The Lazy Girl’s Guide To the Whole30

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of The Whole30 diet by now. But, if you’re like many (myself included) you have a million reasons why it wouldn’t work for you: the cost…the fact that you have a raging sweet tooth (this was SO me), or just being way too busy to make it work. These were my excuses too so I totally get it. But, with a little planning and a determination to keep things simple, The Whole30 is totally possible…even for lazy girls like me who have an aversion to cooking and/or are crazy busy (hello freelance gig, potty training toddler and newborn baby!).

The Lazy Girl's Guide To the Whole30 // @ The Little Things We Do

Before I give you my how-to tips, here’s a quick run-down of my first Whole30 (I did another post on it here)…

Of course I wanted to get healthy, but let’s be real…a big part of my motivation was weight loss. As much as I would like them to, those 65 lbs. of pregnancy weight aren’t just going to lose themselves. Over the course of 30 days I lost 17 pounds. I didn’t take my measurements though, because I didn’t think of it. Here are my before and after photos (the before photos were taken 2 days after giving birth and I’d already lost 20 lbs. of pregnancy weight)…

The Lazy Girl's Guide To the Whole30 // @ The Little Things We Do

The Lazy Girl's Guide To the Whole30 // @ The Little Things We Do

Aside from the weight loss, I cut down a ton on my cravings. I won’t say I don’t have cravings at all anymore, but they’re definitely in check and they don’t control me like they once did. My taste for junk food has changed as well. As I’m writing this it’s my first day post-Whole30 and I haven’t eaten anything non-compliant yet…I simply haven’t had the desire. I’m sure it will happen eventually, but all of the forbidden foods I thought I’d want to scarf afterward just don’t seem as appealing. I also noticed that I feel a lot happier overall…probably because I’m not crashing and functioning in a carbohydrate induced fog every afternoon these days. On top of all of this I was thrilled that this way of eating has been perfectly safe for me as a nursing mom. With a few simple tweaks (adding in snacks, getting enough fats and drinking plenty of water) I’ve been able to keep my milk supply up and it might even be better than before (my baby is up almost 3 pounds from his birth weight at 7 weeks!).

A couple of side effects I was hoping for from the Whole30 were super increased energy and skin improvements and those never materialized for me. I have really bad psoriasis on my scalp and suspected that gluten or dairy may be the culprit, but my psoriasis never saw any improvements and if anything it got a lot worse. My dry skin was also just as dry and I still felt about the same level of tiredness. That said…I’m pretty sure these things are simply a result of simply having a needy newborn who doesn’t sleep through the night and fluctuating hormone levels after having a baby. I don’t blame the Whole30 for not working magic on these things though…just keeping it real so you know it’s just a way of eating and not magical fairy dust.

OK…now here’s the part you were waiting for…tips that helped me to be successful when I was going through the Whole30:

1. Read the book

A lot of people have asked if they need to read the Whole30 book It Starts With Food and the answer is YES. Without the book you won’t understand the “why” behind why you’re following all these food rules and it’ll just seem like meaningless restriction. Reading the book and understanding the “why” really does make a huge difference in how you view the foods you’re eating.

2. Keep it simple

There are a TON of fantastic blogs, Pinterest boards and Instagram accounts completely dedicated to Whole30 inspiration and recipes. These can be a great resource, but they can also be SUPER overwhelming, especially if you’re not someone who loves to cook. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here. Have some meat or eggs and pair it with some veggies. It really is as simple as that. Most of my meals were super basic and I literally ate the same breakfast and lunch for 30 days straight with only slight variations. (at the end of the post I’ll share some of my favorite food items and meals from the Whole30…super simple and definitely “lazy girl” approved).

Also, cut corners when you can. I’m not great at prep and I hated the idea of chopping up tons of fruits and veggies and spending my entire Sunday doing prep. As such, I bought a ton of pre-cut and pre-packaged produce from Costco and Trader Joe’s. Spinach, baby carrots, salad mixes, etc… The less prep the better! I realize that this is more expensive, but I really wanted to be successful and during this busy time in life, I knew it was going to help me stick with it.

3. Don’t binge before you start

I’ve dieted plenty of times in my life and as every good dieter knows…the night before you start a diet you always binge. In the past I would eat all the things in preparation for the weeks of deprivation ahead. This time around my husband suggested we take baby steps in the week or so before starting. We started cutting out extra starches at dinner time like rice and bread, and mostly just continued to eat normally without bingeing on treats and junk. When day one of my Whole30 rolled around I wasn’t miserable and suffering from withdrawals. I just felt normal. Yes, normal with some slight cravings, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be and I’m so glad I didn’t binge!

4. Do it with a friend

Having someone to keep you accountable (or having someone you are encouraging) was a big key to my success. I got my mom and dad to do the program along with me and they were constantly texting me asking if certain things were compliant or sharing their little successes. It kept me going and it’s been great to see their success! My dad lost 32 lbs. and got off of 2 of 3 blood pressure medications and my mom lost 15 lbs. and has been able to lower her insulin doses dramatically!

5. Plan ahead

The biggest help in being successful on the Whole30 was planning ahead. Thinking about what my plans were for the week on Sunday night and prepping items ahead of time. I didn’t get super fancy with it, but I would fill ziploc bags with veggies or dried fruit and nuts to stash in my purse for those times when I was out and might get super hungry. The goal of the Whole30 is to eat solid meals at home and I did the vast majority of the time, but I also knew that sometimes things happen and I might not always be home to make a meal for awhile, so I felt like this was a better option than eating something crappy from a convenience store or a drive-thru and failing at the Whole30 completely.

6. Give yourself a break

Know your dining out options. I ate at Chipotle once a week to give myself a break from cooking and it was glorious. Here’s what you can order: a burrito bowl with carnitas (the only compliant meat option), salsa (any/all except for the corn salsa), guac and LOTS of lettuce. I also ate out at restaurants for a couple of family occasions and stayed compliant by ordering lettuce-wrapped burgers. I asked about ingredients and just kept it simple.

7. Get some inspiration!

Instagram has probably been my most favorite source for Whole30 inspiration. A couple of my favorite Whole30 IGs are:

@teamdobbs

@cleanish_eats

@cleaneats_cleantreats

@planksloveandguacamole

@jennaskitchen

Now…here are some of my favorite easy Whole30 meals…

Breakfast:

This is what I ate pretty much every day. Three eggs on top of a bed of spinach, chicken sausage or bacon (some of the time), and fruit on the side. Sometimes I made my eggs omelette style and mixed in other veggies like tomatoes, onions and zucchini, but mostly I did this because it requires the least amount of prep on the planet and because the runny eggs over raw spinach was a surprisingly delicious combo. Some days I ate this for dinner too if I had a particularly crazy day. Also, I quickly realized that I am a total grazer when it comes to fruit so I included it with my meals instead of just having it in between. I ate it at the end of a meal and only if I was still hungry. If not, I skipped it.

The Lazy Girl's Guide To the Whole30 // @ The Little Things We Do

Lunch:

I ate tuna a TON on the Whole30. Mostly because I craved it like whoa during my entire pregnancy with Clive and I pretty much can’t get enough of it. Half of my lunches looked just like this: tuna salad eating on romaine hearts, a ton of baby carrots and guac (sometimes plantain chips), and fruit. I liked to make extra tuna at the beginning of the week and it would last me 4 meals. Here are the ingredients for my tuna salad (this is enough to last for 4 meals…you can halve the recipe to make less:

-2 cans Wild Planet Tuna

-1 small diced organic apple

-2 diced dill pickles

Whole30 mayo to taste (this recipe is the one I used and it’s ridiculously easy – only takes 2-minutes to make!)

The Lazy Girl's Guide To the Whole30 // @ The Little Things We Do

On the days I didn’t eat tuna, I usually ate leftover meat (chicken, steak or salmon) and threw it in a salad with Tessemae’s Southwest Ranch dressing (this stuff is awesome and Whole30 compliant!). On days when I was really lazy I just grilled a couple of Aidell’s Chicken Sausages and ate them with mustard alongside a bunch of raw veggies. I told you…lazy girl status.

