How did everyone’s first week of 2018 go? After writing last week’s post about my 2018 New Year’s Resolution, I have felt a sense of calm that I didn’t have before. I think that by deciding to practice “contentment” this year, I have let go of a lot of the things that cause me undue stress. I realized that the things that worry me, overwhelm me, frustrate me, etc. are all things that I cannot control. By making the conscious decision to “change the things I can, and accept the things I cannot,” life takes on a whole new feeling of peacefulness. By no means am I going to sit back and let life pass me by. But being content with the here and now makes the life we live so much more enjoyable.
Anyway, speaking of the new year, I am LOVING all of the healthy eating trends happening right now! My Instagram feed is filled with pictures of healthy, wholesome, and delicious looking eats! While I decided that I wouldn’t participate in the January Whole30, I am still sticking to a cleaner diet as we get back on track after the holiday free for all 🙂
For those of you that aren’t completely familiar with the Whole30 program, first of all, order this book on Amazon, stat! The Whole30 is meant to be a 30-day reset for your body where you cut out all processed food and then reintroduce things slowly to see how your body responds to those foods. You will cut out all grains, dairy, legumes, any form of sugar, alcohol, and any sort of sketchy preservatives added to food. You WILL eat real, whole foods like meat, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and nuts. And lots of it! It’s not meant to be a weight loss program, although that tends to be a pretty groovy side-effect for many people.
I consistently eat a mostly Whole30 diet with the exception of 2 things. As taboo as it might sound, I just don’t want to live a life that doesn’t allow me my few squares of dark chocolate every night! Plus, cheese. So aside from 2 things, I am with ya, Whole30ers!
Since doing my Whole30 in 2013, the resources for the diet have just completely gone wild. Pinterest is FULL of amazingly creative recipes, stores are stocked with compliant snacks and dressings, cauliflower is sold pre-riced, zucchini (and many other veggies) are pre spiralized…I could go on and on. It’s a revolution, I’m tellin’ ya! Back when we did our first Whole30, we had to walk in the snow, uphill both ways to get to the grocery store! Obviously totally kidding, but things are definitely changing for the better in terms of a “real food movement.”
To add to the revolution, I wanted to round up the top Whole30 recipes I’ve posted so far on the blog, so they are all available in one easy to access place! We’ve got 22 of ’em, in fact! Fresh, healthy, colorful, and satisfying. Lots of vegetables and herbs. Tons of citrus. Salads, soups and hearty meals too. We’ve gotcha covered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I think we’ll be cooking from this list all month long – will you join us? (Did that sound like an infomercial, or is it just me?)
Side Note: A couple of the ingredients in a few recipes might not be 100% Whole30 compliant. For example, sometimes life recipes call for butter, but you can simply sub ghee or olive/avocado oil and call it good! If a dressing calls for maple syrup or honey, you can totally leave it out. Also, any time bacon or sausage are listed, be sure there is no added sugar or anything sketchy in the ingredient list.
Breakfast
I am a huge fan of breakfast frittatas. I try to make a big one before every work-week to make my mornings a little less hectic. The best thing about them is that you can change them up every week with different flavors, vegetables, proteins, etc. so that you never get tired of having eggs for breakfast!
EveryDay Breakfast Fritatta
This “Everyday” version is definitely a go-to, quick and easy one to whip up and enjoy all week! Sub bacon for the sausage and it’s equally delicious! Either white or sweet potatoes make an equally hearty and tasty addition!
Instant Pot Chorizo and Egg Casserole
I made this first for the blog, then again on Christmas morning and ended up eating it for about 2 weeks straight, and never got sick of it! The flavors are so delicious and it couldn’t be easier to make. I included instructions for the crockpot and oven as well, if you haven’t joined the instant pot club just yet 🙂
Italian Sausage & Artichoke Frittata
See, I told you I have a solid stockpile of frittata recipes! This version feels a little “fancier” than the everyday version, but is as equally easy to make. The flavors of artichoke and Italian sausage are rich and bold, making them the perfect combination.
Salads
I love me a big ol’ entre salad…I could eat one daily and always feel satisfied. My husband-not so much. So I make it my mission to come up with salads that will be heart enough to serve to Travis while pleasing my desire for a big bowl of greens!
Cobb Salad
This is one of the only salads I can serve Travis without hearing about how salads aren’t a complete meal. That is to say, it’s hearty, filling, and delicious, while being totally healthy and new year’s resolution friendly 🙂 I know Cobb Salads are supposed to have cheese, but there are so many other yummy flavors going on that I don’t miss it a bit!
Mediterranean Chicken Kebab Salad
This salad is another one that I can get away with serving to Travis (as long as I make a side of rice along with it). We love the Greek flavors, and this entre salad couldn’t be easier to throw together!
Autumn Chicken Salad
It definitely doesn’t need to be fall to enjoy all the amazing flavors of this salad! I love the sweet/salty contrast that the sweet potatoes and cranberries vs the bacon and nuts provide. I think I added goat cheese to this recipe, but I promise you won’t miss it at all! Also, leave out the maple syrup if you are whole30-ing…no major loss there either!
