Protein
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It is really easy to get protein into your body from a lot of different kinds of meats and eggs. As I started this diet though I never really thought of how much sugar does into processed meats! I love getting deli meats for sandwiches and just to eat with lettuce wraps but with this, I can't. I went to Trader Joe's and found so many amazing meats including lemon pepper chicken, breakfast chicken sausages, shredded chicken with spices, chili lime chicken burgers, and more!
Veggies
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I've never really been a big fan of vegetables and would rather have fruit any day. But on this journey, I told myself that I would try to be more adventurous to try more. I try to secretly but greens in my eggs in the morning, have a salad with different kinds of lettuce, and to eat bell peppers with a whole 30 compliant dip. Incorporating veggies into your everyday lifestyle doesn't make it as hard because you are just substituting chips for bell peppers in a snack and so on.
Fruits
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I love fruits! I think that this is the only thing that is getting me through this experience of trying the whole 30 and of course me trying to be a healthier person. You're supposed to eat fruits in moderation because they do have sugar in them, even though it is natural. But, fruit is better than ice cream so if you are craving something sweet always dive for those strawberries as I do.
Sugar
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I am only on my fourth day of the Whole 30 but to be completely honest I haven't craved sugar one bit! At least not yet. I think that sugar is a mental thing. I have a MAJOR sweet tooth but if I want to be a healthier and happier person, putting an excessive amount of sugar in my body is not going to help me in the long run. Yesterday at work I was looking on the back of a Redbull can and was appalled by how much unnatural sugar there was in it... 37 f'ing grams! I CAN'T EVEN HAVE ONE GRAM!
Grains
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I also love my grains, in particular, rice and bread. I work at a Mexican restaurant so it is REALLY hard for me not to want rice in my food; I am always so jealous while looking at other peoples food. I also can't have bread meaning loaves, french bread or even a dang tortilla! I did, however, find an alternative to rice, which is in a vegetable form... CAULIFLOWER RICE! It does have the veggie aftertaste but as you were eating it you would have never guessed it to cauliflower! They sell a lot of different items now with cauliflower just look for some at your local grocery store!
Legumes
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Another thing that I am suppose to take out of my diet are legumes. For those of you who don't know, these include any type of bean, seed, or pod. So, I am not allowed to have any kind of bean, peanuts, or soybeans. WHICH IS REALLY FREAKING HARD. I am still allowed to have any other nuts, other than peanuts, so it doesn't make it too bad. But, I do love my peanut butter.
Dairy
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I am obsessed with cheese. Doesn't matter if it is shredded cheese, sour cream, or liquid queso. I will eat it, other than bleu cheese. Because I work at a Mexican restaurant I also have to endure looking at peoples food and serving them their toppings of which I am envious of. This means that I can have a quesadilla or pizza, which are two of my favorite foods... poor me but I will survive.
Alcohol
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I thought that this would be the easiest one to take out of my diet because I don't drink everyday anyways but, as a college student, it is harder than it looks. I am a social drinker and it is not fun to see your friends drunk while you're on a lower level while drinking water! I know that this will save me money in the long run but can't I just have a vodka soda water, please?!
All in all, this diet is really showing me how you can persevere and understand that you don't need extra additives in your food to make them taste better. Salt, pepper and extra spices are the keys as well as all of the flavor whole foods have to offer you! If you end up trying this it is a good experience so far; 4 days down 26 days to go!
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