The Lazy Girl's Guide To the Whole30 // @ The Little Things We Do

This was my go-to snack: apple slices and almond butter. I tried not to snack a ton, but I gave myself wiggle room to snack at least once a day since I’m breastfeeding. I also really liked almonds and cashews with a tiny bit of dried fruit.

The Lazy Girl's Guide To the Whole30 // @ The Little Things We Do

Dinner:

So…apparently I didn’t take any dinner photos, but basically dinner every night was grilled protein and a ton of sauteed veggies. Thank goodness it’s grilling season! I pretty much wanted to eat steak every night though. Aside from steak, we also did a lot of lettuce wrapped burgers (super delicious with a fried egg on top!). Those were the favorites, but we mixed in a few Whole30 recipes that were a bit more involved from time to time. But seriously…the simpler the better!

AND…if you’re wanting some ideas for things to shop for on the Whole30, these are some of my favorites. I’ll admit it was a lot of grocery shopping, but it was totally worth it.

 

SHOPPING LIST FAVORITES:

 

Trader Joe’s:

Roasted Plantain Chips

Chile Lime Chicken Burgers

Turkey Burgers

Grass Fed Angus Beef Burgers

-Almonds + Cashews

Just Mango Slices (dried mango)

New Zealand Sweet Apple Rings (dried apple slices)

Coconut Oil Spray

Almond Butter

 

Costco:

Avocado Oil

Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausage

Wholly Guacamole

-Fruit (organic berries, watermelon, apples, etc.)

-Veggies (organic spinach, Kale & Red Chard Stir Fry Kit (only eat the veggies), organic baby carrots, romaine hearts, etc…)

Wild Planet Tuna

-Wild Salmon

 

Whole Foods:

Kit’s Organic Fruit & Nut Bars (cashew and berry almond flavors are compliant)

-Grass Fed Flat Iron Steak

Ghee

Tessemae’s Southwest Ranch Dressing (this is nothing like typical ranch, which I hate)

Portland Organic Yellow Mustard

Coconut Aminos

 

Overall, my main advice is to find recipes you like and that are simple and stick with it. If you get too fancy you’ll want to quit immediately. Make it your own and you’ll do great!

 

Love and healthy eating,

Lauren

Comments

  1. Natalie says:

    Thank you for writing this! I’ve been sorta wanting to try the Whole 30 but I’m terrible at diets and didn’t want to set myself up to spend all that money and then fail. I’ve been following you on Instagram and waiting for your Whole 30 wrap up post because I know you do things the “real” way (aka not super crazy overachieving). Thanks again for putting this together!

    • @Natalie – Awww! Thank you! That is definitely always my goal…to keep things real and approachable :). Good luck with the Whole30!

      • I think I’m going to finally try the whole30. I’ve wanted to for a while But am kind of scarred of failure. Question: how expensive was the lazy girl way? I’m on a budget and want to do it but don’t know if I can afford it.

        • Tina Larsen says:

          Hi Amber, I just started W30.. Not sure if you have at this point.. It is fairly pricey.. But I looked at it this way- I was already spending well over $200 of groceries every week or so, although I might have had 20 bags of groceries they were filled with junk. Doing W30 I am spending about $200 every 8 days but it is all very nutritious food, minus a bit of sweet treats for my daughter- and she’s been great about picking things she likes but I won’t be tempted to eat because don’t like them anyway.
          It’s expensive to eat organic but worse case eat healthy but buy less expensive versions-it’s better than nothing. Good luck! You really won’t regret it despite the cost!

          • Hold up. So you are saying that just the bare minimum of this plan is going to make me spend $750 in 30 days?!?! That is outrageous. This is what’s wrong with America and we are so damn fat. My food budget is $350 for the entire month. Someone please explain to me why a salad is $7 and a cheeseburger is $.99?

          • @Carle – Not sure where you got $750. Yes…this plan is more expensive than eating $.99 cheeseburgers for dinner every night, but unfortunately quality food is more expensive. There are definitely ways to make it more affordable though. At this point in my life though, I often opt for convenience and a slightly higher price tag than making everything completely from scratch. I figure that spending money on real food is better than spending money on weight loss shakes and supplements.

          • Actually, $200 every 8 days is $750 for 30 days. Is that just food for you or for the whole family? At any rate, I like it. I may try it…Need to get the book. Thanks!

          • @Alese – That’s for the whole family. They pretty much just eat the same things I do, but with some slight variations.

      • I have a question regarding Chipotle: You say Carnitas is compliant but why not the chicken? Also does anyone know if the Rotisserie Chicken at the supermarket is Whole30 Compliant…..Thank you.

        • Some say the rotisserie chicken is complaint but they do have sulfites in them. I tried it after 30 days and it really upset my stomach. I have done whole 30 and I am actually closer to 90 days, although I have tried a few things here and there, gone on vacation, attended parties etc. The point is also to feel better and you do! It takes the full 30 days to feel it though and weight does come off. I lost 14lbs in 30 days but I feel much better. Some of the things I tried didn’t taste as good as I thought they would anymore which was amazing.

          My lazy girls program is very similar but I don’t eat as much fruit. Breakfast is 2 eggs, bacon and some avocado. Sometimes I eat it over sweet potatoes fried up and I make extra for the week. Every dinner I make extra protein to have with lunch on salad or just with a lot of veggies. You can eat out too. Burger with no bun and veggies instead of fries. Get lots of toppings, tomato, lettuce, avocado, bacon. If you like cream in your coffee try Nutpods, they have it in hazelnut and vanilla (combo almond and coconut milk). I will use the lunch idea on here and add some fruit as well.

      • Hi! This thread is so old I’ll be shocked if you still interact with it but I figured I’d give it a shot. I found this post when I Googled ”Whole 30 for regular people”. I look at all the work that some people put into it and I instantly turn away…Ain’t nobody got time for that!
        Anyway, your post is so helpful in that it looks like I can do it without first obtaining a master’s degree in food science and nutrition. I was wondering, now that some years have passed, how did those eating habits stick? Oh, and how’s that baby?

    • Debby Solis says:

      I am on week 3 – day 15 of the whole 30 and I haven’t seen any weight loss. I know you aren’t suppose to weigh, but I did. I am also a breastfeeding mom and I am finding myself hungry at work but not on the weekends. I haven’t been able to exercise because I have been sick since day 1 and my asthma has kicked in. Did you exercise?

      • @Debby – I exercised VERY rarely. Like…maybe once a week. Are you snacking a ton? I definitely recommend reading the book “It Starts With Food” if you haven’t yet. It can point out some pitfalls or things that can make the Whole30 less successful.

        • I am on day 31, with my hubby. We weighed today. I lost 10 lb and he lost almost 20. Figures!! We decided to continue for 2 more weeks, but want to make it more simple. Your suggestions are perfect. I didn’t feel any difference weight-wise in the first two weeks and wasn’t expecting 10 lb loss based on my stubborn belly fat. Your shared results are encouraging. I’d say our monetary output is about flush because we are eating out much less. Also, we chose not to worry so much about organic and/or grass fed. But we are definitely heading to Chipotles! Thank you!

  2. Where did you find compliant bacon with no sugar?? I’m trying to get my husband on board and I know he would be more inclined if he knew bacon would involved… 😉
    Thank you for writing this! It makes it seem so much more doable.

    • @Kelsey – I got my bacon from our local butcher shop, but I’m sure there are suggestions for compliant bacon on the Whole30 website.

      • Pederson’s No Sugar Added bacon. I’ve bought it at Whole Foods, Sprouts and Kroger

        • Thank you so much for this information…A “sprouts” just opened in my area this past week … now I have a real reason to go there…

        • Applegate brand may also have come bacon options for you, so check them out. IDK if they’d be easier to find than Penderson’s. I live in Chicago and couldn’t find a retailer, but maybe I didn’t check Whole Foods thoroughly enough!

          • Applegate is a great idea! I think I might have seen that at BJs, so I’ll check next time I’m there.

      • I am a fellow Portlander and just happened to stumble across your blog (which I love, by the way). My hubby and I are planning to start our first Whole30 May 1 and I’m trying to get our ducks in a row. Can you tell me where you found your compliant bacon in Portland? Thanks so much!

