From Our CEO, Melissa Urban

Since the inception of Whole30 in 2009, my dream has been that everyone who wants to experience the life-changing benefits of the Whole30 program would have access. To facilitate that, we’ve always made the entirety of the Whole30 program freely available.

However,  learning and growing with our community has taught us that financial inequities are not the only barriers to successfully completing a Whole30, or joining the Whole30 community.

Internally, our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are a new and more comprehensive means of furthering my original dream. We want to ensure everyone who wants to be a part of the Whole30 community:

  • Feels welcomed, and sees themselves in our community
  • Knows their unique perspective, life experience, and priorities will be recognized and honored
  • Believes they will be treated with kindness, compassion, and respect
  • Feels included and represented in our resources, social presence, and business practices
  • Internalizes the sense of belonging to, and further shaping and fully forming, a community and brand of which they can be proud

On a much larger scale, I hope Whole30 will lead by example and with integrity. I hope we encourage other organizations in our industry to make similar efforts, thereby increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the food and wellness industries as a whole.

We’ve got work to do. – Melissa

Whole30 & Whole30 Approved Statements

Whole30 & Whole30 Approved

Whole30 Team Photo. Whole30 HQ Members smiling at their cameras.

As a health and wellness company that thrives because of people’s real life commitments to our program and its partners, Whole30 is committed to using our varied forms of communication and engagement to build and advocate for greater awareness around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Our Whole30 Approved® label is designed to help you identify products that are 100% compatible with the rules of our Whole30 program. It also lets you know that the product line and company who stands behind it have been vetted by our team. Usually, this only relates to ingredients and Animal Welfare Standards.

Moving forward, we want our community members to be able to trust that seeing a Whole30 Approved® label on a brand means that this inclusion was made with our larger commitment to social justice and food and wellness space impact in mind. 

We are committed to leveraging our current networks in addition to proactively seeking out partners that help further our efforts in creating greater awareness around – and easier access to – the Whole30 program and Whole30 Approved®  products. 

Additionally, as we move forward in partnership development, we will continually audit our categories for Whole30 approval, as well as our overall Whole30 Approved® portfolio, in line with our overall DEI strategy as outlined below. 

In the summer of 2020, we launched the Coalition for Change: an opt-in, collaborative alliance of Whole30 Approved brands who meet monthly to discuss foundational concepts related to representation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the food and wellness industry, as well as the practical changes and best practices that can be implemented to reflect these concepts.

Updates from the People & Culture Team

January 16th, 2023: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

  • Today, the Whole30 HQ team is focusing on remembrance, reverence, and reflection to honor the incredible life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    The Federal holiday celebrating Dr. King’s birthday invites all of us to deeply consider what his hopes and dreams of equality and racial harmony mean today. This year, on the 40th anniversary of the holiday, the King Center’s theme of reflection is “It Starts With Me: Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems.” Community is one of Whole30’s three mission pillars (alongside nutrition and mental health), and we find inspiration in this terminology—beloved community.

    The King Center defines a “beloved community” as one where injustice ceases and love prevails. But we know that, despite progress, inequality still exists in our deeply entrenched systems of racial injustice and white supremacy—in society at large and in the wellness community.

    We at Whole30 remain firmly committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and working diligently toward equal justice and opportunity. We strive to consistently and intentionally build inclusivity into our hiring practices, Whole30 Approved partnerships, recipe creation, influencers and content creators, language, and marketing strategies.

    Today, we invite you to join us in honoring Dr. King by considering how you can participate in the disassembly of long-standing social structures that impair empowerment and hinder the creation of a beloved community.

    One place to start is with a recommended reading list from the King family. Click the link below to get the list.

    Recommended reading list.

December 1st, 2022: Launch of our Content Creator Hub and Rate Sheet

  • As part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, we aim to increase the diversity of our talent and develop and communicate a transparent and equitable compensation practice for our creators. As part of our ongoing commitment to build inclusive spaces for creators across all of our platforms, we launched our Content Creator Hub page, where prospective creators can find answers to frequently asked questions about working with Whole30, and information on how to create content for and collaborate with us. Within that page, you’ll also find our our Content Creator Rate Sheet, which serves as a guide for the minimum rates we offer for content creation, and demonstrates our commitment to equitable and open pay practices.

    Visit our Content Creator Hub

November 24th, 2022: National Day of Mourning

  • Friends and relatives, my name is @Alex_pi3. I hail from the Great Navajo Nation, and I’m of the Diné people.

