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What is Real Plans?
Real Plans is an innovative, affordable meal planning software that helps you create meal plans and shopping lists. These plans and lists are customizable to your precise way of eating, preferences, and size of your family and available to use on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
When we first got a peek of what Real Plans could do for the autoimmune community, we were floored. Here at Autoimmune Wellness we were so all-in, that we decided to partner up to license ALL of our recipes in the Autoimmune Wellness archives, as well as every recipe in our hard-copy books, The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook and The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook (300+ AIP recipes). This is in addition to their standard library of AIP recipes, which brings their total AIP collection to 500+ recipes!
NEW – Real Plans is fully updated to reflect the 2024 update to the Autoimmune Protocol. You can now select either Core AIP or Modified AIP to have automatically-curated meal plans!
If you already know you need affordable, customizable AIP meal plans in your life, click here to learn more and sign up!
How does it work?
You start by telling the Real Plans if you are using a Core or Modified AIP elimination, and add any additional sensitivities, eliminations, or preferences, how many people you’d like to cook for, how often you’d like to cook, and how often you shop.
You have three options for meal planning – automated, calendar-free, and blank calendar. With the first (automated), Real Plans will create a plan using your exacting specifications. With the second (calendar-free), Real Plans will give you a simple collection of recipes and shopping list to use at your leisure. And third (blank calendar) is the best option for those who want maximum control in selecting specific recipes to make at specific times.
If you use the first two options, the Real Plans software instantly creates a meal plan and shopping list based on your preferences, from which you can modify or add to. It is that easy!
Want to see a walkthrough of how to customize your diet preferences and organize your perfect weekly plan? See how Mickey does it below.
Click here to learn more about Real Plans and sign up.
Snapshot: A week on Real Plans
To break it down, each week you:
- Choose what you want to eat from the Real Plans recipe database.
- Review your shopping list, removing the ingredients you already have on hand.
- Print, email or sync your shopping list with your smartphone.
- Shop quickly and efficiently!
- Follow your weekly timeline to find out when to defrost, chop and reheat.
- Eat good food every day.
This is a really big deal for the AIP community! Not only will it help you get healing foods on the table, but it’s also a sign of how widely understood and acknowledged the Autoimmune Protocol has become. And it is crazy affordable!
The best part about Real Plans is that they get us. Their database includes recipes from the Autoimmune Wellness site and our books, so you know you are getting quality instruction and great flavor. All recipes are clearly labeled and categorized so you’ll have no fear of finding a stray nightshade or legume on your shopping list.
A few more details on why Real Plans is perfect for those on AIP:
- You have the ability to exclude or include entire food groups from your plans, meaning that if, for instance, you have eliminated nightshades but have reintroduced eggs, you can tell Real Plans to adjust your recipes accordingly.
- You can separate ingredients by grocery store so you can plan exactly where to get what and you can easily upload your own recipes (or favorites from other blogs) to your collection.
- You can make changes to your weekly plan whenever you want. So even when family comes to town, you can easily swap out recipes, increase serving sizes, or repurpose leftovers and your shopping list and timeline will automatically update. No other service does this!
- Recipe simplification. The folks at Real Plans get that for most weeknight or batch-cooked meals, nobody wants to be making recipes with 20 ingredients.. Their new update comes with dozens of new recipes that are designed to be as simple and easily-sourced as possible.
- Leftover logic. If you are like us and almost always cook leftovers in order to have heat-and-serve meals ready for later in the week, you can now build this into your meal plan. At setup, their system will ask you how many people you are cooking for and how many meals’ worth of leftovers you’d like to produce per week. Your meal plan will now show you on the calendar which meals you’ll be eating your leftovers.
- Scheduling logic. You can make helpful customizations to your calendar, such as having dinner leftovers for lunch instead of a boxed lunch. You can also select options for breakfast, like having a simple breakfast to construct every morning, or a finished meal to heat and serve. With their scheduler you can choose how many meals you want to cook in the week, and combined with how many servings you’d like to make, it will make you a batch-cooking plan to maximize your time.
- Three calendar options. For maximum flexibility, Real Plans offers three ways to use their calendar:
- Automated – Real Plans selects recipes based on your dietary plan and how often you want to cook.
- Calendar-free – You select recipes based on your dietary plan without a calendar.
- Blank calendar – You select recipes based on your dietary plan and add them to a calendar (the “old school” method!).
FAQ
Can I use Real Plans for Modified AIP?
Yes! In line with the 2024 update to AIP, Real Plans has fully updated their software to include separate dietary selections for both Core AIP and Modified AIP. You can select either elimination in settings, as well as add in additional sensitivities or preferences to customize as needed.
What if my whole family isn’t doing AIP?
No problem! Even if you set your diet as AIP, you will always have access to ALL the other Real Plans recipes – over 1600! – without changing your plan. Based on your selections, Real Plans will then create a realistic meal plan that your whole family can (and will want to!) eat.
Does the shopping list only include ingredients from the recipes, or can I add my own items?
