Since completing my 21-day cleanse a couple weeks ago I have
introduced grains back into my diet, but otherwise have predominantly
maintained the eating regimen. (Full
disclosure, though: I did enjoy my first Gifford’s
chocolate-chip ice cream of the season on Easter Sunday. And yes, it was amazing.)
They say a habit (good or bad) takes 21 days to develop, and
during the cleanse I realized that I could actually give up certain foods I
never thought I could cut out of my diet, like refined carbs (Crackers! Croutons! Candy!), for example. Now, with the exception of off-beat cravings
for Popeye’s fried chicken and homemade brownies (of which I will still allow
myself to indulge in on occasion, because let's just be reals here), my desire for non-inflammatory alkaline
foods (green vegetables, etc.) has come to satisfy my in palate in ways I never
thought possible, which is still just crazy to me, but alas. In addition, I’ve continued my morning ritual of
drinking freshly made green juice because it makes me feel amazing and
energetic and quite frankly because now I don’t want to start my day with
anything else. Oh, how I love the power of
habit, especially when it's a positive one!
Leading a healthy lifestyle is easy and fun when you’re around
people who share the same interest, and I'm very lucky that way. Having
my husband’s new business partner and his wife over for dinner was
particularly enjoyable because they are gluten free (and have been for
years). It was a fun challenge to marry a
plant-based meal with a gluten-free one.
For starters, I made Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Kale salad, a delicious salad made
by “massaging” the tough kale leaves along with avocado and red peppers, finished with fresh-squeezed lemon and cayenne pepper and oil (which I
actually replaced with a few splashes of balsamic vinegar since the salad would
be moist enough with the 1.5 avocado). I kid you not when I say that it was kind of orgasmic, which I used to say about chocolate cake, and I still think that, but now I might have to relegate this kale salad to that category as well.
For the main dish, I made a vegetable lasagna, of which
the “noodles” were thinly sliced summer squash and zucchini, and kale and walnut pesto. As I cut into the dish,
I warned everyone: “This may not be my greatest culinary achievement yet”
fearing that it might be a dreadfully boring amalgam of bland stewed vegetables. Thankfully I was wrong – it was flavorful and rich tasting and also a huge hit,
paired with my guests’ delicious homemade gluten-free garlic rolls. I capped the meal off with a tofu and avocado
chocolate mousse sweetened with fresh Maine maple syrup and honey, which I will definitely be making again. (Only problem was
the recipe made only four tiny ramekin-sized servings.)
And today is Sunday, my favorite day of the
week. No schedule; no commitments; PJs
until noon. Just the way I like it.
2 comments:
I must admit that your ability to complete the cleanse has put a bug in my ear. I have been having issues with fatigue and mood stability lately and have been relying on my favorite foods (sweets and refined carbs) to get me through. I can't help but wonder if these foods that I rely on to "save" me are actually what's causing the issue. Not to mention, I discovered symptoms that my son and husband have that could indicate gluten sensitivity.
It might be worth trying, even just for a couple days. I will say that it was seriously one of the best things I've done. If you want to chat about it further sometime, let me know. :)
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