    The Navajo Nation is the largest federally-recognized Native American Tribe in the U.S. with a population of more than 300,000. We also hold the largest land base reservation in the four corners region (UT, AZ, NM, CO). I’ve been all over the 27,000 square miles of the Navajo Nation, including walking the 160+ miles across in prayer. This is my favorite place to be, spending this time on and with the land.

    People speak of where I come from as a “food desert.” We have less than 15 grocery stores on the Nation–an area nearly the size of South Carolina–and Natives are 2 to 4 times more likely to be food insecure. However a more accurate descriptor would be “food apartheid,” which is defined as, “past and present racially discriminatory political structures which impact food access and control.”

    Our connections mostly happen in our homes, with family, and often over meals. The November dedication to Native American Heritage Month offers opportunities for exchanges as we sit around our tables and share meals, stories, and important cultural teachings with loved ones. My hope is once this month is over, as you clear your plates and wash your dishes clean, you don’t wash away the feeling of gratitude for these moments and time spent with those you love, and seek more ways to gather and connect with one another.

    May your hearts and bellies be filled this season. Full with joy, laughter, and a deeper appreciation for all the gifts, seen and unseen.

    Ahee’hee, Alex (@Alex_pi3)

    Here are some pages I work in partnership with to help uplift my community and others:

    @hozhocenter: Dedicated to bringing back ancestral life ways, specifically Diné teaching and philosophy
    @Ndn.o: Dedicated to sharing the shocking realities that exist in our communities
    @ke_krew: A mutual aid started by myself and siblings in response to Covid-19

    See the full post here.

October, 23rd 2022: Diwali

  • SAMOSA BITES, 3 WAYS from @masalapaleo

    Happy Diwali! ? Diwali is officially celebrated tomorrow, but we’re featuring this delicious recipe from Pri and Dee of @masalapaleo today, so that you can have time to grab the ingredients and enjoy them tomorrow! Pri and Dee created these recipes for Samosa Bites, 3 ways, and they are sure to be a perfect addition to your Diwali celebrations this week.

    To try these recipes, head to https://whole30.com/recipes/whole30-samosas-bites-three-ways/.

    Audio transcription: Diwali is centered around sparkling lights, nonstop laughter and delicious food. Samosa is one of the all time favorite Diwali snacks and today we are making Whole30 Samosa Bites, Masala Paleo style. Make your base with crispy smashed potatoes or crunchy plantains. The toppings can be a flavorful mashed potato mix or Indian style keema. Or just take our word for it and make both. Want to impress? Go fancy by creating samosa shapes from plantain ribbons and stuffing them. I remember putting up a good fight with my cousins to claim that last crispy samosa. We also created a special plum chutney that adds the extra oomph to this recipe. Assemble the samosa bites and enjoy a beautiful Diwali celebration. Happy Diwali!”

    Get the recipe here
  • View the full post here.

October, 10th 2022: World Mental Health Day

  • When you’re not feeling your best, change can feel overwhelming. Today, on World Mental Health Day, we’re collaborating with clinical psychologist @drvickiebhatia to share strategies for breaking out of a mental health slump.

    While these strategies are supported by research, they are not individualized mental health treatment. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide, seek immediate help or contact the Suicide and Crisis Hotline by dialing 988 or 988lifeline.org

    Here are research-backed ways to start making positive changes to your mental health today:

    1. Focus on one or two core behaviors, rather than making lots of changes at once. Core behaviors may include: having a consistent sleep schedule, not using your phone in bed, getting 5 minutes of outdoor time daily, etc.
    2. Even if you don’t feel motivated to do so, start small and re-engage in activities you usually enjoy. This helps your brain reconnect the activity and experience positive emotions.
    3. Reduce or eliminate time spent on activities that are unimportant and/or make you feel worse. Some examples: excessive TV, gaming, or social media use, using alcohol or other substances, isolating yourself, etc.
    4. Increase behaviors that are consistent with what is important to you. This could be small behaviors on a daily basis or larger activities on a weekly or monthly basis (ideally a mix of both!).
    5. We have many ways of connecting these days, but we’re wired for in person, face-to-face connection. If it isn’t possible, aim for real time connection, such as video chat or a phone call (instead of text or email).
    6. If you find yourself passively scrolling or feeling overwhelmed by the constant barrage of news on social media, take a step back. Engaging in a new activity can redirect your attention and help you learn a new skill at the same time!
    7. For additional support, working with a mental health professional may be the next step. You may have access to mental health services through your school, employer (EAP), or health insurance. Ask for referrals from your Primary Care Physician or support network, or look at a therapist database, such as Psychology Today or Inclusive Therapists.

