitely very tricky to eat out, but it’s not impossible. Keeping it simple with some grilled meat and steamed veggies (without butter!) or a salad without dressing is probably the best bet. Luckily, I discovered that Chipotle has compliant carnitas and Zoe’s Kitchen has a Whole30 menu. These discoveries were lifesavers when I couldn’t deal.

5. Be Patient 

The last and most important tip, in my opinion, is to have patience with yourself. If you chose to embark on this journey, it will be difficult, especially if this isn’t even close to how you normally eat. I didn’t change almost 27 years of bad eating habits in 30 days, but it’s a good place to start.

Have you tried Whole30? What was your experience?