I’ve been doing the whole 30 since 2013 and love it. My body responds well to this type of eating (aka real food) so it is why I continue to do it and am currently doing another one starting today, January 11, 2016. My husband now does whole 30 with me and Baby Awesome eats a lot of same foods we do, too.
Over the years I’ve had many people find whole 30 posts on Fit & Awesome and ask me questions. I decided to put them all down here and make one big ultimate resource for everyone. Here you go. Enjoy! If you have a question, email, tweet, or leave me a comment and I’ll add it to the list!
Please note that I am not a doctor or health professional. I’m just an average person who has discovered healthy eating and loves sharing information with others. Please consult your doctor for any medical questions you may have.
Enjoy!
Lindsay
Top Whole 30 Questions
Are Larabars Whole 30 Approved? Which Larabars are Whole 30 compliant?
The creators of Whole 30, Melissa and Dallas Hartwig, say that Larabars should only be used in emergency situations while on Whole30. You can read more on this on the Whole 30 site here. I agree with this, but also know that life gets busy and you will have situations like this while on Whole30. The Larabars that are Whole30 compliant are all flavors except the ones with peanut butter (no legumes) and chocolate chips in them (for obvious reasons). Here are some of my favorite Larabar flavors that are Whole30 compliant:
What were your Whole 30 results?
I’ve done Whole30 several times. Each time I’ve had impressive results. I lose weight, my skin glows, I have tons of energy, and I feel great. The most dramatic results I had were after I did Whole30 in 2013 and dropped my cholesterol level significantly. You can read about it here.
What is Whole 30 Approved from Trader Joe’s?
Oh wow, loaded questions! There are lots of great Whole 30 approved products at Trader Joe’s. I recommend sticking to the produce, meats, and nuts and you should be able to find everything you need at Trader Joe’s while on Whole 30. If it’s in your budget, I would recommend buying organic produce and organic chicken and grass-fed beef when possible. I think I will make a list of all the Whole 30 compliant foods at Trader Joe’s and will post the link here when complete.
Is Beef Jerky Okay for Whole 30?
Not all beef jerky is whole 30 approved because some brands use teriyaki sauce, sugar, and other types of preservatives. But the good news is there are plenty of brands of beef jerky that are whole 30 approved such as Nick’s Sticks, Chomps Snack Sticks, and Epic Bars.
Is SunButter Whole 30 Approved?
Yes, the organic SunButter is Whole 30 approved because it has no added sugar.
Is Almond Butter Whole 30 Approved?
Unfortunately most almond butters are not whole 30 approved. The good news is that I’ve been able to find some that are! Whole Foods has a machine where you can make your own almond butter from real almonds. I make mine from the raw, unsalted almonds and it is GOOD. I’ve also been able to find one brand of Almond Butter that is Whole 30 compliant and that is Crazy Richard’s Almond Butter. It only has one ingredient – almonds!
Are Corn Tortillas Whole 30 Approved?
Sadly, corn tortillas are not whole 30 approved. Put your tortillas in the freezer and save them until you’re done with the whole 30.
Are there any Whole 30 Store Bought Dressings you recommend?
In my opinion the best store bought whole 30 compliant dressing you can buy is a nice bottle of olive oil. Drizzle your salad with some high quality olive oil and a squeeze of lemon and it tastes great! This one from La Tourangelle is pretty good for salads.
Is Braggs Liquid Aminos Whole 30 Approved?
No, Braggs Liquid Aminos are not Whole 30 approved because they have soy in them. If you are looking for an alternative to Braggs Liquid Aminos while on Whole 30 then I suggest trying Coconut Aminos.
Is corn whole 30 approved?
No, corn is a grain and not whole 30 approved.
Is Frank’s Hot Sauce Whole 30 approved?
There is one type of Frank’s Hot Sauce that is Whole 30 Approved. Here it is: Frank’s Original Red Hot Sauce. You’re welcome.
Do you have a Whole 30 Approved Taco Seasoning you recommend?
Good question. What I have done is looked at taco seasoning packets and then tried to make them whole 30 friendly. You can take a look at one of the taco seasoning recipes I have on Fit & Awesome here.
Which Coconut Milk is Whole 30 approved?
Look for unsweetened coconut milk from a can while you’re on whole 30. You can buy it at Whole Foods. If your local store doesn’t carry it, you can also buy cans of whole 30 compliant coconut milk online through Amazon. Here are some of the brands I like:
Can you use vinegar on Whole 30?
Yes, you can use apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, and red wine vinegar while you are on whole 30. You need to look at the ingredients and make sure there is no added sugar and you should be okay.
Is Sunflower Oil Whole 30 approved?
Yes, it is. You can read the Whole 30’s take on this here.
Is canola oil Whole 30 approved?
See answer above on sunflower oil. When you start learning about the foods you eat you will be shocked at what you learn about how restaurants prepare food. I learned that a lot of restaurants cook their vegetables in canola oil. Kind of crazy. Don’t make yourself nuts over it but avoid it when you can and are making your own meals at home.
Can you make smoothies on Whole 30?
The creators of Whole 30 say that the goal of the program is to get you to eat your food – to chew it and thoroughly appreciate it. While the ingredients in smoothies can be whole 30 compliant, the idea of drinking your food is something they don’t love. I understand this belief however because I am so busy and on the go, I have to be able to stop and grab a smoothie or make a quick one at home so I allow myself to have compliant smoothies while on whole 30. This is also my philosophy on juicing and whole 30. I allow myself to drink green juice while on whole30 because it’s a way for me to get a lot of nutrients. This is my favorite smoothie recipe that is technically whole 30 compliant: Paleo Green Smoothie Recipe.
