Participants and the Culinary Curious Will Enjoy These Seasonal Whole30 Recipes
You’re here because you want to be eating in a way that leaves you feeling energized and full of life, even through the holidays. Whole30 caught our attention because it’s a system that believes in the power of whole foods for your body’s well-being. And, the founders support farmers and animal welfare. So, while this isn’t an endorsement, we wanted to share some Whole30 recipe ideas to take us into the holiday season eating well.
This year, shop small and support your local fermenter! We have gift cards, award-winning ferments in single jars or 6-packs, and now, a custom bundle of your choice.
What is The Whole30?
According to The Whole30 website, the elimination diet was created in 2009, when co-founder Melissa Hartwig Urban wrote a blog following her 30-day dietary experiment, which she says “transformed her health, habits, and emotional relationship with food.”
The rules of whole30 recipes can be simply understood as sticking to the following points, though there is some fine print:
No added sugar of any kind, except pure fruit juice
No alcohol
No grains
No dairy, except ghee and clarified butter
Avoid most lentils, except green beans and most peas
No carrageenan, MSG, or sulfites
When you are following the program, you also avoid “recreating” baked treats with compatible ingredients, in an attempt to break negative cycles and habits. Also, participants are asked not to set foot on a scale for the 30 day elimination period.
Then you begin to re-introduce foods and find out what triggers your health or energy problems. The founders say this gives you the information to know what to keep enjoying and what to permanently remove from your diet.
We all know the holidays are a time to enjoy delicious, festive foods. So what are some Whole30 recipe ideas you can really bite into this season? We found a few that sound yummy!
Whole30 Recipe Ideas for Your Holiday Menu
Holiday Ham (via Whole Kitchen Sink)
If you want a holiday ham at the center of the table, this Whole30 recipe idea is also paleo approved. Find a local farmer that you can buy your ham from and support local agriculture while setting out a delicious holiday feast this year.
Harvest Chicken and Sweet Potato Salad (via Eat the Gains)
This colorful and festive recipe can be a side or a main course. We like it because it contains so many wholesome ingredients across food groups, and it only takes a few minutes to put together.
Picture the orange of diced sweet potatoes, the red zing of cranberries, the sweet crunch of pecans, and a warmly spiced, locally-raised chicken breast. This could be a contender for a holiday dinner or a party dish!
Crispy Brussels Sprouts (via The Sophisticated Caveman)
All this recipe requires for a delicious side-dish is an onion, Brussels sprouts, olive oil, salt, a skillet and a little time. It’s vegan, gluten and dairy-free and shows how simple it is to find recipes that meet the Whole30 standard.
We think these sprouts could also be part of a delightful meal served with sauerkraut and some locally raised sausage or a grass-fed beef burger.
And if you want to add a bit of complexity and flavor, we would put our spin on this recipe by tossing the sprouts with Hosta Hill’s Kimchi after cooking. Our ferments are made with just vegetables, salt and time.
And this variation from Recipe Runner adds pears, bacon and cranberries for a richer take. Doesn’t that sound delicious?
Ferments Fit the Bill
We are a family-owned, women-run business based in Western Massachusetts and committed to producing high-quality, naturally fermented Sauerkraut, Kimchi, and Hot Sauce.
When you’re thinking about how to explore nourishing whole foods this holiday season, consider our cultured vegetables. Packaged by hand and sold raw and unpasteurized, we take pride in our bold, vibrant healing foods.
Photo by Libby Penner on Unsplash