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A Quick, Three-Day Summer Detox


Blog by Polly Reitze | July 1st, 2016



There’s always a lot of talk about getting the perfect bikini body (whatever that means) this time of year, and while sure, looking hot in a two-piece can be a powerful motivator, the primary reason we wanted to do a quickie detox was to get our sugar cravings, and subsequently, our energy levels, in check, and generally rid ourselves of some not-so-great eating habits we’ve picked up long before Memorial Day. To get the job done, we tapped Liz Moody, the woman behind Sprouted Routes, where she writes about natural beauty, healthy travel, and, of course, delicious, nourishing recipes. As a former newspaper columnist, she spent years traveling around the world: She took culinary lessons in Syria, sommelier courses in Paris, and studied under a Moroccan medicine man in the Rif Mountains. She came to have a deep appreciation for food as both medicine and an integral, immensely enjoyable part of life. In short: she’s our kind of girl. Her recipes—as evidenced by this easy-to-follow and effective three-day detox—are filled with nourishing, healthy ingredients, while utilizing exciting, internationally based flavor combinations. Her first cookbook will be released by Clarkson Potter in Spring 2017, but in the meantime, her Instagram account is an excellent alternative.

The Detox

“This detox is designed to fill your body with wonderful, nourishing ingredients without ever sacrificing satiety or flavor. While everything is gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and optionally vegan, the recipes are far more focused on what you put in than what you leave out—we’re talking tons of leafy greens, seasonal produce, medicinal herbs and spices, healthy fats and proteins, and more. I promise you’ll never go hungry, and you’ll never have to eat bland, boring food! Each day is nutritionally balanced and includes a breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack or dessert. Three days is enough to begin to see changes—you’ll notice that your sugar cravings diminish as your palette changes, and you’ll begin to feel more energy, less bloat, and have that healthy glow—but please, keep making your favorites after the detox ends. Feel free to supplement your day with herbal teas, lemon or herb infused filtered water, and one or two cups of organic green or white tea for your caffeine fix.”

The Meal Plan

DAY 1

Breakfast: Pineapple Arugula Cilantro Green Smoothie
Lunch: Black Daal-Stuffed Indian Spiced Sweet Potato
Dinner: Spiralized Zucchini Noodles with Mint Parsley Pepita Sauce
Dessert: Mexican Hot Chocolate Avocado Pudding

DAY 2

Breakfast: Strawberry Rosemary Overnight Chia Oatmeal
Lunch: Honeyed Jalapeño Lime Quinoa Arugula Salad
Snack: Almond Milk Horchata Shake
Dinner: Harissa-Spiced Sweet Potato Soup and Kale

DAY 3

Breakfast: Pistachio Cardamom Waffles with Rose-Soaked Blackberries
Lunch: Fresh Thai Salad with Cayenne Cashews
Snack: Za’atar-Spiced Baked Carrot Chips
Dinner: Turmeric-Roasted Cauliflower with Coconut Lime Forbidden Rice