You can use your Real Plans shopping list just a real one! Add ingredients or other household items that don’t show up in your recipes for that week. You can also schedule ingredients to appear on your shopping list at various intervals. For example, you can schedule milk every week, or bacon every two weeks. It’s really slick!
Can I import my own recipes?
Yes! You can easily upload your own recipes (or favorites from other blogs) to your collection. In most cases, the shopping list will automatically recognize the ingredients in any recipes you import.
What if I shop at multiple grocery stores? Can I tailor my shopping list accordingly?
Yes! Real Plans lets you separate ingredients by grocery store so you can plan exactly where to get what.
My country uses metric measurements. Does Real Plans work with this?
Yes! You can switch between US or metric measurements whenever you like. The calculations are accurate and foodies all over the globe enjoy using Real Plans.
Do the Real Plans recipes take seasonal produce into consideration?
Yes. All recipes are cataloged by season so you can search accordingly. The Real Plans Smart Engine takes this into account when picking recipes for you as well.
Get started right away with simple meal plans
If you are less interested in customization and just want to get started, I have created a collection of simple meal plans, available with the Autoimmune Wellness recipe package that you can use to get started. If you sign up, they will all be pre-loaded on your account:
- Mickey’s Picks (my favorites!)
- Leftovers (great for batch-cookers)
- Freezer Meals (get some food in the bank!)
- Feed A Crowd (ideal for big families)
- Budget (accessible and affordable ingredients)
- Quick (30 minutes or less)
- 8 Ingredients or Less (make things easy)
- Instant Pot (for those pressure-cooker fans!)
How much does it cost?
There are 3 payment options: $20/month, $45/quarter $97/year. The quarterly plan works out to $15 per month and the annual plan works out to $8 per month. This includes the Autoimmune Wellness recipe package!
If you enjoy using Real Plans, we recommend going with the annual plan to maximize your savings, but honestly, having the plan alone will save you so much money. It will mean fewer trips to the store and fewer forgotten or unused ingredients. At $8/month, if it saves you one trip to the store or one ingredient that doesn’t spoil in the fridge, it’s well worth it.
Get your meal routine nailed down
Until preparing AIP-friendly foods becomes routine, healing will continue to be an uphill battle. If you feel like you’re spinning your wheels cooking every night, or you’re struggling to nail down a sustainable routine, Real Plans might just be your answer. We never promote products or services we don’t fully believe in, and this is no different!
Click here to learn more and sign up!
Want to give the gift of meal planning to a friend or family member? Real Plans now offers gift subscriptions! What could be better than giving the gift of good health? Learn more about Real Plans gift subscriptions here!
121 comments
Can you select AIP and GF/DF recipes at the same time in the recipe selection?
Hi Ali,
Yes, and you can even add in specific foods you’ve introduced, or additional eliminations you’d like to make. It is completely customizable!
Not sure how I stumbled upon your service. After another evening feeling 6 months,pregnant after dinner, can hardly breath, you just might be my answer. I have Hasimoto’s, RA, Sjogrens, Raynauds, Osteoarthritis. .. tested “+” again for SIBO. My GI Dr seems inexperienced in guiding me on an elimination diet . I met with a Functional Medicine Dr last week in hopes he could help me, but a year contract would cost me almost $500/ month. I need help !!!
Hi Susan! I am so sorry to hear about your issues. Here are some places to look for practitioners – primaldocs.com, paleophysiciansnetwork.com, functionalmedicine.org. It is hard to find more affordable docs, but they are out there – keep looking!
Hi Susan, I share your frustration with expensive practitioners. I have finally found a functional medicine group of doctors across the nation that are cheaper than $500 per month. The group is called BodyLogic MD. I have had my first appointment with them in the Charlotte area (I am very pleased so far with the knowledge and approach to my health issues). My Dad is going to one in the Orlando area, and I also found one in Salt Lake City. They cost about $500 to $600 for the first appointment and also have the ability to get full bloodwork done for about $300 if insurance doesn’t cover it. Then the 3 or 4 follow-up appointments are about $300 each. Much cheaper than the functional medicine doctor that wanted me to pay $5,500 for 6 months of seeing her and getting tests and supplements. Hope this helps.
Hey Jennifer, thanks for sharing!
I’m not much of a cook. Are there easy recipes to follow until I feel more confident in my cooking skills.
Elizabeth-
There are great, easy recipes found in the recipe’s section of our site, but also simple ones to follow w/ the Real Plans service. Even relatively inexperienced cooks can handle the majority of them.
Hey Elizabeth! Great question – the recipes are similar to what you’d find here on the site, for the most part simple and written in a way novice cooks can understand. If you like the recipes here, I think you will find Real Plans a helpful service. Hope it helps!
