Being a MOM changes everything

I mean everything....
Take getting ready to leave the house for instance...

Before motherhood: I could shower (taking the time to rinse, lather and repeat, shave everything necessary), spray some lovely fragrance, lotion up, brush my hair and teeth without interruption, put on clothes that fit my frame perfectly, uncomfortable yet adorable shoes, and makeup and hair to near perfection.

After children: On a good day, I am lucky enough to shower in two seconds flat (before blood curdling screams occur on the outside of the door) - definitely a rinse, maybe a quick lather, the repeat is no-go, shaving only happens once a week in the summer months IF you are lucky, skip the fragrance (the children will pretend they are gagging on whichever scent is chosen), skip the lotion and stare at my VERY dry legs while brushing my teeth and hair simultaneously, then throw on yoga gear and sneakers, no makeup, no time for hair....

BUT; It doesn't HAVE to be this way! Don't let yourself go! You are worth some YOU time!
Just change your routine a bit and look for short-cuts! Shower at night, and lightly towel dry and smooth brush your hair (its better for split ends and dry hair anyway) plus, you can shave and rinse, lather and repeat! AND double bonus, use a Schick Hydro Silk (get silky skin and afford to skip the lotion-- I was lucky enough to try it as a BZZAgent)! When you wake get dressed right away (keep the yoga pants for yoga) and put some makeup on early, when its time to leave, do a touch up and a hair check... boom!

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Snacking on the road trip!

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Week 3 of Detox! (Days 15 - 21)

LAST week!

DAY FIFTEEN

Breakfast: Fried eggs, bacon & kale

Lunch: Beef & broccoli & quinoa

Dinner: Roasted butternut squash, Garlic Chicken

Garlic Chicken

• 1 tablespoon ghee or coconut oil
• sea salt & black pepper to taste
• 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or other cut, cooking time will vary)
• 1 small onion, finely sliced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced or grated
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder or fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds (omit for autoimmune friendly)
• 1-2 pinches chili flakes (*omit for nightshade-free/autoimmune friendly)
• 1/4 cup coconut aminos (available at most Whole Foods Markets or local organic grocers/co-ops for around $5-7/bottle)

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In an oven safe cast iron or stainless steel skillet, melt the ghee, then season both sides of the chicken with sea salt and black pepper, and place skin side down into the pan for 5-6 minutes or until the skin browns and releases easily from the pan.
• While the chicken cooks, combine the onion, garlic, ginger, sesame seeds, chili flakes, coconut aminos and more sea salt and black pepper in a small mixing bowl.
• Flip the chicken thighs over so that they are now skin side up in the pan, then pour the sauce mixture over the chicken evenly and place the pan into the oven for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

DAY SIXTEEN

Breakfast: Egg with vegetable salsa & avocado

Lunch: Turkey Burger in Lettuce Wrap with side of mixed vegetable

Dinner: Julienne squash & zucchini with diced tomato "sauce" & meatballs

DAY SEVENTEEN

Breakfast: Egg, bacon, sausage & avocado scramble

Lunch: Julienne squash & zucchini with diced tomato "sauce" & meatballs

Dinner: Roasted parsnips, turnips, onions and steamed shrimp with side spinach salad

DAY EIGHTEENTH

Breakfast:  Fried eggs, bacon & spinach

Lunch: Tuna lettuce wrap, vegetable sticks

Dinner: Stew with mushrooms, onions & carrots

DAY NINETEEN

Breakfast: Hard boiled Egg, & bacon, sausage, tomato, avocado mix

Lunch: Stew & salad

Dinner: Pulled Pork, sweet potato & mixed roasted vegetables

DAY TWENTY

Breakfast: Pulled Pork Scramble w diced tomato.avocado salsa

Lunch: Pulled pork &sweet potato

Dinner: Roasted chicken, spinach & carrots, onion diced and baked

DAY TWENTY-ONE

Breakfast: Home-made applesauce, blueberries, fried egg, & sausage

Lunch: Pulled Pork over spinach salad

Dinner: (Leftover) Chicken, spinach, carrots & onion

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Week TWO of Detox! (Days 8 - 14)

Here goes NOTHING...

DAY EIGHT

Breakfast: Sausage & onion Frittata  

Lunch:  Bacon Bowl

Dinner: Beef & Cali-flower "Rice"

Frittata

2 Tsp cooking fat (bacon fat, coconut oil, palm oil, butter, or ghee)

1/4 of a red onion, thinly sliced

1 pre-cooked sausage (any kind will do!) or leftover meat from last night’s dinner
4 eggs
1 Tbsp chopped fresh chives (optional, for garnish)
sea salt & pepper to taste

• Preheat your oven or a large toaster oven to 400 degrees.
• Dice the sausage into 1/4″ pieces. Thinly slice the onion.
• Stovetop: Place 1 Tsp of the cooking fat into your pan and allow it to heat up over medium heat before dropping in the onion. Allow the onion to cook for a few minutes, then add the sausage to the pan to heat it through.
• While the onions and sausage are cooking/heating, beat the eggs in a small bowl.
• Add the remaining cooking fat to the pan and then add the eggs. Transfer the pan to your pre-heated oven and set a timer for 5 minutes.
• Your frittata will rise a bit and become slightly browned on the edges. Remove it from the oven and serve whole or cut into portions either hot or at room temperature.

