13 Scrumptious Whole30 Lunch Ideas (2023)

FAQs

What is the hardest thing about Whole30? ›

Added sugar. I think giving up added sugar (in all forms) is usually the hardest part of Whole30 for most people – and produces the most side effects in that first week – so I feel thankful that I haven't found this part difficult. I credit this to not having eaten that many foods with added sugar before I started.

On the Whole30 program, you will eat three meals a day, avoid snacking and stop eating a few hours before you go to sleep. Each meal on the Whole30 program should be based on: One to two palm-sized protein sources.

What Whole30 menu items to order at Chick-fil-A: It's probably best to skip Chick-fil-A altogether during your Whole30, Yawitz says. But, if you find yourself there, you could ask if they could make the grilled nuggets without the marinade on a Cobb Salad with no bacon, cheese, crispy red peppers, or corn.

Lunch should be about four to five hours after breakfast. For example, if you ate breakfast at 7 am, eat lunch between 11 am and noon. If it is not possible for you to eat lunch until 2 pm on a particular day, then plan a snack in between those two meals.

That said, plenty of people who try the Whole30 diet do end up losing some weight. “The benefit of Whole30 is that it encourages eating whole foods, which are foods in their most natural state,” says Sara Haas, RDN, a nutrition expert with formal training in the culinary arts.

The Whole30 diet is cutting dairy, alcohol, legumes, added sugars, and processed foods for 30 days. Potential risks include constipation and an inability to keep off weight lost while following it. The diet may also be expensive to follow, as it can involve buying a lot of meat and fresh produce.

The reason some women do not lost weight on Whole30 is because they are not in a calorie deficit so while they are eating healthier foods that are more nutrient-dense, they are still eating to maintain their weight.

Can you use Almond Milk on Whole30? Yes, you can! Dairy is ruled out for your Whole30, but you absolutely CAN use nut-based milks if the ingredients are compliant.

While the competitive crowd might agree, the doctor says Whole30 is probably not a good idea. “At the end of the day, nutritional advice should be individualized," he says. "It's a very restrictive diet, and it can cause some serious problems.

But after a 30-day wonder diet like Whole30, it's likely weight will return if you don't follow a few rules. Keeping the weight off is a matter of adding foods back into your diet with moderation and balance.

What is a good lunch to lose weight? ›

There are a number of foods that have been shown to help reduce belly fat, including eggs, artichokes, avocado, peanuts and chickpeas. Try to include at least one or a combination of these foods at lunchtime.

High-fiber foods not only provide volume but also take longer to digest, making you feel full longer on fewer calories. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains all contain fiber. Popcorn is a good example of a high-volume, low-calorie whole grain.

No, Costco's rotisserie chicken is not Whole30 approved.

What about bananas? Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30. Yet if they are a potential trigger food for you (for instance, the sweetness of bananas sets off a craving for other treats or makes you want to binge on the fruit), then you may consider including them on your “don't eat” list.

Hummus: No

Traditional hummus is made from garbanzo beans, which are a legume and not Whole30 compatible. However, there are some really yummy hummus-like dip recipes out there, using cauliflower, carrots, or even green peas as a base.

Lunch – eaten around mid-day, usually between 11 am and 3 pm. In some areas, the name for this meal depends on its content. Dinner – eaten in the evening.

If you start the day early, forget eating your lunch at 2 or 3pm - it is too late, as we are burning more calories and generally burning more energy between the hours of 8-6pm. Generally speaking you will feel hungry 3-4 hours after your first meal which means that most of us will benefit from an early lunch.

Many Whole30ers report headaches, fatigue, and general malaise during this part of the program. This, my friends, is completely normal. Your body is working its way through a whole host of junk it stored from the foods (or food-like-products) you used to eat.

What happens if I cheat on Whole30? ›

Which brings us back to the question at hand: If you eat something off-plan during your Whole30, do you really have to start over? It's clear right in the Whole30 program rules: No slips, no cheats, no special occasions. The program requires 30 straight days of 100% compliance, otherwise, it's back to Day 1 for you.

Whole30 Days 2-3 are called The Hangover for good reason. You will likely feel like you overindulged WAY too much last night. 🍻 You might have a pounding headache and feel *really* lethargic.

By eating non-processed whole foods and ditching grains, dairy, and sugar, you will reduce inflammation in your system, clear up your skin, and revitalize your energy stores. These are just a few of the benefits this program boasts. Sounds pretty great, right?

Some of the other benefits of Whole30 are that it may also help you: Control blood sugar levels, which may allow you to have more energy by preventing sugar spikes and crashes. Restore your metabolism. Boost your immune system.

Finally, don't just take our word for it—believe in the hundreds of medical professionals (including Dr. Matt Mechtenberg) who say the Whole30 is both safe and healthy, even beyond the initial 30-day period. So in summary, yes, you could do the Whole30 every day for the rest of your life.

