Mary Gwen has decided that she is going to take the Slow Roll approach to reintroduction, while I am looking to do a Fast Track. Slow Roll basically means that you are going to remain Whole30 and then when you decided that you want something non-Whole30 you try it and see how your body reacts. Fast Track, is a more systematic approach by reintroducing one aspect that is absent from the Whole30 a day and then returning to Whole30 for two days to reflect on how your body reacts. At the end of reintroducing you then reflect and decided what is worth it and what is not. I am glad that we are both taking different options so we can share how reintroduction can vary. Here is my current reintroduction plan:

Day 1: Grains

Breakfast: Add muffin to my breakfast of eggs, sausage, and greens.

Lunch: two slices of whole wheat toast with tuna fish and cucumbers

Dinner: Dinner roll with a our Whole30 meal that was made possible by the excellent staff of the Greater Greer Chamber and Embassy Suites on Verde as we attended the 80th Annual Celebration of the Greater Greer Chamber.

Day 4: Dairy

Breakfast: Cheese with my eggs and my normal sausage and greens.

Lunch: Sour cream, butter and cheese on a potato with a protein.

Dinner: Ice cream after Dinner

Day 7: Added Sugar

Breakfast: Sugar with my morning tea and my breakfast of eggs, sausage, and greens.

Lunch: Cookie after normal lunch

Dinner: Brownie after normal dinner.

Process:

My plan is to share any side affects, physical or emotional at the end of the each reintroduction and reflection period. Check back Saturday to discover how my body reacts to Grains. I also want to give a big thank you to Embassy Suites on Verde for not only accommodating our dietary needs at the event, but by going above and beyond to make our evening special and help us feel included in the festivities. When it was time for dessert, we both politely declined knowing that nothing they had planned to serve would be compliant, but shortly after that a server brought us both a beautiful plate of fresh fruit to the envy of most of our table. If that isn’t excellent service I don’t know what is. 

It funny to think that this is our second Valentine’s Day on the Whole30, completely by accident. When we started this Whole30 neither of us did the math to know when it would end. But as luck would have it, its ending on Valentines Day. Now last year, I admit I was a bit saddened that I couldn’t take Mary Gwen to a nice restaurant for our first Valentines. However, the surprise and huge smile when she walked in to a candle light dinner of Seared Scallops, Roasted Potatoes, and Blanched Asparagus made up for it. This year I was informed that I was to not spend money on her or cook scallops. Too bad, I already had something in mind for her. Hopefully she won’t be too upset. I am changing it up by cooking Garlic Roasted Steak with a Sweet Potato and Kale Hash. I am writing this before dinner, so we will see how she likes it below.

Day 30:

What went well?

MG– I felt really good all day, except for being hungry. The meal that G prepared was amazing and the garlic made the dish even better!

G– I enjoyed cooking another romantic dinner on the Whole30 and being able to surprise MG with something new.

What could have gone better?

MG– I’m not sure why I was so hungry today but I sure was glad to have emergency food in my office. I think I may need to start eating more fat again.

G– While the stuff fajita chicken was good it could’ve been more filling there was a salad or something to accompany it.

What will you do tomorrow?

MG– I need to re-stock my emergency foods in my office. I can’t believe we are already done with Whole30. I intend to keep eating this way for awhile longer and just do a slow roll into reintroduction.

G– I have already planned my reintroduction. I will be reintroducing starting tomorrow. Check out our next post for my reintroduction plan!

Thingamajig of the Day:

I’ll be honest, I really haven’t utilized this thingamajig until today. But man I am going to start using it every day,  if it brings this much flavor to dishes. Chances are you might already have this item, but are like us and haven’t taken time to use. What am I talking about? A cast-iron skillet. While I have been very aware of the versatility and usefulness of this age old thingamajig, often times we are scared of its sturdy and rough exterior. I have come to think of like my Papaw, rough around the edges, but butter him up and he was sweet as could be. It can be used for so many things, Whole30 and non. Take a Saturday afternoon and give your old, probably rusted cast-iron skillet, some TLC and reintroduce it to your kitchen and watch how the flavors come alive.

Today was a pretty “normal” day for me. Yesterday, I had some quality time with my mom. It was a bit different since I’m on the Whole30. While we went and sat at a bar and my mom ordered a gin and tonic, I ordered a club soda with limes. We then went to The Trappe Door for dinner after meeting up with her husband. It was a bit difficult for me to find something I could eat on their menu but the waitress was super nice when answering my many questions. It’s always nice to come back to “normality” after a few days.

Day 29:

What went well?

MG– I ate a little earlier than yesterday, but guys, if you haven’t looked at yesterdays post – you should! Those meatballs and tzatziki sauce is amazing. I am excited to use the tzatziki as a salad dressing!

G– I enjoyed the variety in my breakfast with two different types of sausage and trying a new recipe for lunch instead of tuna fish.

What could have gone better?

MG– I need to work on eating lunch a lot earlier, it really messes with my appetite to wait until later but with work it’s just difficult to be on a schedule.

G– I honestly can’t think of anything, except that my shrimp curry dish ended up being spicy…still trying to figure that one out…

What will you do tomorrow?

MG– I’m going to work to eat earlier, even if that means I have to work and eat at the same time. I’m also excited for the meals we have planned and to see what G’s surprise dinner will be!

G– Surprise MG with a Valentine’s meal and enjoy the last day of our Whole30 together!

thingamajig of the day

In the above photo of our shrimp curry, there’s one ingredient that you won’t be able to see. It’s our veggies – Zucchini Spirals! Cece’s Veggie Co. are convenient and make cooking a breeze. They have many different products and can be used in a variety of ways. I’ve used the Butternut Squash spirals for breakfast and they are delicious!