While you’re detoxing, it seems like you have a million things to worry about, with your diet being one of them. As you research how to do a safe and effective detox, one of the first things you’ll find is that clean eating is pivotal. So how do you prepare for eating while detoxing? We’ve compiled a few yummy detox recipes to make your detox diet a breeze!
Importance of Healthy Eating During a Detox
While some meals won’t affect your detox, several ingredients can make it easier, and some inhibit it. If you aren’t careful, you could even increase your toxin levels by consuming chemicals, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. Further, your digestive system needs to be kept happy if you want to detox quickly, so avoid foods that are difficult to break down or irritating to your stomach. Keeping a clean diet filled with fluids and natural spices will give your body the support it needs for an effective detox.
Creating a Detox Meal Plan
A meal plan is a schedule of what you’ll eat for each meal. Most people will set meal plans for a week at a time, but that’s up to personal preference. This is immensely helpful when detoxing because your detox diet is such a touchy concept. When you’re meal planning for a detox, be sure to incorporate lots of veggies, especially those packed with water. Always get your daily dose of fiber and, if you eat meat, stick to lean meats only. To stay up on your fluids, drink lots of water and, if that gets boring, caffeine-free tea.
Best Detox Recipes
To help you as much as possible, we put together some of the best recipes that’ll boost your detox and suit various diets. These recipes are rich with the best detox ingredients, like garlic and lemon, so you’ll detox with ease!
Chicken Bone Broth
What You’ll Need
- 3 lbs chicken bones
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 12 cups water
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove
Instructions:
- Bake bones in the oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
- Place roasted bones in a large pot.
- Add apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, water, olive oil, and garlic.
- Cover.
- Bring contents of the pot to a boil, then reduce to low heat.
- Simmer uncovered for a minimum of 8 hours.
- Simmer longer for a richer flavor but reduced liquid amount.
- When the broth is to your liking, strain it and serve immediately.
Leftovers can be refrigerated or frozen.
Garlic & Lemon Pork
What You’ll Need
- 1 lb pork tenderloin with fat trimmed off
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 3 tsp chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
- Mix lemon juice, garlic, parsley, and in a bowl.
- With a basting brush or your fingers, rub the mixture on both sides of each piece of pork.
- Coat a frying pan with olive oil, and place pork in the pan.
- Cook on medium heat until brown on both sides; about 6 minutes on each side.
Salmon Salad
What You’ll Need
- 2 salmon fillets
- 2 cups quinoa
- ½ lb asparagus, chopped
- 2 bunches of kale, chopped
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tbsp minced ginger
Instructions:
- Bake salmon at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, and prepare quinoa according to instructions on the packaging.
- Mix olive oil, lemon juice, and ginger to make a dressing.
- Place asparagus, kale, and cucumber on the quinoa in the serving dish.
- Place the salmon on the veggies, and pour dressing over the entire dish.
Egg White Omelet
What You’ll Need
- 4 egg whites
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ cup chopped asparagus
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ avocado
- Fresh parsley, to taste
Instructions
- Whisk egg whites and garlic powder in a bowl.
- Add asparagus and spinach, stir lightly.
- Coat a skillet in extra virgin olive oil, and pour in egg white mixture.
- Once fully cooked, fold the eggs in half and place them on the serving dish.
- Top with sliced avocado and fresh parsley.
Veggie Stew
What You’ll Need
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 4 stalks of celery, chopped
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 2 tbsp minced ginger
- 3 tsp turmeric
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 6 bunches of kale, chopped
- 14 cups water
Instructions:
- Put carrots, celery, broccoli, and ginger in a large pot.
- Add turmeric, cinnamon stick, lemon juice, olive oil, and finally, pour in water.
- Cook on low heat for about 6 hours.
- Add kale, and simmer for another 15 minutes before serving.
Final Thoughts
Meal planning is difficult for many people, even without the extra challenge of a detox. You can have a successful detox diet as long as you eat clean and avoid foods that irritate your digestive system. If you are looking to give your detox additional help beyond your diet, detox programs are a great way to support your body’s natural detoxification process.