     

    View the full post here.

September 22nd, 2022: Happy Hispanic/Latinx (e) Heritage Month

  • Happy Hispanic/Latinx (e) Heritage Month! This month-long celebration is from September 15 – October 15, and recognizes the history, culture, positive impact and significant contributions made by Hispanic/Latinx communities in our nation.

    Today we’re sharing this Pipián Rojo recipe from Jess of @dashof_colorandspice. Jess was our @whole30recipes takeover guest last week and she shared some incredible recipes with us. Pipián Rojo is a dish made with dried peppers and seeds. In this recipe, Jess blends the Guajillo peppers, garlic, tomatoes, pumpkin seeds and spices into a smooth, flavorful sauce that is poured onto the chicken to serve and enjoy. Hop over to @whole30recipes to get this recipe and see the rest of Jess’s takeover.

    The use of “Latinx (e)” is a gender-neutral and inclusive alternative to Latino or Latina. The term “Latine” is used as a representation of gender neutrality, honoring the letter “e” from the Spanish language.

    Get the recipe

June 19th, 2022: Juneteenth

  • This Juneteenth, Whole30 is proudly supporting the debut of this @_iamwandaorg short film honoring Black food sheroes past and present. It documents how Black women have used food as a superpower for community building throughout history and shares a vivid vision for the future. We are also joining WANDA in support of their Food Shero Freedom fund.

    WANDA is committed to educating and supporting Black women in agriculture, nutrition, and historical foodways. We are extending a contribution of $10,000 to their fund, which will be granted as fellowship funding to a student in agriculture or dietetics. Join us in the Juneteenth celebration by watching the film and making a contribution to the Food Shero Freedom Fund. You can find the full film and more information about WANDA’s work by tapping the blue link in our bio.

    View the short film here.

June 7th, 2022: Caribbean American Heritage Month

  • June is Caribbean American Heritage Month and we’re honoring it with this delicious meal inspiration from @triangletravelingcaveman and Whole30 Approved @adozencousins with a delicious air fryer jerk salmon with plantains.

    Caribbean American Heritage Month commemoration was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2005 to recognize the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States, including contributions to culture, science, medicine, politics, and the arts.The month aims to recognize the contributions of all Caribbean-American people and to teach people more about Caribbean culture and history.

    We encourage you to learn more about the culture and traditions of Caribbean American people. We love learning from Whole30 Certified Coach @metemgee and Whole30 Envoy @triangletravelingcaveman featured here!

    Click here for the recipe.

June 2022: Pride Month Collaborations

  • Happy Pride Month!

    At Whole30, we recognize and celebrate that queer and trans influence is everywhere in American culture, including—especially—the dining table. LGBTQIA* folks have long been pioneers in the arts, and the culinary arts are no different.

    Some of the most influential figures in American cooking, past and present, are also members of the queer community. Think: the Dean of American Cookery, James Beard; culinary historian, Michael Twitty; and celebrity chefs Cat Cora and Kristen Kish, just to name a few!

    We are so grateful for their contributions to American cooking and eating.?We look forward to celebrating the queer and trans community through the foods we eat, the parades we march in, and the activism we engage in. Stay tuned for delicious recipes from LGBTQIA+ #Whole30 community members throughout the month!

    *The plus sign at the end of “LGBTQIA+” recognizes that queer identities are more expansive, diverse, and dynamic than what can be captured in an acronym. We honor the diversity of queer and trans people and their experiences.

    Rainbow Rollups with Almond Butter Dippin from Reed of @pestoandpotatoesg Sauce
  • Pan Fried Sweet Plantains from Gregory Gourdet of @gg30000
  • Chicken Waldorf Salad from Astala of @eatcleandragqueen

May 1st, 2022: Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

  • May is #AAPImonth. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). This month, we’re collaborating with Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Whole30 Certified Coach Dr. Vickie Bhatia on content that highlights delicious recipes and food traditions from AAPI creatives.

    The AAPI community is an integral part of the American cultural mosaic, including within the health and wellness space. Over 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders trace their roots to over 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, each of which have their own cultural practices, cuisines, and unique histories.

    Community and connection are important values within many AAPI cultures, and Whole30 shares these values. We are guided by our DEI principles to ensure that the Whole30 community is open and accessible to all cultures and communities, and that everyone feels that they belong.

