For many of us, the start of the new year signals a time to rebound from holiday indulgences and begin a new diet and healthy eating plan. Our team at HOMEFIELD in New Braunfels has been spending the month of February doing a 30-day diet plan called Whole30.
You can learn more about Whole30 on their website, but basically it is an elimination diet that acts as a nutritional reset for your body. According to Whole30.com the diet helps you curb “unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, and balance your immune system.”
That all sounds great, but in practice, a restrictive diet can be a real challenge to maintain. That’s why there’s strength in numbers and why the HOMEFIELD New Braunfels team is facing the challenge together. Having a good support network can make or break a diet.
A Whole30 diet eliminates the following foods for 30 days:
- sugar of any kind (that includes artificial sweeteners, agave nectar, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, etc.)
- alcohol (not even for cooking)
- grains (wheat, corn, bran, starch, rice, quinoa, etc.)
- legumes (beans, lentils, peanuts, soy, tofu, chickpeas, etc.)
- dairy (cheese, milk, yogurt, kefir, sour cream, butter, etc.)
- carrageenan, MSG or sulfites
So basically, analyze every food label and cut out everything that makes food tasty…. Well, luckily, here at HOMEFIELD, we have a tool to make dieting a little bit easier—a Big Green Egg grill. Finding Whole30 compliant foods means spending a lot of time cooking for yourself, and having a versatile grill like the Big Green Egg on hand makes lunchtime a breeze. With the Egg, even the simplest foods taste like a dish prepared by a master chef.
The Egg’s ceramic kamado cooker design circulates heat like a convection oven locking in your food’s moisture for supremely juicy pork, chicken and beef.
Here’s one Whole30 compliant recipe for a flavorful and tender pork butt that will satisfy all your barbecue cravings without a high calorie, sugary sauce.
Morgan’s Whole30 Compliant Pork Butt for the Big Green Egg Grill
Ingredients
- 2 Lb. Pork Butt
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 Tbsp Cumin
- 2 Tbsp Chipotle
- 2 Tbsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
- 1 Tbsp Paprika
- Pinch of Cayenne
- Cherry Wood Smoking Chunks
Instructions
Combine dry ingredients to create a tasty Whole30 compliant pork rub. Coat the pork butt with olive oil, season with rub mixture and let it chill overnight. If you plan on using wood smoking chips, be sure to soak them in water overnight as well. Cherry Wood Chips are recommended.
Set the EGG for indirect cooking with a ConvEggtor at 225°F. Use wood smoking chips for desired flavoring. Wrap the soaked chips in a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the foil- wrapped chips on the coals. Place the pork butt in the EGG and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Wrap the meat in butcher paper and continue to cook until internal temperature reaches 200°F. Total cook time: 3-4 hours depending on size.
What are your favorite Whole30 diet recipes? Let us know in the comment box below.