      • SaundraBerry says:

        Thanks for sharing I really appreciate it.

      • My daughter says Costco Kirkland low sodium bacon has no sugar.

    • Jim Goodall says:

      Just buy uncured bacon, it has sugar on the label, but not a measurable amount. Come on people, its sugar, not poison. If it says 0 carbs, you don’t have to worry about the sugar content.

      • Jim, you are missing the point. Doing a Whole30 means following the rules of a Whole30. Those rules state no sugar of any kind, even if it is listed as <2%. If sugar is listed in the ingredient list it is a no go for the Whole 30. This is a 30 day nutritional reset and a way for people to determine their food sensitivities. No one is meant to eat Whole30 indefinitely, so once off the Whole30 a little bit of sugar in bacon is A-okay.

        • Well Andria — what about sugar in your toothpaste? Or soy in your medication? What then?

          • Patty Miller says:

            The Whole 30 book addresses that.

          • Elain,

            You don’t ingest toothpaste and i’d guess that MOST people thinking about doing this for the right reasons aren’t on a regular medication that contains soy…

      • Tina Larsen says:

        Except it isn’t compliant and defeats the purpose. To me, it’s apples and oranges comparing bacon with medication..

    • Lori Coffman says:

      I went to the local Natures Food Patch grocery store and found bacon that is not cured with Sugar and has none of the other chemicals & nitrates etc. it is a bit pricey but was really delicious.

    • Amy Cardnal says:

      Whole Foods has Paleo bacon from Wellshire. Expensive but worth it.

    • I’ve found low-sodium bacon (several different brands) that have no added sugars.

    • Whole foods carries delicious no sugar added bacon

      • i get a delicious bacon at BJ’s that’s from Vermont called “Damn Fine” bacon. Uncured made from pigs that are raised with no antibiotics, no hormones etc. and no added sugar. It’s wonderful!

    • Maggie Cain says:

      You can order it online from US Wellness Meats

    • I find that Prosciutto (which is W30 compliant and you can buy at Costco and Aldi–near the specialty cheeses) is just as good or even BETTER than bacon! Cheaper too. Just cook it up in a frying pan with your eggs and it comes out salty and crisp without all the grease, fat and calories of bacon! Give it a try!

    • Zilpha K Cornett says:

      I FIND IT AT ALDI’S.

    • Aldi’s has the bacon.

  3. Ditto what Natalie said!

  4. This is perfect!! I am excited to start but I was wondering what kind of oil you used in your mayo and also what brand of bacon you bought…Thanks again for sharing as much as I like a lot of the recipes I’ve seen this makes it feel more achievable!

    • @Ashlee – I bought bacon from my local butcher. You might check the Whole30 website for compliant bacon suggestions though! Also…I use avocado oil in my mayo.

    • Lori Coffman says:

      Ashlee, i used extra light olive oil. I use it in everything!

    • I use a recipe from “my humble kitchen.” Easy and so good! I’m pretty sure it’s not really a paleo “version.” I think that is simply how mayo is supposed to be made.

    • I use the light olive oil, and prepared mustard rather than dry. Don’t know if that makes a difference but the Whole30 compliant recipe I found states that mustard is an emulsifier. Calls for 1Tbsp rather than 1 tsp. It also says you can fix broken mayo by whisking it into 1 tsp of mustard. That would have been good to research two failed batches earlier!

  5. Just out of curiosity, did you cut out all alcohol during your whole30?

  6. I, too, really appreciate this write up! I was seriously considering trying the Whole30 and slowly making my diet more compliant over a period of time before being 100%. These are some great tips and gives me more motivation to start!

  7. Lauren, this is awesome!! I am still super intimidated by the whole 30 but this makes it sound way more doable!

    • @Brooke – You’ve got this girl ;).

    • Hello,

      I just started the whole30 with my hubby and 8 year old daughter 1 1/2 weeks ago. We are doing really well on the whole30. As someone else mentioned please plan a head this has saved us from fall off the plan. We prepare 2 days in advance for the next 3 days (groceries, etc.). The only challenge is making sure my 8 year old can enjoy her lunch I fix every morning. But other than that we are enjoying more energy and not feeling so sluggish during the day. Oh, we are juicing along with the whole30.

  8. This is great information! The shopping list is especially helpful… I am due with #3 in two months, and I am considering a diet similar to whole 30… I would love a post on how you incorporate this diet into family meals (my children and husband may not survive without starch)… Congratulations to your adorable family!

    • @Ashley – My husband actually did the diet with me for 4 days to be supportive, but he couldn’t handle it…and my toddler…well…she’s going through a super picky stage where she’ll pretty much only eats grains, dairy and fruit… sometimes eggs if there’s bribery involved. I made everyone the same meals, but added things that my husband and daughter would like/eat to it. For example, if we were grilling burgers, theirs would have buns and maybe cheese. Or if I made a curry…I would make rice to eat with theirs. I also always add fruit and often a glass of milk to my daughter’s meals to make sure there’s at least something she’ll eat. She won’t even touch meat with a 10 ft. pole :(.

  9. I’m so glad Whole30 worked for you! I love it & love when others have great results on it! Good job 🙂

  10. Thanks for the great insight. I’m hoping to do this in September. I need to get the book, first, though!

    • @Cassidy – Yay! Hope you love it and feel free to shoot any questions my way! Obviously I’m not a pro…just a pro at keeping it simple ;).

  11. Day 1 for the Whole30 for me. Found your blog last night. Thanks so much for all the information you have provided. I have been reading that while on the whole 30 that you should change up your food choices. I see here, that you basically ate the same thing. Did you get tired of the same thing everyday?

    • @Erin – Congrats on your Whole30! Hope it’s going well so far. To answer your question…toward the end I started to get a little bored eating the same thing, but honestly keeping it super basic was the only way I could make it work for me during this busy season of life. Also, I’m the type of person who doesn’t bore of the same foods easily, so it didn’t bother me like it would some other people. My husband needs variety, so he couldn’t do it this way. Also…eating the same things made it less expensive. The first week was SUPER expensive and I bought a ton of produce that I didn’t actually eat because I tried to get too fancy with it. At the end of week 1 I decided to just accept that I don’t really like a ton of veggies and that it was OK to just stick to things that were simple and that I knew I liked. I definitely still pushed myself to try new things, but when it comes down to it spinach, baby carrots, broccoli, green beans and asparagus were my main veggies.

      • Happy to report that I completed the whole 30. Thanks again for the reply and the information that you have provided. I am actually going to start the whole 30 again on Oct. 1st. My main goal was to go Paleo after I completed the whole 30 in August, but it didn’t work out so well. At least I know what to expect this time.

  12. Thanks so much for sharing this! Love all of the tips, especially the link to the homemade mayo! It’s my vice.. but if I can still make it myself/eat it during Whole30, I may just have to give it a try!

    Congrats on your success with it – you look great! 🙂

  13. Danica Hughes says:

    I’m on day 9 of Whole30 and just found this post. I love it! Thank you so much. The first week felt like I was constantly in the kitchen prepping and by the time I got done with dishes for one meal it’d be time to start cooking the next. With 2 small daughters I don’t have time for that!
    This gave me a new outlook on it and some new simple but delicious sounding ideas!!

    • @Danica – I’m so glad you found it helpful! Whole30 can be SUPER time consuming if you let it be, but once you know what you like, just stick with it and things will be way easier! Good luck mama!

  14. Lauren — was just re-reading this in prep for my Whole30 and was wondering if you could share our favorite coffee options? I’m a cream-with-a-splash-of-coffee girl and I’m so afraid to drink it black! Thanks in advance for anything you can share.

    • @Natalie – Honestly I’m a total coffee and milk girl, so I mostly just skipped coffee for the 30 days. I did however find that steamed coconut milk (like the kind in the can) + a touch of cinnamon was pretty good. I tried it iced and it was no bueno…soooo gritty!

      • Thank you for the response! Really appreciate it! 🙂

        • You could try some different kinds of coffee. I was never a big coffee lover until I traveled. Big brand coffee just doesn’t do it for me (it tastes burnt). If you have a Trader Joe’s near you I highly recommend the Ethiopian coffee. It’s light and aromatic, with slight fruitiness. It sounds so weird but it’s the best!

