WIAW : Life after Whole30

Hi everyone!  I'm joining the What I Ate Wednesday linkup fun today, and switching things up a bit. The last time I share what I ate in a day was during the Whole30.  Now that I'm a month out of the program, I thought it would be fun to see how #LifeAfterWhole30 compares!  I'll be sharing all of my meals for the day, along with a look at what I was eating during the program to show you what modifications I've incorporated into my every day life.  


Breakfast


Whole30: 
Roasted Sweet Potato
Sauteed Spinach
Fried Eggs
Coffee

Life after Whole30:
Roasted Sweet Potato and Acorn Squash
Sauteed Spinach
Fried Eggs and Sausage
Coffee

I was excited to start making heartier breakfasts with Whole30.  Before that, I would typically have a granola bar, muffin or pop-tart for breakfast.  Having something more substantial and filling really made a difference, so I'm definitely keeping that up post-Whole30.


Post Run


 Whole30: 
Coconut Water
Banana

Life after Whole30:
Cellucor Grape Alpha Aminos mixed with water
Banana

My favorite drink for recovery after a run is definitely my Alpha Amino drink.  This really helps me to recover quickly after runs and eliminates any soreness.  I usually only have this after a long run or tough speed workout, and on the other days I'm sticking to plain coconut water. 


Lunch


 Whole30:
Steak Salad
(Arugula, Marinated Steak, Cucumber, Tomato, Salsa Verde)

Life after Whole30:
Cobb Salad
(Romaine Lettuce, Tomatoes, Grilled Chicken, Bacon , Blue Cheese, Avocado, Balsamic Glaze)

 The main reason why I like having salads for lunch is because they're easy to prepare ahead of time and are easy to transport to work.  I also like the fact that you don't need to heat anything up (there's only two microwaves on my entire floor so there's always a wait at lunch).  Now that Whole30 is over, I'm still enjoying my salads but also occasionally add in some cheese or non compliant dressing.  


Dinner


 Whole30:
Citrus Fish
Beat and Avocado Salad
La Croix water


Life after Whole30:
Turkey Burger
(Jennie O Turkey Patty, Whole Wheat bun, Pickles, Tomato, Lettuce, Balsamic Glaze)
Sangria

 To be honest, I haven't been eating a lot of grains since the Whole30 ended.  I find the biggest difference when I cut these out of my diet (along with dairy), so I've been avoiding it as much as possible.  I had a big box of turkey patties that I wanted to finish up and was tired of eating it in salads or scrambled up, so I decided to have a turkey burger for dinner.  I like the fact that now I know what my body doesn't like as much, so I can eat what makes me feel good and make exceptions every once in a while.  Also, I'm happy to be drinking wine again!  That's probably the only thing that I missed during the Whole30!


Overall, I'm still sticking mostly to a Whole30 diet.  I've figured out what works for my body and what doesn't, so I've adapted my eating to accommodate that.  Right now, I'm trying to clear out our pantry and freezer (since we're moving soon!), so I'm not eating exactly the way I would like to.  As soon as we're settled in, I'm going to work on eating cleaner and eliminating those food groups that irritate me (dairy and grains).  The wine is here to stay though!  



Anyone who's done the Whole30- what was eating like after you completed the 30 days?
What good foods have you been eating lately?
What do you like taking for lunch?

Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 9, 2016 at 2:14 AM

    when I had to bring my lunch to work, salads were the best! I made a ton of roasted veggies to use for the week and reserved them for lunch salads. then I picked a protein. so easy and always good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susie @ SuzlyfeMarch 9, 2016 at 3:32 AM

    I'd love to bringing my lunch to work, but I'm still at that routine status yet (as you will see today). But we are getting there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunMarch 9, 2016 at 9:37 AM

      Sounds like it's going to be rough for a bit at work but I hope they get a fridge soon!!

      Delete
  3. EmilyMarch 9, 2016 at 6:09 AM

    Your eats still look really heathy and delicious!!! :))) That salad in a jar looks yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kristen @ See You In A PorridgeMarch 9, 2016 at 7:09 AM

    this is so interesting, i love the comparisons. i really need to start eating salads for lunch.. or just healthier in general really, teach me your healthy ways :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownMarch 9, 2016 at 7:18 AM

    I need to do a WIAW one of these days, just to force me to eat healthier! Ha! I love all your foods. You're inspiring me to eat veggies today.

