What Can I Eat on the Whole30 Diet?

You've definitely heard of the Whole30 diet, but if you were to start it tomorrow, would you know exactly what to eat and what NOT to eat?

Not so much? Us either!

That's why we turned to our friend Dr. Ian Smith to demystify the craze.

"The Whole30 program really isn’t a diet," Dr. Ian explains. "It’s a program to help you reset, to help your body recover."

Essentially, the program aims to prevent inflammation in your body -- and there's a group of scientists, Dr. Ian says, who believe there are certain foods that cause inflammation and digestive problems.

So, for 30 days, all you need to do is avoid those foods!

Behold, a list of approved and vetoed Whole30 Program foods:

EAT
Meat
Fish
Eggs
Veggies
Fruit
Healthy Fats

AVOID
Processed foods
Grains
Sugar
Legumes
Alcohol
Dairy

We even made a handy little cheat sheet for you!
 

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Now, we should mention that Dr. Ian is wary of avoiding a couple of the no-nos on this list, like legumes and dairy.

"Legumes are a great source of non-animal protein," he says, "so that’s a question mark."

“[And] for some people, dairy is inflammatory,” he continues, “[but] dairy is a great source of vitamin D and calcium, [so] that’s also on my suspect list.”

Pro tip: If you see the ingredient carrageenan, Dr. Ian advises, stay away while under the Whole30 program!

Don’t know where to begin? We’ve got you covered!

Bob Harper's Avocado Tuna Salad

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GET THE RECIPE: Bob Harper’s Avocado Tuna Salad

Brussels Sprout Chips
 

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GET THE RECIPE: Brussels Sprout Chips

Bob Harper's Skinny Chicken Fajitas
 

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GET THE RECIPE: Bob Harper’s Skinny Chicken Fajitas

Healthy, Raw, Protein Cookie Dough (skip the dairy-free chocolate chips if you're being super-strict)
 

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GET THE RECIPE: Healthy, Raw, Protein Cookie Dough 

Bob Harper's Skinny Chicken Soup
 

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GET THE RECIPE: Bob Harper's Skinny Chicken Soup

But, as always, you should check with your doctor before making any dietary changes.