          • @vanessa – my husband actually roasts his own single origin beans. It’s super fresh and delicious and we have a commercial espresso machine that he uses to make it for me every morning. I’m pretty spoiled when it comes to coffee ;).

        • Try Bulletproof coffee. Add a tbsp of coconut oil and a little ghee and blend it with your coffee for about 5 seconds. Pretty good!

      • Putting your ‘acceptable coffee’ into a blender or Bullet will froth it up and make it really yummy too.

  15. I’m so glad I finally got a minute to read this blog lost, I found your blog about a year ago and just had my first bebe a month a half ago. I am wondering if it’s not too much to ask if it affected your milk production in any way. I have been wanting to try whole30 out but not sure if it will affect that at all. Thanks you as always, you are such an inspiring woman!

    • @Jessica – If anything my milk supply was actually better! I was sure to get enough good fats though and allowed myself to snack if I was truly hungry. And LOTS of water!

  16. What about exercise? Did you incorporate any specific routine?

    • @Jamie – I think I mentioned in the post. I don’t exercise much, because I simply don’t have much opportunity to get away with a baby who won’t take a bottle. I do take 1-2 Barre3 classes a week though.

  17. Great post! Nice straight forward summary of the Whole 30.

  18. Thanks for sharing this information! I’ll have to show this to my girlfriend. We are starting our second round of whole30 starting on the 1st. I’ll have to share our list on my blog: totheboxandback.com

  19. Linda Johnson says:

    Did any of you do the Candida spit test prior to beginning thus Whole30 startup? It can often be an underlying cause of issues & I believe sugar grows it.

    I’ve been gluten free for several years, & initially cut sugar too & ate lots of veggies and never felt better. But I’d recently read that certain nuts should be avoided & I do eat almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans. How do these negatively effect you? (Oh, I also always try to be sure I eat a complex carb when eating fruit, by eating nuts or cheese with it. Thoughts?) I have chronic Lyme disease so eating right is just part of very important living /coping choices.

  20. Hey loved this post, extremely helpful! I was looking at your list and links to your fave products though and looked up the Applegate breakfast sausage… are you sure these are Whole30 approved? They do contain honey, which is not on the whole30 list. However, it’s in the “less than 2%” category, so maybe it’s such a small amount it doesn’t count? Just a thought, cuz I would love to get these! Thanks again!

    • @Shawn – I was actually just informed by another reader that these are not compliant. I had no idea. You could always do the Aidell’s chicken sausages instead. Those are delicious and compliant. I will say I’m not a super big stickler about the sugar thing if it’s a negligible amount. I didn’t run all over town to find compliant bacon. I just bought some with the lowest sugar I could find and went with it. I feel like it’s more about the intent behind what I’m eating. Am I eating X,Y, or Z to get a “sweet fix”? With bacon, the answer is no, so I felt OK about it. Maybe I’m not a purist, but I did experience great results.

      • Thanks for all the great tips and suggestions! I especially enjoyed reading your experience because you aren’t too concerned with the sugar part. I don’t agree with the no honey rule, and have been using it in my tea everyday.

  21. Such a great guide, love it!!

  22. My SO and I are about to start Whole30 for the first time. I was so encouraged by your simple, straightforward approach to meal planning. You made it seem a little less daunting. Thank you so much!

  23. Though it doesn’t say it on their ingredients listed on the website, applegate breakfast sausages say they contain sugar on their packaging! Disappointing.

    • @Hannah – Oh bummer! Well, I guess I won’t buy those again. I’m actually doing another whole30 right now, but I’m not quite as strict this time around. I decided to allow myself unsweetened almond milk in my coffee and I’m a much happier person for it. I already learned how certain food affected my body last time, so I felt like it was OK for me. Good to know about the sausage though!

  24. Rachael Burmeister says:

    Hello! Thanks for the great article. I was just thinking about how your psoriasis got worse, and I wanted to mention to you candida yeast overgrowth which causes a host of illnesses, including skin rashes. Something like 80% of Americans have had it in one way or another: vaginal yeast infection, athlete’s foot, exzema… It’s caused by eating carb rich diets in a society that overuses antibiotics. The fact that your skin may have gotten worse might signify a die off reaction, where yeast-related ailments get momentarily worse. I think if you did another Whole30 (which starves the yeast of sugar and carbs) took a daily probiotic and maybe some antifungals like cinnamon and apple cidar vinegar, your dreams of clearer skin would come closer! I’ve been reading a lot about it because I developed some rashes before deciding to do Whole30, and I guess isn’t all related to gut health. Thanks for the Whole30 tips!

    • @Rachael – Oh! Thanks for the information. I’ll have to look into that. I’m currently doing another whole30, so we’ll see if I experience anything different.

  25. I so love this post. I’ve been reading it starts with food for days now and I think I’m ready. I was wondering how much exercising you did during this process.

  26. Thank you for putting together such a comprehensive and helpful post! I have just started a Whol30 with my husband, and I found your article really useful. I am NOT a fan of food prep, and definitely a “lazy girl”. 😛 I’ve bookmarked this article for reference because there are so many good ideas! Thanks again. 🙂

  27. thank you so much for this post! My friend and I have decided to do the whole 30 and I was super nervous! This blog post helped me a lot and especially with the salad dressing tips!! Thank you again!!!

  28. thanks for the info, and I wanted to let you know if you’re still having trouble with the dry flaky scalp to try mixing tea tree or into your shampoo! I had the same problem for like a year and a half after I relocated to a different area and it cleared up within a week!! I start whole 30 tomorrow and will definitely be using some of your recipes, I didn’t even think of tuna until I saw your blog!

  29. Thanks for the post! How did you find out about chipotle being compliant? Thanks.

  30. Thanks for the info! I have a friend who has been very successful on Whole 30, so I’ve been thinking about it. Going to B&N this week to check out the book. In the mean time, I’m not one to eat the same things over & over & over (gag). I like eggs just fine, but I could easily grow to hate them if I had to eat them every day. So breakfast is a big one for me. I don’t mind cooking at all. We’re empty nesters and I work a lot from home, so time is not really an issue. The other thing is DH and I like to drink fresh pressed juices and smoothies. Can these be worked into Whole 30?

  31. Hi, I enjoyed your blog post and was thankful to read it can be done simply. I tend to like simple meals right now anyway with 8 of our kids still at home. Looking forward to reading the book and getting started.

  32. You are AMAZING. Seriously. My best friend got me to join her and we are on Whole 30 day 5 today. I came across your blog a couple days ago and you have saved me! I’m a mom of a busy toddler so I love that you have the same perspective as I do. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. I actually printed it all off and used it to help me meal plan for next week!

  33. THANK YOU! I am on day 5 of Whole30 and I’m so happy I came across this post. It hasn’t been impossible, but I needed some shortcuts and ideas that were not too fancy. My fiancé and I have opposite schedules so I want to make sure he always has something prepared at home. If not, he might just resort to non-compliance and I think this is the longest streak he’s had on any food/meal/lifestyle change. This post is perfect. I don’t have nearly as much going on as you do, but I can certainly respect and understand how this would be tough with kids and work. Awesome-we’ll keep plugging away!

  34. You are my kinda girl! Every time I look at people’s whole30 recipes it scares me off because it just looks like a conglomerate of God know’s what that I would refuse to eat. I am super lazy and not a great cook so I needed to read this. Thanks! You look amazing, by the way 🙂

  35. great post! just a warning–though you may already know this and not care–TJ’s coconut spray has soybean oil in it. I found out the hard way during my first Whole30. I’m currently on my second round [6 months later] and not as gung-ho about it so your post has come at a timely moment, giving me the oomph I need to keep going. 🙂

  36. This was so helpful !!!!!! One question is I need to slowly add orangic into my whole thirty just because of my budget … With that being said what would stress if you could buy two organic? Fruit and veggies that is ? Thanks this is so helpful.

