For those of you who do not know, I have been participating in the health craze Whole30. Whole30 takes away dairy, legumes, sugar of any kind, alcohol, grains, baked goods, recreated junk foods, carrageenans, MSG, or sulfates.
Among many other rules and protocols, participants are supposed to spend 30 days eating foods that are benefitting your body while taking away all of the foods and chemicals that harm them. During the 30 days, your body is healing. When the 30 days is up, you will slowly reintroduce the foods groups paying close attention to how they affect your body.
I am about halfway done with my 30 days and I am feeling fabulous! My biggest obstacle is the money that is spent on all of the healthy foods. Another obstacle is eating out. Living in a small town where food options are limited, I am forced to cook all of my meals.
Doing Whole30 in college has been TOUGH, but it's manageable. If you're in college and looking for affordable ways to participate in Whole30, check out these 5 delicious, simple, and reasonably priced meals.
1. Green chicken with red cabbage slaw.
This is a super simple recipe, that can be done in under an hour!
Chicken:
1 package of the chicken of your choice
1 jar of Trader Joe's salsa verde
Red Cabbage Slaw:
1/3 a head of red cabbage
apple cider vinegar
Directions:
Put the chicken and the salsa into an instant pot or crockpot. Set the timer based on the appliance. Slice cabbage to preference and add about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and mix. Eat together!
My personal preference is to add a little lime and cilantro as garnish!
2. Curry with cauliflower rice.
This recipe can be made however you like it! I kind of made this one up based on another recipe I read a while ago.
Curry:
1 can of compliant coconut milk- I used Whole Food's brand
curry powder
turmeric
garlic powder
coriander
cumin
salt and pepper
paprika
cayenne
All to taste!
Cauliflower Rice:
sea salt
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a small pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil then let simmer for about 10 minutes. Cook riced cauliflower in a pan over medium heat without oil or ghee. Add a protein of choice and eat together. YUM!
3. Crispy kale with a sunny side up egg.
This one is my favorite quick breakfast!
Kale:
kale
salt and pepper
lemon
garlic powder
Egg:
egg
Trader Joe's Everything But The Bagel Seasoning
Directions:
Coat pan with avocado oil or ghee. Mix kale together in cast iron pan and let it sit for about 5 minutes until ends start to crisp. Crack the egg into cast iron and let cook for about 2 minutes. Add bagel seasoning to the top, let cook for another 2 minutes. Flip if preferred. Dig in!
4. Chicken sausage with peppers and onions.
Lunch or dinner on the go? This meal is yummy, cold or hot!
Sausage:
compliant sausage - I use Aidelle's Spicy Cilantro Chicken
Peppers and Onions:
sliced green, red, and yellow peppers
sliced yellow onion
salt and pepper
garlic powder
Directions:
Coat pan lightly with oil or ghee. Add in all ingredients and cook until peppers and onions are slightly soft. Add some compliant mustard for a salty finish!
5. Burgers with bacon, jalapenos, onions, and a lettuce bun.
I cannot wait to eat this one. I haven't made it yet, but I am craving a juicy burger with crispy veggies on top.
Burger:
Meat of choice- I'll use turkey
chopped red pepper
chopped onion
1/2 clove of garlic
salt and pepper
chopped cilantro or basil
sugar-free turkey bacon- topping
sliced jalapenos-topping
sliced onions-topping
avocado- topping
butter lettuce as a bun
Directions:
Start by adding all ingredients for burger into a bowl. Mix accordingly. Form into patties, add ghee or avocado oil to a pan, and place gently into the pan. I prefer using cast iron to ensure that the burgers get a little crisp and hold in their juice. Cook on both sides until fully cooked, then serve on a butter lettuce "bun". Fry turkey in a pan using grease from the burger. Add toppings of your choice to the top of the burger and eat your heart out.
This is a tough month. It is a little hard to manage time when you're forced to cook every meal. I have to think about what I am buying and I am fighting off my sugar cravings with meals like the ones I listed above. If you're trying out Whole30 as a college student, or just on a budget, let me know! It's always easier to go through a lifestyle change with someone else! Happy eating!
