Amaranth with Apples, Cardamom & Mint

An aromatic combination of ingredients makes for a warm and robust way to start the day. The amaranth cooks up to a porridge like consistency and the addition of the apples lend a bright crunch. Cardamom and mint elevate this simple recipe to something entirely different. When they're in season we love to swap the apples for fresh, juicy peaches.

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ cup amaranth cooked according to package directions
• ½ cup chopped apples
• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1-2 fresh mint leaves, chopped

Combine all ingredients in a bowl & enjoy!


Makes 1 hearty serving or 2 small servings.

Shrimp & Goat Cheese Chili Relleno

These Relleno are so creamy and delicious it's almost hard to believe they're such a healthy meal choice! This has to be one of our favorite Love Cleanse Recipes; perfect for both a weeknight family dinner or as an impressive dish for guests. Also equally tasty made with zucchini in place of Poblanos if nightshades are a food intolerance for you.


We roast our own peppers at home either over an open flame or under the broiler in the oven. Once they're charred on all sides place the peppers in a bowl, cover and let sit for five minutes. This will allow you to easily slip off the skins.


INGREDIENTS:
Makes 2 servings.
• ½ cup quinoa
• 1 cup water or stock of your choice
• 2 Poblano peppers, roasted and seeded**
• ½ red bell pepper, roasted and chopped**
• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 6 ounces of shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 14 ounces of organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained **
• 2 tsp lemon zest **
• 2 Tbsp goat cheese, plain or chili flavored, crumbled


INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cook quinoa according to package directions, using water or stock.  Set aside after cooked. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add olive oil. Add shrimp & cook stirring occasionally for 2 minutes.


Add garlic & cook another minute or 2. Add red pepper, tomatoes & lemon zest. Stir together & allow to warm through. Add quinoa & goat cheese, stir to combine & melt cheese. 


Stuff mixture into peppers & bake for 10 minutes.


**If you are sensitive to nightshades, substitute a zucchini for the Poblano.  Slice a zucchini lengthwise & scoop out seeds, stuff with filling & bake about 20 minutes until zucchini is tender.
**Omit roasted red pepper & tomatoes if you are sensitive to nightshades.  
**Omit lemon zest if you are sensitive to citrus.

Meet Sarah McConnell!

CLIENT: Sarah McConnell

*Sarah is still in Phase 2 and tracking.

So far, Sarah has discovered the following food intolerances:

• Corn: Level 2 intolerance impacting mood, allergies, energy
• Dairy: Level 3 intolerance impacting allergies, mood, digestion and energy

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TESTIMONIAL:

"My life has taken a dramatic turn in the past 30 days.  I am a completely different person than I was 30 days ago.  Completely! Before I met Kim, I suffered from ongoing migraines, sinus infections, depression, insomnia, and general ill health.  I was always tired and felt irritable a great deal.

The cleanse is not easy for the first 7 days.  It takes tenacity.  However, once you begin to integrate different food groups, your world (and your palette) opens up.

I wish I had done this years ago! I immediately lost weight, stopped having sinus infections, depression went away magically, and by day 4 I was sleeping like a baby for the first time in 10 years.  The only times I have felt bad in the past 30 days have been when I integrated foods to which I am intolerant.  By simply removing these food groups from my diet, my health, emotional well-being and life have changed dramatically.  

I wake up feeling energized and happy...the way I used to when I was a child. You remember those Saturday mornings where you would luxuriate in bed with the knowledge that you didn't have to do anything, but you could do everything the world had to offer. I have returned to that land of peace and happiness, and am now living in the moment. No more anxiety, fno more fear, no headaches, and best of all: no extra weight!

Something else that all of my friends have been excited about...for years, I thought I had mommy brain and that I would forever walk around in a haze.  I am no longer confused or unfocused."

Go Raw Bars

When working with clients to help with cravings and regulate blood sugar, one of our first recommendations is to eat a protein snack both mid-morning and mid-afternoon. We bring you the tastiest, healthiest and must convenient snacks each month!

