Basically all fruits and veggies are acceptable on Whole30, so your favorite apples, bananas, berries, and the like are fair game. The same can't be said for your green breakfast smoothie, however.
Whole30 founder Melissa Hartwig called this the first-ever Whole30-approved almond milk in 2016. It's got only four ingredients: water, organic almonds, organic acacia gum, and sea salt. You've seen this in literally every grocery store, and now you know: Yes, you can drink it while doing Whole30.
You're just not eating enoughOne of the most common reasons people feel constant hunger during the Whole30 diet is a simple lack of food. "Many people approach Whole30 as a weight loss diet and reduce caloric intake.
Yes, you sure can! In essence, pickles are simply composed of cucumber and vinegar. Cucumbers are a veggie and vinegar is all good on Whole30 (well – most forms of vinegar are anyway).
You can eat tree nuts like almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. It also means you're free to eat and drink butters and milks made from those nuts, provided they don't include other ingredients from the banned list. That's a lot to remember.
Olive oil is about to become your best friend. Other natural plant-based oils (like coconut and avocado) and animal fats are all Whole30-approved. You can also eat nuts (except peanuts, more on that later).
Hummus is a delicious, traditionally Middle Eastern dish made of ground chickpeas, olive oil, and spices. Unfortunately, hummus is not allowed on Whole30 – this tasty dish is blacklisted until after your program! Chickpeas are legumes, and legumes are out on Whole30.
There's no counting macros, calories, or anything else on Whole30, and while you're encouraged to eat until you're full, there are no restrictions on how much you can eat. You're also not allowed to weigh yourself or take measurements during the experience to keep the focus on how you feel rather than a size or number.
Before getting into this, it's important to stress that the Whole30 doesn't market itself as a weight loss diet. In fact, one of the rules is that you can only weigh yourself the first and last day of the diet. That said, many people do claim to lose weight after following the plan.
Sweet potatoes are a must-have staple for any Whole30 diet. Known for their versatility, high fiber, and antioxidants, it's one food you can't forget to put on your menu. These Whole30 sweet potato recipes will definitely make your 30 days a lot more fun and flavorful!
2. Grains. This means no corn, rice, quinoa, wheat, rye, millet, sorghum, amaranth, buckwheat, bulgur, or sprouted grains.
You most certainly can have vinegar on the Whole30 Program! Pretty much any vinegar such as white, rice, apple cider, or balsamic vinegar is allowed. The exception to this rule is malt vinegar, which is not allowed due to the fact that it is derived from barley, a glutenous grain.
All fruit, including dates, are allowed on your Whole30.
I lost 7 pounds over the course of the 30 days! The book really stresses not weighing yourself during those 30 days, and I stuck to it. Usually when I'm trying to lose weight, I weigh myself every day or every other day, which can be a downer if you think you ate well and the scale doesn't budge or goes up slightly.
Can I Eat Bacon on the Whole30? Yes, you sure can! One, you need to read the labels carefully to make sure it is sugar-free, nitrate-free, and free of the Whole30 banned additives. Two, they strongly suggest that it is made from pastured pigs that are humanely raised.
Is mayo allowed on Whole30? Yes! Mayonnaise the condiment is definitely allowed, but “standard” mayonnaise like Hellman's is not, since it almost always has sugar, canola oil, soybean oil, etc. This Whole30 mayo is absolutely compliant, but if you need to buy some in a pinch, check out Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo.
Even though Whole30 explicitly states that it is not a weight-loss plan, I fully admit that I wanted to lose weight, and to my own surprise (and disbelief), I've ended up losing more than 60 pounds since I did my first round of the program.
Dates are also high in tannins, an antioxidant which may possess potent cancer-fighting capabilities among other health benefits. However, it's still definitely possible to consume too much sugar via dried fruit. Eating two or more RXBARs a day, for example, could quickly veer into the realm of problematic.
All of our bars are Whole30 compliant, with the exception of Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Maple Sea Salt. To clarify, unsweetened chocolate is the result of finely grinding cacao nibs and this is what you'll find in RXBARs.
Whole30 stovetop breakfast
- Green shakshuka with shaved brussels sprouts and spinach. Try saying that 10 times fast.
- Asparagus benedict.
- Creamy potato and bacon soup.
- Yam, celery root, and bacon hash.
- Zucchini and sweet potato latkes.
- Bacon and guacamole sammies.
- Paleo avocado toast.
- Paleo breakfast burrito.
With Trader Joe's changing up their stock fairly regularly, here are the best Whole30 foods to buy at Trader Joe's in 2020.
- Ghee / Clarified Butter.
- Nuts, almond flour and chia seeds.
- Chomps beef and turkey meat sticks.
- Guacamole.
- Organic Oven Roasted Turkey.
- Grass-fed meat.
- Epic bar.
- Nut butter and seed butters.
Sun-Maid Raisins: Unsweetened, dried fruit is Whole30 compliant. I like to keep Sun-Maid raisins handy. They're just 100% raisins with no added sugar and 100 calories per box. Just make sure you're buying a brand without added sugar, such as Karen's Naturals (linked above) or Natierra.
Natural sugars found in fruit (and dates) are perfectly fine, but only in moderation. Larabars, RX Bars, etc. are allowed on Whole30, but not encouraged. The idea is to defeat that “sugar dragon” that often destroys our healthy efforts and willpower.
BHU's keto-friendly protein bars have a fudgy texture and are made without any artificial sweeteners or preservatives.
Seed oils such as soybean, peanut, canola, corn, and grapeseed are off-limits during the Whole30. Extra virgin olive oil is approved and Whole30 compliant. Regular olive oil (aka pure olive oil) and light tasting oil are also approved by the authors. Most of these products are made with seed oils and are not compliant.
Oatmeal, unfortunately, is a no-go when you're following the Whole30 program. But if you're missing that classic, hearty breakfast, try this recipe for sweet potat-"oats" from Little Bits Of. All you'll need is a food processor, a sweet potato, and some banana to add some sweetness.
As of now, the exception to the official Whole30 Program Rules will state: Certain legumes Green beans and most peas (including sugar snap peas, snow peas, green peas, yellow peas, and split peas) are allowed.
Cinnamon is actually a very versatile spice, especially for the Whole30 program. It can be used to add flavor to stews, sauces, and more. Cinnamon also serves as a great flavor enhancer for making a good cup of Whole30 coffee. It's totally Whole30 compliant, so don't be afraid to use it in your cooking!
What is the official rule when it comes to Whole30 Approved Coconut Milk? As long as the ingredients in your coconut milk are compliant, then that coconut milk is Whole30 compliant.
Here's What You Can Drink While Doing Whole30
- Seltzer. Truly the beverage of the gods, sparkling water is everything that is glorious about regular water, only with bite.
- Infused Water.
- Fruit and Vegetable Juice.
- Coconut Water.
- Hot or Iced Tea.
- Hot or Iced Coffee.
- Almond Milk.
- Kombucha.