Hi there! Real plans sounds so good, but I am just wondering if the AIP meals are for the elimination phase of the protocol? I have not yet started AIP elimination and one of the reasons is that it is such a big shift in the way I shop and cook, it would be so awesome to know that the AIP meals in real plans would have me sorted for the elimination phase (because it is such a big transition). If the AIP meals in real plans are not all compatible with the elimination phase, is there a way to tell which meals are and which meals aren’t? Also, do you happen to know if the meals from the Paleo Mom are AIP elimination phase friendly? Thanks for your fantastic resources!
Hi Suzie-
All the recipes that Mickey and I submitted to be included in the AIP offerings of Real Plans are elimination-phase compliant. We cannot speak to The Paleo Mom’s additions, but generally, those of us in the AIP community publishing recipes are focused on the elimination-phase, because it is the harder phase to navigate in terms of cooking, shopping, etc.
Hi Suzie! Yes, real plans has hundreds of elimination friendly recipes, with both a general AIP tag as well as more specific eliminations (for those who are sensitive to coconut, for example). Most of Sarah’s recipes are AIP as well, so between our two offerings you get literally hundreds of recipes. It is a great resource!
Is it possible to share the meal plan with my daughter and her family or does she have to subscribe herself? Do the AIP or other types of recipes use simple ingredients or do they require unusual things for seasoning? Are the meals complicated and time consuming? My daughter has 7 children aged 3 to 18.
Hi Maggie! You will probably want your own subscriptions, since Real Plans saves all your preferences and then generates a custom meal plan according to that information. You could certainly give her a tour of your account though, before she signs up! And many of the recipes use simple ingredients, along the lines of the recipes you find here on the site. She can specifically request recipes that don’t take a long time to prepare and feed a certain size family. Real Plans has a great customer service team as well as a guarantee so they would be happy to walk both of you guys through their service and help set things up for you. Good luck!
Hi Maggie,
While I do agree that with each subscription you’re getting AIP meal plans that are tailored especially for you, I honestly do not see any issue with you passing on the meal plan to whomever you like. If said people are also eating AIP then they’d be familiar with certain restrictions and such. Having said that…it is a paid service so I do understand why everyone would be encouraged to sign up for their own subscription.
Hello Mickey & Angie; I am Hypothyroid with a goiter with a cyst & also a nodule on it. I am seeing my Holistic Doctor on Monday. Do you have any idea of tests that I should have run? I had an Ultra Sound & blood work, but the blood work came back normal & I plan on asking for another Ultra Sound to see if anything else is showing up (or getting smaller)…. I also have EBV, Lead & Tungsten Toxicity….
Also, I have talked with my Homeopath, who thinks it’s a great idea to go AIP (I am already grain-free, per Dr’s request)….I am nearly over-whelmed by everything I am seeing online. I love your site, but just don’t know exactly what books, etc. to get in order to get started on the right path…. Other than this APP mentioned above, can you please suggest what books, etc to purchase? I really need a way to make meal plans & understand what to avoid, when to re-introduce foods, etc., etc….. In other words, I’m in need of total instruction…. I would like to keep the cost between $100.-$150. If possible…. Thanks SO MUCH for the help!! I just want to get better!!! I’m in my 60’s. Have 5 children & 8 grandchildren…. I feel like I’m missing out on so much living! Also, I have some dreams of my own I’d like to fulfill…. Wellness is imperative 🙂 I know you understand…. Thanks Again
Hey Deborah! I recommend a full thyroid panel including antibodies, free T3, and free T4. Hopefully your new doc is collaborative and ready to help tailor treatment for you! As far as books, I highly recommend starting with our guide, The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook – it gives you tons of info and also some recipes to get you started. Next, I would suggest Real Plans mentioned above. It is only $7 a month and does all the meal planning for you. Wishing you the best in your recovery!
Hi Ladies!
My challenge with RP has been trying to incorporate Batch Cooking, along with a few fresh cooked meals, into the week with the interface available.
Do either of you have any insight into how to make BC’g optimally work with RP?
My family of guys eats a LOT more than I do (I’m the AIP’er, and they will eat whatever is prepared and maybe just needs reheating – I am blessed!)
Thank you for any suggestions you may have.
Luv u 2 and what u so, graciously, provide the AIP community!
Aaaaw! Thanks Marla! What I do is use RP to plan breakfasts & dinners. I choose a few of those dinners to be “batch cooked” (think roasts, whole chickens, big pans of roasted veggies) to provide leftovers for lunches. And then in the lunch space, I add two or three salad recipes, soups/stews, & usually broth. I don’t actually prepare all those lunch recipes as lunches on the set days, I just have them worked in so they populate my plan & shopping list, then I prepare them on my batch cook day & have them available all week. Does that help??
Hi Marla! Have you tried using Real Plans to make a meal plan for the week, selecting for recipes that store/freeze well, and then preparing all of those meals during a batch cooking routine instead of throughout the week? That is how I would hack it! Hope it helps!
