Labels during Reintroduction Period

[margaret2018]

This is a long ways away for me (I’m going into day 4) but I have a question about the reintroduction period. Is the idea to reintroduce foods I’d normally eat, or rather reintroduce the types of food in a more thoughtful way?

For example: reintroducing grains, should I just test the normal Puffins cereal I know and love prior to this, or is the idea to still opt for a more wholesome grain cereal with a shorter ingredient label and more wholesome nutritional value (as minimal amount of sugar as possible, highest fiber option, etc.).

Leading off that question, should I even opt for cereal as a part of my grain breakfast that day? Or, since cereal is generally viewed as an unhealthy and empty carb food option, should I just go with my (prior to W30) trusted oatmeal with fruit and almond milk as a more nutritionally substantial option?

I’m clearly not going to drive straight to iHop and face a stack of pancakes or something along those lines. I understand it’s supposed to be in moderation, but I think prior to starting this I was a very food conscious person. While I could binge with the best of ‘em, my day to day snack choice wasn’t a bag of Doritos but instead too many handfuls of Kashi’s Maple French Toast cereal. Too much peanut butter + banana. Things of that nature.

Anyways, I know the answer in the long run is to choose the more nutrient dense option, but for the purpose of reintro and seeing the effects, is the point to be a bit more “indulgent” and watch my reactions, or should the aim be to reintroduce these food groups as simply/mindfully as possible inside the Whole 30 framework?

 

I hope this makes sense. Thanks!

[GoJo09]

Actually, the purpose of the reintro is to see how specific ingredients affect you, regardless of their nutrient density. Your Maple French Toast cereal probably has at least 3 different ingredients that aren't Whole 30, right? So if you had a reaction you wouldn't know if it were ingredient A, B or C that caused it. By reintroducing each ingredient separately you'll know that it's A you have a problem with, but B is ok in moderation and C is fine. Or maybe all 3 are fine on their own, but when combined in the cereal it's overload for your system and it's out - but if you didn't try each separately, you'd never know that.

So, rather than your standard breakfast of oats, fruit and almond milk, you'd have a small serve of oats as a side dish to your normal whole 30 breakfast. Then you'd be judging whether oats specifically make you more or less satisfied, if they give you cramps, if they make you grumpy, whatever. 

Does that make sense?

[margaret2018]

Yes, very much! Thank you for clarifying that. Okay, so then off of that, in the reintroduction period for dairy it notes that you can test ice cream. Applying the method you outlined above, would that just mean like standard vanilla ice cream? No cookies n creme since there are probably multiple things in there that aren't compliant? Haha - kind of a silly question but truly interested in knowing the answer. Thanks!

[ladyshanny]

2 hours ago, margaret2018 said:

Yes, very much! Thank you for clarifying that. Okay, so then off of that, in the reintroduction period for dairy it notes that you can test ice cream. Applying the method you outlined above, would that just mean like standard vanilla ice cream? No cookies n creme since there are probably multiple things in there that aren't compliant? Haha - kind of a silly question but truly interested in knowing the answer. Thanks!

Right - bang on. And also watch your ice cream ingredients for things like soy or carrageenan as those would be other things to introduce seperately.

 

[cathycavin]

My reintro day is tomorrow - I'm doing the slow roll.  I will be on the road with my mother the very next day and I know she will want to eat at Mcdonalds or subway (she treats herself when we take a day trip). 

I looked at subway menu and all the meats have more than just the added sugar that I am supposed to be "relaxed" about after day 30.  the black forest ham has modified food starch (which I guess could be corn or wheat) plus nitrates.  I am already planning on drinking a glass of wine day 31, so that will be my test on nitrates.  Why is deli meat ok'd after day 30 when it has more than just added sugar in it?

I think I will go with mcdonalds - plain beef patty, side salad, apple slices and unsweet tea - and bring a sabra guac pack.  But i am curious about the deli meat thing.

[ladyshanny]

5 minutes ago, cathycavin said:

My reintro day is tomorrow - I'm doing the slow roll.  I will be on the road with my mother the very next day and I know she will want to eat at Mcdonalds or subway (she treats herself when we take a day trip). 

I looked at subway menu and all the meats have more than just the added sugar that I am supposed to be "relaxed" about after day 30.  the black forest ham has modified food starch (which I guess could be corn or wheat) plus nitrates.  I am already planning on drinking a glass of wine day 31, so that will be my test on nitrates.  Why is deli meat ok'd after day 30 when it has more than just added sugar in it?

I think I will go with mcdonalds - plain beef patty, side salad, apple slices and unsweet tea - and bring a sabra guac pack.  But i am curious about the deli meat thing.

If you were going to reintroduce nitrates using deli meat, you'd have to find one that had just those ingredients in addition to Whole30 ingredients. 

If you are planning to do McDonalds, check w/ them on what grill oils they use to cook the patties. 

[cathycavin]

ok - so for the reintro when you say that added sugar in condiments, deli meats and bacon is ok to have after day 30, i still have to test deli meats for nitrates?

[ladyshanny]

The small amounts of sugar in meats or dressings is unlikely to mess you up so we do say that you wouldn't have to worry about that. Every other off-Whole30 ingredient should be reintroduced separately in order to judge how it affects you.

[cathycavin]

I looked at too many things online about fast food; i don't want any part of it now, compliant or not - will search for whole30 on the go food and bring it with me.