10 Whole30 Pantry Staples

I'm sure you've heard of your friends, family, or coworkers talking about the Whole30® program by now. Maybe they even are doing a Whole30® in January to get a kick start on those New Years' resolutions. If you haven't heard of Whole30®, it's a diet similar to paleo, as it eliminates gluten, grains, dairy, legumes, and refined sugars from the diet. There are a few distinct differences between the two diets, however. Whole30® eliminates all sugar from the diet, including natural sugars such as honey, coconut sugar, and pure maple syrup, which are allowed on the paleo diet. Further, Whole30® also is more restrictive than the paleo diet because it does not allow desserts of any kind. Paleo goodies, such as muffins, pancakes, cupcakes and more, are all off limits! But remember, the Whole30® diet is meant to be a short term elimination diet over 30 days with a reintroduction period, whereas paleo is seen more as a lifestyle. So you don't have to swear off cupcakes forever! The Whole30® diet focuses on eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, meat and seafood, nuts, seeds, and healthy oils. The good news is that Wildly Organic carries plenty of products that are Whole30® friendly!

While these products are not Whole30® certified, they fall within the guidelines of the Whole30® diet and are great pantry staples to have on hand while you complete the Whole30® program.

10 Whole30® Pantry Staples

Olive Oil

Olive oil should come as no surprise as being the first on this list of Whole30® pantry staples. It's true when you're on a Whole30® diet, you won't be able to hit up all the local restaurants and instead will need to do a lot of cooking at home. High-quality olive oil, like Wildly Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, is great for cooking all of your favorite Whole30® recipes. Wildly Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced by centrifuge, never exposed to heat and has no added chemicals, resulting in a very high-quality olive oil.

Coconut Oil

While we're on the topic of cooking oils, coconut oil is a great alternative to oils like canola or vegetable oils, which are not allowed on Whole30®. Coconut oil can be used for everyday cooking, much like olive oil. Wildly Organic makes three different types of coconut oils -- Centrifuge-Extracted Virgin Coconut Oil, Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil, and Refined (Expeller-Pressed) Coconut Oil -- all varying in texture and flavor. To decide which one is the right coconut oil for you, learn more about each of the different types of coconut oil.

Activated Nuts

Nuts are a great source of healthy fats while on the Whole30® diet. They make a delicious crust for chicken or seafood and are a tasty snack when eaten in moderation. To get the most nutrition, look for already soaked and dehydrated nuts, like Wildly Organic Nuts. You'll want to stay away from peanuts, which are actually a legume. Instead, opt for other nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans are all acceptable on the Whole30® program.

Nut Butters

Like nuts, nut butters are a wonderful source of healthy fats without the carbs.

It's important to remember that peanut butter is not allowed on the Whole30® diet, as peanuts are legumes and not actually nuts. Don't worry, Wildly Organic has plenty of organic nut butters to choose from, like almond butter, pecan butter, and nut butter medley (made with cashews, pecans, almonds and walnuts!)

Guess what? All Wildly Organic nut butters are made with JUST nuts... no added sugar here!

While dessert is a big no-no on the Whole30® diet, nut butters have other uses. You can make an almond butter sauce for your protein of choice for dinner or eat pecan butter with apples for a little protein before a work out.

Coconut Flour

While baking is frowned upon on the Whole30® program, coconut flour has plenty of other uses in the kitchen. It's great for binding meatballs or thickening a sauce, without the gluten! Coconut flour is low in carbs and high in fiber, which makes it a great choice for your Whole30® pantry.

Wildly Organic Coconut Flour is produced by drying organic coconuts at low temperatures and carefully pressing the dried coconuts so that no heat is generated.

Almond Flour

Like coconut flour, almond flour is also low-carb and high-fiber, making it a favorite amongst Whole30® followers. Wildly Organic Almond Flour is made from California almonds, and contains no chemicals, no additives, and no fillers. Just pure almond goodness. Almond flour can be used similarly to coconut flour. Use it as a binder in meatballs, but it is also great for dredging proteins, like chicken or salmon, for a tasty Whole30® approved dinner.

Cacao Powder

Yes, cacao powder is allowed on the Whole30® diet! Although desserts are off-limits on the Whole30® program, cacao has other culinary uses. Cacao powder is great for flavoring stews or used in a rub for meats. Cacao brings a depth of flavor to meat dishes, which makes it a great option to keep in your Whole30® pantry. If you're looking for a great spice rub recipe using cacao powder, try out this recipe for Cacao Spiced Steak Rub. If you're on the Whole30® diet, you want to look for 100% cacao powder, like Wildly Organic Fermented Cacao Powder. Conventional cocoa powders are ground under high temperatures of up to 300F, which degrades many of the nutritional benefits found in cacao. However, Wildly Organic Fermented Cacao Powder is made by cold-pressing raw, organic cacao beans at a temperature that doesn’t exceed 104F. Read more about the Amazing Health Benefits of Cacao!

High Quality Salt

While salt of all kinds are allowed on the Whole30® program, it's best to find salt that is high quality and not stripped of its nutrients, like plain table salt is. It's true, table salt is highly refined, devoid of minerals and even contains anti-caking agents and sugar! Learn more about the problems with table salt.

Instead, opt for a mineral-rich, high quality salt like Wildly Organic Himalayan Pink Salt, which is pure, hand-mined salt found naturally occurring deep inside the Himalayan Mountains of northern Pakistan.

There are no anti-caking agents or sugar added to Wildly Organic Himalayan Pink Salt - just pure unrefined "raw" salt - perfect for seasoning your Whole30® recipes!

Spices and Seasonings

A Whole30® pantry wouldn't be complete without spices and seasonings! Much like salt, spices and seasonings are essential for making your food taste good! What would food be without spices? Well... bland! Wildly Organic has the highest quality Certified Organic Spices and Seasonings from trusted sources around the world. From Organic Garlic Powder to Organic Paprika, Wildly Organic spices are freshly processed and handled with the best of care to ensure they are as flavorful, colorful and potent as possible. When you're cooking on a Whole30® diet, don't forget to try out different spices and seasonings to flavor your food. You'll be surprised by how flavorful your meals can be!

Thirty & Co, LLC Whole30® and the Whole30 logo are registered trademarks of Thirty & Co, LLC

Are you following the Whole30® program? What are your favorite Whole30® pantry staples?