Clean Food = Clean Body

My Mom and I just recently finished a 12 day cleanse... the cleanse is different from a detox, in that you are getting enough nutrients and calories to sustain an active lifestyle. I feel great, and now know for sure that I have a gluten intolerance (my stomach wasn't so hot after reintroducing 2 slices of bread). It is interesting how we become so accustomed to feeling sick or "off", that we do not even notice what foods make our bodies feel both good and bad. I think cleaning out our system once in a while is important in order to truly listen to, and take care of our bodies.

So, here are the basic "guidelines" and a few of my favorite recipes from the 12 days. I am thinking I might make a recipe book for it!

For the ENTIRE 12 days, eliminate the "Big 10" from your life:
1. Alcohol
2. Caffeine (green tea is okay)
3. Dairy
4. Sugar (including honey/agave/maple syrup- but stevia is okay)
5. Flour (crackers, bread, pasta)
6. Chocolate
7. Soy Products (miso is okay)
8. Processed Fat/Oil
9. Nuts
10. Vinegar

Day 1 --> Pre-Cleanse: whole grains, lean protein, fruit, vegetables, healthy fat
Day 2 --> Pre-Cleanse: whole grains, lean protein, fruit, vegetables (eliminate fat)
Day 3 --> Protein Phase: lean protein, fruit, vegetables, supplements
Day 4 --> Protein Phase: lean protein, fruit, vegetables, supplements
Day 5 --> Fruit/Veggie Phase: fruits, vegetables, supplements
Day 6 --> Fruit/Veggie Phase: juice only (dilute 30% juice/70% water)
Day 7 --> Fruit/Veggie Phase: fruits, vegetables, supplements
Day 8 --> Reintroduction: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, supplements
Day 9 --> Reintroduction: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, supplements
Day 10 --> Reintroduction: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein, supplements
Day 11 --> Reintroduction: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein, healthy fat, supplements
Day 12 --> Reintroduction: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein, healthy fat, supplements
(After this, start adding in the Big 10, one at a time- you will notice any lack of tolerance this way!)

~~RECIPES~~





Spicy Mung Bean Soup with Coconut
*2 cups of mung beans (soaked overnight)
*1 tsp black mustard seeds
*1 small clove of garlic (minced)
*1 inch piece of ginger (chopped finely)
*1-2 jalapeños (minced)
*3 bay leaves
*1 tsp tumeric
*1/2 tsp ground cumin
*1 tsp ground coriander
*1/2 tsp cayenne
*1 can diced tomatoes
*3 cups water or vegetable broth
*1 cup shredded coconut
*juice from 1 lemon
*1/2 tsp garam masala
*1/2 tsp salt
--> Heat a large pot over medium heat. When hot, add the mustard seeds and cook until they begin to pop. Immediately add the garlic, jalapeño, and ginger and stir for a minute (be careful for flying jalapeño pieces!). Add 1/2 cup or water and bring to a simmer. Toss in the bay leaves, tumeric, cumin, coriander, and cayenne. Stir, then add the tomatoes and coconut. Cook for another minute, then add the remaining water, and the mung beans. Simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Add water if needed. Cook about 30-45 minutes, or until mung beans are no longer hard (but they should not be mushy either!). Add lemon juice and garam masala (and more water again if needed), and cook for another few minutes before serving.



Massaged Kale with Lemon
*1 bunch of kale (any type works! mix them too!)
*1 large clove of garlic (crushed)
*1/2-1 lemon
*1/2-1 tsp sea salt
--> Wash kale and strip from stalk. Tear into small pieces. Crush garlic and mix with kale. Squeeze lemon onto kale (I suggest starting with 1/2 and adding more if needed) and add salt. Massage with hands for 3-5 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes and serve. Similar to ceviche, the lemon "cooks" the kale down!



Quinoa and Veggie Stuffed Poblanos with Chipotle Guacamole
*6 big poblano peppers (pesillas are the same thing)
*1 cup red or black quinoa cooked in 2 cups of water
*1 small zucchini (cut into small chunks)
*1 small squash (cut into small chunks)
*6-8 white mushrooms (cut into small chunks)
*1/2 purple onion (diced)
*1 red bell pepper (diced)
*2 garlic cloves (minced)
*1/4 tsp salt
*good natural salsa
*12 toothpicks
--> Remove the tops from the poblanos (like the top of a jack-o-lantern) and remove seeds. In a big bowl combine the quinoa, all of the vegetables, salt, and as much salsa as you want (just enough to moisten the mixture without making it runny). Stuff each poblano as much as possible, using a chopstick to push some down into the bottoms and cracks. Place 2 toothpicks into the tops, and out the sides to hold the filling inside. Heat the BBQ grill, and place the poblanos on. Turn every few minutes until the skin is blackened and blistered all over.
*2 avocados
*1 garlic clive (minced)
*1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (diced)
*leftover salsa
*salt
*lemon juice
--> mash the avocado and combine everything until you have guacamole. Serve on top of the poblanos...






Chicken "Tacos" with Green Chile
*1 rotisserie chicken
*1 head of boston butter lettuce
*veggie toppings (tomato, onion, peppers...)
*chipotle guacamole (see recipe above)
*chopped green chile
*pinto beans, or black beans
--> Take apart the rotisserie chicken, shredding the meat. Chop all of the veggies, and make the guacamole. Heat the beans. Using the butter lettuce as a "taco shell", assemble tacos with everything you want.

(Sorry... no pics of these... but they were SO good, we had them twice!)


Let me know if you want any more info on the cleanse. The recipes are all amazing, and I will be using the all on a regular basis. :)