  37. I found your blog by Googling “whole30 after pregnancy”– you are SUCH an inspiration. I’m sitting here re-reading my copy of It Starts With Food (the last time I read it was a year ago!) at 37 weeks pregnant with my second kiddo. I’ve got a daunting 65 pound-loss ahead of me, too, but I’m being patient and gentle and arming myself with inspiration rather than beating myself up right now. I’ve bookmarked this blog post on my toolbar so it see it every time I open my computer. After all, Whole30/Paleo is what allowed me to get pregnant so quickly last year (I’m convinced!), and I loved every bite of food I made following its guidelines (pregnancy-me hates all that food, alas), so I know I can do it and will enjoy it! Anyway, thank you so much for being stickied as a mentor. I appreciate your posts on the topic! 🙂

    • @B – So happy to be an encouragement. The biggest thing that helped me lose the weight was I think starting early in my postpartum journey. I started my whole30 when I was 3 wks postpartum and I feel like my body was still really open to changes and it worked really well. Wishing you luck! Let me know how it goes!

  38. You look great! I am doing it as well and posting recipes to help others who may need virtual pals and food ideas! http://stealthyhealthyliving.blogspot.com/

    Love your blog!

  39. Thank you for this wonderful post! I want to do the Whole 30 but I am really the laziest cook on Earth! This makes it feel way more doable and realistic.

  40. hi lauren! so, so glad i found this link on Pinterest. I haven’t started Whole30 yet. I am reading the book and basically planning out foods i will want to eat. I am married with 2 girls & work outside the home so i need this to be as easy as possible for me, planning wise. And your blog post did the trick. All I need is a few extra items to choose from for b-fast & lunch and i will be all set. i am addicted to sugar in the worst way so i am excited to see what this does for me in that regard as well as just my overall health. Hoping it will help with my migraines too. Thanks so much, Amy~

  41. Thank you for this! I have been very tempted to try whole30, but I keep chickening out because honestly, I’ve never seen something through for that long. Plus I live in a small city so besides a Costco, we don’t have any of the other stores that you mentioned, and some of them are way too far away to be a reasonable choice. But I think there’s a way to make it work for everyone, and I’m planning on giving it a shot!

  42. Awesome post! (And awesome first name by the way, lol.) My hubby and I are doing our first Whole 30 this month and at 1/3 of the way through, I’m already seeing MAJOR benefits. We’re getting out of the rough transition phase and into the Tiger Blood phase – – feelin’ grrrreat! Super excited to follow you and the other Instagramers you listed (just a heads-up, the links are broken because your website is popping up in front of the Instagram links – – you might need to add a http:// in front to fix it). Cheers!

  43. I love your comment about the runny egg on the spinach! I have recently discovered that yumminess as well. I throw in tommy toes and avocado, too. Great for breakfast and/or a quick, delicious dinner!

  44. Diane Birdsong says:

    These are great ideas, thanks for sharing them. I tried the Whole30 a few weeks ago and only made it to day5. I just was not getting enough carbs to sustain my workouts, I probably should’ve just added in more sweet potatoes, but instead I gave up. I’m going to give it another try using some of your easy meal ideas. I wanted to share this info with you… completely off topic of Whole30 but, I also HAD psoriasis for 20 years or so. When I stared lifting weights I began using Whey Protein Isolate powder 2 or 3 times a day and my psoriasis completely disappeared. COMPLETELY. DISAPPEARED. Google it, you’ll see that it can help.

  45. Gina Shevchuk says:

    I just wanted to thank you for your tuna salad recipe. LOVE it! My homemade mayo even came out perfect on my first try, Today is day one of my first Whole30. I also had the runny eggs over spinach for breakfast this morning. Delicious. I thank you for helping me kick-start this!

  46. Thank you so much for posting in detail. Especially that shopping list. I did my first Whole30 kind of the same way. This second one has been giving me troubles. I need to get back into the swing of things. I just never seem to want to cook.

  47. I just stumbled upon your page in prepping to start my Whole 30. I also have struggled with scalp psoriasis and have in the past removed certain foods that have cleared it up 95%. This may be harder than the whole 30 itself, but try removing eggs, tomotatoes and strawberries from your diet for 30 days and see if you notice any difference. I have been lazy lately and eating foods that contain eggs and tomatoes, and it came right back.
    Best of luck!

  48. Nathalie says:

    Hi there! Great blog!
    The one thing eveyone should watch out for– TJ’s Coconut Oil Spray contains Soy Lecithin, which is a big no-no on the plan. It’s very sneaky and you can find it in so many things :/

    I’m loving this post!

    • @Nathalie – Oh wow! I had no idea! I actually ended up using avocado oil exclusively for the most part, but I’m glad to know this for the future. I was also surprised to find that the almonds and cashews I bought were roasted in peanut oil. Sneaky how they add these extra things in!

    • Also, Tessemaes started using sunflower oil in all their dressings 🙁 I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when they changed their EVOO-only recipe!! They were the only store-bought brand of dressing that only used EVOO!

  49. Great advice! I have done one Whole30 and have now started my first Whole90. 30 days just wasn’t enough time to kill my sugar dragon.
    I always have such a hard time with the no binge eating beforehand part. It’s like my mind is trying to prepare for the end times. Like eating one last cookie would sustain me…

  50. Valerie says:

    Thank you so much for this, Lauren! I am almost through my first week of Whole 30 and not too overwhelmed yet, but I must admit thoughts of steady preparing and planning for NEXT week already seems daunting 🙁 Your tips definitely give me hope for making it! Also, thanks for the mayonnaise link. My son and I tried to make the recipe in the book and it was less than stellar, but seeing the video definitely helped. From one lazy girl to another… you’re an angel 🙂

  51. As a fellow lazy girl who does not enjoy cooking after a long day at work, I found what worked for me on the Whole30 was to cook two large meals on the weekends when I had more free time. I usually do one in the crockpot and one in the oven, so even those two are pretty low maintenance, but they gave my husband and I plenty of food that just needed to be heated throughout the week. Another super easy and delicious meal was spaghetti squash with meat sauce. Good luck to all on your Whole30/paleo journey, and thanks for all the information and ideas!!

  52. Heather says:

    Thank you – this was really helpful and makes me feel better about doing the Whole 30 next week, with a 9 month old and a three year old. 🙂

  53. Thank you so much for writing this! I’m just starting my Whole30 journey and your tips (and shopping list!) have made this a much easier transition. I was overwhelmed after reading the book and it seems much more doable now. Also, runny eggs on spinach? My new favorite meal! Thanks again!!!

  54. question about adielles chicken Apple sausage?

  55. You’ve convinced me that I can do a Whole30. I’ve been contemplating for a couple of months now and have finally made the decision. I’m in training at a wine bar right now but plan to start when training is over next Wednesday! Thanks for the suggestions!!

  56. Thank you for writing this! I just started my third Whole30, and I’ve been searching for blogs and recipes for inspiration. I’m so happy I stumbled upon your blog because I, too, am a lazy girl! I love that you kept the foods mostly simple because protein and veggies at every meal still taste good! I don’t think you feel like you’re missing out too much because you’re not trying to make something it isn’t. I am trying to explore a few more ways to experiment with a simple meal, though, and your pictures looked delicious! I’ll definitely be trying that tuna recipe.

    One thing I’m doing differently this time is exercising as well. I actually didn’t see too much change in my measurements my previous Whole30 experiences, and I’m hoping coupling exercise with dieting will show that and set me up for a permanent lifestyle change.

    You can follow my wellness journey at http://www.novelattitudes.com/summer-solstice-reflections/

    Thanks so much for the inspiration!

    Kimmy
    http://www.novelattitudes.com

  57. Allison says:

    Thank you so much for this post!! Started whole30 today and am definitely going to need all your tips and suggestions!! Thank you!!

