Spring Detox
Springtime is a great time to Cleanse, Detox, & Reset!
Guest post by Emily Moore
This last week, I completed a short detox to reset. With the changing of weather, seasons, and energy, it felt like it was a perfect time to reset my body and encourage the shift from heavy, dense winter meals to lighter, fresh meals filled with veggies and raw foods. (I had also just spent 4 days in Mexico with girlfriends – I will not disclose how many tacos I ate!). My main focus points for the detox were these: eliminate sugar, alcohol, gluten, dairy, coffee, red meat and any processed foods. I did this for three days (Friday-Sunday).
I did have some green tea and added some hard boiled eggs if I felt I needed a protein fix. I also tried to stretch over as much as I could into the following week, continuing to avoid sugar, alcohol, gluten & dairy, and slowly adding back meat proteins and the occasional cup of coffee.
Here is my menu for the detox weekend:
Friday
Breakfast: 2 eggs, sautéed greens & garlic, 1/2 avocado
Lunch: Salad greens & assorted raw veggies (no store bought dressings! See below for my super easy + favorite dressing recipe)
Dinner: 7 layer salad + Bieler’s Broth
Saturday
Breakfast: Roasted cruciferous veggies, 1 hard boiled egg, hummus
Lunch: leftover 7 layer salad + Bieler’s Broth
Dinner: Sautéed veggies & squash, brown rice/quinoa mixture, sun-dried tomato walnut dip
Sunday
Breakfast: leftover roasted cruciferous veggies, 1 hard boiled egg, hummus
Lunch: 7 layer salad + Bieler’s Broth
Dinner: leftover sautéed veggies & squash, brown rice/quinoa mixture, sun-dried tomato walnut dip
Possibilities for snacks:
raw veggies & hummus
green juices (homemade)
Bieler’s Broth
nuts & seeds
A detox doesn’t mean go hungry! Here are a few helpful things to keep in mind:
Obviously, everyone’s eating patterns are unique. If you know you don’t do well with eggs, or nuts or a certain veggie, leave it out and replace with a different option. You could substitute/add in some white fish like cod if you need more protein, or try a different gluten-free grain. Trust your intuition and do what’s right for you!
Detoxes can be tasty! When you think about eating the same thing on repeat, don’t get discouraged, get saucy! Seriously, make a pesto, or a hummus or bean dip that can be used as a flavor enhancer and can make the meal more exciting. See links below for detox approved condiments!
Possible side effects. At the start of the detox you will probably feel good, if not slightly hungry. Have a snack and stick to it. Don’t go out around town and torture yourself with the smells of restaurants, go outside with your dogs, or hang around your house and get some reading done. Relax.
By Sunday, you’re probably gonna feel a bit grouchy and foggy. Again, keep those snacks on hand and stay close to home – take a bath, take a nap – rest! Some easy yoga or a long walk with the dogs are both things that I highly recommend (don’t go climbing a mountain here though, keep it easy!). Or, if you’re really feeling the need to get out of the house, head to the botanic gardens, or even a garden center near you and hang out with the beautiful plants. Nature always helps relax the mind.
Track your experience and feelings. Next, keep a journal about how you are feeling about the detox, how the food makes you feel, what your cravings are and why. Looking back on this can help you recognize some of your addictive food patterns that might not necessarily be serving you, but are just habits. Recognize those things in the next weeks and see where you might be able to make some changes – an orange or apple instead of that bag of chips you go for, a cup of tea in the afternoon instead of that second (or fourth) cup of coffee.
Spring is a time for growth and renewal and is the perfect time for a meal/habits reset. Don’t be hard on yourself – observe it in gratitude and happiness!
Some detox recipe suggestions:
7 Layer Salad
Thinly Slice:
Purple Cabbage
Broccoli
Acovado
Grate:
Zucchini
Carrots
Crookneck squash
Radish
Add:
Sprouts
Garbanzo beans
Nuts/Seeds (optional)
Prepare each vegetable separately. Place in layers over greens
Roasted Cruciferous Vegetables
2 cups chopped organic broccoli
1 cup chopped organic green cabbage
1 cup chopped organic red cabbage
1 cup cleaned and trimmed organic Brussels sprouts
1 cup chopped organic cauliflower
1 bulb organic kohlrabi
1/2 bunch organic turnip greens
1/2 bunch organic kale
1/2 yellow onion
3 large garlic cloves
Toss all veggies on a large sheet tray with oil/ghee and salt + pepper. Roast at 400 F for 20-25 minutes or until veggies are tender.
Note: this is by no means an exhaustive list. Adding/subtracting/adjusting to your preferences is totally acceptable!
Sautéed Veggies + Squash
1/2 onion
1 cup zucchini or yellow squash/broccoli
2-3 bunches organic greens (chard, beet greens, spinach, kale, etc.)
1-2 cups additional veggies of choice
1/4 cup toasted walnuts, pine nuts or almonds
3/4 tsp savoury
3/4 tsp thyme
In a pot over medium heat, melt oil and sauté onions for about a minute.
Sprinkle in savory & thyme, cover and cook for about 5 minutes.
Add zucchini & other chosen veggies and cook covered another 3 minutes. Add a small amount of water, cover and cook another 3-5 minutes until veggies are tender.
Add in the greens and cook covered for another 3-5 minutes.
Stir in nuts just before serving!
I recommend serving this over cooked GF grains of choice & topping with sun-dried tomato walnut sauce!
Other recipe resources:
https://www.foxy.com/blog/cruciferous-veggies-4-ways-to-go-from-dull-to-delicious
Sauce + Dips Options:
http://jessicaspirord.com/vegan-walnut-and-sun-dried-tomato-pesto/
https://cookieandkate.com/2018/best-hummus-recipe/
Simple Salad Dressing:
In a jar combine:
2/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1-2 tsp herbs of choice (thyme, basil, rosemary, etc)
dash of salt (or garlic salt!)
Close lid of jar tightly and shake it! Taste & adjust seasonings to your liking.
Some of my favorite detox juice recipes:
Green Clean
1 bunch flat leaf parsley
1 English cucumber
2 medium lemons
1 green apple, cored
1 tsp raw local honey
Wash & prep all ingredients. Juice all ingredients and stir in the honey.
Dilute with 1 cup filtered water – this one is potent!
Vitamin C Boost
1 cucumber
4 stalks celery
2 small apples, cored & seeded
1 1/2 cups red cabbage
1-inch piece of ginger, peeled
Wash & prep all ingredients. Juice all ingredients.
