Nothing is worse than deciding to start a new healthy eating plan, and then 5:30 pm rolls around and you start looking through your pantry thinking “What am I going to cook for dinner!?”  Pizza delivery never sounded so good.

Planning ahead can be the best tool you utilize to be successful and budget friendly during Whole30.  

This is how I approach meal planning.

On Sunday afternoons, I sit down with my Whole 30 Meal Planning Printables.  You can download them here:

• Paleo Shopping List
• Whole30 Meal Plan

I begin looking through my favorite Whole30 Resources.  I not only have to feed my family of 4, I also have a home daycare in which I have to buy and prepare food for.  So this is my thought process I typically go through…

• I begin with a meat or main dish (i.e. soup)
• Choose vegetables that will compliment the meat or dish prepared (quick tip: frozen veggies are much more budget friendly)
• Add fruit on occasion
• Snacks aren’t really allowed on Whole30, but I always find it good to have bananas or nuts around for those moments I just need something.  Also, I allow my kids to have a snack or two during the day.

Whole30 is a complete mind shift.  As you are planning out your meals, I would not suggest recreating your favorite recipes.  It will not be the same and you will be disappointed.  Try new recipes!  Try new flavors!  It’s amazing how much more flavor food has when you create it yourself and season it on your own. (So taste your food as you cook it!)

As you begin to shop, read labels.  READ LABELS!  Did I mention reading labels?  You will be amazed at what products have sugar in them.  I have had the hardest time finding tomato sauce made without sugar and haven’t quite mastered making my own.

Shopping for Whole30 can certainly be an overwhelming experience.  But if you walk in prepared with a list of ingredients, you don’t have to think too much in the store.  My first shopping trip, I was prepared with a list but I was still the lady in the aisle crying over this change and questioning my sanity and how I was going to feed my family (I can be a little dramatic).  But it soon became second hand.

Change is hard.  Few people embrace it with excitement.  But if you go in prepared or at least with tools under your belt, change can be navigated more easily.

So what are you planning for dinner?  Have you ever planned ahead what your family will eat?

 

Meal Planning is key for a successful Whole30 (let’s be honest… my life in general).  Not doing Whole30 or eat Paleo regularly?  You can still use these websites as springboards.  Can you tolerate rice?  Add rice!  Can’t part from dairy?  Add cheese!  (Side note, cheese is the one thing I did not want to give up and thought for sure I would go back to after our first Whole30.  I was surprised to find I don’t miss it at all!)

Here are some of my favorite links for Whole30/Paleo Recipe Websites:

Nom Nom Paleo
Once A Month Meals – Whole30 Roundup
The Clothes Make the Girl
Against All Grain

You can find more on my Paleo Recipe Websites board on Pinterest:

You can find more on my board Paleo Recipe Websites on Pinterest.

Clean Eating?  My absolute favorite website is thegraciouspantry.com.

Have any other favorite recipe websites?  Comment below!

So, you’ve decided to do a Whole30…what now? One of the hardest parts of Whole30 is getting into a new mindset of food and preparation.  It can be overwhelming looking at new ingredients and recipes.  And let’s be honest, I’ve never done as many dishes as I do on Whole30.  Which recipes are truly worth the effort and time?  Here is a round up of the McClane Family Favorites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can also check out more Whole30 Recipes we’ve tried on my Pinterest board.  

 

Follow Anne McClane’s board Whole30 Compliant Recipes on Pinterest.

How about you?  What are your favorite Whole30 recipes? Comment below!