Yes! That really DOES help, Angie! Thank You! It’s great to ‘see’ you up and about again – many prayers went up for you;) BTW, LOVED your SAD to AIP courses – worth every penny! (And a little note on that: Later, during my re-intro’s, I unfortunately had a health setback, so am using the first course resources to restart AIP elimination again, and persevere – longer this time for more healing, before the intro’s). Those resources you provided in the courses keep on paying for themselves!
Again, so appreciate your help with RP!
Hi Mickey, I’m considering getting AIP Batch Cook. However, I live in a country where all pork products are banned. There are also no fresh herbs and absolutely no sage (even dried) for some reason. Would I still be able to make all the recipes?
Hi Claire! The one recipe that uses ground pork can be substituted with beef. If you can get your hands on some dried herbs you will be fine!
I am just beginning the elimination phase of AIP. Would you recommend Real Plans? Feeling overwhelmed at where to begin! I have Hashimotos. Thank you!
Sandy – yes! Real Plans is absolutely a helpful resource for beginners. Wishing you wellness.
Hi Sandy! Yes, Real Plans is great for the elimination diet because they filter the recipes for you with their AIP label – and you can also filter additional preferences out (like coconut, or mushrooms) if you have a food you are sensitive to or don’t like. They make eating AIP way easier!
I have a general question about the AIP – I try to avoid seafood due to the mercury content and other contaminants – is this something that you all have considered? Do you think it is a potential issue or do you find that eating so much seafood is not a problem? Thanks!
Hi Jen, you might find this article from Chris Kresser helpful: https://chriskresser.com/5-reasons-why-concerns-about-mercury-in-fish-are-misguided/
Hi 🙂 on top of my Hashimotos I have Fructose intolerance. Can I select AIP and Fructose free?
Hi Jolanda! You can’t specifically select fructose, but you can individually select any high-fructose ingredients and it will only show you compliant recipes 🙂
I have been diagnosed with and autoimmune illness, (Vasculities) I take anti inflammatory meds with tremendous reluctance. I tried reducing my dosage only to have the inflammation flare up again. My Rheumatologist advised me to increase the dosage again. I was on the Blood Type Diet before I introduced the Auto-immune protocol, it was helping me a lot. I waited till my symptoms stabilized then started the PAIP . Once I stabilized on the PAIP I re- introduced some foods I felt were least likely to be sensitive to.
However Dr Izabelle Wentz’s team felt I should consult you as they felt that you had a certain order in doing so.
I searched your website first, I could not find it. Perhaps you could point me in the right direction?
Hi Liz! Have you signed up for our newsletter? We have a quickstart guide that includes some guidance on reintroduction. We also recommend this affordable ebook that can help guide you: https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=1345763&c=ib&aff=246631&cl=257360
Hi!
What a great tool you have created! Any plans on adding the FODMAP’s to your list of exclusions? I know you can’t do everything. I would love it if were on the horizon.
Many thanks
Hi EV, you can definitely eliminate the FODMAPs using their system! Its super handy!
Hi,
I am interested in the Real Plans menu planning. I have RA and Alpha-Gal or also known as Red Meat Tick Disease. I can no longer eat mammal products including dairy and gelatin. Are there a lot of menus for AIP without mammal ? I can have poultry and fish. Thank you, Laura
Hi Laura! Real Plans makes it easy and you can select out any mammal meat from the recipes it curates for you.
Please continue! Real plans help me add variety to our dinners! Thank you.
Hi Irene,
We still continue to affiliate with and love Real Plans. You can see our recipe collection with them by clicking the link above!
Hi, along with having some rarer auto immune diseases, I can not digest any raw leafy greens…cause severe cramping and diarrhea. Used to be I could get away with baby spinach but now not able to digest that. Really cuts into a lot of menu plans! Suggestions?
Hi Bernadette-
The great thing about Real Plans is that you can customize the plans. If recipes w/ raw greens pop up, you have the ability to substitute in recipes that omit greens or utilize cooked greens. There is even an option for you to add recipes you already know & love (& probably work for your individual needs) into your menu plans w/ this tool. I’d give it a try & see if it helps you w/ this need.
Hi Bernadette! Does it help if you gently steam them? My guess if you don’t tolerate raw leafy greens you will just have to treat them like an additional sensitivity and meal plan around them!
Both my daughter and I are interested in started this this program. My 25 year old daughter suffers from severe life threatening food allergies to all dairy & Egg products; and has also suffers from Eosinaphallic Eosphagatis ( known as EE) ( a very severe case for over 10 years). ( as a result of her condition she is unable to keep down most food she tries to eat. As a result she has to eat 5x times the amount of food in order for some calories to stay with her. She also has Fibromyalgia; anxiety and other physical issues.
I am 57 years old and I’m a retired disabled veteran; I have recently been diagnosed with food allergies;( if I eat meat I find myself getting severely congested almost immediately) Fibroymalgia; a chronic pain patient for almost 20 years; and several other chronic issues.
It’s apparent to me that we need more than what we have from our regular doctors. I’m researching your program now to figure how to start. Is coaching available?
