How to Beat Mid-Afternoon Slumps

Do you experience a witching hour between 2-4 p.m. that sends you to the nearest vending machine or renders you nearly unconscious and nodding off at your desk? Mid-afternoon slumps are common and typically related to diet.  The most frequent causes are:

• Food intolerance  
• Consuming too many carbohydrates or the wrong types of carbs for your system
• A blood sugar imbalance often triggered from processed foods, coffee and sugars
• Not eating regularly to maintain blood sugar levels

In order to fully kick slumps and cravings, it is important to learn how to eat right for YOU by discovering food intolerances and the correct amount of carbs to proteins for your system to thrive.

In addition, a healthy mid afternoon snack with a good mix of both protein and carbs balances blood sugar and can help stave off slumps and cravings. With our increasingly busy schedules, healthy, tasty snacks on the go are essential!

The Love Cleanse is launching a new healthy snack section in each of our newsletters.  Click here to see our first choices when it comes to choosing snacks that really beat those mid-afternoon blues!

Allergies Getting You Down? We Can Help!

If you suffer from allergies, it’s right about this time of year that your fuzzy green land of enchantment turns on you and has you wondering….why, oh why do I live in this city, again?!?

One of the most common complaints that our clients begin with prior to The Love Cleanse, is allergies.   Clients often inquire – “But it shows on my allergy tests, that I’m allergic to pollens!  This doesn’t have anything to do with foods, does it?”

Actually, it often does.  If a client is consuming a food, which is creating internal inflammation each and every day, one of the most common manifestations of this inflammation is hypersensitivity to our environment.  If you quell the internal fire and over-stimulation, the reactions to the external triggers will subside.

And different foods can trigger different “environmental allergens”.  I’m reminded of a client I worked with last fall who showed up with massive mold allergies, which often sent her leaping into the arms of the nearest doctor with cortisone shots.  As she went through the program, she was surprised and elated to discover that her “allergies” disappeared.  She identified that they were related to tomatoes.  

In January of that same year, she called me and said – “It’s not working anymore!   I was great all fall and winter but now I’m miserable with Cedar Fever!”.  So we went through a process of identifying what she could be eating which was triggering her “allergies”.  We quickly honed in on citrus.  She and her husband had a citrus grove and she was eating large quantities of lemons, limes and oranges for the Vitamin C content.  Upon removing citrus, her Cedar woes vanished.

Our bodies are brilliant megaphones shouting to us through our symptoms to heed its call.  Every sneeze, sniffle and scratch is a gift decked out with a shiny red bow!  Why put a band-aid on it?  Unwrap it and dive in to discover what’s inside.  It might surprise you.

Top 5 Foods that Trigger Seasonal Allergies:

Any food that creates inflammation could be the culprit for triggering a response to seasonal allergens.  However, these are the most common our clients have discovered:

• Dairy
• Citrus
• Chicken
• Nuts
• Tomatoes

Thai Fresh: Specializing in Cleanse Compliant Meals

THAI FRESH

909 West Mary Street

Austin, TX 78704

Phone: (512) 494.6436

Click here for a map of all of the Love Cleanse Restaurant Partner locations in Austin.

Upon moving to Austin 12 years ago after a stint in San Francisco – I visited every Thai Restaurant in town searching for the authentic Thai Food by which I’d become spoiled.  10 years later the Thai Prima Donna in me was finally satiated with the opening of Thai Fresh!  Jam Sanitchat grew up in Thailand and began cooking with her Grandmother at age 5.   Authentic, fragrant curries, Pad Thai and Veggie Stir Fries are their specialties. They offer market style Thai Food available to dine in or take out. 

During Phase 1 and the early parts of Phase 2 – Thai Fresh is your best bet!  If you are participating in the Concierge Program, we will deliver a cleanse compliant Thai Fresh stir-fry and citrus free hummus each day.  On the Self Pick up or TLC programs, you may order your own.  

After Phase 2 Reintegration, branch out and try their most flavorful dishes like the Papaya Salad or Panang Curry.

We're now offering Breath Based Meditation!

Kim is now offering complimentary Breath Based Meditation for Concierge and Live Video clients. If you are interested, just let us know when you sign up and we will schedule extra time with you after one of our sessions.

The Love Cleanse teams up with Daily Juice

The Love Cleanse and the Daily Juice have teemed up to bring you the ultimate alkalizing nourishment. Daily Juice is now our preferred juice partner providing juice for our Self Pick Up and Concierge programs in Austin, TX.

For more information on other locations where you can order The Love Cleanse Juice, click here.

Halibut in Parchment

Halibut & veggies Headed for the Oven

Feel like your indulging while eating perfectly healthy with this recipe for naturally buttery and delicious fish!  


INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES

• Parchment paper
• ¼ pound thin asparagus, cut into 2 inch pieces (if your asparagus is more on the thick side, you will need to par cook it until about halfway cooked in boiling water)
• 1 clove garlic, minced ***
• ¼ a roasted red pepper, chopped***
• 4 ounce halibut filet
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest, plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice***
• 1 scallion, chopped ***
• 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, chopped
• 10 grape tomatoes***
• 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

Tear off a piece of parchment at least 12 inches long. Place the asparagus in the middle of the parchment, lined up in a straight row roughly the size of your fish, this will be the bed for the fish to cook on top of. Place the garlic on the asparagus, follow with the peppers. Place fish on top. Top with the salt, lemon zest, juice, scallions & parsley. Scatter grape tomatoes on & around fish. Drizzle fish with olive oil. 

Now you need to seal the parchment: pull up the ends & begin folding securely from one side to the other, secure tightly so that the steam will stay in the packet. Place packet on a baking sheet & place in oven for 20-25 minutes.

