Bye, brownies. Adios, old fashioneds. Sayonara, spaghetti. Farewell, frappuccinos. On the Whole 30 diet, all these items (and anything that includes sugar, alcohol, dairy, grains and legumes) are off-limits for 30 days. Designed as a total-body “refresh” and a weight loss jumpstart, the next-level Paleo plan is certainly strict. Luckily, there are several resources created to make Whole 30 actually doable in your everyday life. Ready to tackle the challenge? Here’s your ultimate reading list to get your head — and your pantry — in the game.
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5 Essential Whole 30 Cookbooks
Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Hartwig
If You’re Searching for the OG (Original Guide) to the Eating Plan…
Read: The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Freedom
Written by Whole 30 co-founders and certified sports nutritionists Melissa and Dallas Hartwig, this comprehensive guide to the lifestyle includes more than shopping lists and recipes (although it has those, too.) for simple weekdays to sophisticated dinner parties. This diet encyclopedia has tips for hacking it solo — or how to stay on track when your family isn’t participating. Plus, it packs a step-by-step reintroduction plan so you can avoid shocking your system on day 31. ($18; amazon.com)
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Photo: Courtesy of CreateSpace Publishing
If You Want to Be Walked Through Every. Single. Meal…
Read: 30 Days of Whole Food: 120 Irresistible and Healthy Recipes
It can be tough to flip the switch and go immediately from waffles for breakfast to smoothie bowls, and cheeseburgers to fresh vegetable salads — with no cheese or ranch. This cookbook offers 30 recipe ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a few desserts and snacks, so you always have an answer to the question, “What’s for dinner?” The menu is “whole foods”-focused rather than Whole 30-compliant in every way, so steer clear of the whole grain and dairy-inclusive options. ($13.99; amazon)
Photo: Courtesy of Michelle Tam
If You Prefer Your Diet a Little More Light-Hearted…
Read: Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans
True, Nom Nom Paleo blogger Michelle Tam focuses on, not surprisingly, Paleo recipes. The humorous, cartoon-spiked cookbook is accompanied by an online list of the 100-plus Whole 30-friendly recipes, so you can take a peek at what you’ll get. Guacamole, spicy coconut shrimp, Chinese egg foo young, slow cooker kalua pig…now this sounds like a diet we can stick with. All hail to the woman who’s been called the “Martha Stewart of Paleo.” ($20.83; amazon.com)
Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Hartwig
If You’re Not Quite Convinced to Try It…
Read: It Starts With Food: Discover the Whole 30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways
Also written by the Hartwigs, this tome lays the groundwork through supermarket advice and doable recipes. But more importantly, it explains why the duo swears by the 30-day diet. It Starts With Food cites reduced risks for conditions ranging from acne and arthritis to obesity and psoriasis. ($12.10; amazon.com)
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Photo: Courtesy of Smudge Publishing
If You’re Taking Baby Steps to Whole 30…
Read: Well Fed Weeknights: Complete Paleo Meals in 45 Minutes or Less
If you think eating well requires hour upon hour of meal prep, Paleo blogger and author Melissa Joulwan is about to convince you otherwise. Well Fed Weeknights features 125 whole food recipes inspired by fast food faves, like bacon burgers, fried chicken, loaded fries and more. Joulwan also offers guidance for sticking to your diet guns while dining out, stocking your pantry and setting up your kitchen for speedy supper success. Note that Paleo differs from Whole 30. Whole 30 devotees advise against recreating “guilty pleasure” foods with caveman ingredients, while Paleo allows this. Paleo restricts refined sugars, while Whole 30 prohibits all sources of sugar. So while Joulwan’s book is not Whole 30-approved, it can be a gateway regimen to inch you from all-foods-allowed to Whole 30-dom. ($16.93; amazon.com)