Go Raw Bars

 
Go Raw Bars contain soaked and sprouted seeds!  Why would one wish to soak and sprout seeds?  Seeds and nuts contain an enzyme inhibitor that makes them very difficult to digest.  This time consuming process allows you to soak up every ounce of benefit from each powerhouse packed seed.  And did we mention, they are delish? One of our favorites is the Banana Bread Flax Bar.  Chewy, moist and full of nostalgia, these would make your Grandma proud!

 
They can be found at Whole Foods or online here.

Pumpkin Berry Smoothie

A fresh twist on an old favorite...this packs so much goodness into one glass it even has greens blended right in - ya can't taste them a bit!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/3 cup butternut squash or pumpkin – fresh or canned
• 1 cup organic mixed blueberries & raspberries
• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 1 jumbo kale or Swiss chard leaf or 2 small to medium leaves
• Thin, small slice of fresh ginger 
• 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Raw coconut oil or 1 tbsp coconut butter

OPTIONAL:

• 1 tbsp of Flax oil (Women Only)   
• 1/3 cup SuperFood Snack or Vega Whole Meal Optimizer (only for those not sensitive to food combining principles)

Place all ingredients in blender except kale or Swiss chard.  Blend everything to a creamy liquid consistency and add kale or Swiss chard.  Continue blending until greens are liquefied and drink.  

Makes one 12 ounce serving.

First Installment of our Healthy Food Ambassador Column!

The Love Cleanse is excited to announce our Healthy Eating Ambassador
column!

Our Healthy Eating Ambassadors have gone through The Love Cleanse
program and are now hitting the streets with their health goals still in mind months and/or years later. They are feeling good and proud of it!

They wish to share their favorite healthy dishes around town. As they have discovered, eating healthy can still be fun; and you can still find healthier options at some of your favorite “non-healthy” eateries.

We're proud to introduce Dawn Thompson, our first Healthy Eating Ambassador, which is fitting as she was one of our earliest clients 2 years ago.

Dawn Thompson
Founder of Dawn Thompson Interiors, Mother of 2 and leader of her girl's pack

Read below to see how I was able to incorporate what I learned through the Love Cleanse to find menu items at local restaurants that are both delicious and work for me.

I discovered the following:

• Shellfish makes me extremely tired.
• Gluten creates inflammation and fatigue.
• Eating nuts increases my cravings.

Here are some of my favorite dishes around town:

MANGIA PIZZA 

• They have a great Greek salad that I like to add grilled chicken to.

SANTA RITA CANTINA: 

• The Tilapia Pescado with black beans, salad, and guacamole
• Rotisserie Chicken Entrée
• A variety of fabulous salads!
• Santa Rita has an array of delicious, healthy shrimp dishes but I never order because I’m intolerant to shellfish.

GALAXY CAFE: 

• One of my favorites with so many options for me because they have an entire Gluten Free Menu featuring pasta dishes, sandwiches, wraps and even desserts!

ZOCOLO CAFE: 

• I get the Tostado salad (which is actually a fantastic fresh salad), with chicken on top and black beans and one small Tostada on the bottom.

 

24 DINER: 

• Their homemade Veggie/beet burger with a side salad is satisfying and tasty!

Cipollina's Nicoise Sala

CIPOLLINA

Some of my go-to dishes include:

• Nicoise salad
• Meditteranean Salad
• Love their rotating fish specials too

   GUERO'S TACO BAR

• The Grilled Veggie Alhambre is a huge plate of grilled vegetables with black beans, rice and I order Corn tortillas. Really good!

 

MANDOLA'S ITALIAN MARKET PLACE:

• Misto Salad with grilled chicken - Delicious!
• Also carry great shellfish items but again, these are NOT for me.

Raw Coconut Aminos Non-Soy Seasoning Sauce

Straight from the sap of a coconut tree, blended with sun dried-mineral rich sea salt and aged until it naturally ferments – this is one of the cooler products we have run across!  It contains 17 amino acids and up to 14 times the amino content of soy.  And best of all, it lends a rich smoky flavor to your veggies.  We tried it drizzled on our morning quinoa and found it absolutely decadent! You will definitely want this one.

Since it's entirely free of soy and other common inflammatory ingredients, it also fits the bill as Cleanse-Compliant. 

Currently sold in the raw food section of Austin Whole Foods Austin or for those in other cities - www.coconutsecret.com.