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UPDATED 1/26/18: Google Doc meal planner template now includes reintroduction schedule!
Happy Day 1, Whole30 party people! All month, I will be posting Whole30 recipes here on Maria Makes, WOO HOO! I am super excited for this round. It is SO needed in my life right now. Here's what my meal plan for Week 1 of my January Whole30 looks like:
Since I finally went to the grocery store yesterday and firmed up my meal plan, I thought it would be a perfect time to share one of my beloved Google Sheets with you! I basically have a Google Sheet for everything... projects at work, bachelorette party planning, gift ideas... the list goes on. I created this one as a way to plan meals, snacks, and workouts during my very first round. Check out the instructions below to access the Google Sheet and use it during your own Whole30! Once you make a copy of it, you can customize it to your heart's content!
It's so helpful to use as both a planning tool and an accountability tool. I usually update it on Sunday once I've meal-prepped and have an idea of what I'll be eating all week. I also use it as a way to plan ahead for special events, etc. that may require a little extra self control and planning. I include whatever snacks I have prepped for the week (so I always have a grab and go option just in case), and I fill in a rough workout plan, updating it as needed throughout the week.
I mostly use it as a tool to plan out weekdays -- because with so much more flexibility on the weekends, I'm free to recipe test, play around, etc. (or just open a can of Tuna from the pantry).
ALSO... make sure you check out my post from last December, 8 Tips for a Killer Whole30 for some more Whole30 survival strategies.
And if you need some recipe inspiration, I've got you covered!
You’ll notice I didn’t call this a bolognese, and I didn’t call it a ragu. That’s because it’s just a no frills, weeknight friendly, good ol’ meat sauce like the kind I grew up eating. Ground beef, garlic, onions, canned tomatoes. It doesn’t get much simpler!
Okay so maybe 4 of the last 16 recipes I posted have been buffalo-flavored-something. If you are what you eat, then I guess maybe I’m 25% buffalo. This buffalo ground turkey meat is so easy to make, with only 5 ingredients + whatever toppings you want for your fries!
This buffalo chicken "pasta" bake is super easy to throw together! The hardest part is spiralizing the sweet potatoes (which takes some muscles!), but after that, you basically throw everything (raw) into a casserole dish, bake it, stir it, bake it some more, and dive face first into buffalo-chicken-goodness.
I've pulled together 30 Whole30 recipes to kick off your September Whole30 with a bang! I won't be joining in, but trust me — you don’t have to be on a Whole30 to enjoy these wholesome eats!
This air fryer buffalo cauliflower is SO addictive! If you love buffalo-anything, like me, you will be allll over this super simple recipe. Make it your own by using your favorite hot sauce and ranch dressing!
FINALLY posting a recipe for this perfect, every-day, good on EVERYTHING, super flexible and delicious VINAIGRETTE! I have been making this for the last year and now I'm finally getting around to sharing the love.
I can not get enough of buffalo chicken flavored things. Make this Buffalo Chicken Salad for meal prep and you'll be set for lunches for the entire week!
These green beans roast up beeeeaaauuutifully and make the perfect side to any meal! They are super simple and can be made with only 5 ingredients.
The best of both worlds! Creamy mashed potatoes on the inside, crispy potato skin on the outside! These potatoes are super garlicky with an extra veggie boost from the spinach!
This instant pot pork loin is fall-apart tender, juicy, and flavorful! The sweet mustard sauce makes this a fun twist on pulled pork that I think you will love.
I used to be firmly in the "I HATE MUSHROOMS" camp. And next thing you know, I'm over here stuffing them with sausage, making them two weeks in a row, and calling them one of the best things I've ever made!
It's hard to find something that will warm you to the bone better than a big, hearty bowl of chili! It's been so cold and snowy here in central PA, so this chili was just what the doctor ordered when I made it for lunches last week!
Want to know the magic equation for the perfect salad? Greens. Something crunchy. Something creamy. Something sweet. Bonus points for ingredients that hit two categories!
