Starting your first Whole 30 can be EXTREMELY daunting. I remember trying to prep for it the week before, going through my fridge and pantry, and getting discouraged realizing how many items I had that were not compliant. After scouring the web for resources and following some great food bloggers on Instagram, I changed my perspective and instead of looking at all the things I couldn’t eat, I started realizing how many delicious meals I could cook with items I could eat.
I have compiled my top, favorite items that helped me get through my first Whole 30. Some of my favorite resources for finding these products include Thrive Market, Amazon, and of course my true love Trader Joe’s. There are SO many Whole 30 Approved Products out there, what are some of your favorites? Comment below!
So let’s break down this exhaustive list for some of my favorites:
NutPods Creamer – I’m the kind of girl that likes a little coffee with her sugar and cream, I’ve just never been a fan, so the idea of black coffee for me sounded horrible. It took a couple of days to ween off my sugar addiction, but by Day 5 I wasn’t looking back and still drink my coffee with just NutPods! My favorites are the Chocolate and Pumpkin spice but they have basically every flavor under the sun. You can find the holiday flavors here! https://amzn.to/2NqRUjX
RedBoat Fish Sauce – I truly could not live without this stuff. I have tried my fair share of fish sauces, most of which are overpoweringly salty. Not RedBoat – this stuff is the sh**. I use this in combination with Coconut Aminos to replace soy sauce in stir fry’s, or add to sauces or soups for a nice little umami punch.
Coconut Aminos – I have tried the coconut aminos from Trader Joe’s and Thrive Market and I love them both. Great addition to stir frys, or as part of my Whole 30 teriyaki sauce found here: Whole 30 Teriyaki Salmon.
Toasted Sesame Oil – the brand from Trader Joe’s is my fav, and not too expensive either!
Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste – whenever I am experiencing some major food boredom, I turn to curries because they’re packed with flavor and never boring. I also love using this as a marinade for some Chicken Satay skewers, blending the curry paste with some almond butter and coconut milk for an umami packed marinade.
Yellowbird Sriracha – it is TOUGH to find a good sriracha brand that is Whole 30 compliant. Luckily, Yellowbird Sriracha is so good I use it even when I’m off round for the perfect kick to any dish. Keep in mind to look for their original sriracha, not the Blue Agave Sriracha as that one is not compliant.
The New Primal Mustard BBQ – if you did a Whole 30 in September, you’ll understand how difficult it is to go to a BBQ and not want to eat all the things. Simple fix – BYOBBS (bring your own BBQ sauce lol). The New Primal and Tessemae’s have some great barbecue sauces and dressings you’ll want to check out!
Tessemae’s Ketchup – I grew up a Heinz girl through and through, putting ketchup on everything from my scrambled eggs to my turkey sandwiches. I never thought anyone could sell me on any other brand until I had Tessemae’s. It’s sweetened with dates and a great gateway ketchup for all you Heinz fans like me.
Bubly – a great option in place of soda, I usually bring a few of these to gatherings so I’m not tempted by any cocktails or Lagunitas around me.
Bob’s Red Mill Tapioca Flour (also called Tapioca Starch): tapioca flour works great for thickening sauces or for baking (save this for post Whole 30 life). It is very similar to arrowroot flour, which I often use as well for thickening sauces or dredging meat. They are basically the Whole 30/Paleo version of cornstarch.
Chosen Foods Mayo – if I’m making my own dressings or aiolis, I typically make my own mayo, but if I’m in a pinch, I substitute Chosen Foods Mayo for dressings, chicken salad, or other lunch options.
Creamy Salted Almond Butter from Trader Joe’s – this one is my favorite because of it’s clean ingredients, relatively cheap price tag, and it doesn’t clump!
Artisana Cashew Butter – this is a great option for those looking for something creamier than almond butter. A favorite of mine to pair with apple slices for a delicious snack.
Kettle and Fire Bone Broth – you’d be surprised how difficult it is to find compliant chicken broth, so I always make sure I have a few of these on hand!
Trader Joe’s Organic Tahini – Not all tahini is created equal. I REPEAT – not all tahini is created equal and the super creamy tahini from Trader Joe’s is a good one.
RealCoco Coconut Milk – one of the cleanest coconut milks you can find, you can find these at Costco, and occasionally on Amazon as well!
* Disclosure: If you decide to purchase the items on this page from Amazon, Amazon will send a small commission to support Rockin Meals at no additional costs to you. These commissions will help cover my operation costs to keep this site running. Thank you for your support 🙂 !