    Whole30 also honors the many contributions to the health and wellness space that have deep roots in Asia, both from the food we eat, to the wellness practices that help us manage stress and our health, connect with our bodies, and enjoy life.

    Countless Whole30s have been enhanced (and made possible) by Asian foods and recipes shared from the various cultures within Asia. In addition, we acknowledge the cultural roots of wellness practices such as yoga, meditation and mindfulness practices, and traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.

    This month, we hope you’ll join us as we share more about the cultural significance behind common Whole30 ingredients and honor the many ways in which the Whole30 community is made better by the AAPI community.

    Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

March 8th, 2022: International Women's Day and Month

  • Today is International Women’s Day and March is Women’s History Month. We’re celebrating by recognizing the women who lead many of our Whole30 Approved partner brands. We asked these founders this question: “What important values do you express through your entrepreneurship?”

    Click through to read some of the responses we received, and be on the lookout for more later this month. Here at Whole30 HQ, we’re honored to collaborate with so many visionary and powerful women.

    Melissa Urban, Whole30 Co-Founder and CEO | @melissau
    Richa Gupta, @goodfoodforgood Founder
    Christine Janae Leoniak, @oomphcooking Founder and CEO
    Kirsten Sandoval, @mesadevida Founder and C(hef)EO
    Angela Mavridis, @tribalifoods CEO and Founder
    Kimberly Chamberland, @bigmountainfoods CEO and Founder

    Learn more about these women CEOs and Founders Learn more about these women CEOs and Founders

January 31, 2022: Black History Month Statement

January 16, 2022: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Statement

  • Over the last few years, we’ve shared our ongoing focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This work is foundational to everything we do at Whole30, from the creators we collaborate with, to the brands we partner with, to the resources we create. In 2022, we are excited to continue that work, with special emphasis on the intersection of Whole30 and:

    ? Food
    ? Community
    ? Mental and emotional wellness

    Thank you for being here with us, and for showing up and supporting our efforts to make the Whole30 program accessible to more people; representational of more cultures, traditions, and cuisines; and welcoming to all.

    View Post

December 20, 2021: Rule Change-MSG Is No Longer off-Limits

  • NEW WHOLE30 RULE: MSG is perfectly acceptable during your Whole30.

     

    You’ll find this new change across our entire website, in all of our PDF downloads, and in any Whole30 blog post that previously referenced MSG. Please make note of this change when sourcing Whole30 rules from existing books, which won’t have this most up-to-date information.

     

    Whole30 CEO Melissa Urban is always evaluating the Whole30 rules against the current science, our clinical experience, and our learnings. The bottom line? There is a lack of verifiable science to back up claims that MSG is the cause of negative health symptoms. And, there is very compelling evidence that “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” is rooted in racism and xenophobia.

     

    That’s why we will no longer specify MSG as off-limits in the Whole30 program rules, effective immediately. This announcement ties together current science and historical learnings with our diversity, equity, and inclusion values. It’s the right call for the program and our Whole30 community.

     

    For a detailed article from Melissa Urban, including an FAQ, click the link below or visit whole30.com/msg.

    Learn More About The Rule Change

November 24, 2021: Thanksgiving Day Message

  • Just like you, the Whole30 HQ team is always learning. This month, we’ve spent time together as a team studying and discussing the resources suggested below and linked in our Story. Tomorrow as we gather with loved ones, we’ll be passing on what we’ve learned to our families, friends, and communities, including educating our loved ones on why Thanksgiving is a day of mourning for many Indigenous Peoples, particularly the Mashpee Wampanoag. It is important to us that we center, support, and celebrate Indigenous People.

     

    The United American Indians of New England (@mahtowin1) commemorate today with a National Day of Mourning to remind people of the genocide that their communities and other Indigenous communities experienced, and the ongoing threats to their land and food sovereignty that they experience still today. And on the west coast, many Indigenous Peoples gather together on Alcatraz Island for an annual Sunrise Ceremony, celebrating their communities and their resistance.

     

    Below are resources that the Whole30 HQ team studied together this month, to educate us on how Indigenous communities observe this day. You can Google the following titles to go directly to these articles:

     

    >The Wampanoag Side of the First Thanksgiving Story by Michelle Tirado

    >The Thanksgiving Tale Is a Harmful Lie. As a Native American, I’ve Found a Better Way to Celebrate By Sean Sherman

    >The ‘Thanksgiving Tribe’ Is Still Fighting for Food Sovereignty by Alexandra Talty

     

    As you gather with family and friends, we invite you to pause, access these resources, read for a moment, and share the information with your community, too.

