Smarty Pledge to Purge #3: The Whole Tulip Pantry Purge

By Laura Fellows, winner of The Whole Tulip Smarty Pledge to Purge

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing me as the winner of the The Whole Tulip, “Pledge to Purge” giveaway. Prior to this journey, I felt that my knowledge of healthy eating was above average, but I just had a gut feeling that some of my chronic health problems such as allergies and skin conditions may be linked to my diet after countless other remedies had failed. I had experimented with eliminating select foods such as dairy and caffeine, but I was not seeing the desired results. I did not know how to change my diet for the better, especially not without taking the JOY out of eating, which is of tremendous importance! Also, as a stay-at-home mom, I feel a tremendous responsibility to buy and prepare the best available foods for my family. At times, I became frustrated with the task of preparing time-efficient meals for my family that did not include processed, unhealthy ingredients. In the short time that I spent with The Whole Tulip sisters, I am amazed at the wealth of information and powerful tools that they have bestowed up me! Based on the positive results I’ve experienced from this program, I have decided to continue eliminating foods containing dairy and gluten. Additionally, I have limited grains in my diet to rice and quinoa, of which I usually have in the evenings. I have significantly reduced the amount of caffeine and added sugars.

One of the most surprising things I learned from, The Whole Tulip, is that some varieties of whole grains, including gluten-free grains, are not for everyone. Prior to this experience, I was hopelessly devoted to eating oatmeal for breakfast. It was “engrained” in me that oatmeal is a good source of nutrition and energy to start my day. There is so much emphasis today on health problems related to gluten products, that I had never considered how other grains could affect the body. I took their suggestion and used The Whole Tulip Winter Cleanse as an opportunity to eliminate all grains from my diet and take notes. I found that I was much less sluggish in the morning. I quickly noticed that it took me little or no time at all to get warmed up and tackle the day when I started with a breakfast smoothie or warm chia pudding, in lieu of the usual oatmeal. I felt more energetic throughout the day. My increased energy was most noticeable in the evening, after I put my daughter to bed. Usually, by this point in the day, I would feel wiped out. However, during the Winter Cleanse, I still had sufficient energy to spend quality time with my husband in the evening. Additionally, I was finally able to kick my caffeine habit. I believe that by fueling my body with the best foods for me, I did not crave the pick-me-up that coffee used to provide for me. I no longer get caffeine headaches, either.

As for the chronic health problems that I had hoped to remedy, I am very happy to say that I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my allergies as a result of this program. I used to wake up every morning with sneezing fits and a runny nose, which usually lasted about an hour or so. If there is something in my bedroom that was triggering the allergies, I was never able to pinpoint it. Since the Winter Cleanse, these symptoms have disappeared. I also suffer from awful seasonal allergies in both the spring and fall. I am almost looking forward to the 2014 spring allergy season this year to confirm whether or not the changes that I have made in my diet will make a positive impact on those seasonal allergies! As for my skin problems, I am still waiting to see a significant improvement in my eczema, but I feel positive this will come with time. I will say that my skin does seem a bit more hydrated, and my over-all complexion appears brighter.

Through the pantry assessment and grocery tour, Adri and Carolyn, helped me come up with a solid plan to provide some healthier alternatives for my family. I look forward to trying their Homemade Granola recipe, so that my husband can replace his overly-processed cold cereal breakfast with this healthy alternative. I like that I am able to prepare a large batch of granola for him to use throughout the week, and it will not take any extra time for him to prepare his breakfast before heading out to work. For lunch, he will hopefully not be packing a cold-cut sandwich any more. His criteria for a packed lunch is one that does not require containers that need to be washed and transported to/ from work, or the use of the office microwave. He was very enthusiastic about their ideas for bringing a whole wheat pita or all-natural burrito wrapper (Maria and Ricardo’s), stuffed with a variety of beans, whole grains, vegetables, all-natural veggie burgers, and healthy fats such as avocado. For dinner, I am excited to try out the frozen quinoa and brown rice, which do not contain any harmful additives. While I don’t mind preparing these foods from scratch, sometimes I don’t have the 30-50 minutes that it takes to cook these grains. Everyone in our family enjoyed the protein-packed Mung Bean Fettuccine that they suggested. This was a great alternative to the refined wheat pasta that was previously in my pantry. (Note: that old pasta has since been reincarnated into a variety of “pasta jewelry” designed and created by my 2-year-old daughter!)

The recipes that The Whole Tulip provided through their new eBook, Let’s Cook and the Winter Cleanse guide made the cleansing experience not only bearable, but in fact really enjoyable! Through their recipes, I discovered new ways to use produce and other ingredients that I had not considered. For example, the Sweet and Spicy Collard slaw was as delicious as it was beautiful with the combination of raw green collards, purple cabbage, and orange carrots. The dressing for this recipe made the dish very satisfying as it combined sweet, spicy, sour flavors, with a bit of saltiness as well. The Apple Squash Carrot and Creamy Parsnip soups were lovely recipes to warm the soul and delight the taste buds during these cold winter days. The Raw Chocolate pudding made with zucchini and avocado was unlike any dessert I have ever prepared. I was actually excited for my daughter to eat it, since she viewed it as a special treat while unknowingly getting an extra dose of green veggies.

Since this experience, I have been singing, Adri and Carolyn’s, praises all over town! I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of health that they have given to me and my family. A thousand thanks! – Laura Fellows

Do you want to eat healthy, but set aside little time for yourself to shop and prepare the right foods?

At The Whole Tulip, we help do away with those challenges. Our approach is simple: we meet you where you are and help come up with simple and do-able ways to get your whole family on the healthy train. Sign up to receive our free newsletter with recipes, health tips and information on upcoming classes and programs. Get started today with our new eBook, “Let’s Cook. Real Food Recipes Worth Knowing By Heart.”