My husband and I have completed a few rounds of the popular Whole30 diet. We even attempted a round when I was pregnant (full disclosure: I stopped a few days early because I couldn’t take it anymore). While I personally never noticed major changes in body weight, my husband shed several pounds each time we completed a Whole30 challenge. Our first go-around was rough. We ate a lot of eggs and potatoes. A lot. We also were newlyweds in the real world for the first time and had very little cooking experience. Our next few attempts went much more smoothly, although obviously challenging, because we found several recipes that we actually enjoyed and eventually added to our regular dinner rotation. Here are six Whole30 recipes you’ll love (even if you aren’t dieting).
We have made this chicken salad for friends and family, and it’s always a hit. Even if you don’t like dates (anyone else eat several per day at the tail end of your pregnancy in hopes of shortening labor?) I encourage you to keep them in the recipe! When we aren’t Whole30-ing, my husband and I enjoy adding croissants, but it is good as a standalone main dish when you aren’t eating bread.
This is another one that we’ve had family members test, and it’s a spicy favorite! It also reheats well the next day if you have leftovers.
While technically a chili recipe, we swap the meat and make more of a hearty stew. The prep is time-consuming (lots of vegetable chopping), but it is well worth the effort. Note: We peel the sweet potatoes and butternut squash before dicing for a more tender result. We replace the ground turkey with stewing meat to create a more filling stew.
This recipe is perfect for meal prep. Although we often eat it for dinner when we make it, I always think it tastes better the next day and prefer the chicken when it’s cold. The recipe calls for ranch, but Tessemae’s Organic Habanero Ranch is top-notch with this salad.
Affectionately called “sweet potato sloppies” in our home, this is our most made Whole30 dish and is another to which we’ve subjected friends and family members. Note: We replace the ground beef with ground turkey.
I had never attempted homemade wings before we committed to Whole30, and baking them was so much simpler than I imagined. Note: Before baking, we drop the wings in boiling water for 5 minutes. Then, pat dry and coat with seasoning and half of the sauce before baking. Most of the time, we use a Whole30-compliant wing sauce rather than making our own sauce (because who has time for that?).
I hope these six Whole30 recipes help you get a tasty jumpstart on your wellness goals in 2024! Even if you don’t feel like going all out on Whole30, I bet you’ll love trying these delicious, healthy meals!
