40 of my best Whole30 Meal Prep Recipes! (2024)

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40 of my best Whole30 Meal Prep Recipes! (1)by ChihYu
August 24, 2018 (updated 1/18/22)
14 comments »

Looking for Whole30 meal prep Recipes? Don’t miss 40 of my best Whole30 Meal Prep Recipes from breakfast, portable lunch, dinner, plant-based meals, Instant pot, vegetable sides, sauces/dressings, to seafood dishes!

Chances are you probably have heard that preparation is the key when doing a Whole30. During the 30 day reset we optimize meals that are packed with tons of fresh vegetables, high quality proteins, fat, and good carbohydrates. Personally, I really love cutting out all the processed and added sugar. Keep focus on a well-balanced meal template. After the 30 day reset, my whole body feels so much better – not feel bloated after meals, better energy, skin, and as a side bonus I was able to fit into the jeans I used to wear in the college (hey that’s over a decade ago!).

Many of you asked for breakfast and portable lunch ideas. To me, having breakfast ready ahead of time (and just reheat in the morning) really saved me during Whole30. I’m not a morning person so grab-and-go breakfasts ready is absolutely crucial. Lunch usually involves reheat what we ate a night before. So learn to dress up your leftovers.

  1. Include a wide variety of nutrients
  2. Put green color veggies to every meal, including lunch box!
  3. Learn to dress up leftovers
  4. Prep breakfast in advance
  5. Have a few back-pocket recipes ready and make larger batch.
  6. Have emergency snacks ready (p.s. it’s okay to snack when life throws you curve balls. See more here)
  7. Avoid processed things as much as possible
  8. Use containers that are safe for quick reheat
  9. Get kids involved in lunch making

I hope you find some new favorites here to add to your meal rotation. And if you are interested in learning more about my wildly popular meal planning program Easy Homemade, subscribe to my blog I Heart Umami and you’ll have a chance to learn more about what we do!

Whole30 make-ahead (and freezer friendly) breakfast Sandwiches

Whole30 Savory Breakfast Meatballs

Healthy Shakshuka (use extra sauce from my Instant Pot Butter Chicken)

Zucchini Carrot Vegetable Patties

40 of my best Whole30 Meal Prep Recipes! (6)

Whole30 Scalloped Potato Frittata

All-in-one savory brunch – Filipino Skirt Steak Cauliflower Fried Rice

Paleo Whole30 Chicken and Broccoli

Sister version – Paleo Whole30 Beef and Broccoli

Whole30 Chicken Cabbage Stir-Fry

Whole30 Thai Basil Beef Stir-Fry

Whole30 Chinese Jumbo Shrimp Tomato Stir-Fry

Flavorful and Juicy Whole30 Cashew Chicken

Whole30 Chinese Pepper Steak

Whole30 Sweet and Sour Chicken

Whole30 Coconut Milk Cream Meatballs

Whole30 Asian Taco Meat Sauce

Whole30 Sesame Chicken


Whole30 Chicken Mushroom Casserole

Whole30 Crispy and Creamy Roasted Chicken Thighs

Whole30 Mongolian Beef (as featured in Whole30 fast and easy cookbook)

40 of my best Whole30 Meal Prep Recipes! (22)

Whole30 Japanese Roasted Lemon Chicken

Zucchini noodle pasta shrimp

Whole30 Halibut or Cod Lemon piccata

Whole30 Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Whole30 Instant Pot Taiwanese Meat Sauce with Crispy Fried Shallots

Whole30 Instant Pot Vietnamese Beef Stew

Whole30 Chinese Instant Pot Bone Broth

Whole30 Beef Brisket Pho

Whole30 Broccoli Fried Rice

Whole30 Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice

Whole30 Lemon Garlic Broccoli Florets

Whole30 Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad

Whole30 Thai Crispy Chicken Apple Salad

Whole30 Asian Chicken Cabbage Salad

Whole30 Thai Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry

Whole30 Korean Chilled Zucchini Salad

Whole30 Buddha Bowls with Crispy Veggie Patties

Whole30 Detox Green Soup

Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Cream Sauce

Whole30 Thai ‘Peanut’ Sauce

Whole30 Gochujang (Korean red chili paste…p.s. mix it into your cauli fried rice or use it as a spread!)