Many Whole30 dieters see some type of shift in their bowel movements during the 30 days. “I poop all the damn time,” wrote one Whole30 blogger. “It feels like everything is all stuck inside my gut,” lamented another participant looking for advice on reclaiming their “snake-like solid easy stools” on a paleo diet forum.

Day 31 (optional): Reintroduce added sugar all by itself. Days 32–33: Back to Whole30 elimination. Day 34 (optional): Reintroduce legumes all by itself.

Setting a realistic time frame

Generally, most health experts recommend aiming for about 1–3 pounds (0.5–1.4 kg) of weight loss per week, or approximately 1% of your total body weight ( 33 , 34 ). Therefore, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to lose 30 pounds safely.

Whole30 bans beans based on the idea that they contain "anti-nutrients" like phytates, which are compounds found in plants that can potentially block the body's absorption of important minerals like magnesium, iron, and calcium.

Oatmeal, unfortunately, is a no-go when you're following the Whole30 program.

Can you eat popcorn on Whole30? ›

Can I eat popcorn on the Whole30? Unfortunately, no. Grains are not allowed during the Whole30 and popcorn is made from a grain (corn).

It can take several weeks before you learn to trust the “hungry” and “full” signals your body is sending you—and you may not have been eating enough in the beginning, because you were afraid of all that fat. Many Whole30'ers report that they didn't feel or see “the magic” until day 45, 60, or beyond.

Slower metabolism

If you're seeing weight gain in your 30s, this may well be why. As you get older, your metabolism starts slowing down - meaning you don't require as much energy to fuel yourself, despite still having a 25-year-old's appetite.

What Is Healthy Weight Loss Per Week? Health professionals recommend losing 1-2 pounds weekly (21). Therefore, the perfect answer to how long does it take to lose 30 pounds safely is a minimum of 15 weeks to about 30 weeks.

The creators of Whole30 suggest adding legumes back into your diet first, followed by gluten-free grains, dairy, and gluten-containing grains. Each day, add a few servings of foods from each group, then go back to Whole30 for two days.

If you aim to lose 40 lb in 4 months, you have to go for vigorous exercise and strength training. Doing high-intensity exercises like running and skipping and weight exercises like lifting and planks are your best bet.

"Eating salads on a daily basis as part of an overall healthy lifestyle may support gradual weight loss over time," says Karnatz. "This is because leafy greens are low in calories and high in volume and fiber, which will keep you satisfied for longer," she adds.

Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism, helping you burn calories throughout the day. It also gives you the energy you need to get things done and helps you focus at work or at school. Those are just a few reasons why it's the most important meal of the day.

Artichokes and Asparagus. Like onions and leeks, these green veggies are prebiotic foods that produce acetate, an acid that turns on the fat-burning activity in your cells by helping them recover from inflammation.

What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat? ›

You will want to purchase cheap foods that are filling! Oatmeal, rice, beans, bread, and other starches are filling and will keep you full until your next meal. Beans and rice are also super versatile foods, and you can take them and transform them into easy meals you will actually enjoy!

A 40/30/30 plan is one in which 40% of your daily calories come for carbohydrate sources, 30% of your daily calories come from protein sources, and, you guessed it, 30% of your daily calories come from fat sources.

Whole30 & Paleo Compliant Deli Meat:

Apple Gate Oven Roasted Turkey/Roast Beef. True Story Foods Chicken/Turkey. Plainville Farms Turkey. Diestel Turkey.

Do not use rotisserie chicken if you are following Whole30. Neither whole or packaged shredded rotisserie chicken is Whole30-compliant. Like, not at all, so don't go there!

Conclusion. To sum up, it could take 4-5 months on average for you to lose 40 pounds, provided that you follow a nutritious diet, regularly work out, keep your fluid intake high especially when you work out and have a balanced sleep cycle.

The 40-30-30 diet can work very well for some people trying to lose weight, especially if you're new to reducing carbs or working out. However, this is not the best macro ratio for every person or even for different days in your existing routine.

What is a 60 25 15 meal plan? ›

Most guidelines recommend a 60-25-15 eating plan, where the bulk of your calories comes from carbohydrates, 25 percent from proteins, and 15 percent from fats. However, each person is unique and has different needs; hence every runner may respond better to somewhat different proportions.

The best time to have your breakfast is within two hours of waking up. Having breakfast after waking up is good for your metabolism, say experts. If you are a gym-goer and prefer exercising in the morning, have something light like a banana or an avocado toast, at least half an hour before working out.

As a guideline, you should stop eating two to three hours before bed. This will give your body enough time to digest your food, lowering your chances of acid reflux and digestive issues keeping you up.

Most people are brought up thinking that dinner should be the biggest meal of the day, meaning they opt for a light breakfast and lunch. However, research has found that a smaller dinner and larger lunch could be the key to helping you shift those weight.

Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30.

Dairy. This means no cheese, cow milk, yogurt, cream, sour cream, kefir, and butter. The only exception to this rule is that you can have ghee.

Avocados are a staple of the Whole30 diet. They fill you up and satisfy with a rich, creamy flavor. Fill your fridge with them to combat cravings.