Whole 30 Meal Plan - Civilized Caveman Cooking

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.

Stop collecting things, start collecting experiences!!!

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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!