It can be a daunting process for many people embarking on a Detox Program, so I thought it might be nice to offer some little tricks to make the process sound more achievable.
The problem with detoxing is it can feel like punishment if you don’t know the hacks and cheats that you can get away with.
What happens then is people can fall off the wagon and roll into the ditch, so to speak. It can be hard to continue with your program if you have gone to a party or lost control and had a binge on something that was supposed to be ‘off the list’.
These are some of the things that people think they will miss when detoxing:
- Takeaways
- Restaurants
- Party’s
- Desserts
- Sweet snacks
- Coffee
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
Below we will cover each of these and give you ideas on how you can cheat on your detox and get away with it. Please note, I am not suggesting that you completely break the rules, but if you are really struggling these are just a few ideas that might get you through those tough spots.
Takeaways
When you are out on the road, or after a busy workday, a takeaway becomes a more convenient option, but what can you choose when detoxing?
It’s not as hard as you might think. Anything that is free of meat, processed carbs, and other refined foods is generally OK.
Here are a few examples.
- Thai red or green Vegetable Curry
- Chinese Vegetable Chop Suey
- Indian Vegetable Vindaloo
- Turkish Salad
Restaurants
Obviously, the same options as listed for takeaways are OK in restaurants also. You can also choose from the list of soups available excluding those containing meat, and you could ask them if any flour is used in soups. A good restaurant shouldn’t be using flour in the soups.
You can also choose from the salad menu and look for vegetarian options. Most restaurants will cater to vegetarians and gluten-free customers, so these days you can usually find something suitable.
I suggest going Thai, Indian, or Chinese to get more vegetable options but a garden salad is often available in many restaurants if you ask, even if it’s not on the menu.
Try tomato juice for a drink and fruit salad for dessert.
Party’s
The secret to parties is to be prepared. Make a guacamole dip, take a platter of carrot and celery sticks, and your own drinks if you can.
Otherwise, you have the options listed above to choose from when it comes to drinks, snacks, and food.
Remember to share your detox story and have some fun with it, after all, you should be celebrating.
I hope that has been helpful and gives you a feeling of comfort when embarking on your next detox program.
If you do slip up and realize that you’ve broken the rules, don’t worry, have an extra good day the day after and leave your herbal capsules for that day. Pick it up again the next day and you will be fine.
Desserts
First of all, desserts are not off the menu at all. Really it’s just a matter of avoiding processed foods, especially flour and sugar. This means any dessert that is just fresh or dried fruits or has plain yogurt, fresh cream, or other natural whole food is allowed.
Here are some of my favorite detox desserts
- Melon Salad
- Stewed apple and Mango
- Chocolate Yogurt and Pineapple
- Date and Apple delight
- Chocolate mousse
Sweet snacks
We don’t recommend anything with sugar on the detox, but almost all food has some form of natural sugar anyway, so here are a few that you can sneak in. Remember to keep them to a minimum and only as a treat, not a feast.
- Brain Bliss balls
- Raisins
- Dates
- Frozen Juice Ice Blocks
- Grapes
Coffee
Often people think they have to stop coffee when detoxing. In fact, if you are a regular coffee drinker, it’s not recommended to stop, as you can get severe withdrawal symptoms. It is better to still have a cup of coffee each day to avoid adding caffeine withdrawals to your day. You may wish to switch to water-based decaf coffee at this time.
Avoid instant coffee as that’s highly processed. Herbal teas can also be a good alternative.
Chocolate
This can be a little hard to control for some people, so if you have a chocolate binge nature I suggest avoiding it during your program. If however, you have a handle on it, then you could get away with sucking 3-4 small squares of extra dark 70% cacao chocolate as a reward at the end of the day.
Also, raw cacao can be used throughout your program as a flavor for smoothies and desserts.
Alcohol
Any alcohol at all is NOT good for your body, but if are a regular daily drinker it can be hard to quit. If that is the case, you could try having only a single glass of red wine each evening, as that’s probably the healthiest option available. It won’t interfere with your detox program and will prevent the major withdrawal symptoms that regular drinkers can experience. Another option is to try sparkling red grape juice, spicy tomato juice, or Kombucha as alternatives.
In saying that, a Detox program can be the ideal time to kick the habit.
Peaceful, happy days ahead are well worth the effort.
