I learned about Whole30 the same way I learn about everything — through Busy Phillips’s Instagram account. The actress and social media maven posted about an overwhelming longing for gummy bears and struggling through Whole30. I would love to tell you her post inspired me to do more than pop a few gummy bears myself, but then I’d be lying … but it did start me on my journey of learning more about Whole30, a 30-day-long regimen designed to encourage you to eat more whole foods. (Get it? Whole30?) As someone who occasionally considers a Snickers bar a breakfast food, I thought this might be a great way to break some of my bad habits.
Whole30 encourages participants to eat whole, unprocessed foods, skipping foods with lots of unpronounceable ingredients. It recommends meals filled with vegetables, healthy fats, spices, fruit, and moderate portions of meat, seafood, and eggs. It sounded great, until I got to the hard part. The diet bans sugar and sweeteners of any kind, alcohol, grains, dairy, and legumes, including all forms of soy. After committing to the eating program for 30 days, slowly reintroducing the previously banned items is encouraged, with the hope of participants noting how certain foods can affect mood and energy and maybe even discover sensitivities to certain items.
Talking myself into it using the mantra of “if Busy Phillips can do it, so can I,” I decided to try out Whole30 in hopes of stopping sugar from running my life. Only when I hit a wall around day 10, I realized my mantra was misguided. Busy can do so many things that I cannot, such as act, create long Instagram Stories people actually watch and be brave enough to give her children whimsical names.
My first week of Whole30 flew by because I was excited about making choices to put fresh, whole healthy foods into my body. I was delighted by roasting beets, intrigued by all the different leafy greens in the produce aisle, ecstatic about all the different ways I could cook cauliflower. But at day 10, the newness had worn off and meals begin to feel repetitive. I had the overwhelming desire to flip a table if someone suggested ricing cauliflower again. What I needed were some exciting new Whole30 recipes to free me from my self imposed hard-boiled egg prison. These recipes got me to day 16 (and counting) and will hopefully inspire others, whether they're struggling with Whole30 or just struggling to think of something to make for dinner.
Sesame Salmon Bowl
This recipe is a twist on traditional salmon and is a great chance to use coconut aminos. In many Whole30 recipes, coconut aminos are used as a substitute for soy sauce, but it's delicious in its own right.
Get the recipe here.
Southwest Sweet Potato Hash With Eggs
Eggs are a staple of Whole30, but that doesn't mean they have to be boring. This sweet potato hash is a great way to literally and figurative spice up your normal breakfast.
Get the recipe here.
Creamy Mustard Chicken and Spinach
You may get confused because you see milk in this photo, but fear not, it's made with Whole30-compliant almond milk. Even without real diary, this creamy dish hits the spot for those craving the real thing.
Get the recipe here.
Chicken Veggie Poppers
These bites are perfect for snacking or a quick meal if you're on the go. You can even make Whole30-approved mayo if you want to get crazy and make a dipping sauce.
Get the recipe here.
Gingery Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
This creamy soup is a great base to experiment with different flavors and spices. You can even add cayenne pepper to give it a little kick. It's also vegan.
Get the recipe here.
Potato and Olive-Stuffed Banana Peppers
Being on Whole30 doesn't mean you have to give up stuffed peppers. Olives and potatoes provide a savory alternate to the rice usually used in stuffed vegetables.
Get the recipe here.
Mexican Avocado Egg Salad Collard Green Wraps
Eggs can get boring on Whole30, at least the way I cook them. This recipe changes all that. Adding avocado, lime and cumin are great ways to jazz up a traditional egg salad.
Get the recipe here.
Curried Cauliflower Rice Kale Soup
This soup is one of the many delightful recipes you can make with cauliflower while on Whole30, but the curry powder gives it a distinct flavor profile. It's also great to batch cook and freeze.
Get the recipe here.
Colombian-Style Zucchini Rellenos
This Colombian dish is hearty and satisfying. There's also a tomato base that gives you tomato sauce flavor without all the added sugar.
Get the recipe here.
Chili and Rosemary Roasted Nuts
What I miss most being on Whole30 is snacking! This flavorful nuts are perfect to munch on and make me barely miss potato chips and pretzels.
Get the recipe here.
Asian Meatballs
These Whole30-friendly meatballs are packed with umami savoriness. The fish sauce, mushrooms and tomatoes make the flavor in this dish really pop.
Get the recipe here.
Sweet Potato 'Toast'
Don't be confused by the name, sweet potato toast tastes nothing like toast, but it might be even more delicious! Regardless of the base, "toast" of any sort is our favorite vehicle to eat tasty toppings like smoked salmon and avocado.
Get the recipe here.
Single-Serving Chicken Stir-Fry
Another classic recipe updated for the Whole30 program! This recipe subs coconut aminos for soy sauce and it's so chock full of veggies, I don't even miss having rice to accompany it.
Get the recipe here.
Chorizo and Butternut Squash Chili
This flavorful combination of chorizo and squash makes this chili a quintessential fall recipe. You can even make this in the slow cooker so it's perfect for busy days!
Get the recipe here.
Green Shakshuka
This Mediterranean egg dish doesn't have to be eaten for breakfast, it's hearty and filling enough for any meal. Traditional shakshuka is made with tomato sauce, but this green iteration is made with spinach and jalapeños for a fun twist.
Get the recipe here.
Harissa Portobello Mushroom 'Tacos'
This recipe is perfect for any taco Tuesday. As a fan of guacamole, this recipe is my favorite of the group because it's at the perfect intersection of easy to make, healthy, and satisfies my constant craving for tacos.
Get the recipe here.
Quick Cauliflower Ham Fried Rice
What would a Whole30 recipe roundup be without a riced cauliflower? This recipe goes above and beyond your typical cauliflower hack, while still being easy to make.
Get the recipe here.
Broccoli Ranch Twice-Baked Potatoes
If you told me last month I'd be making my own dairy-free ranch dressing, I'd have never believed you. Yet here we are. These savory ranch potatoes are delicious and you can use your extra homemade ranch as dipping sauce or salad dressing.
Get the recipe here.
Stuffed Tomatoes With Garlic Mushroom Cauliflower Rice
These recipes have already covered stuffed peppers and stuffed zucchinis, so of course now it's tomatoes' turn! Don't be limited by the toppings in the recipe, you can get creative and add sausage or fresh herbs, too!
Get the recipe here.
Instant Pot Pot Roast
This pot roast is both somehow classic comfort food and also healthy. Thanks to a multi cooker, it's also super easy to make.
Get the recipe here.
