Book Review: The New Whole30

The New Whole30: The Definitive Plan to Transform Your Health, Habits, and Relationship with Food by Melissa Urban
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Whole30 is a 30-day protocol that guides the reader through removing foods commonly associated with food intolerances and sensitivities and reintroducing them to see whether they tolerate them well. This book is an updated version of the program published in 2015. The author states that changes were made based on the latest science and seeks to eliminate the smallest number of foods while maximizing nutrition and health. The goal remains the same: food freedom.

There are five parts. Part 1: Welcome to the Whole30, which covers the program rules, the rule changes, a new plant-based version, checklists, planning instructions, and the Whole30 timeline. Part 2 covers the frequently asked questions (FAQ). Part 3, Cooking Whole30, provides the tools and cooking tips for success. Part 4 is dedicated to the original Whole30 program with rules, a meal template, a shopping list, and compliant recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides, sauces, snacks, and more. Part 5 covers the plant-based version with the same resources of rules, a template, a shopping list, and recipes.

An elimination diet and reintroduction protocol remain the gold standard for identifying food sensitivities. I highly recommend this book for those committed to finding their food freedom.

Goals of the plan
· Identify food sensitivities and adverse food reactions
· Create new tools to navigate stress and negative emotions
· Restore a healthy relationship with food and your body
· Create a personalized, sustainable, joyful diet based on your learnings (p. 19)

The Whole30 timeline provides a picture of what the journey will look and feel like based on the millions who have previously completed it. The FAQ section is thorough and helpful. Although I don’t enjoy cooking, I appreciate the variety of cuisines represented in the recipes and the valuable tips. If this is your first time trying an elimination diet and reintroduction protocol, this book has you covered.

The tone and rules of the new Whole30 are softer. Some might miss the tough love or disagree with the changes. If this is your first time trying an elimination protocol, don’t be overwhelmed by all the recipes—you can keep it simple.

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