Slight slip up

[TrishB]

I was cooking dinner for my family and another family and accidentally tasted the Alfredo sauce and the pasta. It's complete habit to test the food. I'm on Day 10. Is it okay to keep going or do I have to start over. 

[missmary]

I'm sorry, but dairy and wheat/gluten really are dealbreakers. You need 30 days without even a tiny taste of them.

[Colleen Roy]

Depends on your reason for doing a whole30. Are you doing it to identify possible allergies or intolerances? Are you doing it to eliminate the sugar dragon? I would say that as long as you just had one little taste and nothing else off plan then I think you are ok. Add a day on the end. But that is just my humble opinion and I'm no expert....q

[missmary]

Starting over or adding time at the end is really a semantic distinction. Here is the important thing: some allergens, (dairy, soy and wheat specifically) can have lasting impacts, continuing to cause inflammation and other issues long after they are ingested. The whole30 gives you 30 consecutive days without them, which is enough time for *MOST* people to get beyond any impact from them to be able to percieve a reaction once they are re-introduced. That's a big benefit of the whole30--one of the more important ones IMO--so that was my reasoning for the restart. Adding just one day at the end for this slip would not be enough to give you 30 consecutive days, so again, IMO that wouldn't do it for a case like this. If you wanted to call it a "whole40" and add the full 10 days at the end, that would be perfectly fine.

 

On the other hand, if you had slipped with sugar (maybe in a salad dressing where you didn't realize) or a spoon of green peas, that sort of thing, then I would take it as a learning experience and move on.

 

All that said, once you have gone through a whole30 once or twice, and identified your allergens and are using it as a tool for whatever purposes you might have, well, in that case you can pretty much decide how you want to do it and what your personal rules and limitations might be. It might not be a whole30 anymore, but who cares? Really, at that point you can ride your own bike and enjoy taking responsiblity for your own choices. Isn't that what we all want, eventually?

[TrishB]

I know I'm lactose intolerant. I was dairy/soy free for my daughter since she was MSPI from 3m-12m. She is now 22 months old. I could tell a difference in my skin, energy, focus, and weight. I'm on the Whole 30 to learn to eat better and just start weight loss. Honestly, it's costing too much and we are going to lose $400 per month due to a previously paid position needing to become volunteer, so I might just stop anyway. I haven't really been craving much. I haven't had much of an appetite at all this whole time. If I have to start over, then I will definitely stop. 

[TrishB]

Oh, and I'm going on a trip for 3 days without access to a fridge/freezer or stove/oven. Not sure how I will be able to eat compliant food. 

[missmary]

Trish- It's your life and you get to decide how you want to interpret the rules. I gave you my take. Decide what works for you.

 

That said: the whole30 doesn't HAVE to cost more, and certainly abstaining from dairy isn't more expensive than eating dairy. If you know you are intolerant, why would you make the choice to eat it? I hope this doesn't come across in the wrong way--your choices are your own--I'm just perplexed. 

 

good luck with whatever you decide. 

[TrishB]

Actually, coconut milk costs more than cow's milk and almond milk. Not being able to eat bread (Which I can make at home for pennies) costs more because I'm eating fresher, more expensive food. A meal has gone from costing $1ish per plate to $3+ per plate. That might not be a lot for some people and I wish it wasn't for us, but it is. I choose to eat it because I can tolerate some, just not a lot. I'd prefer to be able to try raw dairy products, but they can't legally be sold in NJ. There aren't cheap local farmers around here. They tend to cost the same or more than grocery stores. My husband and daughter are still eating everything, so I have to cook 2 different meals sometimes. 

[pjena]

Trish - there are a few threads on the forums about making W30 more budget friendly.  You should check them out.  It's worth figuring out if it makes you feel better. 

 

I think it depends on where you are coming from.  W30 is defintely more expensive than rice and beans and homemade bread, but it doesn't have to be more expensive than eating out and processed foods, so I think there are differeing opinions.  Both are right. 

 

Also, over time, you get into a rhythm that allows you to eat less expensively and to not always be making 2 meals.  My family eats everything, too.  I just don't eat the things I don't want to eat.  So, if we're having pasta with spaghetti sauce, I just put mine over a salad or sweet potat instead of pasta.  If we're having tacos, I put my meat on a salad and skip the tortilla.  It gets easier.

[TrishB]

I've decided that while I will continue to steer clear of dairy and wheat, I will allow myself a tiny bit of sugar. Last night I chose to have a small portion of alfredo and pasta late last night. I paid for it. I also had a tiny piece of homemade chocolate and got a headache almost instantly. i did enjoy a little bit of store bought almond milk with my coffee today with no consequences so far. I think just the 10 whole days have cleared my body a bit. I am trying to plan some healthy meals for the whole family. I think I can make then 80%-90% compliant