Whole30 Approved® Menu Guidelines
The Whole30 Approved® label
The Whole30 Approved® label signals to community members that your menu offerings are 100% compatible with the rules of our Original Whole30® program and follow Whole30 Approved menu guidelines. The label also lets people know your organization was vetted by the Whole30 team to ensure alignment with our core values and mission. We’re excited by your interest in Whole30 Approved, and joining a program that has, since 2009, helped millions of people change the way they eat. The program continues to grow, and so does the reputation and exposure of our Whole30 Approved partners.
Whole30 Approved® Program Requirements
All menu items and ingredients must meet all of these criteria 100% to earn the Whole30 Approved® label.
- No added sugar of any kind, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, monk fruit, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, xylitol, stevia, etc. Fruit or fruit juice is the only acceptable sweetener on the Whole30.
- No alcohol, with the exception of wine vinegars and alcohol-based botanical extracts (like vanilla, lemon, or lavender).
- No grains. This includes (but is not limited to) wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, rice, millet, bulgur, sorghum, amaranth, buckwheat, sprouted grains, and all of those gluten-free pseudo-cereals like quinoa. This also includes wheat, corn, and rice bran, germ, starch, and so on.
- No legumes. This includes beans of all kinds (black, red, pinto, navy, white, kidney, lima, fava, etc.), chickpeas, lentils, and peanuts/peanut butter. This also includes all forms of soy: soy sauce, miso, tofu, tempeh, edamame, or soy lecithin. Green beans and most peas (including sugar snap peas, snow peas, green peas, yellow peas, and split peas) are the only exceptions.
- No dairy. This includes cow, goat or sheep’s products such as milk, cream, cheese, kefir, yogurt, ice cream, sour cream, and whey. Clarified butter or ghee are the only exceptions.
- No replicating baked goods, treats, or comfort foods. This includes alternative-flour bread, tortillas, wraps, crackers, pizza or pie crust, biscuits, pancakes, crepes, waffles, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, pasta, or cereal. This also includes potato chips or fries. We err on the side of caution with this rule.
- All prepared ingredients used must be compatible: If you are using pre-made or packaged ingredients like Dijon mustard, dried cranberries, or bacon in your product, each of these ingredients must be compatible and follow all of the above guidelines.
- If you have a variety of menu offerings, a good number of items must be Whole30 compatible, or you must create a specific Whole30 Approved menu. For example, if you have 30 menu offerings and only five are compatible, we may not be willing to promote your menu as Whole30 Approved.
- If your menu items are deliberately positioned as culturally significant, you must have demonstrated appreciation, rather than appropriation, of the culture from which the recipes originated.
Before your initial approval is granted, we need to thoroughly review the menu offerings that you believe fit our criteria. Please send us a list of all of the ingredients in each dish you are submitting for Whole30 Approved status, or point us to the complete ingredient listing on your website. Please note that we reserve the right to decline partnership, even if your menu offerings and ingredients are technically compatible.