Poultry
Chipotle Burrito Bowl
Our little town recently got its first Chipotle chain, but before that, eating there was more of a rarity, like when we were traveling. I love recreating restaurant favorites at home for less money and with more control over the portions/ingredients (although I do think Chipotle already does a pretty good job with that!) One of the biggest perks of making the bowls at home is that I can make Travis the traditional white rice route, while I get to use cilantro lime cauliflower rice for a lighter version that won’t bother my tummy.
Cilantro Lime Turkey (or Chicken) Burgers
These burgers are light and juicy (despite the lower fat level), just a tad spicy, and refreshing with the taste of lime. I went ahead and used the BBQ since it’s always grilling season in So-Cal but on second thought, they probably would have come out even juicier and prettier had I used the indoor griddle or Cast Iron Skillet. I serve these with lettuce, tomato, avocado, onion and sweet potato fries for a filling, healthy and delicious meal!
Italian Turkey Meatloaf
I love meals that can be prepared ahead of time and then can cook on their own while you proceed with other activities for the evening (like showering, homework, dog walking etc.) Italian Style Meatloaf will leave you with a wholesome meal after only a little bit of prep ahead of time. You can prepare the loaf the night before, the morning of, or an hour before you are ready to eat, then let the oven do the rest of the work.
Mushroom Artichoke Stuffed Chicken
We love lots of different variations of this recipe! The combination of the mushrooms with garlic, shallots, and of course the marinated artichokes is just meant to be. (Honestly, you can start pretty much any recipe by sauteing onions and garlic, and you’ve got a winner.)
Chicken Piccata
This is another meal that feels super fancy and decadent, yes is extremely easy to make! Buttery (ghee) chicken simmers in a delicious lemon caper sauce that will rock your world, making this a total weeknight crowd pleaser. Serve with mashed potatoes, cauliflower mash, or spaghetti squash and I’m tellin ya, you will be in chicken heaven!
Pork
Crock Pot Italian Sausages and Peppers
I try to be sure to put a crock pot recipe on my menu every week, because I LOVE coming home to a ready to eat dinner! This particular recipe is often on repeat around here. The sweet sausages first get browned, then layered in a crock pot with seared onions, peppers, garlic, and jarred tomatoes. Everything cooks low and slow all day long– until the sausages are nearly fall-apart tender, and the sauce is perfectly smooth and flavorful.
Sam’s No. 3 Green Chili
Inspired by one of our favorite breakfast spots in Denver, this chili is my favorite winter soup to date! The original recipe uses pork, but chicken would definitely work as well. It can be made in the crockpot or simmer on the stove but either way, it is so flavorful, has just a touch of heat, and quite easy to make. It is great by itself but also benefits from the addition of toppings like tortilla/plantain chips, avocado, etc. Just do yourself a favor and save a bowl for smothering over your Sunday morning (paleo) breakfast tacos. It’s a must!
Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Definitely one of my favorite easy Italian recipes! It’s the quintessential light and healthy meal that give you all the flavors you seek when eating Italian.
Beef
Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers
Apparently, I am a big fan of using food as a vessel for more food 😀 These stuffed bell peppers are a favorite take on taco night around here. You could also use turkey for a lighter option, but it remains heavy on the veggies, low carb, and Whole30 friendly either way!
Paleo Sloppy Joes
Another winning crockpot meal! After simmering all day, the meat mixture ends up tasting spot on, just like the Sloppy Joe you remember from your youth. Plus, it’s loaded with veggies and Whole30 compliant. The combination of the meat with the sweet potatoes is perfect, but you could also serve with cauliflower rice to keep it low carb.
Beef Stew
A new Halloween tradition for us, beef stew makes the perfect meal for a chilly fall or wintery night. This version is super simple and basic, just the way we like it. All you need to do is brown the meat, and then throw everything into the crockpot on low, the longer the better! Or, if you have an instant pot, you can brown the meat in the pot itself and then let it slow cook all day!
Paleo Chili
After searching around for the “perfect” paleo chili recipe, I decided would just go ahead and make my own! I give the beans the boot and replace them with diced carrots, zucchini, and sweet potatoes to give the soup texture and flavor, as well as a healthy boost! There’s just nothing like a big pot of chili simmering on the stove on a cold day!
Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce
After making spaghetti sauce in the crockpot once, I was forever changed. After getting the chance to simmer away all day, the flavors and texture are just better than any other stovetop version I’ve ever known. I make a huge batch of this anytime I am in the mood so that I can freeze the extras for another time. Such a time saver and I love knowing I have an “emergency dinner” waiting for me should I even need it! We all need a go-to spaghetti sauce recipe in our repertoire and this is mine 🙂
Seafood
Citrus Salmon
This is definitely our favorite way to eat salmon! We first tried it as a special occasion dinner for NYE a while back, but it’s just too delicious to save for once a year! The citrus and dill make the perfect topping for simply baked salmon. Love serving it with potatoes or rice and asparagus.
Coconut Shrimp
I remember this being one of the first Whole30 recipes that Travis and I made, and then made again and again because it is so easy and delicious! With a short list of ingredients and just a little prep work, this meal can be ready to devour in minutes.We aren’t huge shrimp fans, but this version is tasty and picky-eater friendly.
And that about does it, folks! There are many more healthy, wholesome recipes that can be found on Our Fine Day, but these are the truest/closest to Whole30 compliant meals to help you stay on track!
And now I am hungry!
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