     

    Guest editing and resources compiled by: @dineaesthetics

     

November 16, 2021:Updated Track 1 Exam and Study Guide released for prospective Whole30 Certified Coaches.

  • Whole30 has updated our Track 1 Exam and  Study Guide released for prospective Whole30 Certified Coaches. Test updates included, among other things, revised wording to better reflect gender and socioeconomic equity and a transition to an untimed test model in recognition of varied learning and testing styles.

    Learn more about becoming a Whole30 coach.

October 11, 2021: Indigenous People's Day

  • We’ve collaborated with Charlie Amáyá Scott of @dineaesthetics to provide insight into Indigenous Peoples Day, and how the Whole30 community can participate, support, and advocate.

     

    From @dineaesthetics: Today is a day to celebrate Indigenous Peoples, our history, our survival, and our brilliance.

     

    It is a day to show the world who we are and to demand justice for the violence our communities have endured and continue to experience.

     

    For many, it is a day to reflect on how you support (or don’t) Indigenous Peoples, and how you can do better: advocate with us, and not for us.

     

    Indigenous Peoples Day is also a movement that began in 1977, when a delegation of Indigenous Peoples asked—at the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas—that Columbus Day be replaced with Indigenous Peoples Day. A day to celebrate us.

     

    In 1992, the first “official” Indigenous Peoples Day was observed in Berkeley, California. Since then, about 130+ cities, 15 states, and more and more colleges and universities are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.

     

    As this movement gathers momentum, this day has become a symbol for us to celebrate, demand justice, and address the historical inaccuracies and atrocities against Indigenous communities within the US Empire.

     

    This day is important for many and has so many different meanings. If you are not Native and want to celebrate and support us, I encourage you to do the following:

     

    LEARN whose stolen land you are on and support them or any local Indigenous organizations. Look up your city at https://native-land.ca 

     

    SIGN, share and support petitions and/or calls of action to recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day where you are.

     

    CELEBRATE and honor Indigenous Peoples BEYOND today, both locally and globally. Work with us towards a collective liberation.

     

    ASK yourself, what does Indigenous Peoples Day mean to you?

     

    Respectfully follow Charlie Amáyá Scott @dineaesthetics for their content focused on joy, justice, and education.

September 16, 2021: Observance of Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day

  • In partnership with Saucy Lips, we published educational content to observe and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day on our Whole30 Recipes Instagram.

    From @dineaesthetics: Today is a day to celebrate Indigenous Peoples, our history, our survival, and our brilliance.

    It is a day to show the world who we are and to demand justice for the violence our communities have endured and continue to experience.

    For many, it is a day to reflect on how you support (or don’t) Indigenous Peoples, and how you can do better: advocate with us, and not for us.

    Indigenous Peoples Day is also a movement that began in 1977, when a delegation of Indigenous Peoples asked—at the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas—that Columbus Day be replaced with Indigenous Peoples Day. A day to celebrate us.

    In 1992, the first “official” Indigenous Peoples Day was observed in Berkeley, California. Since then, about 130+ cities, 15 states, and more and more colleges and universities are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.

    As this movement gathers momentum, this day has become a symbol for us to celebrate, demand justice, and address the historical inaccuracies and atrocities against Indigenous communities within the US Empire.

    This day is important for many and has so many different meanings. If you are not Native and want to celebrate and support us, I encourage you to do the following:

    LEARN whose stolen land you are on and support them or any local Indigenous organizations. Look up your city at https://native-land.ca or tap the blue link in bio

    SIGN, share and support petitions and/or calls of action to recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day where you are.

    CELEBRATE and honor Indigenous Peoples BEYOND today, both locally and globally. Work with us towards a collective liberation.

    ASK yourself, what does Indigenous Peoples Day mean to you?

    Respectfully follow Charlie Amáyá Scott @dineaesthetics for their content focused on joy, justice, and education.

    Watch The Story Watch the Reel

August 5, 2021: Community and Coach Virtual Summit

July 28, 2021: Our Disability Pride Month Statement

  • What is Disability Pride?

