We All Need A Little Cleanse After The Indulgences Of The Holiday Season
The holidays are all about eating, drinking, and being merry, but all good things must come to an end. After so much indulging, you might feel yourself craving salads and green smoothies. But don't worry, detoxing doesn't have to be boring. There are plenty of flavorful, vibrant, cozy, and fun dishes that also happen to be super healthy. For all your detox needs, here are 20 of our favorite post-holiday recipes your body will thank you for.
1. Kale & Brussel Sprout Salad
This kale and Brussels sprouts salad is a dish that screams winter even though it's served cold. Roast the Brussels sprouts so they get golden and slightly crispy before letting them cool and adding them together with kale and a light vinaigrette. Feel free to customize this salad with whatever protein you wish.
2. Poached Pears with Vanilla Yogurt
In the middle of your detox but craving something sweet? Fear not. These poached pears and vanilla yogurt will satisfy your sweet tooth guilt-free.
3. Homemade Granola
Granola is all the goodness of oats, nuts, and dried fruits mixed together with some oil and honey. It's much healthier to make it yourself than to buy it and it's extremely easy.
4. Coconut Curry
The perfect healthy and warming stew for a cold winter's night, coconut curry is simple to make and is full of vegetables, healthy fats, and immune-boosting spices. It's a vibrant and flavorful dish that will assure you detoxing doesn't have to be boring.
5. Lentil Dahl
A good quality source of plant-based protein, fiber, and potassium, lentils are the perfect detox food. Lentil dahl is easy to make and makes for a hearty and comforting winter dish.
6. Lemon Chicken Bulgur
Bulgur is cracked, whole-grain wheat commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking. It's an excellent source of fiber, high in vitamins and minerals, and low in calories. This lemon chicken bulgar is a delicious, crowd-pleasing one-pot recipe that's packed with nutrients.
7. Chicken Zoodle Soup
Zoodles are vegetables cut into the shape of noodles. This chicken soup utilizes them in place of empty-carb noodles for an extra boost of nutrition. This soup is highly comforting, hydrating, and perfect for winter.
8. Fennel & Citrus Salad
Two winter flavors mingle to create a perfect harmony of flavors in this seasonal salad. The sweet-bitter sensation is irresistible and the cleansing properties of both make for a perfect detox dish.
9. Green Smoothie
The green smoothie is a classic detox drink. There's a lot of flexibility around what you decide to put inside, but we like kale, spinach, banana, mango, and almond milk. Make sure to pack in as many greens as you can to ensure you're getting all the vitamins, minerals, and fiber your body is craving.
10. Steel-Cut Oats
Oats are gluten-free grains packed with soluble fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Steel-cut oats are the most nutrient-dense version because they are the least processed. They're extremely versatile but we like them with dried fruit, sliced apples, honey, nuts, and cinnamon.
11. Cocoa Power Shake
Cocoa, almond milk, almond butter, banana, and maple syrup come together to create this chocolate lover's dream. It tastes like a chocolate milkshake but it's healthy! Add your favorite unsweetened protein powder for an extra boost.
12. Chia Seed Pudding
Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants. This pudding is made by combining chia seeds, milk, and natural sweetener of your choice and letting it sit overnight. It's a wonderful make-ahead breakfast or dessert that enables you to have a tasty treat and reap all the benefits of these little seeds.
13. Loaded Butternut Squash Bake
This loaded butternut squash bake is a healthy vegetarian side or main dish that also has a ton of wow factor. Just cut a butternut squash in half length-wise, roast it, scoop out its seeds, and remove the skin. Then fill it with seasonal ingredients like walnuts, rosemary, pomegranate, goat cheese, and cranberries.
14. Grain Bowl With Spiced Squash
Rice, quinoa, or barley all work perfectly for this hearty grain bowl. Add roasted butternut squash spiced with cinnamon for a seasonal take. Mushrooms and watercress complete the dish.
15. Spicy Split Pea Soup
Another cozy winter dish, this split pea soup delivers a kick to your taste buds and your immune system with the addition of curry and chili powder. Split peas are a great detox food as they're full of fiber, iron, and potassium.
16. Vegetarian Chili
You can add beef to this recipe, but when kept veggie it's a bit healthier, consisting almost entirely of fiber-filled beans, tomatoes, and spices. It makes for an aromatic and warming dish fit for winter.
stephanie monfette on Unsplash
17. Farro & Broccoli Salad
Farro became all the rage in the health food world for its impressive nutrient profile. It's packed with protein, fiber magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. Pecorino, crunchy raw veggies, and a zesty vinaigrette make a dish that's as tantalizing as it is healthy.
Bakd&Raw by Karolin Baitinger on Unsplash
18. Squash Soup
Butternut squash soup is the ultimate guilt-free comfort food. The starches in the vegetable give it a creaminess and its natural sweetness makes it feel like you're cheating on your detox when you're not.
19. Baked Maple-Glazed Salmon
Salmon is a super healthy source of protein but we're all tired of preparing it with lemon and herbs. Give it a seasonal flair with a simple maple glaze. Serve it with brown rice and a green vegetable.
20. Whole Wheat Pasta With Spinach & Kale Pesto
Just because you're detoxing doesn't mean you can't eat pasta. This whole wheat pasta is served with a nutrient-packed homemade pesto incorporating plenty of spinach and kale. It's a sneaky and delicious way of getting your greens.
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