I’m anxious to get started. As for for full blood tests. We have both gone through complete allergy testing to verify extensive environmental and food allergies. What’s funny is my food allergies are now more extensive than hers- although mine aren’t life threatening.
Has anybody else had to deal with EE and found improvement?
Advice; guidance on how to start? I’m anxious nervous and hopeful.
Thanks
Hey Nancy! Thanks for joining us here, and I am sorry to hear about yours and your daughter’s issues. To be honest we get contacted by so many readers with different conditions, it is hard to keep track of the testimonials – but what I always tell people is that they won’t know if it will produce a benefit until they try! Angie, my partner here at the site has a quarterly group program that would be great for transitioning to AIP: https://sadtoaip.com. There is also coaching available at https://thepaleomom.com/consulting. My advice would be to spend some time learning about these changes and getting ready to set yourself up for success in tackling them – there is a lot to learn, and it is best to avoid overwhelm! Wishing you both the best in your recoveries.
Are the meal plans easy to customize? I have RA, Lupus, and a few other things. I don’t eat much meat for fish, but occasionally crave. It’s not that I don’t like, but either I don’t feel well and it doesn’t sound good or my body just doesn’t process well. I really want a diet that will give me more energy, less inflammation, strengthen my body, and be able to customize my meal plan week to week with helpful tips as to what certain items are known for so I can make better choices.
My son was recently diagnosed with Crohn’s so it would be good to cook for both of us. Especially since he just started Humira treatments.
Lyn-
Considering you & your son both have autoimmune diseases, I would say try Real Plans w/ the AIP recipes from Mickey & I. They are still easily customized if you don’t prefer certain meats or veggies. That said, protein is an important part of healing. You might want to try slowly adding meat or working on restoring stomach acid to make digest more comfortable.
I have a history of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (which is stable), fructose malabsorption and have just found out that I have stage 2 Hidradenitis Suppurativa. I am also fairly convinced that I have leaky gut syndrome. I am very concerned that if I don’t do something now my health will deteriorate and I will be living on antibiotics for the rest of my life. I am hoping to reset my diet and then add in foods to try and find what is causing my problems. Do you have any tips to help the gut heal through the elimination phase such as supplements? I read on another blog about taking Glucosamine powder or drinking Ginger tea. I also read that I should start by eliminating red meats too? I just don’t want to miss out on much needed vitamins. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks!
Hey Heather! We find that the elimination diet is very nutrient dense, and if you are including broths, fermented foods, and offal, you shouldn’t need to supplement with anything except for maybe magnesium or a probiotic if you want to. We have a discussion about supplements here: https://autoimmunewellness.com/supplements-and-the-autoimmune-protocol/
So I’ve been playing with the AIP thing for a few weeks now. I have HS, and am willing to try anything to fix it! However, I’ve noticed that almost everything on this diet is sweet and savory. I am not a fan of sweet anything for dinner. While I do have a sweet tooth, I just cannot stand the combination for a meal. Last night I made a coconut based sauce for our zoodles, and it was just too sweet for me (even with plenty of garlic and ghee), while my husband loved it. Am I pretty much SOL on this, or have I been looking in the wrong places?
Hey Jess! I am sorry to hear you are finding the AIP diet too sweet.. I find that interesting, as there are a ton of savory recipes! Have you browsed the archives here on the site?
Hi Mickey,
Where can I find out how much I should be eating to lose weight with Hashimoto’s being treated with Levothyroxine, for example should I be eating snacks or just 3 meals a day?
Thank you
Lucy 🙂
Hi Lucy! I don’t actually recommend restricting calories while trying the elimination diet, I advise folks to eat until satiated and after 30-90 days they are still having weight loss resistance, we troubleshoot other factors that could be at play. AIP is not a weight loss diet, it is a healing protocol! Hope it helps!
Hi! I found your book at a bookstore and I am very excited to get started with this diet. I suffer from non-celiac gluten sensitivity, lichen sclerosis and I feel I could possibly have other auto immune issues due to chronic joint and back pain. My question is should I start with the recipes and suggested meal plan in your book first or would it be beneficial to use the app as well? What would be the difference of using one versus the other? Thank you!
Hi Dawn-
It’s probably easiest to use the plan in our book, then as you are ready to branch out, you can try using Real Plans & experimenting w/ the AIP recipes you find there. Best of luck!!
Hey Dawn! Real Plans has our recipes in their system, so it doesn’t matter where you get them – they will be the same as in the book. I would say if you are looking for ultimate flexibility Real Plans is going to be a great option, otherwise, the meal plan in the book will do fine. Good luck!
3 items and then i’m sold on real plan. what about dessert and snacks? or importing your own recipe?
Calorie and nutritional info? i don’t see any of this addressed.
let me know.
Hi Jo! Yes, there are desserts and snacks, and you can import your own recipes. They don’t offer calorie and nutritional info. Hope it helps!
I just have a question. On the 30 day AIP it give a two week meal plan. Is the week one shopping list food supposed to last the 1 person for the two weeks or do you shop again for the second week using the same list?
