So our first week of the Whole30 program is in the books. Let me tell you… this thing is no joke! And I’m not gonna lie … there is a part of me that is completely worn out from all the cooking, cleaning, and planning, and there were days in there that I thought I might not make it through. But I did it. And my husband did it. We are relieved and proud.
I’ve heard that the first week is the hardest. So far I can say that is true since as of yesterday I am starting to feel much better and today, Day 9, is the best yet. If you are considering starting a Whole30, here are some things to expect during that dreaded first week and some tips to help you get through it:
- You will need to plan your meals at least several days at a time in advance. Yes, it’s a chore. But it’s a necessity. Just trust.
- You are going to cook. A lot. Hence, you are going to clean. A lot. Just accept it. This is your life right now.
- If you don’t cook, you are going to be hangry. Yes, that’s hungry and angry. I had one day in there that I slacked off a bit. I became hangry most the day. My husband also experienced this emotion one day when he failed to bring leftovers to work.
- Even if you plan well, cook often, and avoid becoming hangry, you still may not feel that great. In fact, my husband and I were kinda shocked at how terrible we felt. For the most part it was just lethargy but sometimes it was even headaches. I’ve heard some call it “detoxing.” I personally think it has to do with the body adjusting to using other sources of energy other than sugar (plus maybe some poorly timed meals in our case). Whatever it is though, it isn’t pleasant.
- If you are like me, you might make quite a few cooking mistakes. I’m going to blame it on the unfamiliar recipes and the sheer amount of cooking that was going on. (Definitely not the cook.) But I can vouch and say it does get easier and more edible!
That leads me to the title of this post, “Even Seasoned Moms Make Rookie Mistakes.” So you would have thought I never cooked a day in my life after the dinners I made the first part of last week. And I know, I know … I have a cooking website! (Give me a break… My nanny/professional chef/right hand woman had the flu!) My poor family was so gracious about it, but truly it was quite humorous (and embarrassing)! So humorous that I just had to share the five things I learned NOT to do this week:
- Do NOT store your fresh cilantro in a cup in the windowsill with no water unless you want crispy sun-dried cilantro … in which case I’d recommend just buying the “pre-dried” and chopped kind that you find in the spice aisle.
- Do NOT chop your ground meat up too fine with your wooden spoon and then cook it in chili at too high of a temperature all day long in a crock pot. Your children will ask you where the meat is and why they are eating sauce for dinner.
- Do NOT expect a marinade to make a tough cut of meat turn into a filet. It does not.
- Do NOT put sockeye salmon back into the oven for 5 more minutes to finish cooking the center. There’s nothing worse than a salmon fillet thats the texture of chopped tuna.
- And the finale: Do NOT… I repeat… do NOT… “mash” your potatoes in the Vitamix. There is a reason potato sauce is not a thing.
So clearly if this “seasoned” momma who’s out of cooking practice can make this Whole30 thing work, so can you! And our meal plans and recipes are here to help you along the way. (Truly, they’ve been a huge time saver for me this week.)
Share below you’re greatest “lessons” in the kitchen. I’d love to know I’m not the only one…
Happy eating!
