First, take a deep breath. You. Can. Do. This. 

I am about to rock your Whole30 world and give you all the advice I wish I had when I started my first Whole30! (or second, or third…)

First things first. Prep your food, your fridge and your pantry!!

Make sure to have your fridge and pantry stocked with Whole30 snacks and food. In my fridge right now I have a variety of fruits (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, clementines); a variety of vegetables (brussel sprouts, celery, green beans, and lettuce). I also have some whole30 grab and go type meats (whole30 approved polish sausages, and whole30 approved chicken and apple chicken sausage) that make life a little bit easier. In my pantry I have go-go squeeze cinnamon applesauces (those are my favorite, and whole30 approved), some fruit leather and whole30 approved larabars (apple pie, cashew cookie, cherry pie and lemon flavors). The first week or two I am definitely more prone to grab Whole30 snacks because I am kicking old habits and trying to beat out those nasty sugar cravings. You should know though, after the first week they start to subside…so hang in there!

Next, Read your labels!

If you’re not sure about something you can or can’t have, check your labels! Mostly you’re checking for added sugar (which can come in the form of ingredients you can’t spell sometimes). I had a conversation with my mom this past week about her almond milk. She didn’t think she could give up her almond milk with her morning coffee for this Whole30, guess what? Happy surprise! Her almond milk is Whole30 approved! No added sugar! Now she is fully on board and excited for these thirty days. 

Sometimes there may be ingredients on labels you aren’t sure you understand. For example, the word “xylitol” is just another fancy word for a type of sugar. You’re not alone. There are so many ingredients out there, and some of them are so hard to pronounce. So my advice is, do what I do- google it! I still google ingredients all the time. I can’t store that information long term. There is no shame in looking up ingredients just to be sure. Most of us have a phone right at our finger tips. When in doubt, google! This leads me to my next part, research. You will do just as much research during the whole30 as you did before it, there is always more to learn!

Do your research!

Use your resources! I am here to help! I have a lot of personal experience doing a Whole30 successfully, and unsuccessfully. I am happy to share in the joy and the pain with you. Feel free to email me or DM my IG (@thebloominghive) and I will answer any questions you have to the best of my ability. (or just be another Whole30 shoulder for you to cry on!) However, I am just one great resource available to you. There are whole30 coaches, facebook groups (we have one called March Whole30! 2021 if you’d like to join!) and many others as well.  

Below I’ve listed additional resources I have found super helpful while doing a whole30 in the past: 

  • The internet is an incredible source! Google “Whole30” and you can find just about anything. 
  • However if you like your info through IG, Melissa Urban (co-creater of the Whole30) is an excellent resource. You should follow her instagram (@melissau), or one of her whole30 instagram accounts (@whole30) or (@whole30recipes). 
  • If you like to have a physical book you can refer back to over and over again, and for more info- you can also buy her whole30 cookbook She has several out now, but the one I just linked is the OG and my favorite. 
  • Another great companion book I have read and use every time I do a Whole30 is Against All Grain by Danielle Walker. I chose both of those books because they have really great recipes and everything in “Against The Grain” either IS Whole30 or can super easily become Whole30 with a few quick changes.
  •  There are also many whole30 articles and blogs. Just google “whole30 approved foods” and boom! You’ve got a ton of resources there also. : 

Lastly and most importantly, Water!

Water, water, water. I carry my hyrdoflask around with me everywhere. Water is so important during the Whole30. There are very few drinks you can have that are Whole30 approved. Make sure you’re drinking your water! Some things I have done before to spice up my H2O:

  • Add lemon, everything is better with lemon.
  • If you don’t like lemon, add fruit! Watermelon cucumber water is shockingly refreshing and delicious.
  • Drink hot teas or hot water that have no added sugar
  • Any type of carbonated water (La Croix, Aura Bora, Spindrift, Bubly, etc.)
  • Kombucha (make sure there is no added sugar)
  • “Hint” drinks, waters that are infused with a slight flavor

Good luck to you all, we are all in this together! Reach out if you have any questions.

One last bit of good news!

It’s offically March! Spring is here, can’t wait to start planning my garden for Spring. I have a box of herbs, and one full of raspberries. I have two more boxes I am excited to fill, can’t wait to chat gardens in the next few weeks!