  58. Thank you so much!!! This was great!! I really appreciate it and hope we’ll be just as successful!!

  59. In regards to your psoriasis….from my experience it is likely one of 2 things that kept it hanging around….detoxing yeast through your skin (always resulted in cradle cap in my kids), or feeding yeast with too many high sugar fruits and veggies (carrots, orange squash, fruit, nuts…..). Both of these issues can be dealt with by decreasing yeast feeding foods and sticking with the diet past 30 days….until slowly you can add back in yeasty foods without a flare 🙂

  60. Lauren,
    Thank you! I’m starting day 1 tomorrow. I’m nervous, but you helped me in advance so much! #1 I was debating but did buy the book, which I think will help a lot. And #2 I LOVE your explanation of keeping it simple! I will be cooking for four men (husband, dad, and two teens) who will be eating “normal”. I was getting so overwhelmed with all these Whole30 recipes! That’s great advice to just stick to basics. Thank you!

  61. I’m wanting to do a Whole30 but I’m breastfeeding my 3 month old and I’m so afraid my milk supply will drop. I saw that you were breastfeeding when you did the Whole30. Any tips to prevent a drop in supply?

    • @Lauren – LOTS of good healthy fats. I struggled with low supply with my daughter so it made me nervous to do whole30, but my milk supply was so much better with my son. I never had to supplement once and I supplemented half the day with my daughter. I fully believe all of the healthy, whole foods I consumed helped my milk supply this time around.

  62. Lauren
    My aunt has had psoriasis for 50 years she was at the end of her medication and nowhere to go and started taking 500mg of turmeric and her psoriasis has never been better

  63. Christie S says:

    I am on day 16 and I am so glad I found this post!!!

    I was really expecting the ‘fairy dust’ moment of feeling no fatigue or brain-fog. I thought it was because I wasn’t eating enough, I added more protein and went to be earlier. I would wake up like i just slept 2 hours. Very frustrating but I am glad I’m not the only one. I am getting my thyroid checked soon because I am pretty over this feeling. But I don’t have any sweet cravings, I am a little bored of eggs, but I am incorporating different types of meat into my diet that I would normally never eat.

    Good job on finishing! Thanks for the encouragement!

  64. Just FYI…the Trader Joe’s Plantain Chips are NOT Whole30 Compliant!

    • @Amy – Technically they are compliant. The only ingredients in the plantain chips are plantains, salt and sunflower oil. A lot of other brands use palm oil instead which is approved, but also has other ecological impacts worth considering. On the Whole30 website they say that Sunflower and Safflower oils aren’t ideal, but they are OK on occasion. That said, you are right, there probably are better snack options out there.

      • Sorry but no, the plantain chips are not compliant because no commercially made chips or fries (even when all ingredients are okay) are compliant. And to be clear sunflower oil is only to be considered okay when eating out. It’s not considered acceptable in the home. Melissa Hartwig also strongly advises agains the “it’s better than” mindset. The plantain chips are delicious, but not okay during a Whole 30.

        • @Rachel – I would say they are definitely a “sex with your pants on” food, but as long as you aren’t eating bag after bag of them I wouldn’t be terribly concerned. I think you have to know yourself and recognize if you are substituting it to replace “forbidden foods”. I definitely get what you’re saying though!

  65. Lauren…Thank you so much!!! xoxo, Abby Z.

  66. Thanks so much for this info. This is far and away the most helpful and practical info that I have found as I prepare to start my first Whole30. This makes it seem much less overwhelming 🙂

  67. hi!
    I might have read it wrong but from what I understand… The coconut oil spray is NOT whole 30 compliant – it contains soy

  68. I just finished up my first 30 days, and it gets much easier after the first couple of weeks. I’m loving it and feel great! Sleeping and energy has been the biggest benefits. I’m going to keep close to the whole30 diet for at least another 30 days before i start adding things back in (except for maybe once a week, may treat myself with something that is outside the diet) Would recommend this to anyone.

  69. Thanks for all the tips! I bought the Whole30 book last month and am planning (way) ahead for a February 1 start date! I’ve already started easing into it, because I basically can’t wait (my friend is starting in February and I’m joining her)!

    The shopping lists are great!

  70. thanks for this! Although I’m a lazy procrastinator… with 6 kids I cook every.single.day. and love it… however… I tend to do things last minute… so it doesn’t always turn out the best! And I work at 5 am so up at 3…. but I appreciate you posting this for the mere fact that I’m breastfeeding and this reassures me!

  71. My hubby and I are starting our 2nd Whole30 on January 1st. I love your idea of keeping things simple, Lauren. There are so many great meal ideas on the internet but I found with the 1st time around, it can be very overwhelming. A tip for the newbies. Don’t think of breakfast as just traditional breakfast. Think of it as meal #1 of the day. Who says you can’t eat soup or leftover chicken in the morning? I also make a garlic aioli with the homemade mayo. It’s great for dipping veggies and meat into.

  72. I see this is is a pretty old post, but I wanted to comment anyway — thank you for this post!! My husband are about to start Whole30 in January and I’ve been so stressed out wondering what on earth we can even eat. This post made me feel much more at ease and relaxed about the challenge. I’m definitely going to make that Whole30 mayo!

  73. Which pickles did you use? I have the brand called ‘farmans dill pickles’ and ingredients are: cucumbers, water, salt, vinegar, alum, calcium chrloride, natural flavors, yellow 5. Just want to make sure these are ok. Thanks! 🙂

  74. Thanks for the tips. Just started my whole30 — Day 3! This is my 2nd go round, and the first time I made myself crazy with “overplanning” and doing too much. It was a lot of work for someone that works 7:30 to 6 pm everyday. So, I searched for whole30 for busy people and found your blog! I tried your tuna apple pickle salad — delicious! I am not going to lie, I was very skeptical. I thought apples and pickles sounded like pregnancy food cravings! It is soooo good! Your 2 minute homemade mayo is by far and away the best one i’ve tried and definitely the easiest! Which brings me to my question. How long does the homemade mayo keep in the refrigerator? Others have said a week? Thank you!

  75. I second (or third or fourth) the Aidell’s Chicken Sausage!! It was delicious for me (I make it with sweet potato hash) AND my whole family loved it! My children said “Wow, Mom, this is the best hot dog I have ever tasted!” I roasted theirs in the oven & served with a bun for them.

  76. This is one of the most straightforward articles I’ve read about whole 30. I’m starting this next week and reading as much as I can do thank you for demystifying the process. It’s winter inNew England so instead of eating heavy comfort food and gaining the winter weight we’re going to try and keep it light. Any tips on winter time recipes since produce this time of year is limited? Thanks!

  77. Love this post! That’s how it’s done! 😉

  78. I love this. I just finished my third round, and every single one of these principles ring true. I posted today about what I learned this time, which includes some of this. http://rachelkingbatson.com/2016/02/05/11-things-i-learned-from-my-january-whole30/

  79. Meredith lynn says:

    Thank you! This was supper helpful! I loved how you made it seem so nice and easy and not terrifying! People make it seem so crazy hard and I’m always like ….thanks guys…. great job and post! Now I feel a lot better on making my lists for the Whole 30 and following it!

    My only thing is I can’t have eggs…. so I’ll have to find a way around them….

    But thanks again!!

    • @Meredith – I have a friend who can’t do eggs either and really enjoyed creating sautees with Aidell’s chicken apple sausage and tons of veggies for her go-to breakfasts. Perhaps that will work for you!

  80. Cheryl Meadow says:

    I have been totally clean and compliant on Whole30. Following it to a T. This is day 21. When I was at my doctors office and they weighed me, I made the mistake of looking at the scale. I’ve GAINED 8 pounds. How is this possible? I have Hashimoto disease but my TSH is in the normal range. I know this program is not about weight loss, but better health. I had 20 lbs to lose when I started. I’m trying not to freak. Any ideas?

    • @cheryl – I’ve definitely heard of this happening to people. Did you read the Whole30 guidebook “It Starts With Food”? I know a lot of people don’t as they want to fast track their Whole30 and get started right away without having to read the book, but I highly recommend it. One thing I’ve noticed when people don’t read the book is that their portions and snacking become greater than what is recommended on the program. Snacking isn’t strictly prohibited, but they encourage you to avoid it if possible. Because the foods on Whole30 are filled with great fats, it can be easy to overdo it. I have a friend who gained weight on the program, but after breaking it down, realized that it was because she was eating TONS of nuts/nut butters. I wonder if this could be a possibility for you?

