Whole 30 Day 22

Breakfast
Leftover meatloaf


Lunch
Steak salad from Logans Roadhouse
Used sliced lemons for dressing and had them leave the cheese off.  It was a pretty basic salad with grilled steak and I'm quite certain was probably cooked in peanut oil, tomatoes, bacon and hardboiled egg.  I decided that the high probablity of the meat being cooked in peanut oil far out weight the other options that were available on the menu. 


Dinner
Rotersserie chicken salad with 2 sliced strawberries and chopped red onion
Use the dressing from yesterday's salmon cakes.

Day 1 of the Whole 30

I have been eating clean/paleo for a year and a half now.  I will freely admit that the last several months have been nothing but a struggle for me to maintain the eating lifestyle that I know is the healthiest way for me to live.  My goal is to maintain paleo 80-90% with the occasional splurge.  Unfortunately my splurges have turned into binges.  I will eat clean then completely derail and eat crap and then deal with the physical consequences afterwards.  In fact, while I'm eating this food that manufacturers should just label "crap" I know exactly what it will do to me over the next 24 hours.  Do I like being bloated?  Do I like being gassy? (TMI sorry but full disclosure here).  Do I like feeling sluggish and dehydrated?  I can continue but I think the point is there.  I have determined that I really need to focus on a good healthy relationship with food and finally accept that there is just food that I should never eat again.  Is there a 12 step program out there for unhealthy eaters????  Seriously, I'm not trying to make light of those with addictions because I really feel like sugar and processed food is addictive.  This is where the whole 30 is coming into play.  If you have never been to the Whole 9 's website, check it out and try not to be overwhelmed with the information that they have available. 

My goal for the next 30 days is this:

1.  Say good bye to 10 pounds.  I will not miss you, please don't come back for visits you are no longer welcome.

2.  Work on establishing the self control that I have been lacking which has created a very unhealthy relationship with food.  Food will not make tears and sadness go away.  Food will not ease the daily stresses that is called life.

3.  Ease the aches and pains that have snuck back into my body and aren't being fixed with rest.

4.  Have a plan of how I can reincorporate the occasional splurges back into my life without becoming derailed again.

I'm not going to lie.  This next 30 days may be challenging to me.  I can and have survived well without grains, dairy, legumes and gluten.  I am saying good bye again to sugar in all forms except what is natural in fruit and veggies.  This will also included artificial sweeteners.  No alcohol, sadly I will admit that I will miss the occasional glass of wine over the next 30 days. 

Day 1 is over and tomorrow is a new day.

BBQ Pulled Pork w/ Coleslaw

I love pulled pork sandwiches.  I mean really what isn't there to love?  Yummy slow cooked pork, drenched in sweet and tangy BBQ sauce add some melted mozzarella cheese and coleslaw and you will end up in what may seem like heaven but for me it will be in a carb and gluten induced belly ache.
The above scenario was my inspiration for this dish and it turned out to be a hit with the entire family.

BBQ Sauce
1/2 purple onion finely chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground mustard
Couple twists of fresh ground pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp organic raw honey (optional-I use it because it seems to "cut" the tartness of the tomato sauce)
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
2 cans organic tomato sauce
5lb pork shoulder blade roast bone-in

In a sauce pan, heat oil over medium heat.  Cook onions 3-5 minutes until they become translucent.  Add garlic and cook another 1-2 minutes, be careful with the garlic so it doesn't burn.  Add oregano, red pepper, cayenne, ground mustard and cumin.  Mix well and cook another 1-2 minutes.  I like to add the herbs and spices and heat or cook them a bit; it seems to release the flavor a bit more.  Add tomato sauce, mustard, vinegar, honey and pepper.  Simmer approx 10 minutes.  While mine simmered I prepared my meat.  The pork shoulder I bought had quite a bit of fat on it (must have been why it was on sale and so cheap) so I trimmed a good portion of the fat from the meat.  Cut the meat away from the bone and cut in large chunks.  I found that this produces a more tender meat once the cooking is complete.  Add the meat, including the bone (The remaining meat will cook off the bone.  My dogs love to eat the bone afterwards) pour sauce over the top and cook for 8 hours on low.

Coleslaw
1 head green cabbage
4-5 carrots
1 1/2 cups Paleo Mayo (See recipe below)
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
3 tbsp raw apple cider
Splash of pickle juice

Shred cabbage and carrots, I used my food processor which was much quicker.  Mix remaining ingredients, add to cabbage and carrots and blend well.  Serve pork over the cabbage and here is your pulled pork sandwich minus the bun!  Enjoy!!

Paleo Mayo
1 egg
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp ground mustard
Olive oil approx 2/3 cup

Add egg, lemon juice and ground mustard to food processor.  Blend for 30 seconds; slowly add olive oil until mixture begins to thicken.  Use within 2-3 days.