The Problem with Whole30

I’m the first to champion Whole30. It has so many benefits, almost all of which have nothing to do with losing weight. Yet I’m also here to tell you there’s a problem with Whole30. 

A true Whole30 is not just the removal of gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, alcohol, and legumes from your diet. It is cutting out snacking, focusing on three meals a day, and not substituting compliant food for non-compliant options. They call it the “pancake rule.” You’re not supposed to make “compliant” pancakes out of bananas and other compliant foods in place of actual pancakes. No plantain chips in place of potato chips. No cauliflower gnocchi in place of pasta. 

You get the idea. 

One visit to Reddit will tell you there are folks out there who are militant about this. A woman posted an innocent question asking for advice on how she should approach lunch when her job and her obligations to her children keep her too busy to eat a proper meal during the daytime hours. She’s been snacking on compliant food, she said, and feels great, but any advice? 

A lot of “that’s not a true Whole30” entered the chat. 

A busy wife and mom with a fulltime job was shamed because she had the audacity to snack on carrots, apples, and Chomp sticks – Whole30 compliant foods – instead of eating a meal. You really want to rile them up? Let them know you had plantain chips or cauliflower gnocchi. 

Whole30 is already restrictive enough. It is not for everyone and anyone with a history of disordered eating shouldn’t attempt it. When you start layering in folks being worried about snacking or eating a compliant Larabar on the go? It can get downright dangerous. That’s how disordered eating starts for some – too many rules around food. 

There is also the idea of “one slip up and you have to start all over.” 

Confession: 

I had a single corn tortilla chip on my 10th day of my latest round. 

I had a shaken iced espresso made with non-compliant almond milk on my 5th day. 

I did not start over. 

I also did not “wreck my progress.” 

Another confession? 

I’ve eaten plantain chips almost every day of this round of Whole30. I’ve also had cauliflower gnocchi for dinner twice. The same day I had the shaken iced espresso, I didn’t eat a meal until dinner – I snacked all day on compliant food while at a Pure Barre training, including compliant cauliflower chips.

And I’m seeing the results I want. 

As of writing this, I’m two weeks in and I’m down four pounds – another rule I’m breaking as you’re not supposed to weight during Whole30 – my skin looks great, I’m sleeping better, and best of all, my bloating is nearly gone. 

Plantain chips, cauliflower gnocchi, and all. 

Whole30 is a great option for those who want a reset and to learn more about how food impacts their day-to-day lives. It’s also a great option for those who are using it to figure out what food triggers symptoms and if that’s the goal? I do recommend sticking as close to the “rules” as possible. I was by the book my first round and it helped uncover several food sensitivities. But when Whole30 starts to make you think too much about food past checking a label real quick or you have anxiety about snacking? It’s gone too far. 

That’s the problem with Whole30: the expectation that every person to ever do it can be perfect. 

Another problem with Whole30 while we’re at it? 

The convenient way the “Whole30” label appears on “compliant” foods like Kite’s cream cheese. You’re not supposed to make pancakes out of bananas, but it’s fine to slather Kite’s cream cheese on your salmon? Sounds suspect. 

Or a lot like an exchange of money. 

I stand by Whole30 as a great option for someone who wants or needs a reset, and as an option for helping uncover food sensitivities. But the problem with Whole30 is in the rules itself – and in my opinion? 

Some rules are meant to be broken. 

No matter what Reddit says.