January Sugar Detox Diaries (week 4)

We made it! In so many ways this journey was much harder than I expected. However, in other ways it wasn't nearly as difficult. Finding meal ideas that excited me and kept things interesting was definitely not as challenging as I anticipated. I also was surprised how easy it was to to stick to my plan while I was traveling. I was surprised though by the amount of times I craved desserts. I would have thought that by day 30 I wouldn't even be thinking about sugar anymore, but last night I was dreaming about a brownie. That could have been in part because I knew the detox was coming to a close and I was so close I could almost taste it. However, my cravings were not constant or really that frequent overall (thank goodness!). I found them mostly to happen at night, just before bed. During the day I didn't even think about sugar, which surprised me! 

Now that I can officially say I've completed the Whole30 and sugar detox, overall I do feel amazing! I really do! My skin is clearer, my mind is clearer, I have more energy, and I feel like I hae a pep in my step. I feel like my eyes were opened to the amount of sugar that is in everything (which is a lot!) and am ready to find a balanced way of eating that leaves room for the occasional treat. I gained everything I was hoping and more from this journey! Thank you so much for all of you that joined in on this with me! It was so fun to have a source of accountability and I look forward to continuing to connect. Here's a look into what I ate and how I was feeling during the last few days. 

How I'm Feeling

Day 22 - I packed a lunch today because I was going to be on the road most of the day. I felt super great that I stuck to eating my meal that I packed because a lot of times I've used the excuse that I'm too busy to stick to something so "extreme." 

Day 23 - I woke up with a major headache this morning. After I took some meds to helo with the headache I went on with my day. I spent a lot of time meal prepping today which was really nice. I might be in the minority, but I love meal prepping. I turn on some music and just kind of get in the zone. It's become a favorite ritual of mine. It felt good to get super organized in the kitchen again. I had some girlfriends over in the evening and we chatted over some tea. It was nice to hang out and spend time with them that did not revolve around food. 

Day 24 - I felt so great all day! I had a great workout, got a lot done, and even made it to a yoga class in the evening. Today I really started to feel like eating this way is super norma -- routine even. 

Day 25 - I felt fantastic all day!Josiah and I went to a free yoga class in the evening and then we made homemade smoothie bowls. It was so much fun. I had good energy all day and no cravings! 

Day 26 -  I’ve been up since 2am because I couldn't sleep. Bad idea. From 8am-12pm the day kind of crawled by. I wasn't sure if I should take a nap or just power through. I ended up powering through and going to Orange Theory to get in a good workout. I felt so much better after my workout! 

Day 27 - This was the busiest day ever. I'm actually surprised how easy it was to stay on track even though I was moving from one thing to the next. I think the key was planning! I brought snacks and planned out a few breaks where I could grab food from the house between meetings. Planning is definitely a lesson I will take with me in my life after whole30 and the sugar detox. 

Day 28  - I felt super great! I'm really noticing a difference in how my clothes feel and I am walking a little taller. I've also noticed that my workouts have been better! 

Day 29 - I felt great all day! Excited to be coming to the end and finding a healthy balance. I’m not sure if I’m more excited to have maple syrup on some Simple Mills pancakes or avocado toast on Ezekiel bread.  

Day 30 - It was so hard not to just throw caution to the wind and bake a batch of Simple Mills chocolate chip cookies or brownies. But overall I feel amazing! 

What I'm Eating  

sautéed cabbage with pork belly topped with sunny eggs 

mixed greens topped with leftover meatballs, sunflower seeds, a touch of mayo, and some Tessemae's green goddess dressing 

broccoli bacon salad, caramelized onion potatoes, and cranberry lemon tuna salad 

the cabbage and carrots I cooked under my roasted chicken

spaghetti squash with romesco sauce, blanched broccoli florets, and chicken breast 

roasted sweet potatoes (from my meal prep) topped with sunny eggs 

Organic Girl 50/50 blend (I don’t know what they do to make their stuff so good, but it’s superior to ALL greens!), roasted sweet potatoes (from my meal prep), roasted chicken (also from my meal prep), some microgreens, pecans, and tahini sauce

green chili shredded chicken with blanched broccoli and spaghetti squash 

Potatoes, mild Italian chicken sausage, orange pepper, green pepper omelet with kite hills chive cream cheese, and microgreens  

Grain-free turkey meatballs with romesco sauce on zucchini noodles 

Post-yoga smoothie bowl: coconut kefir blended with an orange and blueberries and topped with banana, kiwi, chia seeds, and almond butter  