Which brands of Natural Vitality Natural Calm are Whole 30 approved?
There are flavored varieties of Natural Calm but the one that is Whole 30 approved is the original version. If you are unfamiliar with Natural Calm, it is a magnesium supplement that helps you restore healthy magnesium levels in your body. I like drinking it before bed while I’m on Whole 30.
Have you experienced frequent urination on Whole 30?
Haha, we had to go there didn’t we? This may be TMI for some of you, but the answer is yes. In the first 10 days of whole 30 I often find myself getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom while on whole 30. I think it has to do with increasing your fruits and vegetable intake which naturally have more water. Plus you’re more aware of what you’re eating so you’re probably drinking more water. I’m no doctor so if you are having frequent urination while on whole 30 you should consult your doctor on it.
If you could only shop at the grocery store for 10 foods for whole 30, what would they be?
Oh gosh. This is hard, but I think the below 10 ingredients can make the most meals so I’ll go with them:
- Garlic (the perfect starters to cook most meals)
- Onion (another great starter for flavoring meals)
- Meats (grass-fed beef, organic chicken, lean ground turkey)
- Coconut Oil (my favorite cooking oil)
- Olive Oil (for salads)
- Spinach (can use for everything!)
- Eggs
- Sweet Potatoes
- Zucchini
- Apples
With all of the above I can think of at least 10 meals I could make so yeah, I’ll go with those.
Hope you enjoyed this list. I will keep adding to it over time!
What about you? What Whole 30 questions do you have? Post in the comments and I will update accordingly!
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Whole 30 is such a great plan, however, what I don’t like is people say: I am going to do THE WHOLE 30 this month…. But what about next month??!
So true! It takes more than 30 days to form a habit (at least for me). Usually by the end of 30 days I feel so good I don’t want to stop! I usually add a couple favorites back in my diet and then stick to this way of eating. It works for me.
I bought some Woodstock Almond butter that list almonds ONLY as ingredients, but then list 2 g of sugar in the per serving information. Similar with apple juice—only apples as ingredients, but 30g sugar in the per serving info.
I found Tahini that lists sesame seeds only as ingredient and in the per serving information, it lists sugar at 0 grams. Why list sugar at all in the list if there is no sugar in the ingredients.
Day 10 and wondering if these products should be left unopened?
Thank you.
Hey Martha,
Hmm, I think almonds do have some natural sugar so if the only ingredients listed are almonds then it should be okay. Tahini paste that only contains sesame seeds would be whole 30 compliant, too. Hope that helps!
Lindsay
thank you, Lindsay
You’re welcome!
Do you think the Vega protein powders could be used on Whole 30? I am allergic to eggs and apples and most nuts. It makes things very interesting…
Hi Karen – Unfortunately no protein powders are allowed on whole 30. Best of luck to you!
Bacon cured with wine, yes or no please?
Nope. No wine allowed.
So red wine vinegar is allowed even though it says wine? Is white wine vinegar allowed?
I am looking at different ideas about Whole 30. Some I see where they eat eggs and then some saying NO eggs.
What’s the difference between Whole 30 and Paleo?
Thank you for answering my questions.
Cindy
The frequent urination is also due to the fact that excess circulating glucose in your body is attached to water molecules. When you cut your carbs by not eating grains or added sugars, your body releases the excess glucose to burn as fuel and then you urinate out all the water it was attached to.
Thank you for your site! I am on Day 16 of the program and would like dessert with chocolate. Which chocolate chips are approved?
Sadly no chocolate is approved on whole 30 🙁
Can you buy organic tomato sauce and paste in a can, whole 30 approved?
I am starting my program tomorrow. I thought Coffeemate but I tried Coconut Milk this morning and although not good, I can live with it. But now, after reading most of the book I am realizing the gum is going to be the hardest. I chew Mentos Mint gum about 15 times a day. Is there any gum that is Whole30 approved?
Hi Barbara – I don’t know of any whole 30’approvrd gum. How is everything going?
Hi. Is olive oil allowed during the whole 30? Just don’t know what to cook my veggies with.
Yes, but try coconut oil!
Try Avcado oil. Yum. Also try keep calm and whole 30 on., on FB.
Why are white potatoes allowed as it is a carb with no nutritional value unlike a sweet potato ?
To my knowledge white potatoes are now allowed on Whole 30. Here’s a link with more info: https://whole30.com/2014/07/new-whole30/
White potatoes are allowed now, they changed the rules a few years ago. They do have nutrients and are good for you but since they are a starchy veg they are recommended for more active people or people w/ higher metabolism. I like to use them on days I need more energy, but definitely not recommended to eat mashed potatoes with every meal.
Oops, I commented because I thought you said they are ‘not’ allowed, but you said ‘now’ 🙂 sorry about that.
No worries at all. Thank you for joining the conversation! How did you find my site?
Are there any good recipes for dips I am finding I need to have a dip for some of my meats.
Any good solutions for boost of energy ahead of a workout on Whole30? On my previous diet, I found that if I ate a bagel about 30-45 mins before a workout, I had so much more energy, and I would unlock more energy during basketball or soccer games as the games wore on. Anything that can replicate that sort of energy pop that’s Whole30 compliant? Thanks!
What happens when a loved one makes non-compliant food specifically for you while you are on whole 30?
Hi Renee! That’s a tough one. I would talk with your loved one and let them know it’s not something you can have for 30 days and hopefully they will be supportive and understanding.