DAY 4 & 5 - Whole30® vs gatherings with LOTS-O-CRAZY Food.

First off, I DID IT!

DAY 4
A previously scheduled gathering of out of town family requesting a hometown favorite pizza meal followed by make your own sundaes with all the fixins AT MY HOUSE! Challenging to say the least, everyone asking "aren't you eating pizza". I answer with the Whole30® explanation and how I believe in it and refer to it like a cleanse of sorts. Only to be dished (which I knew) a hodge-podge helping of naysayers, true supporters and supporters that are encouraging and rolling their eyes simultaneously.
By the way, I ate well that day, bacon wrapped asparagus, eggs, huge beautiful salad loaded with veggies.

DAY 5
The Cake Battle. My brother-in-law [Gary] and I celebrated our birthday's together (previously scheduled meal and dessert) with a meal and our favorite cake from our favorite bakery at my mother-in-laws. The cake, is ridiculously sweet and rich and did I mention ridiculous. After I was watched by many, inquiring about what I was and was not eating, Gary said, "well I know you will eat cake with me". He could not believe I declined, and stated that I would regret it.... I thought to myself, seriously?? The regret would be if were to eat it!

So, I was faced with many challenges even beyond what I mentioned and the saving grace was that I had all REAL FOOD available to me, pre-prepared and ready to go. I really did not crave the other things around me. I had moments, don't get me wrong... Those foods are [were] habit.

Made this yumminess on Sunday.

Thank you holisticallyengineered.com

www.holisticallyengineered.com

Butternut Squash Breakfast Skillet

Ingredients
    12 oz butternut squash, peeled and diced into ½” cubes
    1 Tbsp oil of choice
    1 lb homemade breakfast sausage
    ½ tsp salt
    ½ tsp pepper
    ½ tsp onion powder
    ½ cup water

Instructions
In a large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp of oil over medium-high heat
Add the butternut squash and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Add the water, cover the pan loosely, and cook for 4 minutes or until
   the water has absorbed and the squash is tender.
Push the squash to the sides of the pan.
Add the sausage in the middle of the pan and begin to brown
  (do not mix with the squash until cooked)
Once the sausage has cooked through, mix it with the squash and add the seasonings.
Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to heat through.