I mentioned in our last post that we’ve somewhat hit a groove with Whole30 and are starting to feel the physical/mental differences so many people talk about. While that is exciting to see and feel, we’ve also definitely hit some hurdles/annoyances.
Sponteneity is Dead
Because meals have to be prepped and prepared from scratch, and we find that we are eating more often because we are more hungry, the fun sideline of an occasional spontaneous food outing has disappeared. You know, the nights you randomly pick up a Chipotle bowl after the gym instead of cooking, or the Saturday morning breakfasts at your favorite spot. Those all become more difficult because even if you consider yourself a healthy eater, Whole30 creates an environment where you find yourself constantly scrutinizing the inner workings of everything you eat. Does this simple applesauce have HFCS? Does this product have added preservatives? I won’t lie, it kind of sucks the joy out of eating, no matter how effective it is.
Hi, I’m a Social Pariah
Obviously, with everything we eat now being highly scrutinized and going out next to impossible, enjoying time with friends has become really difficult without feeling completely tortured. We spent the Super Bowl on our couch with hotdish and water. The after-party of our OgarStrong event was spent picking up meat and veggies from the grocery store and eating by ourselves. We’ve turned down movie dates because the mere idea of there being no popcorn makes it not worth it. It’s difficult to go out because non-compliant food and drink is everywhere. And don’t get me started on the grocery store. It currently feels like a big box of nothing we can eat.
I’m Grumpy and Judgemental
There have definitely been times we’ve been grumpy or down about missing things we are used to having. Coffee with cream, chips and salsa, and a meal out are definitely some big ones. The feelings of judgement are definitely a me thing. I really try to fight this, but when you have constraints on your diet, it’s impossible not to judge the decisions of others, even if they are doing things I typically do.
I’m Hard on Myself
This may also just be a me thing. I have both the benefit and burden of knowing some ridiculously healthy people. People who eat this way and train hard every day seemingly effortlessly. They don’t seem phased or tempted by the inner aisles of the grocery store, or captivated by really good artisan bread or their mom’s Christmas cookies. After stopping at the grocery store last night, I almost had a breakdown because — I don’t think it’s within me to ever be one of those people. I love making healthy decisions, and I do for the most part (more and more all the time), but I still like the thrill of a good cheat. And food is still both a reward and coping mechanism for me at times. And I feel guilty about that — and then I feel bad for feeling guilty.
With all that whining out of the way, here’s a little what Week 2 looked like for us:
Monday: Breakfast casserole, Tomato/Avocado/Egg Salad, and Baked Chicken and steamed broccoli
Tuesday-Thursday: Breakfast casserole, Tomato/Avocado/Egg Salad, and Pumpkin Beef Stew
Friday: Eggs and Fruit, Tomato/Avocado/Egg Salad and Pork and Lamb Meatballs in spaghetti squash spaghetti with homemade marinara
Saturday: Eggs and Bacon, Leftovers, Smoothies, Pork and Lamb Meatballs in spaghetti squash spaghetti with homemade marinara
Sunday: Eggs and Bacon, Leftovers, Smoothies and Tator Tot Hotdish (made with sweet potato fries and cauli mash to make it creamy).
As you can see, the name of the game is efficiency through batch cooking. Meals that last at least two days, sometimes more. Meatballs are amazing in this way. You can prep and freeze them, and because of their size, they are super quick to thaw. Definitely an easy win — even if spaghetti squash is like finding a unicorn right now.
All things considered, we are eating really well and the food is delicious. Into week 3 now!
