I see spring as a beginning. During the winter, deprived of fresh nutrients, sunlight and long walks outside, my body begins to hibernate. During the last days of February, all my senses feel spring coming – the days get longer, the first fresh plants color the farmers’ market in vibrant green, and my diet changes completely. Fresh greens pulsing with energy and loaded with enzymes, vitamins and minerals replace the superfoods I relied on during winter and naturally find their way into my smoothies, salads and soups. Having a gentle detox seems like the best way to start over energized and ready for all the opportunities of the months ahead.

Gentle 3-Day Spring Cleanse

I always say that a detox shouldn’t be a challenge for your body, but more of a pampering way to cleanse it and prepare for a new season. During the past few years I’ve tried everything, from juice cleansing to fasting or eliminating certain foods like carbs or sugars. And while I lost some weight, my body felt stressed and exhausted. With time I realized that our body has its own natural detoxification functions, and you can support them with a diet loaded with nourishing, diverse, fresh, seasonal and local produce.

The beginning of spring is a great time to pamper your body’s cells with fresh nutrients. All the fresh herbs and vegetables – spinach, nettles, parsley, asparagus, peas, lettuce, dandelion – are alkalizing and loaded with chlorophyll for helping our cells breath and get the oxygen and enzymes they’ve been deprived of all winter. This gentle 3-Day Cleanse is structured so that you won’t feel hungry or stressed, but energized and in a great mood. Along with infusing your cells with fresh nutrients, try to offer your body and mind some real pampering too:

• Sleep at least seven hours per night, and get some rest anytime your body tells you to.
• Take long walks in the park and get the benefit from the sunlight – your body will produce vitamin D, your minerals levels will stabilize and your mood will boost.
• Take a detox bath every evening using Epsom salts, clay or essential oils.
• Keep a journal every evening and write down all the things for which you feel grateful – it’s a fantastic way to awaken your mind and connect you with the present.
• Exercise gently – stretching, yoga or pilates – and practice meditation for a balanced state of mind.
• Drink a lot of liquids (purified water, infused water, herbal tea) and avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Don’t eat after 7 pm to allow your body to use all those nutrients for cell regeneration.
• Start your day with warm lemon water to boost your metabolism and end it with a calming herbal tea.

Day 1 Meal Plan

Breakfast: Mango Mint Smoothie Bowl

• 1 ripe mango, peeled and cut into chunks
• 5-6 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 cup low fat coconut milk
• 1 tbsp almond butter

*Blend everything until smooth and serve straight away.

Lunch: Gorgeous Glow Salad + Green Juice

1 cucumber, 1 small bunch parsley, 1 celery stalk, 1 green apple, 1 cup spinach

Dinner: Creamy Beet Detox Soup

Day 2 Meal Plan

Breakfast: Chocolate Mint Smoothie Bowl

Lunch: Revitalizing Salad + Green Juice (same recipe as Day 1)

• 1 zucchini, cut into thin ribbons using a mandolin
• 1 bunch parsley, finely chopped
• 1 handful rocket
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 2 radishes cut into thin slices
• 5-6 mint leaves
• 1/2 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
• 2 tsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp Dijon
• 1 tsp organic raw honey

*Mix all the salad ingredients into a medium bowl.

*In a small bowl add the lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon and honey, mix to combine, then pour this dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve straight away.

Dinner: Warming Sweet Potato Turmeric Soup

• 1/2 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into cubes
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 carrot, peeled and cut into cubes
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• Freshly ground black pepper

*In a medium sauce pan heat the coconut oil, add the onion and garlic and cook for two minutes over low heat. Add the sweet potato and carrot cubes, turmeric, cumin and vegetable broth and bring to boil, then simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.

*Transfer the mixture into the blender, season with black pepper, add the lemon juice and process to obtain a creamy soup. Serve warm.

Day 3 Meal Plan

Breakfast: Blackberry Coconut Smoothie Bowl

Lunch: Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh + Green Juice (same recipe as Day 1)

Dinner: Restoring Broccoli Cream Soup

• 1 small broccoli head, cut into florets
• 1/2 inch ginger piece, peeled
• 1/2 ripe avocado, peeled
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 small parsnip, peeled and cut into small cubes
• 2-3 mint leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh spinach
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• A pinch cayenne pepper
• To garnish: mixed seeds

*In a medium sauce pan heat the coconut oil, add the onion, ginger and garlic and cook for two minutes over low heat. Add the broccoli, parsnip and vegetable broth and bring to boil, then simmer for 7 minutes over low heat.

*Transfer the mixture into the blender, add the fresh spinach, lemon juice, mint leaves, avocado and cayenne, and pulse to obtain a creamy soup.

*Garnish with mixed seeds and serve warm.

19