To serve: cut open packet & empty onto a plate. Enjoy!

***It is recommended to exclude this ingredient if it is a food intolerance for you or you haven't yet tested.

Scallops with Wilted Greens

Tis the season for greens, one of the most alkalizing foods on the planet.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 teaspoons coconut vinegar
• Zest of 1 orange***
• 2 teaspoons chopped thyme leaves
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt & pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 large sea scallops
• 1 bunch of your favorite greens, such as kale, Swiss chard, spinach, mustard or dandelion greens

Combine vinegar, orange zest, thyme, garlic, salt & pepper in a small bowl. While whisking, slowly drizzle in olive oil. Place scallops in a small bowl & pour ½ of the oil & vinegar mixture over them. Turn scallops to coat & allow to sit 15 minutes. 

Scallops marinating.

Wash greens by chopping first & placing in a big bowl of cold water, swish around so that all of the grit falls to the bottom. Dry well in a kitchen towel or salad spinner. 

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Pour remaining oil & vinegar mixture into the pan. Add greens & cook until they are wilted.
 

Meanwhile, heat a small nonstick skillet over high heat. Sear scallops, turning
once until they are browned & cooked   through, 4 to 5 minutes. 

To serve: place wilted greens on a plate & top with scallops.

***It is recommended to exclude this ingredient if it is a food intolerance for you.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cups raw pumpkin seeds
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a spray bottle
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground mustard
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon roasted garlic powder*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place pumpkin seeds in a small bowl, spray with olive oil spray to coat. Sprinkle the spices on top & stir until the seeds are evenly coated. Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer. Place in the oven on the middle rack. Bake, stirring occasionally until they are golden brown & fragrant, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt. Seeds can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. 1 serving = 2 tablespoons.

For a sweet & spicy version, substitute 2 teaspoons of Chinese five spice for the spices above. Chinese five spice is a blend of cinnamon, anise, cloves, ginger & fennel.

Raw pumpkin seeds & spices.

For a Tex-Mex version, substitute 2 teaspoons of fresh lime juice (stick to olive oil if citrus is a personal food intolerance) & 2 teaspoons Chipotle chili powder (if nightshades are not a food intolerance).

For an Italian version, substitute 2 teaspoons ground fennel & fresh ground pepper.


*Please omit the garlic powder if you and your coach have established you'll be testing as it's own category in Phase 2.

Kale Chips

INGREDIENTS

• 1 head of kale, rinsed and thoroughly dried (or else chips will not crisp up)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a spray bottle
• Himalayan Salt, black pepper or your favorite seasoning to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut kale into 1 inch strips. Place evenly on a baking sheet & spray with a light mist of olive oil spray. Roast in oven until crisp, about 5-10 minutes. Salt to taste as soon as you remove from oven. Makes 2 servings.

Check out more snack ideas here. 

Top 5 healthiest, Tastiest Snacks on the Go!

1. Kale Chips
These crunchy, alkalizing treats are a perfect replacement for mid-afternoon French Fries. Nutrient dense crispy veggies with a minimum of 5 grams of protein per serving, it’s the perfect blood sugar balancing snack! 

Austin’s own Rhythm Chips

$29.99 for a case of 6.  Comes in Zesty Nacho, Bombay Curry or Kool Ranch. Or stop Whole Foods Raw Section or Daily Juice to pick up a bag for $4.99.

You can also try making your own by following this recipe for Kale Chips.

2. Pumpkin Seeds
At the top of the roster for health benefits including - high magnesium, remedies for parasites and high zinc – pumpkin seeds are the superstar of seeds! Grab some pumpkin seeds from the bulk section of your local Whole Foods or give Gerbs a whirl. 

Gerbs are the pumpkin seeds specialists!

$2.99 for a 3.5 oz box.  There are many flavors to choose from, but one of our favorites is Lightly Salted, Whole Roasted.

Or if inclined follow this Love Cleanse Recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds and make your own! 

3. Flax Crackers
High in fiber, antioxidants and Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Flax should be a staple in every diet. And chomping on these crispy Organic Mustard Flax Crackers from Foods Alive is a much more palatable way to receive the benefits than the sawdust powder that is Flax Fiber. You will be transported to the ballpark with a pretzel!

Foods Alive Flax Crackers

$5.99 for a 4 oz bag.  Comes in a variety of flavors, which can be found through the link above.  You may order online or at your local Whole Foods Market.

4. Hummus
Paired with crispy raw carrots, cucumber or celery – hummus is one of the most perfect afternoon snacks. Many varieties of hummus are available. One of my favorites in Austin is Grandma’s Hummus, which can be purchased at Whole Foods Market. Vampires beware – the garlic in this will send you running!

Grandma’s Hummus

$5.50 for a 9 oz container at Thom’s Market. 

And of course, for those in Austin on Phase 1 of the program – Thai Fresh’s citrus/tahini free variety is a lifesaver! You may also make your own citrus free hummus.

Thai Fresh

$5 for a 12 ounce container 

 
5. SuperFood Snack
The Love Cleanse has formulated a high fiber/high protein plant based powdered shake which is used in all of our programs. The special combination of high fiber/ protein along with the nutrient dense profile create a perfect afternoon or morning snack. 

The Love Cleanse Superfood Snack

$65 + Shipping for 25 servings

Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Fries

  

Ditch the fast food version and opt for these treats!

INGREDIENTS

• ½ medium-large sweet potatoes
• ½ tablespoons olive oil
• 1 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped & chopped
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut potato into ¼ inch thick matchsticks. In a large bowl, toss together potatoes, oil, rosemary, salt & pepper. Spread evenly over a baking sheet & bake 20-30 minutes until crisp.


*Please limit sweet potatoes to 2-3/week and before 3:00 p.m. during Phase 1.