Many of my Whole30 sauces are included within individual recipes. I will be featuring more sauce/condiments on my blog in the coming weeks so be sure to check back here often!

Also be sure to check out my Asian-inspired Whole30 Pantry guide with all the bottles/seasonings I use to add flavor and deliciousness to my Whole30 kitchen!

If you find this Whole30 Meal Prep Recipes roundup helpful. Be sure to leave a comment below and share with your family and friends!. If you make any dishes,tag #IHeartUmami on Instagram. I’d love to see your creation! Thanks in advance!

Paleo Whole30

posted by ChihYu on August 24, 2018

14 Comments / Leave a Comment »

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14 comments on “Whole30 Meal Prep Recipes”

  1. Kari - Get Inspired Everyday! Reply

    Wow, this is completely amazing, so many options! I love how flavorful and delicious everything single one looks, and I think a Whole 30 would fly by with all of these to choose from!

  2. Anna Reply

    Oh my goodness, I want to make them ALL!! Every one looks amazing, and LOVE they’re all Whole30!!!

    • ChihYu Reply

      Thanks so much!

  3. Carol Little R.H. @studiobotanica Reply

    WOW!! This is a super collection and filled with ideas for me! I need to pin this one and also pin a few of these for Instant Pot too.. Thanks. Lots to think about here.. Thanks for the prep ‘tips’ too. Important to ensure it all comes together!!

  4. Lindsey Dietz Reply

    Ok, obviously, I’m not surprised at how many Asian recipes there are here, but wow! For an Asian food-lover like me, this is perfect! Love that they’re all Whole30 too!

  5. Megan Stevens Reply

    WOW!!! I would love all of these, so many juicy photos of such umami goodness! It’s hard to decide which one to make first! What a special collection!

  6. Tessa Simpson Reply

    a treasure trove of delicious ideas! I have made many of these and loved them all!

  7. jennifer Reply

    This is a great round up of recipes to make meal prepping easier -thanks! I’m especially excited to try some of the Instant Pot ones!

  8. Christina Reply

    Whoa I don’t even know which is my favorite!! So many tasty recipes to choose from! What an awesome resource!

  9. Emily @ Recipes to Nourish Reply

    Wow this is one fabulous collection! That Thai Basil stir fry is calling my name – I’ve always been a sucker for that beautiful basil in dishes like that one.

  10. Renee Kohley Reply

    Love those breakfast ideas! That breakfast sandwich! Amazing! I can’t wait to try it!

  11. Jean Reply

    I don’t know prepped enough but now you’re inspiring me to! All of these recipes sound delicious.

  12. linda spiker Reply

    Great collection! I love me some Whole 30!

  13. Katie Walsh Beck Reply

    Everyone who does a Whole30 should have to read this. The prep is half the battle! I have done two Whole30’s and neither would have happened without the proper prep! Great read 🙂

40 of my best Whole30 Meal Prep Recipes! (2024)

FAQs

What happens after 30 days of Whole30 diet? ›

Step Two: Reintroduction

The reintroduction period is perhaps the most important Whole30 stage. This is where you really learn how the foods you used to eat (and eliminated for the last 30 days) affect how you look, feel, and live.

How often should you eat on Whole30? ›

On the Whole30 program, you will eat three meals a day, avoid snacking and stop eating a few hours before you go to sleep. Each meal on the Whole30 program should be based on: One to two palm-sized protein sources. Vegetables (should fill the rest of your plate aside from protein)

What does a Whole30 meal look like? ›

Eat meat, seafood, and eggs; vegetables and fruit; natural fats; and herbs, spices, and seasonings. Eat foods with a simple or recognizable list of ingredients, or no ingredients at all because they're whole and unprocessed.

