Are you ready to start your New Year with a Whole 30? I am. Lindsey and I have been jet setting across the country as well as some minor road tripping. I absolutely love traveling with my wife by my side, while creating beautiful memories and amazing experiences. For those confused, we are not officially married, but no piece of paper will define our status.
We flew out to New York City to help our friend Ryan propose to his girlfriend with a flash mob in Central Park. Best part is it was on my birthday and it was such an amazing gift to be a part of that special day. After NYC, we drove up to Boston to visit my family in some rough times. My mother was in the ICU, my grandmother in a rehab facility and my aunt in a nursing home. I definitely let my stress get to me and have made some horrible food choices. My body has paid the price and now it’s easy, I get to choose differently.
I am in control of my life, and I am doing a whole 30 to start the New Year.
Whole 30
Are you committing to a Whole30 with me? If you are, I am excited about changing my relationship with food this month and watching you change yours. If not, that’s okay, too. Every person is on a different journey, and a whole 30 might not be right for everyone. For everyone who participates as well as those who do not commit to a whole 30, I hope you enjoy this month’s meal plans and are introduced to recipes you have never tried before.
Hint: A whole 30 does not have to begin on January 1st. You can begin a whole 30 anytime of the month that works best for you.
Here are a few tips on how to meal plan and grocery shop effectively:
- Plan your weekly menu in advance. You can use the Civilized Caveman’s weekly meal plans in its entirety or pick and choose which recipes you want to prepare. This will save you time (and money!) at the grocery store as you are not wandering the grocery store aisles trying to figure out what to prepare for dinner that night.
- Take a shopping list to the grocery store with you. This will ensure that you buy everything you need and help eliminate impulse shopping. You can print the shopping list attached the weekly meal plans and check off what you need, make a shopping list on your smart phone or even hand write your shopping list on a scrap of paper – whatever works for you!
- Take pictures of your refrigerator/freezer and pantry and take it with you to the store. This will help eliminate the guess work while you are at the store as to whether or not you already have an item at home.
- Keep your refrigerator and pantry organized. I do not know how much food I have let go bad over the years because I have forgotten about it. Food that is hidden in the back of a refrigerator or pantry are typically forgotten about and never eaten. This is a waste of money and food, which are two things that should never be wasted.
- Stock-up on staple items (especially when they are on sale). Always have on hand whichever items you use the most. For me, I always have extra coconut milk, grass-fed butter, almond flour, bacon (of course!), and several other items so I do not run out them in the middle of preparing a meal.
Trust me, the time you spend meal planning and grocery store shopping will pay off with the extra time you save during the week! Use the extra time to spend with your family and friends, participate in an activity you love or to just relax. However you use this time, just make sure you use it to increase #hugsandbacon in your life and in the lives of others!
Monday
“Potatoes” O’Brien from Peace, Love and Low Carb
Creamy Avocado Salad Dressing from Family & Life In LV
Moroccan Beef with Apricots & Dates + Simple Cauliflower Mash from A Calculated Whisk
Tuesday
Paleo Twice Baked Breakfast Sweet Potatoes from Plaid & Paleo
Tuesday Night Chicken from Popular Paleo
Wednesday
Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Rice from The Clothes Make The Girl
Piña Colada Shrimp from Mangia Paleo
Thursday
Roasted Asparagus Avocado Soup from Cook Eat Paleo
Friday
Green Pineapple Smoothie from Our Paleo Life
Spaghetti Squash with Roasted Garlic, Mushroom and Bacon Cream Sauce from Planks, Love and Guacamole
Easy Christmas Desserts
Thank you so much for making it easy to print your recipes. I print them out and put them in a binder for easy reference.
Ah thanks for the feedback I am glad you use that feature
Started this tonight. I couldn’t get all ingredients at the local grocery so I started with the recipe that I had all for, the chicken-mushroom-bacon over spaghetti squash. It looked intimidating to make at first but turned out to be pretty ease. And it was VERY delicious! Thank you!
Ah you are so welcome. I am excited to hear you started and made it work :)
Thank you for this wonderful meal plan. I have always been scared off the Whole 30 thing because I was overwhelmed by deciding what I can eat. Thank you for making it easy. After a very long grocery shopping trip to two stores and ordering some items on Amazon, I am ready for my family to start Whole 30 January 5. Thanks again.
You are so welcome :)
Hi there! So happy I found your site. I am at the end of my rope with food and am so ready to just give up.
I am wondering why there are only 6 days of meal plans?
So people eat leftovers etc.
I’ve tried several times on several different operating systems and devices to sign up for these plans and have been unsuccessful. I’ve entered my email information several times and not received any emails. Can you please help me sign up to access these?
Yes Kelly, check your spam. They are getting delivered there for some reason. I am personally emailing you the meal plan now as well.
Why can I not see/download/find the actual shopping list for making this week’s meals? Help!
It get’s emailed to you once you enter your email address. Check your spam folder
I’ve clicked on the download icon above like 3 times and I’m not downloading anything. What am I doing wrong?
thanks
It gets emailed to you, you should check your spam folder.
I have tried several times and I am not able to access the files and no email has been sent?? I am trying to be patient :)
Thank you Shelby, check your Spam folder.
I’m interested in using these meal plans. I tried to download and entered my email address, but I haven’t received any emails with information. Can you tell me how to get added to the mailing list? Thank you!
Kelly if you put in your email, check your spam folder. I just got it delivered to my spam folder
Hi. What do you eat as sides to your dinners? Anything specific, or just whatever you have around? Thanks.
I normally just eat what I have around. Simple roasted vegetables, raw veggies, etc.
What a great resource!! The only thing I noticed is that the green pineapple smoothie is NOT whole30 compliant. “It Starts With Food” says no and the whole30 website says, “Smoothies (generally made using lots of fruit) are technically compliant on your Whole30, but we strongly recommend against it. Food that you drink sends different satiety signals to your brain than food that you chew. So when you drink your meal, your brain isn’t getting the feedback it needs to tell your body that it’s had enough of what it needs. Plus, smoothies are generally really fruit-heavy, and starting your day off with a liquid sugar-bomb sets you up for cravings, hunger, and volatile energy levels throughout the day. In summary, we’d rather you just eat the food, and skip the smoothie.” – See more at: http://whole30.com/2013/06/the-official-can-i-have-guide-to-the-whole30/#sthash.cNPQEvFu.dpuf
Thanks for the information, this is up for each individual to decide. I include them on my Whole 30 and they work great for me.
George,
The meal plans won’t download for me. Any issues on your site today, or is it me? It’s probably me :)
Check your email, once you enter your email they are sent to your inbox
I’m not getting it either. I’m wondering how long it takes to get sent to my email address?
Check your spam and I am emailing it now too
WOW! I feel stupid! Grateful for your tips- taking a picture of the fridge- so easy, yet I never thought of it…THANKS!
You are welcome
This is a great way to start the new year! I’d love to do the Whole30 with you after eating so much junk for the last month. My sweet tooth won’t know what it’s bit into.