cheats, slips, or special-occasion foods or
drinks. This isn’t us playing tough, or trying
to make the Whole30 “hard-core.” The thirty-
day no-cheat policy is based on science and
our experience.
First, just a tiny amount—in the case of
folks with celiac disease, as little as ten
milligrams (or about one-five-hundredth of a
teaspoon)—of the inflammatory compounds
found in off-plan foods may break the healing
cycle. One bite of pizza, one splash of milk in
your coffee, one brownie corner from your
friend’s plate within the thirty-day period
could short-circuit your “reset” button,
forcing you to start the entire process over
from day one. And we’re pretty sure that half
a slice of pizza on day twenty-three isn’t
going to be worth starting over!
CAT MATH
Think of it like this: You’re