You know what I love? Recipes that are easy to make, are packed with veggies, make enough for leftovers, and can be cut into neat little squares. This Pesto Chicken Casserole checks ALLLL the boxes!
I don't remember a single new year's day growing up when I didn't wake up to the smell of pork and sauerkraut cooking away! Tradition says it's good luck to this dish for New Year's, so plug in your Instant Pot and get to cookin!
I'm gonna show you how the sausage is made. Spicy, flavorful, perfectly seasoned Italian Sausage for all of your recipe needs! Shout out to red wine vinegar, nutmeg, and cloves for unique little flavor twists!
I don't claim that this is the best Salsa Chicken out there, but it's MY favorite one, and I hope you love it too! Don't worry -- if you don't have an instant pot, you can make this in your slow cooker or even in the oven!
Heading into the weekend, I was thinking it might be helpful to round up some of my favorite Whole30 Maria Makes recipes so you can hit your last week of meal prep STRONG and maybe throw some new dishes into the mix!
Have you guys heard of sweet potato toast, orrrrr have you been living under a rock? The credit for this method goes to Kelsey at Little Bits Of . Introducing... Fruit Pizza Sweet Potato Toast! But instead of a sugar cookie crust and cream cheese frosting, I used sweet potato toast and almond butter!
These roasty toasty sweet potato wedges are baked super simply - just with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The real star of the show is the red curry aioli, made with homemade mayo and your favorite red curry paste
We eat zoodles all the time, and usually with red sauce. But lately, I've been craving something rich and creamy and different . So I decided to make this Creamy Roasted Poblano Sauce. It has a deep, warm, spicy flavor from the roasted poblanos, and is super creamy thanks to... you guessed it, cashews!
This isn't a groundbreaking new recipe; it's just an easy lunch idea. Sheet pan meals are all over Pinterest and food blogs! Here's one I made recently :) You can use chicken with whatever veggies and seasonings your heart desires. Make it your own!
These spuds have a deep, sweet and caramelized flavor which is complemented perfectlyyyyy by the cinnamon, and then there's a spicy twist with some heat from the cayenne pepper! The smells you guys... the smells... Every time I make these, my house smells amazing, kind of like pumpkin pie!?
There's something about a good tangy/sweet combo that gets me every time. This dressing has a lot of that going on, but instead of being thin and runny like a vinaigrette, it's super thick and creamy thanks to a handful of cashews thrown in! It's sweetened with dates, so it will satisfy your cravings for a classic honey mustard even if you are doing a Whole30!
This soup is thick and hearty like a chili, and has all of the good parts of a stuffed pepper, but in a bowl! To make it paleo and Whole30, I subbed in cauliflower rice (instead of white rice or brown rice which is in the original recipe). I also cut out the junk-filled canned tomato soup and replaced it with straight up tomato sauce.
This Fiesta Chicken Egg bake is kind of like chicken tacos inside of an omelette, but you can cut it into neat little squares and eat it on your way to work!
These sliders are a little spicy, a little sweet, and I made 'em exxxtraaaa sloppy for ya! The sweet potatoes pair perfectly with the spicy sauce, and the cilantro provides a fresh pop of flavor.
Fire-roasted canned tomatoes keep this soup easy peasy, and I built layers of flavor with a mirepoix (carrots, onions, celery), lots of garlic, roasted red peppers, homemade bone broth, and thyme!
HOW TO USE THE MARIA MAKES WHOLE30 PLANNER:
- Visit <<THIS LINK>>
- Click "Make a copy"
- Your copy of the Google Sheet will now be saved to your own personal Google Drive. You can access it from there any time!
- Throw your name at the top, start filling in your meals for the week (or entire month), and you are ready to go!
PIN THIS BAD BOY FOR LATERRRR!
These carnitas are a multi-purpose protein to the max. That means you can reuse them in TONS of different ways. And it’s the perfect recipe to test-drive your brand new Instant Pot!