Halfway There (30 Day Whole Diet)

Pizza! Mouthwatering pizza! The savory sauce and the drizzling cheese on warm bread are delicious. It's almost hard to figure out what kind of toppings I would put on it. What about a bowl of ice cream or frozen custard? That sure sounds sweet. These are the things I like to imagine once I complete 30 days on the Whole 30 diet. I am on day 15 of the diet and it has certainly been quiet a learning experience.

For those unaware of what the 30 diet is, the guidelines are:

• No legumes
• No added sugar
• No dairy
• No alcohol
• No MSG or sulfites
• No grains

What I can eat is:

• Vegetables
• Fruits(in moderation)
• Unprocessed meat
• Nuts and seeds (in moderation)
• Eggs
• Coffee and tea

So why the Whole 30 diet?

I had a friend share their experience with me and I thought it would be an interesting experiment of my own. One of my goals I wanted to focus on this year was cutting sugar from my diet or at least eating healthy. Since I am on vacation it seemed like the perfect time to see what kind of effect food has on me.

What have I learned so far?

Labels are helpful. They give me the lowdown on what's in my food and make me question why certain ingredients are in my food to begin with. Eating at restaurants is a bit difficult because it requires a lot of trust. Is there an extra ingredient being added to my meal as it is being made?

Meal prep and planning are important on this diet. 

I don't need alcohol. I realize that I eat a lot of legumes/soy and grains/sugars come in at a close second.

Food sensitivities are real!

What have the first 15 days been like for me?

Weird. I had a lot of cravings a few days from when I initially started. I remember feeling irritable toward people at one point because there were a few days when I couldn't sleep and my emotions were running high. Now that I am on day 15, I feel more clear headed and have been sleeping well. Cravings haven't been a big deal. A part of me has thought about quitting the diet but I often imagine what would happen if I didn't stop after 30 days too. 

The diet has also allowed me to be a bit more creative with food again and explore new recipes which I haven't done in a long time. I love it!