Cleaning Things Up in 2019 - Whole30 Style
Happy New Year, LN Tribe!
We thought it was fitting to do a post on something Little Nomad CEO, Liz and I are embarking on for the month of January-WHOLE30! While we were texting each other the other night and sharing some highs and lows so far, we decided to take it to the blog to share some of our fave ideas and recipes in case anyone else is trying to clean up their act in 2019.
If you don't know what WHOLE30 is or just want to read more about it, you can head to their website for a full rundown.
This is my second time doing Whole30 and I have to say that it is definitely easier this time around. While I did lose some extra baby weight when I did it last year, Whole30 is not a weight loss diet. It is a change in your diet to help kick the bad habits. For me, this was so helpful because I was consuming a lot of extra refined sugars that I didn't even realize and probably why I struggled losing the extra weight. I found that even after the 30 days ended, the way I ate shifted significantly. I loved how I felt on Whole30 and I didn't want to bring back any of those old bad habits.
This time I am bringing my husband along for the ride and am so excited so many friends have also made the decision to try it this month. It makes it a lot more fun when people around you are doing it too!
First things first-You definitely want to do some prep work. The Whole30 shopping list is a great place to start. I don't eat beef or pork so most of my meals are either plant based or contain seafood or poultry. The beauty of the program is that you can tailor it to your personal preferences.
Jenn's Fave Whole30 Recipes:
Burrito Bowls - These burrito bowls are a weekly staple even when I'm not on Whole30. I use ground turkey instead of beef and sometimes I use a lettuce base instead of cauliflower rice (I'm still learning to love riced cauliflower!)
Tostones - I made these last night and I didn't know what to expect at first but they were so easy to make and delicious. They are definitely going to be in rotation when we are craving some comfort food. I didn't make the dip she recommends but instead used this habenero ranch dressing that I can't seem to get enough of at the moment.
Tessamae Dressings are a staple in our house on a regular basis but they are a necessity (in my mind) when you're doing Whole30. There are a lot of salads in rotation and the variety of dressings and uses are amazing. I'd recommend getting this pack to get you going.
Chia Seed Pudding - I love chia pudding but I love it even more when I am on Whole30. It's nourishing, feels indulgent and can be breakfast, snack or an end of night. My favorite toppings are unsweetened coconut flakes, melted Whole30 compliant almond butter and berries.
Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash - Because the standard hard boiled egg WILL get old.
Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings - So, we definitely have some wing lovers in our house and these definitely fit the bill. I've managed to find a quick hack since first making them. Today, I tossed the wings into the Tessamae Buffalo sauce instead of making my own (I told you I love these sauces and NO this is not a sponsored post, but if someone does want to send some we will gladly accept!)
Liz's Fave Whole30 Recipes
This is Liz's first time trying Whole30 and while the first few days were a bit rocky (totally normal, btw), she is now feeling the groove. Here are a couple of her fave recipes so far:
Jalepeno Turkey Burgers - Sometimes you just need to get your fill of a burger and fries. I love that these are a bit lighter using turkey meat but then get topped with all the goodies. You can personalize them to your liking. I also love that you can make them without a bun and then if you're kids are particular you can add a bun for them! I've also been known to stick them between some iceberg lettuce pieces for a "green bun."
Sweet Plaintain Apple Bacon Hash - The key to this recipe is the apples. You want to make sure you use a Pink Lady or Granny Smith apple. It's easy to throw this together as a side or with some runny eggs on top for a full meal.
Watch out, 2019! These two Mamas are coming for you!