I'll admit, I wasn't feeling like myself on Friday. Not fluish, but not well either. Tired. Exhausted even. Fatigued. My body was sending me a message, loud and clear, and I needed to listen.
Most of you who know me know that I eat the way I do not just because I love high-quality, real, organic, local food, but because I care about my health. I not only want to feel healthy and strong today, but also tomorrow, and for years to come. So I listen to my body. When it's had a lot of stress [emotional, physical or mental], too many greasy or high-carb foods, too little exercise or not enough sleep, it gives me a little nudge and says "Hey, give me a break!." And so I do. Literally.
How do I give my body a break? I cleanse.
Today is day one. Morning liver flush and cleansing tea. All raw fruits and vegetables. Stretching. Deep breathing. My mind is clear. My body is light. My liver and gall bladder have checked in and are already out by the pool. This is Katie's body on vacation.
Day one is the hardest. Did I mention I had pot roast for dinner last night? Hard to go from pot roast to salad. But day two is glorious. And it's all down hill [in a good way] from there. My body knows the drill; it has been let off the hook to relax and regain its balance; its oomph.
When I am on this cleanse, I always make sure to stock up on tons of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. It is so much easier to stay committed when you are prepared. This salad came out of a creative moment when I wondered how strawberries would taste paired with dill. Quite nicely actually. I added sprouts for a punch of nutrition and just a bit of orange to the dressing to sweeten it up.
If you are thinking of doing a cleanse, I would definitely recommend doing so before Thanksgiving and the Holidays. You will feel better, more energized and ready to take on the laundry list of things that tend to come up this time of year. This one I do 3-4 times per year and it works, for me. Give it a go, but baby steps are best when embarking on a cleanse for the first time. Drop me a line if you have questions or would like to share your cleanse stories with me.
chopped salad w/ fennel, strawberries and fresh dill
serves 2 as a main, 4 as a side
1 small head radicchio, chopped
1 small head butter leaf lettuce, chopped
1 small or 1/2 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1.5 cups strawberries, quartered
couple sprigs fresh dill, coarsely chopped
small bunch of sprouts [optional]
1/2 orange, juiced
1 lemon, juiced
2 tbsp olive oil
Toss lettuces, fennel, strawberries, dill, and sprouts in a large bowl. Dress with juices and olive oil. Toss to combine. Season with sea salt.
Good luck! Cleanses aren't always easy but you're an old pro by now! Smart to do it before the holidays too!!!
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