Hi Mary – are you talking about our meal plan or the one through Real Plans?
Hi!
I think I am going to try the subscription. I am wanting to make sure I under stand the “add on”. There are already a couple hundred AIP recipes in Real Plans? Plus I have access to their non AIP recipes if I want to look for something different for my family? As far as the add on, if I add it, I will have an addition 250 recipes available to me? Will I be able to incorporate them into the weekly planning?
Thanks for any clarification!
Jamie
Hi Jaime! Yes, Real Plans has their own recipe collection that includes some AIP recipes, but if you pay for the extra Autoimmune Wellness add-on you get OUR recipes (from both our books and this blog) automatically imported for you. You also have access to all of their other recipes. Hope it helps!
I was told in January I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and have changed my diet getting rid of refined sugars. I want to eat better than I do think your sight might be able to help. My only concern is currently I am watching my calories, sugar and carb intake is this something your program offers. I seen I was able to select AIP but want to know if the program sets the intake limit for me.
Hi Dawn-
No, Real Plans does not set an intake limit for you, but there are endless customizations that may allow you to choose recipes that fit your concerns.
Hi, a friend told me about your site and resources and I’m about to jump in. I was diagnosed with membranous nephritis in 2016 and am fed up with medications and their side effects, and feeling so lousy. I’ll be phasing out dairy but I’m a huge tea drinker (black teas with milk, Indian style). What herbal teas do you recommend? I tend to like green, peppermint, lemon, and hibiscus. I noticed you don’t have herbal teas on you foods to include/avoid lists. Thanks!!!
All those herbal teas are fine Jess! Good luck!
Hey Jess! Herbal teas are fine in the elimination phase as long as they are not immune stimulants. I love dandelion, chicory, chamomile, peppermint, and hibiscus. Hope it helps!
Is there a way to create a meal plan using Real Plans that uses the least amount of ingredients? Or suggestions for recipes that kind of use similar ingredients so there’s not such a variety of things to buy all at once?
Jessica,
This would be a great question for the folks at Real Plans – I would reach out to them via their website and ask!
Hi, sense 2012 I’ve been battling digestive issues, that cause issues through out the body. Currently I have 49 food allergies/intolerances. I find it so hard to follow your recipes as many of the allergies/intolerances are the most common of food. Ie eggs, all nuts, all grains, rice, beef, pork, fish, dairy, soya, oranges, yeast, cabbage, corn, avacodo and the list goes on. Is this a meal plan that will work around these foods I have to avoid.
Thanks
Lynn-
You can customize this meal planning software to meet your needs & only include recipes that work for you. Most of our recipes would work for you & you can add our recipe packet to your subscription.
Hi Lynn! Yes, with Real Plans you can select all your food sensitivities and they will send you recipes that work for your customized diet. 🙂
[…] to eat and what to avoid, recipes, and cooking videos, they make AIP easy. For those who want to pay for a subscription, the ladies offer excellent meal plans that (depending on price) can be personally tailored to […]
Hi! I would love to start following the AIP but I am a vegetarian and i’m just not sure I can make the switch to eating meat. I do hope to try in the future but do you have any suggestions for recipe books specifically for autoimmune vegetarians?!
Hi Tiffany! Unfortunately we don’t recommend AIP as a vegetarian – there aren’t enough protein sources.
I’m looking to find someone who will come up with highly individualized meal plans based on AIP, my food preferences, weight loss goals, extremely easy meals, work travel meal plans, possibly incorporate meal delivery into the weekly plan etc. I’m not sure what type of professional would do this. Health coach? Nutritionist? Dietitian? I’m already working with someone on labs, supplements, thyroid meds, etc. But I feel like I need someone to help me with the food aspect at least in the beginning. Between kids and a demanding job, I just don’t have time to research and I need to be realistic.
Hi Jill! If you want a more customized approach, we recommend working with an AIP Certified Coach. You can find a full listing here: https://aipcertified.com. Good luck!
I started with AIP elimination diet for SIBO and Histamine Intolerance following Amy Myers program. After 2 weeks, i some improvement but not much. I also went low FODMAP and saw more improvement. I am American living in SE Asia, so I am doing the best I can with limited access to good medical care and supplements.I also can’t get things like spaghetti squash here. I head back to the USA for a few month visit in Jan, until then, will this have enough recipes for a real meal plan with all my restrictions?
Hi Denice! The great thing about Real Plans is that you can select which ingredients you want them to leave out from your meal plan, even further than regular AIP restrictions. I think it would work well for your situation, and if you don’t find it works for you they have a money back guarantee.
Hi girls,
Recently I’ve started AIP and Real Plans is an amazing help. I’d like to know, is it Ok (for me) to enter manually some of your recipes from the Autoimmune Wellness Handbook, which are great hits in our house?
I can’t Thank you enough for everything you do. Thank you very much!
Elena, of course! Luckily the folks at Real Plans have made that super easy to do. Enjoy!
