Easy Meal Prep Tips to Get You Started on The Whole30® Program

This post is sponsored by Ball® Home Canning; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Alright, y’all! We’ve survived the holiday season and now it’s time to get back to business and focus on those New Year’s Resolutions! ? Instead of making a list of resolutions, I like to set goals that help me to be a better version of me! Last year, I made a goal to take more time for myself and develop a consistent self-care routine. I am happy to report that I actually achieved and attained that goal!

Keeping self-care in mind, I decided that it was time to make some changes and upgrade my diet regimen to include a variety of healthier foods. I also decided to get back into my meal prepping routine to take some of the stress out of deciding what to eat every single day. What better way to kickstart this new lifestyle change than with The Whole30® Program!

What is the Whole30 Program?

Whole30® is a 30-day program that is designed to eliminate cravings, improve energy and sleep, and could result in weight loss. The program encourages the consumption of whole and unprocessed foods such as meat, seafood, and eggs; vegetables and fruit; natural fats; and herbs, spices, and seasonings.

As a Registered Dietitian, I am always asked about The Whole30® Program and from my own, personal research and positive testimonies from close friends and family, I’ve always considered it to be a great start towards a healthier lifestyle. And I am excited to try it for myself!

To make this Whole30® Journey easy and stress-free, I decided to prep my meals with the help of Ball® Jars! Ball® Jars are a great way to preserve food and they make the cutest drinking glasses! I had a few of the larger Ball® Jars handy, but I still needed a variety of sizes to hold different meals, so I headed to Walmart to get everything that I needed.

Ball® Jars come in several different sizes. I purchased the 16oz Ball® Wide Mouth Jars to hold my soup and the 4oz Ball® 4oz Jars for snacks such as fruit, nuts, and veggies. The 4oz jars came with these nifty Ball® Leak-Proof Storage Lids to help keep my food nice and fresh.

Since I’m usually out and about during lunchtime, I decided to prep my snacks and lunches for the week. I kept my menu simple and prepared an Apple Almond Salad with an easy homemade vinaigrette and a Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup. My snacks included red bell peppers, almonds, and apple slices.

When layering the salad into the Ball® Mason Jar, I recommend pouring the salad dressing in first, followed by the greens and the rest of the ingredients. That way, when you pour your salad into a bowl, the salad dressing will conveniently be on top. 

The Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup was a cinch to make! I placed sliced red peppers, freshly sliced garlic cloves, and tomatoes onto a baking sheet and drizzled them with a little oil and salt & pepper. I baked them until soft and placed those ingredients into my food processor until smooth. I added a little low sodium chicken broth and basil, and that was it! It was sooo good! I used the 16oz Wide Mouth Ball® Jars to securely pack my soup for the week.

My Initial Thoughts

Even though I was super excited to get started I was a little hesitant about omitting things such as dairy and rice, which are not allowed on The Whole30® Program. But then I remembered that there are several Whole30® approved substitutions such as cashew milk and cauliflower rice. This made me feel a lot better!

If you’re thinking about starting The Whole30® Program, head to Walmart and stock up on Ball® Mason Jars to make your meal preparation a breeze! And to win some really cool prizes such as Ball® Products, a Whole30® Cookbook, & Gift Cards click HERE to play the “Spin to Win” Game!

Be sure that you are following me on Instagram for a few updates during my journey!