Lessons Whole30 Taught Me About Food

I am in the middle of my third Whole30, day 13 to be exact. Each time was a little different, but there are several lessons Whole30 has taught me throughout about food and it’s impact on my body.

For those of you not familiar with Whole30, it is very similar to the Paleo diet. For those of you not familiar with Paleo, Whole30 limits you to whole foods consisting of meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, seeds, and some cookings oils, including olive and coconut oil. So it restricts grains (pasta, oatmeal, cereal, bread), dairy (cheese, yogurt, animal milk), legumes (kidney beans, hummus, peanut butter), some cooking oils (canola, sesame), alcohol, most preservatives and additives, and the big one, sugar. Here’s a quick run-down of the dos and don’ts: https://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/

The goal is to remove these foods from your diet for 30 days to understand how each of these foods can impact how you feel to better understand your physical and mental relationship with food. Some people struggle with sugar or using alcohol as a crutch. For others the impact of food is a little less benign. For example, legumes may give a bloated feeling, dairy may cause sinus congestion, or grains may cause gastro-intestinal distress. These are effects that live in the background of our lives and we don’t know any different because these conditions have always been with us.

To really drive home these impacts, there is an optional reintroduction of certain foods at the end of the 30 days. The thought is to add dairy, legumes, and bread back into your diet, individually every two days to take note if there are any negative impacts. I have never done the reintroduction, though I may this time. I don’t think anything I would discover would keep me from eating any of these foods, but I might limit my consumption.

My Whole30 Experiences

I completed my first Whole30 over four years ago. At that time, I loved my beer and wasn’t eating great to begin with. It was a difficult transition from eating crap and drinking beer to eating meat and vegetables. Especially after a long day at work and realizing you can’t unwind with a drink. I felt my body changing after several days and would get occasional headaches and get irritable. I had cravings for rich foods and really wanted a beer to take the edge off. But it turned around towards the last 25 days. I was starting to feel energetic and have less pain in my body. I noticed the clarity in my thinking. It was eye-opening.

My second go was very similar to the first time, but this third time around has been fairly straightforward. One thing I noticed last week is I got very ravenous. I wanted to eat everything I could find, though that’s a small consequence when eating mainly meats and vegetables. I tried to limit fruit and fats. And I still miss the drink after work. But I have been enjoying the increased energy and clarity of mind, less joint pain, clearer skin – all the benefits I saw before in my two previous times.

I think this time around it has been easier because I have been eating better in general since the first two rounds. But not well enough. I was feeling sluggish, felt pain in my body, and was drinking more then I should too and that wasn’t helping. So, I felt like I needed a reset. I needed a reminder what food does to the body, what alcohol in excess can do to the mind.

What I Have Learned

How to Cook

I have always known how to cook as an adult, but this was usually in the form of grilling meats and sautéing vegetables. I didn’t branch too far beyond that. Since being on several Whole30s I have learned different, easy, and tasty ways of preparing food. I learned that baking fish and chicken breasts is an option, as is roasting and steaming vegetables. I can poach chicken for an awesome chicken salad. Make perfect boiled eggs. Marinate and roast pork tenderloin. I’ve also learned what ingredients and flavors work together. The list goes on and on. I’m no Emeril, but I can genuinely say I know how to cook now.

Eating Away From Home

Eating away from home on this program isn’t easy, but it is certainly doable. I have breakfast and lunch away from the house, at work. That means having to pack two meals and snacks every weekday. One trick I have learned is to prep all my food for the week. I cook chicken, steam vegetables, bake potatoes and prepare compliant chicken salad that I will be eating for the entire week. Then all that is left to do each night is put together each meal for the next day. I also learned which restaurants are compliant, i.e. which one’s don’t have hidden ingredients. Even in restaurants that don’t list each ingredient in every dish, there are still good choices on the menu if one looks close enough. When eating out, this has made me more conscious of what I order.

Food as Fuel

I learned that I don’t always have to enjoy what I eat. Though, that’s not to say every meal can’t be delicious on Whole30. But the mindset begins to shift from food as a pleasure to food as a need. I also understand now that eating simple does not mean being deprived. I started to feel and understand the nourishing qualities of food and not merely the taste. Ironically, the taste of simple foods were improving – fruits taste sweeter and all foods have more flavor. Additionally, I learned that some foods I really enjoy are not fueling my body or giving it what it needs and is most likely damaging my body.

You are What You Eat

This is one of the biggest lessons Whole30 has taught me. If you eat bad, you’ll feel bad. If you eat good, you’ll feel good. Whole30 is a sort of foundational framework for me now. I start with that in my food choices. Every time I make a choice I think “how will this make me feel”. Sometimes I recognize a choice will not make me feel good, but I go ahead anyways. But those instance are far less and I’m willing to feel bad once in a while to splurge. But being armed with the knowledge that what we consume changes how we feel has altered how I approach food choices.

Not Everyone’s a Fan

U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks the diet at the bottom in several categories. Out of 35 diets reviewed it is ranked 32nd easiest diet to follow, 34th best weight-loss diet, and 33rd best overall diet. You can see the review here: https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/whole30-diet

Not a glowing review or positive rankings. But I don’t see Whole30 as a diet at all, but rather a tool. I’m not a Whole30 evangelist, but I feel that I have learned a great deal about nutrition, my body, and food’s impact on how I feel. Some of the complaints are valid: it is not a sustainable lifestyle, too many fats can be consumed, and beneficial foods like grains and legumes are cut from the plan.

I agree with all these, but again, this is not meant to be permanent fixture in one’s lifestyle. The program lasts a mere 30 days, hardly long enough for anything really good or really bad to happen physically to your body. You won’t get heart disease or hyper-tension, or even lose 50 pounds. But you could very well gain insights into the inflammatory nature of some foods and how they have an impact of your physical and mental state in general.

Whole30 Changed My Perspective on Food

I’m still going to eat crappy food and drink alcohol now and again, but I’m armed with the knowledge of how I am affected by it. There are numerous lessons Whole30 provided that changed my perspective. I think of food as fuel for my body and believe that what we consume has a real and tangible impact. There IS a real difference between eating chicken and vegetables vs. a big mac. I sounds strange to point out that there is a difference between the two, but I do think that food can be lumped in together and be thought merely as sustenance and the nutritional value be overlooked and pushed to the margin. Whole30 has changed my whole perspective on food and I have been more conscientious in my food choices.

If you want to learn more about the program visit the official website at https://whole30.com/. If you’re convinced and ready to give it a shot, click on the link below to order the book. (disclaimer: affiliate link)

The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom