Weekly Challenge: Whole7

I can't believe that it's already Saturday and February is almost over! How did it go sharing wellness this week? I'd love to hear about it or better yet, see some pictures!

I had a great time sharing recipes & meals, going on lots of walks in new places, and taking my son swimming this week. It feels so good to share, especially sharing with those you care about most and when it's something that improves the quality of life!

I know it may surprise you.. but I've got another great challenge to issue for the upcoming week that I hope you'll join me for! ;0)

This week, I'd like to challenge you to follow the Whole30 guidelines for a week. So in this case, we'll call it a "Whole7." If that doesn't sound familiar, check out my post from yesterday. Initially it may seem like a lot, but it really can be quite simple, so let's break it down...

• Commit to the Whole30 food guidelines for one day. You could do this by having an omelette, egg muffins, dinner leftovers, or a green smoothie for breakfast. When it gets to lunch time, make or pack a heaping salad with all the vegetables you love, a piece of meat, and top it off with some olive oil & balsamic vinegar. If you have time, throw together a quick stir fry. I like this option because I'm a girl who is often in the mood for something warm to eat. Dinner is easy if you throw another piece of meat on the grill or into the oven. Serve it with some veggies (steamed, roasted, etc.) or try a new recipe like my Shepherd's Pie (sorry, the black-bottom pie will have to wait until after your Whole7 or 30). If you need a snack, have a boiled egg, any piece of fruit (my favorite is a pink lady apple with almond butter!), a smoothie, a small handful of nuts, or raw vegetables. That's a doable meal plan for at least one day, right?
• See how the first day goes and then do it another day. 
• Pay attention to how you feel after removing the most commonly known inflammatory foods. Enjoy your clothes starting to fit better, headaches leaving, bloating & stomach pain no longer around, and before you know it, the week will be over! 

What I'm really hoping, is that you'll love how great you feel after next week that you commit to the rest of the 30 days with me :D I am on Day 1 of my Whole30 and will be posting updates periodically about it over the next 30 days. And don't worry, I've got some delicious Whole30 compliant recipes coming up next week! You'll find that many of the recipes I've posted are in line with the Whole30 challenge, with the exception of the "desserts" or any recipes that have cheese or a sweetener added to them like honey. There may also be a recipe here or there that you'd need to substitute Ghee or coconut oil in place of butter but most of them should make good options for you during this challenge if you need some ideas!

Alright... let's do this! What food will you miss the most while following the Whole30 criteria this week?