Poke bowl on top of greens instead of rice from True Food Kitchen

Whole30 Chicken Alfredo

chia pudding with coconut butter fat bites, almond butter, pecans, coconut flakes and banana  

sunny eggs with bacon and ham and diced potatoes with tomatoes at Local Foods

Crispy pork belly, orange pepper, and collard greens omelet with kite hill cream cheese and carrots cooked in ghee  

burger with mushroom bun , roasted carrots and turnips, and kale salad with crispy pork belly 

Spring greens with primal kitchen ranch and leftover Whole30 Chicken Alfredo  

A smoothie bowl made with frozen blueberries, frozen zucchini, and almond milk kefir and topped with shredded coconut, kiwi, chia seeds, and coconut butter fat bites 

sweet potatoes and bacon and eggs 

Creamy Pesto Rice + Sautéed Mushrooms

I'm coming up on a full year of being dairy-free. Minus a few regretful pizza indulgences that left me hating myself a little (read:a lot), I have been committed and I feel so much better. Up until this year I found myself doubled over in severe stomach pain 4-5 nights a week and now it happens once every three months and usually from loosening my reigns a bit.

When I first started to cut out dairy I wasn't super convinced that was my problem, so sometimes I'd skip the cheese and other times I'd say "Ah, what the heck! It won't kill me!". I would find myself super tempted by cheese fries and cheesecake. But after a few months of avoiding it and not having any stomach issues, I knew what the problem was and avoiding it became a no-brainer. 

Being dairy-free I was so afraid of missing out on the creaminess that cheese has to offer. Like major FOMO. I knew that I didn't want to eat the artificial dairy products (vegan butter, vegan cheese, etc.) unless they had clean ingredients and feared living a creamy-cheese-less life. Unfortunately most of those dairy alternative products DON'T contain ingredients I'm cool with, so there was a period where I had to suck it up and live without creaminess. After much searching though, I stumbled upon Kite Hill cream cheese. It's made from almonds and doesn't have a lengthy list of ingredients. The first time I tried it, I was immediately obsessed! It gave me the creaminess, my cream-deprived soul was longing for. 

This recipe uses that wonderful Kite Hill cream cheese to give the rice it's creaminess. If you are dairy-free and are longing for the smoothness of a classic dairy recipe, but want to avoid the stomach ache, then look no further. This recipe is on a regular rotation in our house and dairy-free or not, it is a must try. 

CREAMY PESTO RICE + SAUTÉED MUSHROOMS 

• 4 ounces Kite hill almond cream cheese   
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves 
• 1 cup spinach 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 2 garlic cloves 
• 1/4 cup water or chicken broth
• Salt to taste 

• 3 cups rice , cooked

• 2-3 cups mushrooms, sliced (I like a lot, but you don’t have to add that many) 
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil 
• Pinch of salt 

Place the almond cream cheese, basil, spinach, olive oil, and garlic cloves in a food processor and blend until combined. Slowly add the water or chicken broth until the desired consistency is achieved. Salt to taste and then combine with the 3 cups of cooked rice. 

Heat a cast iron skillet to medium heat and then add the coconut oil. Once the coconut oil has heated so that it sizzles, then you can put the mushrooms in the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until you notice the mushrooms begin to brown on one side. This takes about 3-4 minutes. This is when you add a pinch of salt and stir. Continue cooking the mushrooms until they've brown all around, about another 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve over the rice. 

Notes: I've used the chive flavored cream cheese and it is equally as delicious! Also, if you do not have access to kite hill products, you can soak 4 ounces of cashews in water overnight and use in place of the cream cheese here. The flavor may be a bit different and you might have to end up adding more salt than in you used the kite hill cream cheese, but you will definitely get your creaminess. I like to use the chicken stock in place of the water because it gives it a really great flavor, but it is not vegan or vegetarian friendly so if that is important to you, use water. It is important to note that the salt should not be added to the mushrooms until AFTER they begin to brown, otherwise the salt will pull the moisture out of the mushrooms and you'll end up with dry mushrooms. 

Weeknight Root Vegetable Dal

Lentils were such a foreign thing to me growing up. Like I had never heard of, tasted, or even seen one until I was in college! Now I find myself making up for lost time and using them often. My favorite way to enjoy them so far is in any sort of Indian soup. This soup in particular is close to my heart because you practically throw everything in a pot and say "See ya in 40". It's seriously that easy. And the ingredients can be swapped around to accommodate what you've got going on in your produce department. I like mine best with carrots, but if you're a fan of beets I think that could work really well too! No matter what root vegetable you decide on, this soup is packed full of nutrients and will keep you feeling all the cozy vibes this winter. 

