Whole30 a.k.a Whole lotta money.
Let’s be real, everyone starts something new on the first day or week or even month of new year though many claim “same bullshit, different year”. I, myself, decided to take a tour on a diet that restricts from all types of grains, alcohol, sugar, legumes, soy and dairy then emphasizes whole foods. What I liked about this diet was that it doesn’t necessarily focus on losing weight, in fact its main goal is never to lose weight rather it’s to detox your body from toxic products we put into ourselves. Since I wasn’t ready to torture myself alone I convinced my roommates to do it with me. As it was the beginning of the month we were so determined to do it and challenge ourselves.
First 2 weeks:
In the beginning, everything you try feels easier because you have the motivation and the energy to deal with some bullshits. The first time we did grocery shopping for 3, which lasted barely a week, costed $40 to $50 and that is way expensive for college students who live on a budget but we had a hopes and dreams. I’m a kind of a person who almost lives to eat good food and by good food I’m talking about from McDonald’s $1 burger to $30,$40 steak (again I’m a college student, that’s like half of my monthly budget) and as a foodie it was really interesting to try new recipes to feed my hunger and tastebud every single day. I’d like to thank the “Defined Dish” for the recipes for really good dishes and buzzfeed tasty and some other but mainly defined dish. Her recipes were easy to replicate and wouldn’t ask you to use $50 extra virgin oil on every fucking thing or $100 truffles to make your food “high class tasty”. Anyways, during these first 2 weeks I had lot of fun trying out recipes and finding new ways to substitute grains with vegetables.
Next couple weeks:
So one of my roommates went to Poland to visit her relatives so her diet was “doomed” she was already “I know I’m gonna eat like a pig so fuck this diet” And then there were two. Although we had fun, we also had nightmares. We just wanted snacks so bad would almost eat one hiding from one another. As the weeks go by I’ve realized how much I ate on daily basis not because I’m hungry but simply because I’m B-O-R-E-D. We couldn’t just do something without while snacking such as watching a movie (since our holiday started it was movie marathon in our household) surfing on the internet it was out of hand. In a way, this diet made me look over how much unnecessary eating I was doing and gaining the weight that I couldn’t figure out how. Also my (or our) alcohol consumption was becoming madness during last semester, there almost wouldn’t be a week without us sipping on few glasses wine or couple of beers but we don’t have alcohol problem I assure you maybe we were bored of always stuffing our mouth with unnecessary snacks and we needed some liquid other than water, anyways, since the diet strictly forbids alcohol I’ve come to the realization of how much I used to drink. After only a week into the diet I found myself wanting to open a bottle and sit back then relax but I really pushed myself hard not to. But at the edge of the 3rd week, we slipped.
Even after that we did continue our diet but it wasn’t just the same.
Overall, I’m not a fan of a diet especially the type of ones that make you lose 10kgs in a week magically and I even more hate when people starve themselves for days to lose weight so this diet felt so much different than that and it actually makes you really careful what to put into your body.
HOWEVER, now here’s the real tea: IT COSTS SO FUCKING MUCH.
For 3–4 weeks, in total I’ve spent about $100–$200 only on groceries on my end. I was a student on a budget now I’m a student who is too broke to even breathe. Which made me think, whenever we try to eat healthier and live healthier it costs us a fortune and make us go for cheaper things and I’m not saying anything to question this but to find the perfect balance to increase healthy food section to your life style but also not spend a month’s rent is the only thing we should exercise on. For example, with a cost of 2 cheese burgers you might only buy 1 salad but what ingredients and what kind of vitamins, nutrition you’d get from it should concern you not the quantity (also not saying you should buy salad all the time instead of burgers, it’s about BALANCE).
So to finish off my excruciating experience I’m going to attach few recipes that I found healthy and delicious. (I’m not a food blogger nor will become one so the amounts are always for your desire)
Squash spaghetti and meatballs:
One whole squash cut in half, clean the seeds inside and brush it with olive oil (or any type of oil) season with salt and pepper to taste then put it in the oven for 40–45 mins in 200degrees C (Tip: always preheat your oven before hand). While that’s popping in the oven, mix ground meat (your choice) with eggs and breadcrumbs season it well with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder in a bowl then shape it into meatball sizes (I like tennis ball or golf ball size) and put it in the oven for 20–25mins in 180–200 degrees C. Now for the sauce, I use packaged tomato paste and sauce (with nothing but tomato in it) then add salt pepper garlic powder and oregano to taste and simmer it in 15–20 minutes in medium heat. After the squash is finished cooking, use 2 forks to pull the squash from the edges then put it in the sauce then add the meatballs maybe sprinkle cheese on top and voila!
My 2nd favorite was Zucchini Pesto Pasta:
Use the vegetable peeler to peel the zucchini from top to bottom and put all those strips into tablecloth over a bowl or napkin? (I’m not sure) seasoned with salt and leave it for 20 mins then drain the excess water. Now cut cherry tomatoes in half and that’s almost it but of course you should add anything you want, however I advise you to add chicken and that’s about it. I use already made pesto creams that’s in stores but if you want to make your own: combine basil, garlic, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese in a food processor add salt and pepper and mix it well. I only used zucchini during my diet but I also find it delicious to mix the zucchini with pasta to make it not completely non carb but of course low-carb pasta. So heat your frying pan drizzle it with olive oil then add your chopped chicken fry it until golden brown on a medium heat then add the zucchini and al dante cooked pasta on a frying then the tomatoes and lastly put the pesto in and stir it well also you can sprinkle cheese on it.
Bon Appétit!
