Spring Cleanse 2013: Cleaning from the Inside OUT!

Popped amaranth, kasha, and fresh berry breakfast prior to it's cashew cream drizzle

Just like our homes get cluttered, collect dust bunnies, and lose energy - so too do our bodies collect toxins, increase acidity, and bog down energetically and physically.  Especially if like me - despite eating clean most of the time - you've started enjoying a second glass of wine on the weekend or eating cookies meant for the guys working on your bathroom remodel.  

Spring is always a wonderful time to take advantage of the abundant local spring foods bursting from the earth to cleanse and nourish yourself inside and out.   Many cleanses abound online and in book form.  I'm lucky to have Yoganiche nearby as they run a 21 day food based Spring Cleanse that I just love to pieces.  I love it for many reasons.  It's food based and the recipes are delicious and unique every year.  It's with a group that meets once a week and supports one-another via a private blog.  It includes a Tibetan bowl chakra clearing; yoga at a beautiful pool side setting; massages and other treats at a discounted price; journaling exercises; and this year it also included a cooking demo (great if you've never popped amaranth before) and samples of recipes (yummy macro bowls and nori rolls) for all to enjoy. 

Veggie Sushi Roll in the making and a Spicy Almond Cilantro dipping sauce waiting to be dipped

 Filling on this one = brown rice, carrot, daikon, cucumber, avocado, arame (seaweed), sour kraut and pea shoots.  

The finished roll!

Even if you'd rather create your own cleanse, it's easy to do so given all of the resources available.  If you prefer to share the experience, create a group of your own. Set up massages, facials, and other self-care treats to help move the toxins out.  Dry brush and oil up with sesame oil (organic & not toasted please) and give yourself a mini rub before you jump into the shower.  Invest in that Vitamix blender or juicer you've been lusting for.  Try out new grains and shop for spring veggies at your local farmer's market.  Clear your schedule as much as you can so that you can go deep deep into relationship with your foods, your body and your mind, heart and soul. 

Toasted Teff Breakfast with Cashew Cream and Walnuts

Week two of Yoganiche's cleanse is the "deep cleaning" part and we get to choose from four different tracks, ranging from staying on three meals a day and trying out new foods, to doing a ten day Master Cleanse.  I chose the track that includes a three day liquid cleanse, and I am currently on day two of the liquid.  Probably wasn't the best idea to write this blog post now! I'm drooling!  If you choose to add a few days of liquid to your cleanse, be sure to follow your health practitioner's advice if you have any concerns.  (If you are nursing, pregnant, or diabetic, it's a bad idea.) 

Macro bowl with brown rice topped with chard ribbons, arame seaweed, snap peas, avocado, the kitchen sink, slivered almonds and hemp seeds, toasted dulse and bonito flakes and dressed with a Spicy Almond Cilantro sauce.  

Every year and every cleanse, I like to try out something new - because it's so easy, even when armed with all the knowledge one has, to fall into a food rut.  What once was a diet consisting of a variety of grains and veggies and wholesome meals, can turn into cheese stick snacks and the same old greens, legumes, and avocado salad for lunch.  Sigh.  It happens to the best of us and it happened to me too.  Especially in the month before the cleanse when a dear friend of ours suffered a stroke and after a stress filled week in ICU with his family and friends, we gathered for his funeral.  

You know how it is too.  One thing leads to another and all of a sudden you are nose deep in a pint of ice cream, or whatever your "comfort" food is.  My own tumble into less than healthy food choices made choosing the track that would take me on my current 3 day liquid cleanse an easy choice to make.  Or maybe I picked it as an excuse to finally dig out the juicer gifted to us eons ago and finally put it to good use!

Shopping for week #2 (we repurpose or recycle the plastic bags)

Radicchio cup breakfast with date compote, grapefruit, avocado, slivered almonds and hemp seeds 

Ingredients in "Garden Refresher" smoothie during week #2 

When it comes to juicing, all I can say is, what the hell was I waiting for???  I just took a break while writing this post (because all these food pics were making me hungry) and juiced my first drink consisting of three simple ingredients - an apple, two carrots, and ginger.   WOW.  It was incredible. I am a juicing virgin no more!  I have some recipes that contain greens (kale, spinach and broccoli) that I can't wait to try out next.  It feels so good to do something new, something different, and something so darn fresh and tasty! 

A virgin juicer no more!  Apple, carrots and ginger juice.  Yum!

In just a short 1.5 weeks, I've added new foods and meal ideas to my clean eating repertoire that I'll be using long after this cleanse is over.  The macro bowls from week #1 are easy to prep (on the weekend cook grains, legumes, cut up your chosen veggies, and blend your sauces) and then super easy (takes little time) to assemble at lunch.  If I were working in an office, which I did many many years ago, this would be easy to bring.  Just top with your favorite dressing when you are ready to eat and find a nice non officey space (preferably outdoors) to savor and enjoy!

And JUICING.  My new love!  Can't wait to delve more into you!  Including clever uses for pulp which is easy to freeze.  There are other "new things" (cleansing foods and habits)  I've tried or learned - but I'll save those for another post.

  In the mean time,

What's one "new thing" you can do nutrition wise to help you start cleansing from the inside out?

Go without coffee for a day?

Drink more water?

Make and enjoy your own "spa" water? 

Try a new veggie or grain?

Add a little soaked arame (seaweed) to your salad?

Substitute animal meat with tempeh? 

Take a short walk the next time the vending machine calls?

Do a mini techno-sabbath?

Get a soothing massage?

Whatever you do, try something healthy & new!