This post was originally published on February 14, 2023.
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This is my third year in a row of doing the Whole30 program for Lent. While you may roll your eyes because of its reputation as being a really hard program to follow and super easy to mess up, I find I really like the challenge of it. You might even say I thrive in the challenge!
One of the reasons I love this reset is that it has trained me to really dig into reading the labels on the foods I buy. I still have a tendency to get a little bit lazy about reading the ingredients labels when I’m off the program, but with doing this program several times now, getting more interested and educated about the ingredients in our foods and additional exposure from following accounts on Instagram that talk a lot about this topic, I’m much more diligent in every day life. Sometimes even to the chagrin of my Main Squeeze.
Before ever trying Whole30, I didn’t know to read the ingredients labels beyond the marketing distractions. Packaging says it’s “this”-free or “that”-free and I was like, ok, great, I’ll take it! I simply didn’t make myself aware of the hidden dangers that lurk in our processed foods.
If you don’t know what Whole30 is, you can find out more information here. It’s become a little bit easier to follow and still have diversity in your meals because more and more companies are creating staples with Whole30 compliant ingredients. Thrive Market is great, too, because you can filter products based on the Whole30 diet. But really, even if you choose to eat the same few things every day for the entirety of the 30 days, you’re not going to die because you can basically do ANYthing for 30 days. You might get a little bit bored, but that’s about it.
The way you’ll feel will make up for tastebud boredom. BELIEVE me! The whole purpose of Whole30 is to reset your body by eliminating foods that cause inflammation. I can start feeling the difference in my body within the first week. And by the end of the whole thing, I typically feel great because all those sneaky toxins I don’t notice are in the foods I eat are no longer in my body.
This time around, I’ve come up with three different treats to fill the gap between meals. Creativity is often born from scarcity and so I was super excited with how these experiments turned out!
Treat #1: Spicy Dry Roasted Cashews
Have you ever had raw cashews? Kinda tasteless and, well, gross, right? In the course of researching what Trader Joe’s has that’s also Whole30 compliant, I came across a condiment I hadn’t noticed before called “Chili Onion Crunch.” It’s pretty life changing!
I bought it without really knowing how to use it or what to use it with and so did a little bit more research. But I didn’t really like any of the ideas that popped up. So then I researched what to do with raw cashews and came across the dry roasting technique. “Wait a minute!” I said to myself. “What if I tried dry roasting the cashews with the chili onion crunch?!”
Here’s what I did:
I dumped the cashews in a non-stick pan on medium heat.
Then, I mixed in a couple generous teaspoons of the Chili Onion Crunch. It comes in olive oil, so that makes it easy to mix it all together.
Keep moving the cashews around the pan as they heat up. You’ll want to roast them until they start to get a little bit brown. You’ll also notice that they get a little bit soft but don’t worry because they’ll harden again as they cool.
Don’t forget to add plenty of salt of your choosing and to your taste.
Store in a repurposed glass jar and enjoy!
*Pro tip: google “Whole30” and your local grocery store to find the Whole30 compliant foods they sell. Example: whole30 trader joe’s
Treat #2: Prosciutto Wrapped Melon
These are ridiculously quick and easy and barely need an explanation! But here’s what I do: I literally just rip the prosciutto in half, wrap around the honeydew or cantaloupe chunk, place on a plate, sit down and savor!
Treat #3: Bacon Wrapped Dates
These were an inspiration! I had found Whole30 compliant bacon at Trader Joe’s, which is kind of amazing because it’s quite difficult to find compliant bacon due to the additives and preservatives typically found in bacon and other cured meats. For a list of compliant additives, check this out.
My mind was kind of noodling in the background about what I could do with the bacon. Sure I could do bacon and eggs, but I’m not much of a breakfast person. What could I do with it? I wondered.
Wait a minute! What if I wrapped the bacon aROUND those Medjool dates I had gotten for a sweet treat? Bacon makes pretty much anything even better, afterall! A quick search to figure out a good temperature and time frame and voila! A tasty treat that’s been requested again!
Here’s what I did:
Pre-heated the oven to 425°F.
I wrapped each six pieces of bacon around six dates and placed them on a sheet pan. You can use parchment paper if you’d like.
Placed them on the top rack for precisely 17 minutes. (It doesn’t have to be exact!)
Placed them on a plate, got some napkins, and served them to my friends. Who devoured them (hence, no photo).
Just mind the seed inside!
I hope you give these treats a try, even if you’re not doing Whole30. They’re delish regardless! Let me know if you do try them, though!
