Whole30® Hacks with Ball® Jar

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

It was a little over 8 years ago when I was first introduced to Whole30® and Paleo lifestyle. I needed something that could be done while enjoying life. Didn’t take a ton or prep and thought. We were planning our wedding and I had just started Crossfitting. I was also leaving my 20’s. We had just moved. I had started a new job and I just needed to get healthy. I read all the books and cleared out my pantry. I dove in head first while also bringing a lot of friends and family along in our journey. 

Read all the way to the bottom, we are sharing a great Ibotta offer you won’t want to miss.

Whole30®

What is Whole30®? Whole30® is a reset. Your focus of a Whole30® is on making better food choices and learning to love real food again. Change your cravings from the processed foods you have been consuming to eating real foods that grow in the ground. Best part about this program is that you don’t need to weigh or measure, count calories, restrict calories, or purchase everything organic or grass-fed. Your only job is to stick to the Whole30® rules for 30 straight days, no cheats, no slips, no special occasions.

What to Avoid for 30 Days

• Sugar (real or processed)
• Dairy
• Legumes
• Grains
• Alcohol
• MSG, Sulfites, carrageenan
• Treats with approved ingredients aka Whole30 Brownies. A brownie is still a brownie even when made with Coconut flour
• The scale (hardest part for me)

Head on over to Whole30® for all details on this program.

Now we all know life is crazy. We are all busy with kids, school activities, jobs, household responsibilities, volunteer work, friends and family. But being busy should not be an excuse as to why completing a Whole30® isn’t possible. So I am here to help! Food prep saves me from making the wrong decisions when it comes to food. So I want to share a few hacks using Ball® Jars to keep you from slipping up during these short 30 days (remember mindset is a huge part of this).

Food Prep

I try to do my food prep on Monday mornings. Weekends are family time and being in the kitchen isn’t fun for me. So I typically order my groceries on Sundays for pickup that day so that Monday morning I am ready to prep. I take into consideration what days we have activities or I have meetings and plan around that.

When I am food prepping, I don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen. So I try “bases” that can be used in different ways throughout the week. But I also don’t have a problem eating the same lunch everyday or breakfast for dinner. Food is fuel. So for instance, my lunch can go from cobb salad base to a taco salad base by changing the meats.

Ball® Jar Food Prep

I have successfully removed the majority of plastics from my kitchen. So it’s only natural that I am going to food prep with my favorite Ball® Jars.

• Cleans easily when done
• Doesn’t leaks
• Sits in my cup holder in car to eat while on the road.

A couple things to make life easier I always brown a lot of ground beef each week to have on hand. My kids eat it for lunch as well as tacos and spaghetti. So that is done and put to the side then able to use it for different meals.  I also buy chicken already roasted and ready to go. This is two fold. Cooking chicken grosses me out and it tastes better this way. Plus it’s easier. So if you are making your own chicken, add in that time. 

But these were all made at the same time and within 30 mins tops of actual prep time. Cook time for the crock pot was longer but I didn’t have to do anything so that doesn’t count. 

Breakfast on the Go

Ball® Jar Omelet: No idea why I haven’t done this even when eating at home. Super easy and cleanup is even easier. Two eggs dropped in a Ball® Jar that’s been sprayed with cooking oil to prevent sticking and 1/2 a cup of toppings. I use whatever veggies we have laying around to add to this omelet to go. Once all the ingredients are in there shake it up and toss it in a pan for a quick reheat.. And of course, everything but bagel seasoning bc that goes with everything. 

Lunch on the Go

Salads are my lunch go to even when I am out I prefer a salad to keep from feeling stuffed and sleepy after lunch. So these are great for on the go as well as at home since they are made and eaten with very little prep. I put 2 tbsp of dressing on the bottom and then layer it with protein next to keep lettuce crisper. Top it off with some nuts to add  some crunch. Ready to eat? Turn the Ball® Jar upside down and let the dressing coat everything. Then enjoy!

Dinner Ready to Go

Whole30® Chicken Tortilla-Less Soup or Sub Chicken for Ground Beef and Make Taco Soup

• 1.5 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts or taco ground beef cooked
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 10-ounce cans tomatoes with green chiles
• 1 14.5-ounce can Whole30 compliant chicken broth
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder 
• 1-3 teaspoons chipotle pepper
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 zucchinis chopped or cut into 1/2″ half moons
• 1 14-ounce can full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream whisked until smooth

Garnishes:

• fresh avocado slices
• red onions sliced thin
• fresh cilantro chopped
• lime juice

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to crockpot except protein and coconut milk.
2. Cook on high for 4 hours. Then add coconut milk and stir until blended. Put half of a cup of cooked protein in each Ball® Jar. Add add soup to each jar. 

Not only was this super quick and easy to prep, but I also spent very little money.  It’s easy, convenient, healthy, affordable and good for the environment. I mean could it be any better? I’ll be sharing more meals as we follow along with the Whole30® but just wanted to get you all off to a start. It doesn’t have to be difficult. With a bit of planning you will be good to go. 

Stock up on Ball® Jars next time you are at Walmart, making your Whole30® easier to complete because you are doing it with me, right? Earn $1 on 1/12pk Ball/Kerr jars using the Ibotta app.

“Spin to Win” some amazing Ball®/Whole30® prizes by following this link.