Who We Are

Two Maris(s)as: We started out as co-workers. We had the same name, the same job title, and the same zodiac sign (our birthdays are two days apart, is life not wonderful??). We later found out that we share a middle name (also with different spellings) as well as a love for yoga and dogs and cooking and rainy day naps and writing letters by hand. We also share a passion for equity and education and doing what we can to make this world more just and well and fair.

What’s the Whole30?

The Whole 30 is a thirty day program where you only eat healthy fruits, vegetables, meats, and nuts. You specifically avoid all grains, all dairy, all added sugars, all sulfites and other additives, and all processed foods. The purpose of doing this is twofold: 1) by eating foods that are easy to digest and that our bodies are designed to consume, you are able to heal your gut and cut down on inflammation in the body and 2) by eliminating foods your body may be sensitive to, you are able to pinpoint how your body reacts to different foods. After the 30 days, you may choose to experiment with dairy or natural sugars to see how your body reacts. For more information, visit the Whole30 site here to learn more about the program guidelines, check out the awesome resources and community, and read about all the benefits of eliminating grains and added sugars.

Two Maris(s)as’ Food Philosophy and Guidelines:

Now that we have finished our first Whole 30, we are both transitioning to a set of guidelines that is a bit more lenient than what is required under the Whole 30. Here is the deal:

Marissa: Growing up food was the central element of every gathering. I learned tricks and tips about preparing tasty staples at an early age and loved picking raspberries from my dad’s backyard garden to use for pies on my imaginary one-woman cooking show. In my early college days, I had a number of vegetarian friends, and it was the first time I was aware of how central meat was to the meals I grew up eating. I started cooking mostly plant-based meals from college on and loved being inventive with veggies. My digestive system has always struggled with dairy and some gluten and I’ve often wondered about food intolerance. When MM proposed the Whole 30 challenge, I was instantly interested. The last month was the first time in years I’ve consistently added meat in my diet and have been able to completely stay off dairy. I noticed changes in my energy levels, skin and more. I don’t believe there is a right diet or lifestyle for any one person. I believe we all must be aware of our bodies and find what is right for our own health. These are the guidelines I hope to follow as I maintain a healthy lifestyle but I know that food has and will always be a celebration of life, people and place so I’ll be leaving wiggle room for those little joys.

• Largely whole 30 approved foods = aiming for about 75 percent of my diet to be whole veggies, fruits, and nuts. I plan to include fish and small portions of meat 1-3 times throughout the week.
• As a lover of baked goods, I’ll be experimenting with grain-free treats as much as possible allowing for honey and maple syrup.
• I’m continuing to slowly add dairy into my diet with awareness of which dairy is okay for my body. I plan to minimize processed grains in my diet as much as possible.

Marisa: I am a huge skeptic of fad diets, so I was a little leery of the Whole 30 at first, and the paleo label makes me cringe, but it is hard to be skeptical of a diet that simply encourages you to eat tons of fresh fruit and vegetables and humanely raised, additive-free meat, right? That same natural tendency towards skepticism comes out in full force when I see Paleo recipes that call for complicated ingredients like fermented cod liver oil. I really believe you should know what you are eating, where it came from and how it was made, as much as possible. At the same time, I’m working really hard to beat my sugar addiction and to find ways to make eating Whole quick, easy and affordable. With that in mind, here are my guidelines for myself and for the recipes I’ll post:

• For the most part, I plan to continue eating Whole 30 approved foods.
• I am particularly focused on making sure that most of my meals consist of proteins, healthy fats and non-starchy vegetables, though honey or maple syrup for baking is fine.
• I believe that food should be a joyful experience, so I am leaving room for occasional treats that are off plan, like wine, great cheese, or a croissant. Like all things in life, they should be consumed in moderation, though.