  81. Jennifer Clark says:

    A lot of your meals aren’t whole30 AIP compliant, which is what you would need since psoriasis is autoimmune. I’m doing it now, and after only a couple of days I can see minor improvements!

  82. So happy to find this post! Starting whole30 in a few weeks, I have a toddler and a 5 month old that I’m BFing. I was a little overwhelmed thinking about meals, but your post have some great perspective. Have your eating habits changed in the past year since completing W30? How was reintroducing for you?

    • Britt – So glad you found this helpful! As for your question, I didn’t stick to eating solely Whole30 after doing a couple of rounds of it. I ate primarily Paleo when I was at home and let myself enjoy what I wanted when eating out. I did find that after completing the program I ate far fewer carbs and dairy products, even when I was out though. I am currently pregnant with Baby #3 and first trimester nausea caused me to “fall off the wagon”, but I’ll be starting up Whole30 again once I give birth. Looking forward to detoxing my body and all the healthy fats on Whole30 also helped a ton with my milk supply for nursing last time, so looking forward to that! Good luck!

  83. Melissa Phillips says:

    Hi Lauren,

    Thank you for this helpful guide! I’m starting whole 30 next week so I’m glad to have these pointers. If you’re still struggling with psoriasis, check out plexus’ probiotic. Best thing I’ve found!! Take care and hope your psoriasis has already cleared up. 🙂

  84. Wow, this is awesome! thank you for all of this info!

  85. Best Whole30 blog I’ve read. You make it much simpler than others. Wish I had read this before my first While30!

  86. This is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing! I didn’t have a chance to read through all of the comments, so someone else may have mentioned some tips about psoriasis. With that said, my sister has terrible psoriasis and I know she follows a diet where she has to avoid nightshades and it seems to really help her. I’m sorry I can’t remember what it’s called but you could probably still do whole 30 and just avoid those certain vegetables and it may make a difference.

  87. Did you also workout on whole30 or just the meals? And thank you for sharing sbout the salad dressing at whole foods!

    • @Krista – I didn’t work out much…maybe once or twice a week, but nothing super strenuous…at least not until a few months postpartum and by then I had lost most of the weight. And I hope you love the dressing! It’s our favorite…even when we aren’t doing Whole30!

  88. So helpful, thank you! I am on day 3 and have a busy schedule, so keeping it simple is essential. I am tracking my whole 30 journey here at https://menguin18.wordpress.com/.

  89. Hi! stumbled across this post from a couple years ago. I have an almost 3 month old and we just moved to a new city and I have had to work hard at milk supply so I have NOT been dieting – but I decided to try Whole 30 so I could still eat a LOT for my supply – but hopefully lose weight!

    I also made a couple tweeks – I let myself have one bowl of steel cut oats in the morning to help my milk and like you, I eat a lot of snacks! (healthy compliant snacks) I am on the first week. I call it my 90% plan!

    I am hoping for good results!

  90. Alice Smith says:

    My daughter just asked me if I would do the Whole 30 diet with her. I said I would then I looked at the menu options. I have to say I am not an adventurous eater. I like what I like and pretty much stick with it. I really want to do this with her not only because I need to drop a few pounds but mostly to help and support her. She had a baby 6 months ago and wants to lose her baby weight. She is not heavy heavy but her main issue is her belly. Other than that she is not too bad.
    My main concern is our limited tolerance for newer foods. Neither of us eat seafood, Starkist Tuna is as far as we go.
    Is this doable for extremely picky eaters? Any suggestions to make it easier?

    • @Alice Smith – Apologies for the delayed response, but Yes…I think this is definitely doable even for picky eaters. I’m not a big seafood fan myself. I will eat salmon on occasion during Whole30 and I also like tuna (you have to do high quality canned albacore – like wild planet’s), but otherwise not so much. I also don’t love veggies. I mostly stick to baby carrots and heaps of raw spinach alongside meals just to keep it simple. Hope that helps!

  91. Thank you for taking time to make this post. I just started Whole-30 a week ago. I’m doing great, and I love it so far, but your post has given me more ideas. Great job creating a helpful post. Your before and after photos are beautiful.

  92. Did you still take a prenatal vitamin while doing the whole 30? I’m nursing my 9 month old and am really needing to shed the carbs I inhaled that didn’t melt off after she was born. Looks like my prenatal contains starch.

  93. For your dry skin, you should try vitamin a from grass fed beef liver or fermented cod liver oil. My energy and my skin health improved dramatically when I took vitamin a from natural food sources.

  94. Hi Lauren,
    The nutritional facts on the chicken sausage say 2 grams of sugar, how are these compliant?

    Erica

    • @Erica – it is sugar from fruit juice. It doesn’t have added sugar. There is sugar in plenty of things that are Whole30 compliant. Larabars are a good example – they have a fair amount of sugar from the dates and fruit.

  95. Love all of the comments, so really helpful. Wanting to start but need to know about quantities/amounts which are allowed? Have not seen comments about this as well as what fruits are allowed. Thanks so much…gearing up to start! Lou 🙂

    • @Lou – I highly recommend starting out by reading “It Starts With Food”. It will answer all of your questions along with the “why” behind the meal plan. I really do think reading it makes all the difference when tackling a Whole30. Good luck!

      • Chaya Schmerling says:

        Great post..thank u!
        My baby is 4 weeks old andi am looking forward to trying this! You mentioned you lost 17 lbs on whole 30, but how did the rest of your pregnancy weight come off?:)

  96. I am 61 and starting the Whole30 tomorrow. I am excited, have my meals planned for tomorrow as Mondays are a busy work day for me. I have to admit, I did kind of binge today; at least, I ate whatever I wanted. I had a salami and cheese sandwich for lunch (odd thing for me to eat but delicious) and tonight, red wine and chocolate…I suppose I am most worried about my sister-in-law’s 60th BD party at fancy Boston restaurant and late afternoon “hunger strikes” at work.

  97. Thank you immensely for making this blog. Several days into the whole30 I tried to get fancy, and I became exhausted (I struggle with depression, hence why I’m on the diet). This makes it a lot more doable (I’m halfway through) and I VERY much appreciate the grocery lists!

  98. The information was very helpful. I will be at Whole Foods and Costco tomorrow. Just started this way of eating since I have tried most other ways and they have not worked. Thanks again for a very we’ll written blog! Be interested to know about any other sweets that are on the program. Will try the kits organic bars.

  99. I’ve been on the fence but thanks to you & your blog I’ve literally just ordered the book you suggest by clicking on the Amazon link you had available & following your lists will be so massively helpful as I feel I add a whole new level to the word lazy. Your words were what I needed. THANK YOU! Just followed your Instagram because of it. And p.s. Your advice to new parents is friggin HILAR. Thanks again cookie!!

  100. I love your post, thanks so much. About to start it after New Years in New Zealand 😉

  101. KARI CLerval says:

    Thank you so much for this , Im starting this on Jan 2 and I get over whelmed easily so I been worried I wont last, reading this I feel I can do it now, keep it simple !!!

  102. I love this post and how you broke everything down! Very helpful!!!!!

  103. carol fausnaugh says:

    Thank you for these tips, you make it sound so achievable!! Congratulations on your results, you look amazing!! 🙂 Good luck with that baby!! Many blessings!!

  104. So which book should I buy? It starts with food or whole 30

    • I bought Whole30….but ended up buying, “It Starts with Food” as they refer you to certain chapters. I think Whole30 is the program in a nutshell….but if you really want to know the WHYS, which really is important b/c it makes you understand the purpose of what you are doing which is motivating in itself, you need the other book, “It Starts With Food”.

