Incorporating Whole30 into a long-term Healthy Lifestyle

Now that I am finish Day 20 of the Whole30 program, I'm able to see lots of positive result but some interesting realities as well. There are some big "pros" to eating a Paleo-esque diet, and some drawbacks as well.

Mini-Fritatta muffins with Bacon... mmmm! Def a PRO.

Whole30 program "Pros":

• Focus on veggies
• Learning new ways to prepare meat & incorporate into diet
• No added sugars= increased awareness of how much sugar I was eating 
• Focus on quality ingredients, from organic produce to sustainable meat
• Inclusion of healthy fats such as coconut, avocadoes, and olive oil
• Stops me from using bread as a filler at every meal
• Body is feeling good- no bloating, inflammation, or stomach irritation
  

Whole30 Program "Cons"

• Find myself eating lots of fruit, and going over my recommended sugar amounts anyway
• I don't really want to eat this much meat! 
• This is definitely a hard diet to maintain while simultaneously being a person in the world

Overall, I think that there are more pros than cons to the Whole30 program and to Paleo-based eating in general, but I am starting to think about what Day 31 will look like for me. Which foods will I choose to re-incorporate; which will I decide to live without?

My post-Whole30 daily diet thoughts so far:

a typical #Whole30 grocery haul for the week!

• Focus on Vegetables
• 2-3 servings of protein from:
•  sustainable meat & eggs
• legumes
• nut butters
• cottage cheese/greek yogurt
•  2-3 servings of Fruits
• 2-3 servings of Whole grains
• Chocolate in moderation (2-3 servings per week)

Avoid:

• Refined/enriched grain items 
• Milk and cheese (not including cottage cheese/greek yogurt)
• Added sugars, although prioritizing honey & maple syrup as sweeteners when applicable

*Note- I really prefer the taste of refined/white flours & grains for many foods (pasta, rice, etc) so I think I will just limit my intake of those items in general. I do enjoy whole wheat bread, and I have locally-grown grains that I can mill at home to make bread with! I'm comfortable with occasionally eating bread, which I made at home that will have a list of 4 ingredients.

*Note- Baked goods with refined flour and chocolate are my downfall. Chocolate chip cookies! I need to indulge in these treats sparingly without "treating myself" to 2-3 cookies per day.

I'm trying to keep an open mind until the end of my Whole30 program, and after I re-introduce some of the eliminated items, before I make any firm opinions or decisions. Overall, I think I have already learned a lot about my eating habits, my diet pitfalls and weak points, and I've expanded my recipe repertoire a LOT! All positive outcomes that will contribute to my health in the long-term.