Weeknight Root Vegetable Dal 

slightly adapted from The First Mess Cookbook 

• 1 cup red split lentils, rinsed
• 1 cup carrots, finely diced 
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes 
• 4 cloves garlic 
• 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced 
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 
• pinch of dried chili flakes 
• 3 1/2 cups water 
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can of coconut milk 
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil 
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds 
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped 
• lemon wedges for serving 

First let's cook the coriander. In a small skillet heat the coconut oil on medium. Once the coconut oil has heated, add in the coriander seeds and cook until fragrant. Remove from the heat and set to the side. 

Now you can begin making the soup. Add the lentils, carrots, onion, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and chili flakes to a medium pot. Pour the water into the pot and stir it around and then place the pot on the stove. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 40 minutes, whisking often. Stir in the can of coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the spice oil and coriander seeds from step 1, parsley, and lemon. 

Notes: The original recipe does not call for coconut milk. I love the creaminess and sweetness that it brings so I always love adding it, but if you're not into coconut milk or don't have it on hand, I'm sure it will be super tasty without it! Also, you don't have to use carrots, feel free to use any root vegetable you have on hand (celery, beets, etc.). 

January Sugar Detox Diaries (Week 3)

Hey guys! 

Here we are. We've made it three weeks into the sugar detox! 

How are you guys feeling? Are you ready to be done? Have your cravings vanished? Are you feeling on top of the world? Are you feeling like you've sold your soul and you're dreaming of eating donuts? I've felt all of those things this week. Literally ALL OF THEM. Some days I felt like I was totally in this and I was totally done with this bad habit. Then there were other days where I felt like I would literally sell my kidney for a butterfinger like RIGHT NOW. I think if I'm being honest, this was the hardest week so far. I don't know if it was the added stress that was going on in generally for me this week that left me seeking comfort in food or what it was, but my body was kind of an emotional mess. There were so many up and down feelings and evenings left feeling so snacky for no reason, BUT nonetheless, here we are. I'm reminding myself that change doesn't come easy and often not in a linear path. This week was a certain demonstration of that. It feels a bit dramatic to write that I'm thankful to have just made it out alive, but that's kind of how this week left me feeling. Still I am holding my head high as I roll into the last nine days of the January sugar detox and focusing on the positive results I've seen. More to come on those soon! 

How I’m feeling  

Day 15 - This is the first day I’ve been able to meal prep for real since I’ve been home and it felt so good! My body is feeling great (minus the whole hand thing). I do have a slight attitude still related to my inability do things normally, but I still managed to get my to-do list done and stay on track with food. 

Day 16 - The biggest non-scale victory I have experienced so far is that my skin is clear! I have always struggled with bad skin and it feels encouraging to have made progress towards finding the cause of the issue.Something I also read this week though, related to skin, was how big of an emphasis society puts on having perfect skin and how unattainable and destructive that is.  Maybe I can share more thoughts on that later. I got outside for longer than I had in forever and gave Henry a good walk, which I know he appreciated and the fresh air felt so nice! I had a great workout at orange theory and I feel fabulous! My hand is still an issue, but I am getting some of that tiger blood that everyone talks about. The regulated energy has been so amazing! This day I definitely did not even miss sugar at all, which is nice to be able to say when you're just a little over halfway through a detox. It's super encouraging! 

Day 17 -  Today all I want is spaghetti and meatballs. In my normal non-whole30 or non-sugar-detox life this would never make it to the top of my favorite meals, but today it sounds so good! I made the huge mistake of going without eating for most of the day and then having coffee on an empty stomach. My energy just totally crashed, but now I’m hyped up on coffee and I feel jittery, but somehow exhausted. It's horrible! Josiah and I ended up eating dinner at home, but even though I was starving, nothing sounded good. Then after dinner all I wanted to do was snack. This was probably the hardest day so far. It was possibly an inevitable crash after feeling so great yesterday! Good news, my hand situation seems to have resolved for the most part! 

Day 18 - I woke up with a major headache and zero motivation to get out of bed. Today I have a doctor appointment and a dentist appointment, which would normally leave me wanting to treat myself to a special latte or a pastry, but that is not going to be an option. I made a hair appointment for Monday, which should feel like a good non-food reward. I think I would have given my right arm for a cookie before bed. I ended up snacking on an apple with almond butter and calling it a night, but these late night snacky feelings are really annoying! 

