This is shaping up to be the most delicious cleanse ever…who knew?
There are so many myths about cleansing: you have to starve yourself, it’s painful – even dangerous, you have to pay hundreds of dollars for a pre-packaged cleanse for it to really work, and some even believe it to be a drudgery. Our goal at the Homestead is to bust all these myths, and help you create a custom cleanse that is not only delicious, but enjoyable – where you’ll see and feel the benefits at the end of just seven days, and want to do it again!
Starvation is against the rules
Let me add a caveat to this paragraph right up front: there are amazing studies coming out now acknowledging the real benefits of eating far less than we think. In fact, the USDA recommendation of consuming between 2,000 and 2,500 calories every day could be contributing to our epidemic levels of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. I’m not a fan of counting calories, so let’s just use some common sense, listen to our bodies, and consider eating a little less.
But all that amounts to eating less – NOT starving!
Which brings me to my favorite topic during a cleanse: what to eat? Here is one of my staple recipes during a cleanse that is great anytime, but recommended in the afternoon when we are most active, so that our digestive system gets a well-deserved break the rest of the day.
Big Happy Bowl
Ingredients: organic rice, your choice of vegetables (at least 2 cups chopped), 1 T miso.
Make it! Cook the rice according to directions. Play with varieties. For example, wild rice has such a complex flavor profile it stands well on it’s own, with little tinkering necessary. Since we’re cleansing, consider cooking the rice with just water (especially if you usually add salt, oil or butter). After the first couple days of cleansing this way your sense of taste will be enhanced and you’ll suddenly start appreciating flavors you’ve been hiding under the salt and oils.
Flash steam veggies like garlic, onion, tomato, kale, mushrooms, bok choy, parsley, carrots, and radishes. Go for color! Our eyes partake in our food as much as our taste buds and stomachs, and a visually pleasing meal is more satisfying to body and soul. Heat a skillet until a drop of water sizzles on the cooking surface. Toss 2 cups vegetables with 1 T water for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat immediately and place over cooked rice.
Add 1 T miso to 1/2 cup hot, but not boiling water. Stir gently until miso dissolves. Pour over rice and veggies and serve warm! Bon appetit!
This recipe is simple, yet chock full of nutrition and enough bulk to keep you full for a while. There are endless variations, I’d love to hear your favorite!
Pro-cleanser tip: chew, chew, chew! Savor every bite by chewing for one full minute before swallowing. Get to know the subtler flavors and textures of your food while improving the digestibility and nutrient absorption of your meal. (This goes for all your liquids during a cleanse, too – remember to chew!)