    “Disability Pride represents a rejection of the notion that our physical, sensory, mental, and cognitive differences from the non-disabled standard are wrong or bad in any way, and is a statement of our self-acceptance, dignity and pride. It is a public expression of our belief that our disabilities are a natural part of human diversity, a celebration of our heritage and culture, and a validation of our experience.” – Sarah Triano (Quote found via @disabilitypridepa)

    Disability Pride:
    > Celebrates the self-acceptance, dignity, and pride of disabled people
    > Works to dismantle systemic ableism (discrimination and prejudice towards disabled people)
    > Challenges the cultural stigmatization of disability

    July is Disability Pride Month in honor of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July of 1990. The ADA helps to protect the rights of disabled people, but there is still so much more that we can do to listen to and honor the experiences of the disabled community.

    One way we can do that is by learning more about the stories, lives, and pride of the disabled community and by sharing funds to support disability rights movements. We highly recommend learning from the folks at @disability_visibility @DisabilityReframed.

    Copywriting: Nuala Schoen; Editorial oversight: Vickie Singer

June 19, 2021: Juneteenth

  • This statement was created in collaboration with Tori Williams Douglass of White Homework

     

    On June 19th, 1865, the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas learned that they had been freed by federal proclamation. This news was a long time coming. It was two years and five months earlier that the Emancipation Proclamation became law, President Lincoln having signed the order freeing enslaved people in the Confederacy.

     

    Juneteenth is the celebration of the end of race-based chattel slavery in the United States. In 1863 President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, allowing enslaved people to be free. But that didn’t mean enslaved people were suddenly free. In fact, it took more than two years before this federal law was enforced in every state.

     

    The formerly enslaved Black people of Galveston held the inaugural celebration of Juneteenth the very next year, 1866. Juneteenth is the true independence day in the US because it the day that all people became free of chattel slavery.

     

    Juneteenth is a celebration of Black joy, resistance, and rising above adversity. It is a testament to Black Americans creating life and beauty in the grips of unspeakable terror of chattel slavery and, later, Jim Crow. It is an important acknowledgement of the full spectrum of the American story.

     

    It’s also an acknowledgement that the work isn’t done, there is still a long way to go to create a country where all people, regardless of culture, skin color, gender, sexuality, religion, and disability have access to equal opportunities. Juneteenth is a celebration of the values America has proclaimed since the Declaration of Independence: that all people are created equal.

     

    “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” – Fannie Lou Hamer

     

    On June 19th of every year, Americans of all backgrounds come together to celebrate the freedom of Black Americans. Traditionally Black food is an integral part of this holiday! Black food tells the story of overcoming adversity. Yet, even as we celebrate, we acknowledge that the struggle for freedom and equity includes addressing limited access to food—often called food deserts or food apartheid—in many majority Black communities across the country.

     

    One way to address this inequality is by working with organizations that help mitigate the impact of food apartheid in Black communities. In acknowledgment of Juneteenth, Whole30 is joining WANDA in support of their Food Shero Freedom fund by extending a contribution of $10,000. WANDA is committed to educating Black women in agriculture, nutrition, and historical foodways.

     

    We want to invite you to participate in celebrating this important holiday and encourage you to include giving back as part of your participation. Here are a few ways for you to get involved.

     

    Ways you can honor Juneteenth with us:

    Partner with Whole30 and WANDA to support nutrition education and community food production for Black communities. Make your contribution at www.paypal.com/paypalme/iamwanda

    Find public Juneteenth events to respectfully attend in your local community

    Dine at Black-owned restaurants

    Patronize Black-owned businesses

    Volunteer at a Black-organized community garden or farm

June 1, 2021: Pride Month Statement

May 15, 2021: Whole30 Community Cares Presents Sound Self Care: Nourishing Ourselves with Movement and Breathwork

  • Our May #Whole30CommunityCares event had us nourishing ourselves through gentle movement and breathwork. Sound Self Care, hosted by Whole30’s Chief Content Officer Shanna Keller, started off the evening with guided movement led by yoga instructor and mobility specialist, Nicole Sciacca, before transitioning into breathwork practice with Siedeh Foxie, intuitive guide and healing arts practitioner. Siedeh closed the event with an invitation for us all to move forward with more compassion towards ourselves and others, and this event offered us an opportunity to practice just that.