  105. Melanie says:

    This is great advice for normal living..keep it simple!
    I am on day 6 of this AND no added sugar diet. I feel better already and am fully committed to this.
    Thanks for the added inspiration. You look fabulous after AND before this. 🙂

  106. On the comment about the person spending $750 a month on food doing Whole30, and subsequent replies on how expensive it is due to buying organic. Remember that buying grass fed beef and organic produce is a RECOMMENDATION and NOT A RULE. Paragraph from their website: “No, you don’t have to buy almonds shelled by Spanish virgins and roasted in unicorn fat to be Whole30 compliant. As we discussed in great detail in It Starts With Food and in our Conscientious Omnivore series, we think that naturally raised and fed animal proteins, organic or pesticide/herbicide-free produce, and organic pantry staples (all locally sourced, where available) are the best choices you can make for your health, the health of the animal, and the health of our planet. However, we understand that those choices are not within everyone’s current financial capacity or geographic availability. Use your grocery dollars as wisely as you can, and make the best choices within your context, knowing that labels like “grass-fed” or “organic” are never part of the Whole30 rules.” I personally plan to buy some organic and other stuff, not organic. Buying organic is controversial anyway. Most major studies I’ve read find people who consume organic do not live any longer than those who do not eat organic. Not sure about the quality of life however! 😀 Just sayin’.

  107. Nataliaaah says:

    I’m on day 29 of the Whole30 diet. I did not buy the book but followed the Facebook Whole30 group and ate only fresh vegetables, 2 fruits a day maximum and organic fish or meat. The hardest part for me is drinking black coffee in the morning, since I was a daily cappuccino drinker.

    Once you set your mind to eating whole foods, you don’t crave the sugar, dairy or wheat-based products you are omitting from your diet. The key is to keep drinking lots of water. I added seltzer with a twist of lime or lemon to my water intake. I do walk 5 out of 7 days of the week. Lost 13 lbs so far and really like the way the new me looks.

    I was never a fast-food eater but did snack quite a bit and ate more sugar than I thought. This is not an expensive diet and really worth trying – for everyone. You’ll actually see what eating healthy is all about.

  108. Thank you so much for this. I’m the wife of a chef and he has been telling me this may be a great way to jumpstart my body. I am so busy I thought it would just be too much. You have inspired me girl!

  109. Lauren – I found your blog shortly into my first week of my second Whole 30. Just what I needed to center me a bit and take the preparation pressure off. Thanks! I’m a fan of the spinach with runny eggs…they’re even better with a handful of roasted walnuts thrown on top!

  110. Rebekah Weiner says:

    This post feels like it was written for me! I have been wanting to give the whole 30 a go but have reasons why I’ve not. Time is a big one. As stay at home Mommy to 5 kids 8 and under (the youngest being 3 months and breastfeeding) there just isn’t all the time to prep and be fancy. My family and I have a lot of food adversions so we are already mostly grain free, soy free, dairy free, with limited sugar but I still do eat things that are not great- like the GF chocolate chip cookies that I made last night or the grain free brownies last week. So, all this to say i feel like this post has given me the courage to go for it.
    Thank you!

  111. Thanks for sharing this post information is very nice..

  112. Stephanie says:

    Super inspiring!! thank you! Love that your parents got involved and that your dad got off some of his meds. great job!

  113. Can anyone give me some good spice combinations for grilling meats ASAP please? I usually use Grill Mates or Weber premixed seasonings for grilling to marinate meat and make it tasty. I would love a good combination of approved spices/ingredients for grilling chicken, pork chops, steak, etc. again, ASAP is appreciated 🙂

    • And, THANK YOU Lauren, for keeping it simple and not so overwhelming! Like you, I can eat the same easy, but correct stuff for 30 days, then maybe branch out when it is less overwhelming and I am into it–so grateful I found your site!

  114. Sara Sawyer says:

    Any idea if there are cereals that are Whole 30 approved? Honestly, I just love cereal a lot and that would be the hardest thing for me to completely give up!

  115. Thank you so much! I totally think I could be your friend1 I was terrified about doing Whole 30 for a million reasons but the main one was cooking elaborate meals. I don’t like cooking even a little bit so this was a big turn off until I found your “Lazy Girl’s Guide”. Thank you so much! My friend and I are starting in Feb to give ourselves some prep time. We are also making little care packages for one another for encouragement.

Trackbacks

  1. […] that getting started right away was the biggest factor in bouncing back sooner. I started doing a Whole30 challenge (a form of the Paleo diet) less than a month after giving birth and I’m so glad I […]

  2. […] Tuna (scored some awesome Wild Planet tuna at Costco!) with Whole 30 mayo, and green apples (got the idea from here!) […]

  3. […] read and read and read about it. The things that appealed most to me were the crazy amounts of energy you were […]

  4. […] Hartmann at The Little Things We Do. Her post on prepping and carrying through a Whole 30 has great basic advice on how to be successful and […]

  5. […] meals. But, in the end I simply came up with my own simplified way of doing things…AKA: Lazy girl style. It worked out really great for me and although I got a little bored with some of the foods toward […]

  6. […] The Lazy Girl’s Guide to the Whole30 […]

  7. […] to follow. I liked following people on instagram for food ideas. You can also find some blogs like this one that give you good shopping list and recipe […]

  8. […] 30 blogs (from people who have done it in the past mainly – such as Lauren Hartmann’s Lazy Girl Guide to the Whole 30 : A wonderful blog full of easy ideas) and everyone seems to eat a couple of eggs, lots of spinach […]

  9. […] it comes to eating Whole30, there are two ways to do it: 1) The hard way, or 2) the lazy girl way. Clearly, the lazy girl way is my choice every time, so anytime I can come up with a short-cut or a […]

  10. […] serious. Trader Joes has saved my Whole30 life. Thanks to Lauren Hartmann’s blog post about the Whole30, I have found new items to add to my menu that have helped spice up the food and make me happy. I […]

  11. […] that by eating very simple meals like plain meat with plain veggies for three meals a day, like this blogger. But I like food and flavor way too much to do that. I would rather starve than succumb to […]

  12. […] Learn some things I don’t know. For one, how to use my knives a little better. And for another, what tools are necessary for having a well-stocked kitchen. And finally, how others have been successful. […]

  13. […] yummy meals! A couple of blogs that were helpful in my meal planning process were this and this. If you’re interested in taking a peek at my recipe inspiration, you can check out my […]

  14. […] have to be all cooking, all the time, either.  You can take a simpler approach.  Check out the Lazy Girl’s Guide to the Whole30 for another […]

  15. […] read up on a ton of literature (basically the Whole30 Blog and The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Whole30) to plan out my month and to make sure I was prepared. It took me about a week to prepare from […]

  16. […] you’ve read my Lazy Girl’s Guide to the Whole30, then you know that there are plenty of shortcuts to help you reach your Whole30 goal, one of these […]

  17. […] “Link of the Day” […]

  18. Iwon Nutrition Iwon Chips 8 Bags Ranch

    […] th my meals instead of just having it in between. I ate it at the end of a meal […]

  19. […] container just like the kids and make it an off-shoot of whatever they happen to be eating, because ain’t nobody got time for chopping up extra food.I’ve been on a big kale salad kick lately thanks to Tessemae’s dressings, so it’s […]

  20. Iwon Nutrition Iwon Chips 8 Bags Ranch

    […] n. I ate it at the end of a meal and only if I was still hungry. If not, I skipp […]

  21. Super Sneaky Diet Tweaks

    […] al grazer when it comes to fruit so I included it with my meals instead of just […]

  22. […] The Lazy Girl’s Guide To the Whole30 by Lauren […]

  23. Enjoy Keeping This Inspiring Lazy

    […] gs on top of a bed of spinach, chicken sausage or bacon (some of the time), and […]

  24. […] just grabbed a string cheese and a granola bar and been on my merry way, but ever since doing a few rounds of Whole30 and moving toward a more paleo lifestyle, I’ve learned that eating carbs and dairy all day […]

  25. Enjoy Keeping This Inspiring Lazy

    […] ucchini, but mostly I did this because it requires the least amount of prep on t […]

  26. Blog says:

    Enjoy Keeping This Inspiring Lazy

    […] cause it requires the least amount of prep on the planet and because the runny e […]

  27. Enjoy Keeping This Inspiring Lazy

    […] top of a bed of spinach, chicken sausage or bacon (some of the time), and fruit […]

  28. […] you real world examples, so I&apos;ve turned to other bloggers and my favorite so far is this girl- http://laurenhartmann.com/2014/07/the-lazy-girls-guide-to-the-whole30.html She mentions Chipotle and my plan for today is to find other restaurants in my area that I can turn […]

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