Hola,
Quisiera saber si el plan AIP tiene recetas para endometriosis severa, no puedo comer Lácteos, azúcar, Gluten, carne sólo biológica es decir que haya comido pasto natural. Pollo y huevos biologicos.
Me pueden valer las recetas de AIP?
Hi Roxana!
I apologize, I can understand Spanish but I can’t write it well, so my response will be in English. Many in our community have endometriosis (including my blog partner Angie – you’ll want to read her story on our about page). All of our recipes are free from gluten, dairy, and refined sugar. I’d encourage you to connect with the Spanish AIP FB group for support – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1513791782197013/
Hi!
I am looking for a lifestyle modification diet. I have PSA, Raynaud’s, and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, GERD, SVT, along with being overweight, (I am 75 # overweight). I have a difficult time in the colder months and when it is rainy, moving around due to the inflammation from the PSA. My passion is showing my Siberian Huskies and it is getting harder for me to do. Any suggestions greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Lydia VanDyke
Hey Lydia! Thanks for being here. Unfortunately we aren’t medical practitioners and can’t make personalized recommendations through comments, but we do suggest taking a look around the site to learn more about AIP and see if some of the topics we write about might help you. Wishing you the best!
Danielle-
In this article there is a video by Mickey showing you how to navigate the Real Plans site. You might find it helpful: https://autoimmunewellness.com/introducing-real-plans-a-customizable-aip-meal-planning-service/
Additionally, be sure to reach out to take advantage of the “Chat with a Specialist” option on the Real Plans site. They are very responsive & can help you.
Struggling to help my daughter find AIP foods she will eat in order to start the elimination. We end up eating non-AIP when she won’t eat what’s prepared. She’s 12, diagnosed celiac at 8 (she went GF), then 6 months ago was diagnosed with alopecia. I was trying to get her started on AIP in order to help with regrowth or at least halt any other auto-immune issue from popping up. She was a GF pasta & mac/cheese addict prior to attempting AIP. Any suggestions on finding kid friendly recipes?
Julie-
I’m not sure it’s as much about being kid-friendly as it is getting her bought in to the idea. Since she is 12, she can really do the menu planning, help w/ shopping, & handle the cooking. Maybe if she feels in charge of helping manage her AIs, she’ll embrace the food. I would have her sit down w/ you & comb Real Plans or recipe archives on AIP sites like ours & pick out meals she wants to try. Everything can be on a “try” basis. You make it one time & see if it’s something you want to keep in the rotation. She can be the determining factor in the keep or not decision. Also, choose to make an AIP treat every week. While we aren’t necessarily encouraging treats often on AIP, there are lots of recipes out there now & having that special thing as a dessert after dinner & a day of AIP meals might help.
Hi Danielle! Sorry for the trouble-it sounds like you need to contact Real Plans customer support. My experience with them is that they are very responsive – I hope they can help you sort it out soon!
Hi Autoimmune Wellness,
I love your books but I was wondering if they come in kindle form?
Have a great day.
DF
Hi Dorian! Yes, you are able to buy the Autoimmune Wellness Handbook in kindle form. Check Amazon.com!
Hi, I am a Dermatomyositis patient for nearly 2 years and as people know this is an international coded rare disease with very rare cases in the world. It’s also one of the autoimmune diseases. The recipes that the other AI patients can eat which not really applies to patients like me. Do you have any research or ever heard about this disease before ? As I live in Taiwan, the resources related are quite limited in this regard.
It would be highly appreciated for any kind of help….
Steph, we do know about dermatomyositis, but we do not have any specific information about it. The best we can say is try to give AIP a shot & see if it is helpful for you.
Hi,
I used real plans recently when my own cookbook software failed. but I did find one major deficiency that meant I had to do a lot of work on top of the planning; I could not require it to give me two portions of liver and oily fish each week.
I believe the aip is about what you do eat as well as what you do not eat. Being unable to set requirements (fulfilled with variety!) was enough to return me to my own software.
I would have loved to have a service that could have taken over this chore for me. I hope this feedback will lead to a new feature or two.
😎 Jt – using voice dictation
ME, coeliac, nightshade allergy, colitis, in the UK
JT – thanks for the feedback! I agree, adding in some nutrient-density requirements would make things next-level! I suggest reaching out to the RP team as they are very open to feedback on their service. 🙂
I have severe bile acid malabsorbtion,and have problems with fat and high fiber. Do you think this could work for me?
Anniken, we can never say for sure if AIP will be the exact fit for any one person, but you could certainly attempt it & make adjustments as you & your healthcare team see necessary for your challenges w/ fiber & fat. Wishing the best on your health journey!
Hi Anniken! We can’t help troubleshoot medical issues over comments. I recommend hiring an AIP Certified Coach to help you – http://aipcertified.com.
Thanks for sharing this inside view of how Real Plans work. I’ve been looking at this meal planning program for a while but your video has convinced me to give it a try. They seem to have thought of everthing to make it easy to use. I look forward to saving time to do my weekly meal plan for my family.