    Watch the Sound Self Care Event Replay

May 4, 2021: Whole30's May Mental Health Awareness Month

April 21, 2021: Whole30 Community Cares Presents Regenerative Relationship: Influencing Planetary Impact with Food

  • The event, presented by our Whole30 Approved partner, Teton Waters Ranch and moderated by Whole30’s Vice President of Social Impact, Dr. Carrie Kholi-Murchison, began with a live cooking demo and conversation on social impact with Mark Brand, Chair of United Nations Catalyst Team. After sharing nourishing food and conversation with Mark, we then moved into conversation with our talented panelists: CEO of Teton Waters Ranch, Mike Murray; zero waste farmer and president of Brush With Bamboo, Manju Kumar; regenerative climate entrepreneur, Marques Anderson; and climate activist and cofounder of Turning Green, Erin Schrode.

    Watch the Earth Month Event Replay

April 12, 2021: Whole30's #BlackMaternalHealthWeek Statement

  • We believe that Black Mothers Matter. The maternal mortality rate for Black women is approximately three times higher than white women, and the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating ongoing inequities in health outcomes that disproportionately affect Black people. Join us as we follow the Black Mamas Matters Alliance for #BlackMaternalHealthWeek, a week of awareness, activism, and community building to change the state of Black maternal health.

    Read Our Full Statement

March 10, 2021: Whole30 Community Cares Presents Women’s Work: Founders in Food, Health, and Wellness Event Replay

  • On Wednesday, 3/10, Whole30 Co-founder and CEO Melissa Urban engaged in conversation with some of our favorite leaders in the health and wellness industry: Beatrice Dixon (Founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Co), Kaisa Keranen (Founder of KaisaFit),  Nicole Cardoza (Founder of Antiracism Daily and Wellemental ), Richa Gupta (Founder of Good Food for Good), and Tonya Rapley (Founder of My Fab Finance and Owner of Club Loofah). Together they explored the ways in which personal health, wellness, and success are unique to each individual and not defined by a look or size or income, but by how we feel when we listen deeply to ourselves.

    Watch the Women Founders Replay

April 1, 2021: Whole30 Celebrates Earth Month

  • Happy Earth Month! All of April at Whole30, we’re going to be celebrating the earth, and all of the ways we can create regenerative relationships and food practices with it.

    Learn More

February 17, 2021:Whole30 Community Cares Presents a Kitchen Table Talk

February 1, 2021: Black History Month Statement

  • On Monday, 2/1, we began Black History Month by letting our community know that honoring Black history is about more than a finite set of days on the calendar. At Whole30 HQ, we view Black History Month as another opportunity to pause, listen, reflect, and continue to work towards equity. It’s our intention to amplify the voices of Black, brown, and indigenous communities no matter what month it is. And, in honor of Black History Month, we let our community know that we would be sharing even more from Black food creatives and community members throughout the month in an effort to understand and champion Black food traditions, pathways, and contemporary Black food entrepreneurs and creatives. 

January 27, 2021: Whole30 Community Cares Presents Cooking Whole30 Recipe Contributors

  • On Wednesday, 1/27, Melissa Urban moderated a conversation with the five recipe creatives that contributed brand new recipes to the Cooking Whole30 project. They discussed their work, sources of inspiration, and the stories behind the specific recipes they developed for this cookbook.

    Watch the Cooking Whole30 Replay

January 18, 2021: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Statement

  • On Monday, 1/18, we released our Martin Luther King Jr. Day statement, emphasizing the fact that helping our community own their health and wellness is about more than helping them complete a 30-day reset. It is a communal empowerment effort, with benefits we believe must extend to everyone, because what’s at stake for one of us necessarily affects the other. For us, that begins with recognizing that for centuries we’ve ignored that truth in relationship with and to individuals and communities with historically marginalized identities. In the statement, we shared that our Whole30 HQ team had recently read Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech together. We recommend you read it, too. 

    Read MLK’s Speech

January 13, 2021: Whole30 Community Cares Presents Cooking Whole30

  • On Wednesday, 1/13/2021, Josmine Evans moderated a discussion between Melissa, special editor Redwood Hill and Whole30 Director of People & Culture Dr. Carrie Kholi-Murchison. They discussed the process they used to revise Melissa’s 2016 book The Whole30 Cookbook, making it reflective of Whole30’s diversity, equity, and inclusion values, as well as our deep cultural appreciation of food and its historical pathways and ingredients.

    Watch the Cooking Whole30 Replay

January 7, 2021: Statement on the Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Building

  • From Dr. Carrie Kholi-Murchison, our Director of People & Culture: Yesterday was Day Six of the January Whole30. And while many of us might have started the day with that as our sole focus, it is certainly not how most of us ended it.