Day 19 - I slept so deeply last night! I think I’m feeling the tiger blood? We’ll see how things go as the day goes on, but this AM I am feelin’ good. We went to a fancy dinner with one of our good friends and the waiter was the most accommodating man in the world. He made sure that my meal was prepared completely free of all of the things I am currently avoiding and then apologized profusely when he realized the dessert menu didn't have anything on it that would accommodate all my restrictions. His thoughtfulness can not be overemphasized and made eating out while on an elimination diet not feel high maintenance or unattainable! 

Day 20 - The steroids that I am on for my hands are still screwing up my sleep, but hey NO MORE HAND PAIN! The doctors think that it is rheumatoid arthritis so it's something I'll deal with forever moving forward, but for now, the pain is gone and I am so thankful. Because the steroids disrupted my sleep, I'm not feeling as tiger-blood-ish as I was yesterday. I got up at 5am and got a good workout in, which made me feel amazing! Then I waited too long to eat breakfast so I had a major energy crash. I had a hard time focusing on a paper I'm supposed to write, but I think it's because I'm tired and not just related to whole 30 or the sugar detox, but who knows. We are hanging out with my little brother this weekend and he showed up with a plate of cookies in hand and I had to restrain myself from shoving them in my mouth. He said "Jenna, you can just have one! I promise one won't make you fat." I tried to explain to his eleven year old mind that it had nothing to do with getting fat, but had everything to do with breaking a bad habit. I don't know if he understood or not, but I was pretty bummed to be turning down a cookie he baked specially for me. They were oatmeal, coconut, and chocolate chip and I'm so not thinking about them at all anymore. Except I totally am. We went and got smoothie bowls for dinner and that totally made me forget about the cookies. I <3 smoothie bowls! I brushed my teeth right after we got home and had no cravings after that. I should probably adopt this habit more regularly. 

Day 21 - Wow, this feels so insane to be able to say that I have made it this far. Three weeks of doing anything is a for sure feat, especially cutting out a super addicting substance. Today I wanted so badly to justify a small bite of a donut or a little sip of a gingerbread latte, but I didn't and I'm glad. I slept super poorly again last night, which made me not feel my best today, but nonethelesss I had a great day! 

WHAT I'M EATING

Two sunny eggs + a kiwi 🥝  

Spaghetti squash with a creamy almond pesto sauce + chicken topped with nutritional yeast 

golden butternut squash soup with roasted butternut squash seeds and crispy pork belly pieces  

Hash made with mushrooms, green peppers, Trader joe’s Apple chicken sausage, and pre-cooked potatoes topped with two sunny eggs  

Basically everything I had in the fridge was thrown in a bowl and I called it lunch

 Lettuce + grapefruit + sauerkraut + sunflower seeds + avocado + chicken + tahini sauce  

Whole30 Chicken Alfredo with broccoli  

sautéed cabbage with tahini + sunny eggs with everything but the bagel seasoning  

Half an avocado + grapefruit slices + scrambled eggs + half of a Trader Joe’s chicken apple sausage  

Coconut kefir mixed with chia seeds and topped with almond butter + banana + a matcha coconut fat bite  

A bunch of random items from Whole Foods hot bar: green beans with walnuts, potato wedges, chicken thighs, and broccoli bacon salad. (This was likely not 100% perfectly compliant, but I was in between appointments and starving so I made do and didn't necessarily have time to spend 30 minutes reading food labels!) 

Green chicken chili with kale topped with diced avocado 

Scrambled eggs with everything but the bagel seasoning, avocado, and grapefruit. I completely forgot how delicious and refreshing grapefruit can be! 

Steamed broccoli + roasted chicken topped with tahini sauce  

Sweet potatoes + brussel sprouts + quail with a mustard sauce from Lula Cafe (my favorite restaurant in Chicago!) 

Berries blended with coconut milk and topped with walnuts, bananas, strawberries, and goji berries from Fruit Paradise . This particular bowl usually comes with granola, but I just asked to add walnuts instead and they were super sweet about it. Their smoothie bowls are only like $6, which is a bargain! Josiah and I liked to come here often in the summer. We've come so much that we're practically on first name basis with the owner. 

Spaghetti squash and Trader Joe's spaghetti sauce with homemade grain-free meatballs and a ton of greens topped with Tessemae’s green goddess dressing . 

I also snacked on these matcha coconut butter fat bites all week and they were so great to have on hand for between meals. I used this recipe and just added in a touch of matcha for color and some health benefits. 

a Greek salad with gyro meat on top (I tried to eat around all the cheese)