I’m glad you found the video helpful, Penelope!
Does Real Plans provide Instapot recipes?
Cheryl-
There are lots of IP recipes in the Real Plans database, including some of our own.
Hi Cheryl, yes it does! You can filter specifically for pressure cooker or Instant Pot recipes.
Would any of these plans be recommended for? PANDAS
Hey Holly! We can’t advise on specific medical conditions since we aren’t medical providers here, but if you are looking to embark on an elimination diet like AIP, Real Plans is a service that can really make things easy for you!
Hi, I am starting the AIP elimination diet & struggling a bit.
I was wondering if there is a trial period for the meal plan program. I’m interested but I want to make sure it is right for me before I purchase . Is there any cancellation fees if I join for the month & it’s not for me. Thanks fir any information
Francesca, I am not sure what their exact policy is, but I am sure if you contact Real Plans they can let you know!
Hey Mickey 🙂
I was wondering if you will be doing any more AIP Batch cooking sessions besides the one you have now? I need all the help I can get and want to learn how to AIP Batch cook.
Hey Tatiana! I don’t have any plans to expand AIP Batch Cook. I’m sorry! I do hope to do some Zoom cooking classes sometime this year. Have you seen this blog article on Batch Cooking I wrote? https://autoimmunewellness.com/batch-cooking-101/
I have been following the AIP diet for approx. 1 1/2 years now but I was paying to have my meals prepared for me due to mobility issues. I now have relocated & was wondering about your meal plans & how they work. Can I sign up for it & be able to share the weekly menu/recipes & shopping lists with someone that I located that is interested in preparing my meals. I would need to forward said lists each week to my cook so we can discuss scheduling, etc. Is this possible? Also, Do you know of a AIP meal service that it’s organic produce with clean animal proteins? I would use this a a back up service for when my cook is not available. Thank you!!!!
Hi Robert! I do believe you can sign up for a membership in order to share with someone who is preparing meals for you. I would not hesitate to contact the team at Real Plans to be sure, but I think everything (shopping lists, meal plans, etc.) can be exported to share with others. This is a really cool application and I love that you are able to find local help in preparing AIP meals! About an AIP meal service, our favorite to have on-hand is Captain Soup – here is the link: https://captainsoup.com/?ref=Um9iuBYiKuwm
Is the auto immune protocol Sold as a book, not an e-book. And if so where can I find it?
Hi Teresa! You can find The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook and The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook as print books, I’ve linked to Amazon!
Hi, I just signed up for RealPlans and you had mentioned that recipes from your books are included in the AIP extra package, but I was just looking for a couple recipes from the Autoimmune Wellness Handbook, and don’t see them in there. Was a bit disappointed by that, since I was hoping to be able to easily use those. Thanks!
Hi Debbie! We worked with a publisher for The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook, and they own the rights to those 30 recipes. You will find all of our recipes from this site and both of our solo books (over 300 of them!) in the Autoimmune Wellness Real Plans package. The great news is that if you need to use any of those 30 AWH recipes in your meal plan, you can easily import your favorites manually.
I’m working with a functional medicine doctor who recommended 3 months on AIP elimination phase- only 4 more weeks to go, but then I realized that the reintroduction phase could be several months long. My problem is I don’t like to cook, (but I can cook)-there are just so many other things I’d rather be doing!!!! I don’t want a lot of recipes, but more menu ideas that take very little time. I had several go to menu items before AIP that I could make without a recipe. Will this plan help me????
Hi Maureen! Real Plans is completely customizable, and you can add in reintroductions week by week to make that process go more smoothly. I do think it would be a timesaver for you!
Hi. Is there an option to exclude starches?
Hi Karen! You can exclude any ingredient specifically in the settings section, so if you were to avoid sweet potatoes and squash, you could add those foods to your exclusions list!
Can you use this program when you are just starting the protocol and eliminating everything?
Hi Nicole! Yes! Real Plans is SUPER helpful when you are doing the elimination phase, because it will show you only recipes that satisfy your elimination.
Hi. I have been suffering from gas and acid reflux and would like to find out the foods that are causing this by elimination. Would the AIP real plan help with this condition? I haven’t seen my doctor yet but I would like to avoid being put on medication and would like to try to rectify my problem with diet instead. Does this plan help to determine the foods that should be avoided for the first 2 or 4 weeks or do I have to determine for myself what foods I should be avoiding in the reset phase? I would also like to know if your book, The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook would help me with this condition. Thank you! And P.S. Yes I am planning on making an appointment to see my doctor for my yearly physical and this condition.
Hi Irene! I’m sorry to hear about your gas and reflux, those are troubling symptoms! I do think an elimination diet can help you pinpoint if any specific foods are causing these issues, but AIP specifically might be too restrictive for you. I would suggest hiring a coach who is familiar with AIP and elimination diets to help you decide what is right for you. You can find a listing of providers here: http://aipcertified.com. Good luck!