Question about reintroducing what foods when

[Whipple]

I'm on day 25 of my first Whole30, so I figured it was time to read the section of the book on reintroduction. First of all, I'm glad dairy was the first food group listed to reintroduce I really haven't felt any change in the gut, and that's the most common bad side effect of dairy, from what I understand. So if I reintroduce dairy on day 1, the book says to have maybe a yogurt in the morning, some cheese in the afternoon, and ice cream that night. So we do that on day 1, but then go back to Whole30 for days 2-3 before adding back the next food group? If we have no side-effects, do we still keep that out of our diet during the remainder of the reintroduction phase? Also, I keep thinking that it seems we ought to reintroduce far more slowly, one item at a time as opposed to a whole group at a time. As a mom, I'm thinking of how we introduce foods to a baby--one item at a time. So for dairy, it kind of makes more sense to me to reintroduce yogurt or milk kefir on day 1, wait 2-3 days, and if nothing bad happens, try that again and add maybe cheese. And keep adding different kinds of dairy, with raw milk being the last. Maybe it doesn't matter so much with the dairy group, but it makes more sense to do it that way especially for the grains--try one grain at a time. But maybe it's that there's not enough significant difference between the different items in those food groups. Also, sugars were not on the list for reintroducing. But ice cream has sugar, and that was list on day 1. So how does that work? It's ok to have it in small quantities as we reintroduce other things?

[Susan W]

First, you can reintroduce items in any order. I knew I didn't do well with gluten grains, so I chose those first. Then I went to dairy and I never reintro'd beans because I am not interested in them. I actually don't eat grains or dairy on a regular basis but when I choose to, I know what I will feel like.

You are correct..you introduce things for one day and then go clean for 2-3 days and then introduce the next item. You do not include the things you have already introduced. I did go slower. I actually had grains for 3-4 days but not 3 times a day. I think I had them twice. Then I went a week back on W30 and did the same with dairy. I did not break it into separate items. To me, dairy is dairy. You, however, should do it the way you think is best for your family.

I chose not to do ice cream as dairy. I know I have a sugar dragon and saw no point in poking him awake over a bowl of ice cream.

[JJB]

You should try to keep sugar separate, because it can cause its own problems. You can also go as slow as you want. The instructions in the book are kind of a minimum recommendation.

[Whipple]

So, if a food doesn't give us any trouble at all, why eliminate it again for the rest of the reintroduction period?

[Susan W]

So, if a food doesn't give us any trouble at all, why eliminate it again for the rest of the reintroduction period?

Often it's easier to detect the problem if the rest of your eating is clean.

[JJB]

So, if a food doesn't give us any trouble at all, why eliminate it again for the rest of the reintroduction period?

It may not give you any trouble at all for a day, or 2 days, or 3....but after 5 days? A week? 2 weeks? At some point it could have a cumulative effect, and that will make it harder to decide what other foods you are testing are contributing.