Little Bit Of....Everything

Baby otter trying to sleep on momma

i found this on weibo, basically me every morning before i shower

Never underestimate the power of a Whole 30! I am so pumped with my results from this go around. I won’t beat around the bush, I did this because I needed a reset in my sugar obsessed eating habits and I was also ready to ditch the few remaining pounds I gained during my pregnancy with Beatrix. Not to mention a closet full of clothes I couldn’t wear because they were too small. 

If you didn’t catch my prep or meal planning posts, here’s a quick summary. The goal is to complete 30 days of a super clean diet - that means all the veggies, fruits, eggs and meat you want. That also means no sugar, alcohol, grains, dairy or legumes. 

It also means a lot of planning, cooking and cleaning up, so if you have a partner for the Whole 30, it makes things way easier. Adam and I did this together and we are both so pleased!

NOTICEABLE CHANGES

The folks that created the Whole 30 really encourage you to stay away from the scale for the entire process, but when day 31 hit I was so excited to jump on and see if there was any weight loss. I could tell from the way my clothes fit that I probably dropped a couple pounds, but in total I lost ten pounds! I’m now down about five pounds from my pre-baby weight. HELL. YES!  My before photo from above was taken in May (around 4 months after having a baby) and the after was yesterday (a week or so since our Whole 30 ended!)

I don’t have pre-Whole 30 measurements to compare with, but my tummy is much flatter and my boobs look smaller too (yess!!) Now I have access to so much more of my closet and It’s been so fun to pull old things out and be able to enjoy them again. 

Internally I feel more energetic, almost like my body can tell it’s running on premium fuel. I wish I could say I slept better, but with two kids in my bed most nights, I’m not getting any long stretches of Zzzs. 

ALSO WORTH NOTING

I have continued to breastfeed my daughter throughout the Whole 30. She’s 8 months now and had started some solid foods around the same time my thirty days began, so everything naturally fell into place. Because we’re well established with our breastfeeding routine, we didn’t notice any supply issues.

We were not 100% compliant with the rules. I ate bacon, deli meat and store bought mayo (which have off limit ingredients). I had a glass of wine on date night. And a cocktail. I ate chia seed pudding and made paleo pancakes. I had french fries here and there. But for my normal day in, day out meals, I really got what I wanted by eating more fresh, local foods. Since I’ve been buying more berries and veggies I’ve noticed my kids eating them as well! 

I’m also getting better at sneaking in more veggies for breakfast (sauteed spinach and sweet potato) or with big veggie bowls. I think I’m getting to be a better cook too! 

Would I suggest a Whole 30 to someone else? Absolutely! In fact my mom is starting her first one right now! Send this post to someone who might want to try it and check out these posts if you need a little help getting started! You can do it!

Sweet Potato Spaghetti & Meatballs 

can be made vegan or vegetarian without the meatballs 

Ingredients for Meatballs 

1 lb ground turkey 

3 cloves grated garlic

¼ minced yellow onion

1 egg (completely optional) 

Seasoning blend - 1 tsp sweet paprika, 1 tsp granulated onion, 12 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground rosemary, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and a pinch red pepper flakes

Ingredients for Tomato Sauce 

14 oz crushed tomatoes 

¼ minced yellow onion

1 tbsp Italian seasoning 

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Few tbsp of olive oil

Parsley or cilantro for garnish 

Spiralized sweet potatoes

Directions 

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the meatballs together and form into large meatballs – should form 8 large balls or about 12 smaller ones 

Heat a few tbsp of olive oil in a large, deep skillet or cast iron pan. 

When the oil has come to temperature, place the meatballs into the pan and brown on all sides 

Add in the crushed tomatoes and onions and season. 

Submerged the meatballs in the sauce and let simmer for 5-10 minutes, covered with a lid 

Remove the lid, push the meatballs to one side of the pan and add in the spiralized sweet potato – warming it by tossing in the sauce 

Plate, garnish, and serve

Roasted Sweet Potatoes 

There are one million and one ways to make roasted sweet potatoes. They are one of the most versatile vegetables and can be dressed up in many ways ranging from savory to sweet. Here is just one way that I like to prepare these for meal prep. 

Ingredients 

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced 

Seasoning blend: 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, ½ tbsp lemon granules, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp freshly ground nutmeg, 1 tsp ancho chili powder, 1 ½ tsp Herbs de Provence, ½ tsp smoked paprika. 

Olive oil 

Directions 

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, arrange your sweet potatoes into a single layer. 

Drizzle a layer of olive oil over the potatoes and then sprinkle over the seasoning blend (you may or may not use all of it – if you don’t, save the rest from chicken, it’s incredible). 

Using your hands, toss the potatoes so that they are evenly coated. 

Roast in the oven until the insides are tender when pierced with a toothpick.

NOTE: For meal prep, I tend to “under roast” my potatoes because I do not want them to become too soft after reheating for a meal. 

Divide into meal prep containers after the potatoes have cooled.