December 30, 2016
Over the last couple of years, I have struggled with migraines and vertigo. So fun. It seemed to worsen when I was traveling- a combination of stress, eating junk, and adapting to a constant ebb and flow of change. I remember sitting in the doctors office with the options to either go on a daily medication or just live with these symptoms. Neither one felt right. Having heard from a few friends about the Whole 30 diet, I decided to use it as an elimination diet. A set of rules that cut out all processed junk, sugar, bread, grains….
Basically you eat meat, veggies, nuts and some fruit.
Here’s what I learned..
1. The crockpot is your best friend…. although the day I cooked my first chicken and I held it in my hands and the full weight of that little dead and plucked body rested on me, I almost became a vegetarian. Then I thanked the chicken for its sacrifice and threw it in the crockpot. Chicken in the crockpot is pretty much the only thing I make for company these days.
2. Melon is not spaghetti squash and therefore should not be cooked in the microwave. Yep, I did that. Mostly because it was a yellow squash shape and was not labelled in English (got it from one of those delivered CSAs) and so I made an assumption and ten minutes later had very hot, mushy melon. I did not eat it.
3. If you don’t set a timer, you won’t remember the carrots and they will roast for 2 hours and be little charred carrots.
4. Hidden gem of a roasted veggie: radishes. Didn’t even know it was a thing until I ended up with a bag of radishes and had to find something to do with them. Chopped in half and roasted they are amazing!
I learned a lot through doing Whole30….mostly that the build up of processed food almost always leads me to migraine trouble. I have learned to avoid foods that have dextrose and maltodextrin listed. Whether it is those specific foods or an ingredient that goes along with those…. WHO CAN REALLY KNOW? I do know that Whole30 even done for a week or so provides a reset. And with all that food prep, I had a great time watching all seasons of Mad Men and White Collar over the last month. :)