    Yesterday, six days into 2021, and just fourteen days shy of the inauguration of a new president, armed white supremacist insurrectionists attempted to take over the U.S. Capitol building and disrupt the final certification process of a democratic election.

    We can’t imagine all of the ways the events of yesterday—that unfold into today—are affecting all of the individuals that make up our Whole30 community. But we do want to remind you that none of us exist in this moment alone.

    It’s not lost on us that this is the third Worldwide Whole30 where all of us have simultaneously experienced some form of grand emotional, physical, and psychological duress. This moment might feel scary and uncertain, or any other number of nameable and unnameable emotions. And after the last year we’ve had, we know that today might be infinitely harder. You might be questioning what investments feel worth it, and where your energy is best placed. If you’re experiencing any of this in relationship to your January Whole30 commitment, we’d like to offer that your investment of energy in yourself is most worth it, whatever that looks like.

    Food is emotional; it often feels like security and comfort. You might be wondering if you should continue with your Whole30, or pause it to start again another time.  If you’re choosing to eat Whole30 today, tomorrow, the next 23 days, all we ask is that you be easy on you. Let good enough be good enough. Today, we’re here to provide space for you. Our team will be in the comments all day to encourage you, support you, and help you troubleshoot.

November 2020: Release of Summit Replay

  • In November 2020, we released the Summit Replay, offering members the opportunity to catch up our exclusive 2020 Whole30 Community Cares Summit main stage programming. For $34.99, you’ll have unlimited, 90-day access to 14 hours of panels, demonstrations and keynotes from serial social entrepreneurs Nicole Cardoza and Lily Diamond; teachers Rachel Ricketts and Sah D’Simone; industry leaders Dr. Will Cole and Maya Feller; Whole30’s own Melissa Urban and twenty-seven other visionaries, creatives, and facilitators. Please note, your Summit Replay access ends 90 days from the date of the original purchase.

    Access the Summit Replay

September 23-26, 2020: Whole30 Community Cares Summit

  • The 2020 Whole30 Community Cares Summit (9/23-9/26) was a virtual community-wide celebration featuring keynotes, workshops, community forums, and movement sessions. For three days, we dove into topics like: food and media ethics; social and racial justice in physical and virtual spaces; equity, diversity, and representation as practices that are essential for our success and survival; the deep grief many of us experienced in 2020. Every session was packed with value, featuring smart, experienced guests – like @nicoleacardoza , @drwillcole , @thekitchenista , @thereallailaali and SO MANY MORE – sharing candidly about essential topics.

    Access the Summit Replay

August 13, 2020: Whole30 Pronoun Statement

  • Whole30 values the people within our community, and respects and honors each person’s individuality. Self-disclosing our pronouns in our email signature is a small yet important step in recognizing that gender identity cannot be assumed, and that relying on assumptions can perpetuate harmful gender biases. Using people’s correct pronouns helps ensure an inclusive culture where all voices are given equitable power. If you have questions about pronoun statements, here are two helpful resources:

    Support Gender Inclusive Pronouns Sharing Gender Pronouns at Work

July 28, 2020: Coalition for Change

  • The Coalition for Change is an opt-in, collaborative alliance of Whole30 Approved brands who meet monthly to discuss foundational concepts related to representation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the food and wellness industry, as well as the practical changes and best practices that can be implemented to reflect these concepts.

July 19, 2020: Organizations Eligible for Whole30 Matching Funds

  • Through 2020, we will match employee contributions to elligible organizations, up to $20,000.

    Review our database

June 10, 2020: Our Anti-Racism Commitments for 2020

  • An outline of our multi-phase plan to end systemic racism and support the liberation of Black communities, led by Dr. Carrie Kholi-Murchison, our Director of People and Culture.

    Review our commitments

June 2, 2020: Melissa Urban's Statement in Support of the Movement for Black Lives

  • Whole30 is committed to advocating for racial justice and the end of oppressive systems that disproportionately affect Black and indigenous people and people of color in the United States. This is an ongoing priority that we pursue collectively with our Whole30 HQ employees, Whole30 Certified Coaches, Whole30 Approved partners, and Whole30 community.

    Read the full statement

Our Community Values and Actions

Organizations Eligible for Whole30 Matching Funds

In 2021, Whole30 HQ and team members donated $20,000 to approved non-profit organizations. We are making our database of approved organizations publicly available to our Whole30 community in the hopes that you will find organizations to join, donate to, and give your time and resources.

Click here to view our database.