In case, I’ve piqued your interest for joining this journey, I’ll share with you a few of my favorite things and some of my shopping list.  I made this to share with some local friends who will be joining me on a journey to eat food that is nutritious, as well as yummy.  I confess that some of my purchases are NOT “Whole30” approved.  I have chosen to deviate a little in order to afford a healthier lifestyle which sometimes means it’s not grass fed, or organic, or that it does have some kind of preservative.

At Costco I buy

• PRODUCE  apples, fresh clementine or mandarin oranges, avocados, bananas, kale, carrots, Brussel sprouts, mushrooms, zucchini (if they have it),
• MEAT  ground beef, beef roast, pork tenderloin, chicken, sausages – any kind – in the meat area not the frozen area,
• IN THE FREEZER-FRIDGE AREA  bacon, frozen broccoli, frozen berries, eggs
• IN THE CANS AREA  olive oil, coconut oil, unsweetened applesauce in big bottles, almonds, garlic stuffed olives, canned tomatoes, canned green beans

At Kroger or Walmart I buy

• PRODUCE Organic Lettuce, celery, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, cauliflower (try grating it and cooking it in a skillet – look up cauliflower RICE)
• REFRIGERATED AREA   Califia farms toasted coconut almond milk,
• IN THE REST OF THE STORE coconut almond milk in a box (it’s cheaper but doesn’t taste quite as good as Califia farms), Barney Bare almond butter, Herdez jarred salsa (mild and medium), sauerkraut

At Aldi I buy nuts, carrots, bananas, dried fruit (Warning – probably has sugar in it)

Try rotating what you buy so it doesn’t spoil or you don’t spend too much. So like, one week I stock up on beef and apples, next week I stock up on chicken and oranges, and the next week I buy pork tenderloin and Brussel sprouts & carrots. Then, each week, I freeze what I don’t use that week for the future meals.

I make my own meatballs and individual meat loaves in bulk and pop them in the freezer

La Choy soy sauce is gluten free always, but Kikkoman has gluten in it, so we buy LaChoy. I’m not sure if you can have it at all during Whole30, but we did.

I buy Ghee (clarified butter) at a local Indian grocery

I love Mural of Flavor seasoning from Penzeys spices and White Cranberry Peach vinegar from a local oil shop.

For a sweet treat try a Smoothie made from a frozen banana + frozen blueberries + almond milk.

I couldn’t bear to drink black coffee, so I found that I really liked unsweetened peach or chamomile tea.  Plus, I drank Teeccino with coconut almond milk, and little cans of Izze Sparkling Juice.  And lots of water, with or without lemon.

For an afternoon snack try an apple or celery with almond butter + dried cranberries

Try zucchini noodles.

Try cauliflower rice.

Try making bone broth from leftover chicken carcasses.

I noticed when I started that I was really not feeling good after I ate. I needed more carbs with a meal so I started including fruit with my lunch and dinner. It really helped! I don’t get a sugar rush if I eat fruit with a meal and it gave me some sustaining energy.

Hard boil eggs to take with you for protein.

Try making a layered salad in a quart size mason jar. (Look online about this)

When you eat out, try grilled chicken with a salad with vinegar and oil. Or consider a meaty no-bean chili,  or a steak with grilled veggies. Subway has a yummy chopped salad that I get with grilled chicken and tons of veggies that’s pretty cheap and quick. At McAlister’s I can order a salad and chili combo.

I have discovered that this journey has largely been about breaking the hold that food has over me.  May “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.” (Psalm 63:5)