    ReplyDelete
  6. TaylorMarch 9, 2016 at 8:01 AM

    Yum! I love salads for easy work lunches too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. HollieMarch 9, 2016 at 8:22 AM

    I enjoy reading your Whole30 posts because your food is always manageable. Sometimes I see people's food choices and think...gosh I could never make that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunMarch 9, 2016 at 9:39 AM

      I'm so happy you think that Hollie! That's always my goal is to make everything I do and eat some approachable and doable!

      Delete
  8. athletic avocadoMarch 9, 2016 at 9:29 AM

    Your diet looks pretty much the same! It's great to hear that you have kept your breakfasts substantial too compared to pre-whole 30. I love big and hearty breakfasts because they keep me full and energized throughout the day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunMarch 9, 2016 at 9:39 AM

      It helps me SO much! I can't believe what I used to eat before..horrible!

      Delete
  9. LindseyMarch 9, 2016 at 9:31 AM

    I haven't ever done Whole30 but have a few friends who have tried it! I love your meals! I tried carb cycling for a while...not really sure why I quit... But my meals were always hearty and stuck with me for a while! Great eats!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousMarch 9, 2016 at 9:38 AM

    I just ordered some Cellucor Alpha Aminos!! They should be waiting on me when I get home. I have heard very good things about them! Glad to hear another positive!
    I eat very similar to the whole 30 diet. I love it! I feel so much better! Last week I did have some white bread due to not being at home and felt bloated for hours. It's amazing how a diet can effect our bodies so much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunMarch 9, 2016 at 4:39 PM

      I hope you like the Alpha Aminos! Seriously a game changer for me.

      Delete
  11. Laura NorrisMarch 9, 2016 at 9:44 AM

    Salads or grain bowls were my favorite lunches when I worked in an office! I definitely get you on the dairy thing. I'm minorly lactose sensitive - milk and cream are too much, cheese can be iffy (but so worth it) but I can do yogurt no problem - and it really helps to know what can cause upset. Glad you found what works for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunMarch 9, 2016 at 4:40 PM

      I agree that cheese is worth it (some times!!) I'm just glad that now I know what to avoid and what I can eat that might make me feel not so good later on.

      Delete
  12. UnknownMarch 9, 2016 at 9:56 AM

    That is the most gorgeous Cobb Salad I've ever seen <3

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fairytales and FitnessMarch 9, 2016 at 10:55 AM

    I wish I could acquire a taste for coconut water but I just can't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunMarch 9, 2016 at 4:41 PM

      I only like it after running! It's more refreshing than pretty much anything in my opinion!

      Delete
  14. Kristy Sayer-Jones @ Southern In LawMarch 9, 2016 at 11:43 AM

    All of your eats look so delicious!

    Lately I've been loving hot lunches - either egg bakes or leftover soup! I don't know why as it's currently ridiculously hot here, but it's just so filling and delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunMarch 9, 2016 at 4:41 PM

      Thank you Kristy! I definitely go through hot food phases as well..whether or not it's cold out!

      Delete
  15. Amanda @ Exploring Life & ThingsMarch 9, 2016 at 2:08 PM

    That cobb salad looks so good! For lunches I usually have leftovers from dinner the night before; so things like veggies, chicken/shrimp, or taco bowls!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunMarch 9, 2016 at 4:42 PM

      Leftovers are definitely a good and easy choice!

      Delete
  16. Sarah @ BucketlisttummyMarch 9, 2016 at 3:59 PM

    Your meals definitely aren't all that different! I'm loving the mason jar salad!

    ReplyDelete
  17. NadineMarch 13, 2016 at 6:09 AM

    Your cobb salad is a work of art! Haha! I have been trying to remain mostly paleo with two cheat meals a week. I have introduced brown rice back in to some of my meals and I find that if I have dairy or grains for more than one or two servings in a week, I start to feel bad and my face breaks out. Sigh. The struggle is real!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Courtney BentleyMarch 24, 2016 at 12:31 PM

    What a great post! So awesome to see how you are eating post Whole30! I know doing challenges like that make me think twice before eating foods like peanuts, dairy and gluten which upset my stomach and inflame me. I am a huge salad fan just because of the ease of throwing it all together, I also eat a lot of my food cold, I know gross but my balance of ayurveda allows me to eat cold foods after 10 and before 4 pm! Crazy cool and it has worked for me! Sending love and lots of good wine for your move, I had to drink to get over mine but after awhile I was able to settle in and now just stick to a glass or two haha xo C

    ReplyDelete

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