Recipes

QUINOA – No cleanse is ever complete without this seed (that we eat like a grain) with a cute letter sequence that may make you wonder if you’re pronouncing its name correctly. If you read it the way it’s written you might say [Kee-no-ah]. However, it’s pronounced, “Keen-wah.”

If you’re a skim milk drinker like I tend to be, off cleanse, almond milk is a very suitable substitute that has skim’s thirst-quenching, no-fat taste and body. It works well in cleanse-approved breakfast cereals, and there’s some notable good stuff sloshing around in its characteristic carton (if store bought) or carafe (if homemade).

On some cleanse mornings, I like to wake up my mouth and mind with the refreshing taste and juiciness of darker-skinned berries. Dark berries are known to have brain-boosting qualities that are epic. And, on taste alone, those plump little nuggets brighten my mouth with a clean sweetness.

The avocado is California’s state fruit. Our beautiful, emerald alligator-skinned, tear-dropped gems, dangle from many neighbors’ prolific trees. It’s often the ingredient of choice – whether snack or mealtime – for Californians and people across the country. And they’re the perfect fruit-disguised-as-a-veggie cleanse staple.

Grilled chicken is the protein our family gravitates to. Yes, we eat a fair amount of fish, but chicken, I would say, is our family’s staple protein product. As you might imagine, the qualities inherent in chicken are excellent features for a cleanse.

It’s the official vegetable of our great state. It packs a punch in the nutrition department. Its taste is mild and agreeable, slightly nutty (some call that “earthy”) and to me, I taste subtle floral notes when it meets my tongue. And the best way to eat it proves to be a fun table pursuit that even kids find kind of entertaining!

When I crave candy-like sweetness while cleansing, dried mango tops the list of my picks. Not only is it naturally sweet, it’s also chewy, similar to gnashing taffy. It’s a snack escape into sweetness.

If you’re not vegan, you may not be familiar with the dry yellow flakes, a popular protein-packed and fortified condiment in meatless kitchens — nutritional yeast. Also called “nooch,” nutritional yeast is a necessary staple in the cleanse cupboard, and it stays fresh and edible long after the 3-week cleanse is up.

Carrots and celery? Really? Yes, really. Carrot and celery sticks are kid-favorite, mom-favorite snacks and just plain old family-snacking fun. So easy to prep and forget – they last for days in the fridge.

I am a peanut butter nut! Peanut butter is my preferred snack on any given day. But during the cleanse peanut butter lives on the  “deny” list. So, on my cleanse days, my substitute of choice is almond butter!