January cleanse

Every January, Aaron and I try to do a "cleanse". After all the holiday celebrating, we like to "restart" our diet and remind ourselves of how delicious healthy foods really are. Usually the whole month of January is dedicated to "cleansing," but this time it will only be 3 weeks. People always want to know what we do, so I'll tell you. We don't have a plan from a book or program...we kind of just make it up. The cleanse started last Tuesday and this year goes a little something like this: NO to sugar, coffee, cheese, alcohol, and meat; YES to fruits/veggies, whole grains, eggs/beans, vinegar, good oil, and spices and herbs.
Day 1: Fast
Day 2: Raw Foods only (fruits, veggies, nuts)
Day 3: Add brown rice and cooked veggies
Day 8: Add other whole grains
Day 10: Add beans
Day 14: Add eggs
Day 16: Add coffee (because this is only about as long as we can go without it!)
Day 22: The END!

Today we actually permitted a small coffee break - I NEEDED it! :) So we each had a cup of coffee. It tasted GOOD! Other times when we are eating out with friends or at a friends' house we bend the rules. So much social time happens around food and we don't want to be a drag by telling our hosts that we can't eat what they have served (Plus it's a good excuse to "cheat").

Here's one of our favorite recipes so far:

5-B Salad (From Clean Eating Cook Book)

2 cups bean sprouts - use alfalfa, broccoli, onion or any combo of sprouts
1 red bell pepper - seeded, deveined, and sliced into ribbons
3 cups broccoli florets - blanched and well drained
1/2 cup blueberries - preferably fresh
1/2 cup cooked, diced beets - well drained
1 purple onion - peeled, sliced into thin rings
1 cup grape tomatoes
1/2 pumpkin seeds

Dressing:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, flaxseed oil or any combo
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
3 cloves garlic, passed through garlic press
6 Tbsp tamari (soy sauce)

1. In large bowl combine the entire first list of ingredients. Cover and refrigerate or serve right away.
2. In small mixing bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients until well blended. Serve dressing on side.

It is delicious. I made extra dressing and a few days later stir fried some onions and kale and added the dressing to the stir fry...also very yummy. For breakfast we have been eating brown rice with berries, bananas, and pecans. There are days when I feel like I can't eat anything and feel deprived, but the truth is...eating like this does take a bit more time in the kitchen instead of grabbing a cookie or spoon of peanut butter. However, it's a good reminder that it's worth the effort. Three cheers for delicious, nutritious food!