Eating Clean (Have You Ever Done a Cleanse? Are You Vegan?)

Photos via Pinterest.

This week I’m experimenting with doing a vegan cleanse.

I found this program at a local restaurant where you can buy meals and juice for the week—all vegan, organic food. I picked up everything on Sunday afternoon and set it in the fridge, feeling excited about the idea of eating clean in a way that’s convenient for me. I was a little worried about being hungry – the portions for everything are pretty small, and they really recommend only eating about 1.5 meals (plus juice and a smoothie) each day.

Turns out, the amount of food seems to fit pretty well with my levels of hunger… but I’m really not a huge fan of most of the recipes they’ve used (they taste weird!), and I’m disappointed in how none of the food seems fresh. (It makes sense that it wouldn’t after sitting in my fridge for a few days… but somehow this did not occur to me when I signed up, ha.)

There’s really something to be said for preparing your food right before you eat it – not only so that you get the best quality and taste, but also so that you create a connection to the food as its being prepared, allowing your body to be more ready to receive nutrition.

I think in the future I will opt to plan out and prepare my own food for a cleanse. I love the idea of eating unprocessed foods and incorporating healthy green juices and smoothies into my diet, but this plan feels forced. I am not enjoying my food as I eat it, and that makes me a little sad.

Have you ever done a cleanse? Do you have any healthy recipes you recommend?

I’d love your ideas on eating well :)

PS I’m also reading this book called The Yoga of Eating by Charles Eisenstein. 

I love this quote: “True discipline is really just self-remembering; no forcing or fighting is necessary.” 

As I continue to move forward with the cleanse this week, and as I incorporate better food into my diet, I want to be gentle with myself, patiently moving toward my best self—healthy from the inside out.