Both Whole30 and Paleo eliminate some of the same types of foods, and don’t focus on calorie counting. However, the Whole30 is a short-term elimination program that is designed to help people identify food sensitivities and create new, healthy habits with food. It’s not meant to be followed forever, and it’s not prescriptive long-term, in that once participants are done with their program, they are encouraged to take what they’ve learned and create their own ideal, sustainable diets. Whole30 calls that “Food Freedom,” and your Food Freedom may include grains, dairy, soy, peanut butter, beans, alcohol, and added sugar—whatever foods you decide are worth it and work well for you.
A Paleo approach is a general lifestyle recommendation to avoid grains, legumes, dairy, and processed foods, and focus your everyday diet on meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats. Paleo is a template for everyday eating meant to be followed for the majority of meals, although there is no one universally accepted definition of “Paleo.” Some Paleo templates allow for natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup in moderation, while the related Primal framework allows for red wine and dark chocolate.
Paleo
Whole30
A general lifestyle approach that suggests avoiding grains, dairy, legumes, processed foods, among other foods and drinks
A short-term elimination program designed to help participants identify food sensitivities. Not meant to be followed long-term.
No universally accepted definition of “Paleo.” Many programs allow natural sweeteners in moderation (honey, maple syrup), and some allow small amounts of wine or dark chocolate.
Shares specific rules for 30 days of elimination and 10+ days of reintroduction. During elimination, participants remove all forms of added sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy, with few exceptions.
Participants are encouraged to follow this lifestyle in perpetuity. Many program leaders suggest an “80/20” approach to allow for special foods or “treats.”
After elimination and reintroduction, participants take what they’ve learned about how foods work in their unique bodies and create their own unique “Food Freedom” plan, per the book Food Freedom Forever