If you would’ve told me a few months ago that I would be finishing my first round of the Whole 30, I would laugh in your face. Me? I love food (and overindulging) wayyyyy too much for that. Yet, I survived! So now I am sharing the 5 things that I think everyone absolutely needs to survive the Whole 30.

1. Coconut Products (Coconut oil, aminos, milk, the works)

I did not believe the hype when the coconut craze started a couple of years ago. However, coconut literally became my answer for everything. It was not only used as a healthy fat, but I actually enjoyed coconut aminos more than regular soy sauce. If the emptiness of the containers are not a good enough indication of how vital they are during the Whole 30 month, then I don’t know what is!

  I got this brand of coconut aminos from Target for $7. However, I later discovered that Trader Joe’s carries coconut aminos at a much better price! 

2. Chicken Sausage

Chicken sausage quickly became an easy meal that I could make in a pinch. I had never had chicken sausage before the challenge, but I am now a fan. My favorite was the Aidell’s Chicken and Apple sausage, but I also enjoyed the Italian Sausage that Trader Joe’s carries as well. Just make sure to check the labels to see if they are Whole 30 compliant! Save it for when you need a quick meal or stock up on both for the month.

3. All the Veggies

Seriously. All of them. Fresh is great, but I also kept a bunch of frozen veggies on hand. Another great option for when you’re a little unprepared for the week and need something to eat ASAP. My favorite frozen veggies to stock up on were cauliflower rice and broccoli! A little salt, pepper, and garlic goes a long way for a delicious side dish.

4. A Handful of Easy Recipes

When I committed to completing the Whole 30 for the month of January, I immediately started pinning Whole 30 on my Pinterest food board. I narrowed my selection to about 3 that absolutely wanted to try and collected the ingredients (find a few of them here!). Turns out, I found some great recipes that I made multiple times and plan to make in the future. The plethora of resources out on the internet and judgement calls really makes the Whole 30 easier than when the program first started in 2009.

5. A Support System

A support system was probably the thing that I thought I needed the least, but meant the most. I was faced with a surprising amount of scrutiny about completing this challenge. However, it meant the most to me when my aunt (who has completed several rounds of the Whole 30) would text every few days to encourage me and check on my progress. Also, having friends that make sure that they meet your dietary needs or the one coworker who isn’t tired of your countdown or commentary. Find that person or group or community that is going to support you. Join a Facebook group (shoutout to Anne for inviting me to join hers!), share your journey with others, or confide in a friend about some challenges (and triumphs!) that you have. It honestly makes the month a whole (ha!) lot easier and helps keep you accountable.

Bonus Points: GT Brand Kombucha. There is a little back and forth about the types of kombuchas that are Whole 30 compliant (read this article for clarification), but GT is on the approved list! After about 2 weeks of only drinking water, I added half a bottle of kombucha back into the mix in efforts to maintain my sanity. It also made a great substitution for wine when I had a girls’ weekend with my besties!

Seriously guys, if I can make it through the Whole 30, you can too! Read my half-way Whole 30 experience (here) and stay tuned for my final thoughts in a complete Whole 30 wrap up post!

♥ Cierra