Tag: Food philosophy

September Whole30 Complete

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Hello October.

Not only is October my favorite month, but we successfully completed the September Whole30 reset. And we absolutely feel fantastic.

So what’s next?

As of this morning, I’ve been re-reading the major points of Melissa Hartwig’s Food Freedom Forever to get a handle on how to do life after the Whole30.

For me, after Whole30 is over is the hardest part. I’m always nervous about reintroducing foods I know will have a negative affect on me, and I don’t want to lose all of the wonderful good feelings I’ve cultivated over the last 30 days.

But we have a lot of be thankful after this season of Whole30.

Here are some of our NSV (Non-Scale Victories):

  • Long-lasting, sustainable energy
  • Less digestive issues
  • Complete mental clarity
  • No brain fog
  • Zero bloating
  • Less headaches
  • Mindfulness of the meal prep stages
  • The ability to say “no thank you” in certain situations
  • Sharper sight (colors look brighter, richer)
  • Lack of cravings
  • Less snacking, if at all
  • More exercise
  • Better quality sleep
  • Ability to tackle hard tasks or challenging things after a long day
  • More motivation in the morning
  • Clear skin
  • More creative recipes and flavor profiles
  • Zero joint pain or aches

And I’m sure there are others I’ve left out.

Since this was our third time to complete the Whole30, I did notice the hangover phase lasted considerably less time than round one and round two. It took me 12 days to feel better during round one. It took eight days in round two.

But this time, it only took four (excruciatingly hungover) days to feel awesome. That to me was the biggest win of all. The mental clarity part of Whole30 is what I crave. The sustainable energy is also a big one.

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It feels good to finish something so rewarding.

Check back tomorrow to see how we celebrated our completed Whole30.

Chili Dogs

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Who says Whole30 has to be filled with boring dinners?

Not me.

I’m all in for flavor and healthy.

So how does chili dogs apply to that?

One big and flavor packed way.

Applegate makes Whole30 compliant hot dogs. I happened to be at Whole Foods (shopping for Amazon discounts) when I spotted them.

Then, it hit me.

Chili dogs.

So I made the classic chili recipe from the Whole30 book, and Whole30 chili dogs were born.

And we weren’t sad about it.

Only thing not pictured in the photo was a squiggle of mustard.

It was a favorite of ours.

And it will happen again soon.

How to Do Fancy Dinners on Whole30

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Whole30 is a fantastic program. Until there is something to celebrate.

Holidays. Birthdays. Weddings. Babies. Good days.

In my world, celebrating anything is about the food. What are we going to eat?

September had three things we had to combat: Labor Day and Brad’s mom’s birthday and our anniversary.

Since Ladonna’s birthday fell during the middle of the week, I promised her a big fancy family dinner.

So I spent the week preparing the menu and getting everything together so I could make her a birthday celebration.

What was on the menu?

Herb Roasted Chicken from the Farm at Barefoot Bend

Balsamic Dijon Roasted Root Vegetables

Sautéed Zephyr Squash

Paleo Apple Crumble

It was a dinner of firsts.

First time to roast a whole chicken. First time to make a Paleo dessert that was Whole30 approved. First time to make homemade chicken stock.

But the best part was we are well. We celebrated a special lady’s birthday. We were 100 percent Whole30 compliant, even if some of the items were considered a Paleo treat (or as the Whole30 creator calls it sex with your pants on foods).

We ranted and raved about how good a truly free range farm chicken tastes. It was a delightful experience I was happy to create and center around good food.

What are your favorite ways to celebrate something when you are trying to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle?

A Taste of Fall

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I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I love coffee. Lattes, especially.

They are so creamy and warm. And just….perfect.

When I shared my post about Whole30 Lattes, I was just messing around trying to make creamy, delicious coffee.

But as I got to searching on the Internet and Pinterest, I ran across Against All Grain’s Pumpkin Spiced Latte.

And I can honestly say it is a dream come true.

Warm and frothy with a light pumpkin flavor. It is heaven in a coffee mug.

I added a little MCT oil to my mixture and left out the maple syrup for now because of Whole30.

But it is a decadent treat. And I will be keeping a the pumpkin base mixture in the fridge and add it to my coffee to welcome the cooler fall weather.

What are your favorite ways to enjoy pumpkin?

My Favorite Farmers Market

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Since we moved to the country, I’ve struggled with grocery shopping. The nearest grocery store is 20-25 minutes away.

Thankfully early this spring, I stumbled across Me and McGee Market off Highway 70 in North Little Rock.

Via

It is a gorgeous little farm stand full of pretty flowers, fruits, veggies, local cheeses, jams and jellies, pickles, salsa, homemade breads and grassfed meats.

As a foodie, it is my happy place. I visit the market every Saturday morning. I have grown to adore the Me and McGee Family, and I look forward to seeing them every weekend.

Neva, the owner, takes care of me. While we’ve been on Whole30, she’s held back dozens of eggs for me. She knows me. Remembers my name. Ask me about my week. She and her daughter, son, mom and husband are what make this little market so magical.

They are real people. They are my kind of people. They value good food, real food. They value community. They are invested in our little rural community. Constantly trying to make it better. Bringing people together.

It’s a truly beautiful sight.

We need more Me and McGee’s in this world. Little mom and pop shops and markets geared towards getting people better foods. It’s important. And I’m passionate about sharing what Neva and her family is doing because it will change the world for the better.

If you are in the Central Arkansas area, I highly suggest you visit Me and McGee Market. You will fall in love with it.

Find the nearest farmers market near you.

What are your Saturday morning traditions?