What are the rules of the Whole30 diet? ›

On Whole30, you can eat meat, vegetables, fruit, tree nuts and seeds, and healthy fats. However, you must avoid sugar, grains, legumes, dairy, alcohol, and processed food additives. Although it would be difficult and very restrictive to maintain long term, the Whole30 is designed to be done only for 30 days.

What is the hardest day of the Whole30 program? ›

Day 10 & 11 – The Hardest Days

These days are notoriously the hardest days on Whole30 because you've gone through almost two weeks of the program, but haven't seen any of the benefits yet.

Why do your pants get tighter on Whole30? ›

Sure enough, I was up 2.6lbs “overnight.” It's water retention and the beginning of the infamous “my pants are tighter” phase of Whole30 as the body continues expelling all the junk and getting used to a new way of eating. Day 8ish is usually a bit of a digestive adventure, so we'll see where things go.

What is the average weight loss on Whole30? ›

Truly, there are no new weight reduction tips. Whole30 is a great way to reset your eating habits and jump start your weight loss journey. While results will vary from person to person, many people report losing 10-15 pounds in the first month.

Do you actually lose weight on Whole30? ›

Whole30 has gained a reputation as an effective program for weight loss and overall health improvement. Many individuals have reported successful weight loss outcomes while following the Whole30 guidelines.

Do people usually lose weight on Whole30? ›

"If you're consuming fewer calories than you usually do while following the Whole30, as well as cutting out a lot of processed foods, alcohol, and added sugars and instead eating lean protein, fruits, and veggies, it's very likely that you will lose weight," she said—which is why, despite not being able to check the ...

What diet is closest to Whole30? ›

Paleo and Whole30 are similar, as they both promote eating whole foods and prohibit sugar, alcohol, dairy and processed foods.

How much weight can you lose on Whole30 in a month? ›

As one of those Whole30 devotees you're probably pretty annoyed with by now, allow me to explain. Three years ago, I dropped 30 pounds (and kept it off) by doing the Whole30 and continuing to eat well in the months that followed. During the 30 days on the program, I lost 11 pounds.

What are the side effects of the Whole30 diet? ›

  • Potential Digestive Problems. Doing the Whole30 diet might result in problems with your digestion because the diet bans beans. ...
  • Worsened Cravings. Since the Whole30 diet is basically a month-long exercise in avoiding certain foods, you may start to desire the foods you eliminated more. ...
  • Reduced Nutrient Intake.
Dec 13, 2023

Do you go into ketosis on Whole30? ›

No. The Whole30 diet doesn't have a carb limit, so it's not meant to put you in ketosis. However, it tends to be lower in carbohydrates than a standard American diet (SAD) since it cuts out grains, traditional baked foods, and processed items, which are major sources of carbs.

What is the pancake rule for Whole30? ›

The Pancake Rule eliminates baked goods, foods-with-no-brakes, and treats, even if they're made with technically compatible ingredients. Remember, the program isn't just about identifying food sensitivities. It's about creating new healthy habits, and examining your emotional relationship with food.

Is almond milk allowed on Whole30? ›

It's got only four ingredients: water, organic almonds, organic acacia gum, and sea salt. You've seen this in literally every grocery store, and now you know: Yes, you can drink it while doing Whole30. Silk's unsweetened vanilla carton is fair game, too.

How long does it take to see results from Whole30? ›

It can take several weeks before you learn to trust the “hungry” and “full” signals your body is sending you—and you may not have been eating enough in the beginning, because you were afraid of all that fat. Many Whole30'ers report that they didn't feel or see “the magic” until day 45, 60, or beyond.

Do you gain weight back after Whole30? ›

Many people will lose weight on a diet like Whole30, but weight loss isn't the only goal. The diet can also help if you are at risk for diabetes, and help with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. But after a 30-day wonder diet like Whole30, it's likely weight will return if you don't follow a few rules.

Can you do Whole30 for more than 30 days? ›

In addition, while the Whole30 is totally doable for a 30, 60, or 90 day period, it wasn't designed to be a part of your everyday life forever.

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