Bacon Bowl is simple, dice cooked Bacon, tomato, avocado & Lettuce tossed with 1 tsp lemon juice & 3 tbs hummus.

 Asian Beef and Fried Cauliflower Rice Bowls
For the meat:

• 1-1.5 lbs stew meat
• 1/4 c. tamari or coconut aminos
• 1/4 c. green onions
• 1 large orange, peeled and diced (or 1 can mandarin oranges in own juce)
• 1 c. beef stock
• 4 tsp sucanat (non-refined organic dehydrated cane juice similar to brown sugar), sub equal amount honey
• 1 tbsp. garlic

For the “rice”

• 1 head cauliflower, “riced”
• 2 tbsp fat (I used butter)
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1/4 c. yellow chopped onions
• 2 tbsp tamari or coconut aminos
• 1 tbsp green onion, diced
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds, optional

What you do:
For the meat:

1. Quickly sear meat to brown on all sides.
2. Add to pot with all other ingredients. Set crockpot to low for 6-8 hours or simmer on stove for 1-2 hours.
3. When meat is done, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside in the oven or covered with foil to keep hot.
4. Strain off the juice the meat cooked in and bring to a boil on the stovetop.
5. Add an additional 1 tbsp tamari and 1 tbsp honey and reduce to half.

For the rice:

1. To make the cauliflower rice, you can use your food processor and pulse coarsely chopped pieces until they are small, the size of rice.
2. You can also use a box grater or just chop very finely with a knife.
3. Melt butter on medium in large frying pan and add garlic yellow onion, cook until translucent.
4. Add cauliflower rice and stir well, coating.
5. Drizzle the tamari over the rice.
6. Stirring constantly, cook for 3-5 minutes.
7. Make a small hole in the middle of the pan and crack your eggs.
8. Break yolk with spatula and stir in the circle until it starts to cook.
9. Gradually work the egg through the rice.
10. Stir and cook until egg cooked and texture desired is reached. I prefer mine a bit crispy so I cook it longer.
11. Put your “fried rice” into a bowl and top with your cooked beef.
12. Drizzle with your reduction and top with green onions for garnish.

DAY NINE

Breakfast: Zucchini Pancake

Lunch: Grilled Chicken Salad

Dinner: Baked Pork Chops, Carrots, Green Beans & Sweet Potato

zucchini pancakes

• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 4 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 large or 4 small)
• 1/4 cup ghee or bacon fat for cooking

• Sift the coconut flour into the eggs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and beat them together. Note: Coconut flour often has clumps, which is why you want to sift it.
• Place the zucchini into a cheese cloth, nut milk bag, or paper towels and squeeze some of the water out.
• Mix  the shredded zucchini, salt, and pepper into the egg mixture.
• Use a large enameled non-stick or well-seasoned cast iron skillet over medium-low heat with ghee or bacon fat  coating the pan.
• Spoon the mixture into the pan into 4″ cakes, 3 at a time. Allow them to cook through on one side for 3-4 minutes before flipping to finish the other side for 3-4 minutes. When the cakes are golden brown and cooked through, remove them from the pan and start on the next batch.
• Serve warm or at room temperature/on-the-go- alone or with sausage or bacon.

DAY TEN

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Sausage & Salsa

Lunch: (Leftover) Pork chops with spinach salad

Dinner: Rib-eye, Carrots & Broccoli 

DAY ELEVEN

Breakfast: Fried egg, bacon & spinach

Lunch: Tuna spinach/lettuce wrap

Dinner: Meatloaf, Brussels sprouts, shredded/roasted vegetables

DAY TWELVE

Breakfast: Hard boiled egg with side of avocado & glass of almond milk

Lunch: Meatloaf, spinach salad

Dinner: Roasted Chicken, Sauteed kale & onion & broccoli/cauliflower

DAY THIRTEEN

Breakfast: Mushroom, spinach, peppers & egg scramble with bacon

Lunch: Turkey lettuce wrap, tomato, avocado, pepper & carrot slaw

Dinner: Stuffed Red pepper (ground meat, diced vegs & tomato)

 

DAY FOURTEEN

 Breakfast: Diced vegetable Egg Scramble

Lunch:  (Leftover) Roasted chicken salad

Dinner: Roast with Carrots, Onions & Sweet Potato

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Symptoms of Cleansing and What You May Feel During and After A Cleanse

Sometimes feeling worse means you are actually getting better.

These detox symptoms are called a “healing crisis” and usually only last 2–3 days of the cleanse or fast. When a person is cleansing or detoxing his body, it is common to experience these different symptoms. Our bodies clean from the inside out. Sometimes we take a step back before we take a leap forward in our health. Many times people experience no symptoms. Every time you do a cleanse your body will react differently.

Most Commonly Reported

positive Effects DuRInG The Cleanse:

Fat loss

Less bloating

Clearer skin

Less craving for sugar / food

Increased sense of taste (healthy food starts tasting better)

Increased energy

More consistent energy

More regular bowel movements

Increased sense of wellbeing

Elevated mood/less depression

Lower cholesterol

Better sleep

Old memories / emotions resurfacing

Most Commonly Reported

negative Effects  DuRInG The Cleanse:

(these symptoms pass after a day or two)

Headaches

Flu / Cold-like symptoms / Chilling

More emotionally sensitive

Lethargic / Low energy

Diarreahea/ Constipation

Gas / Bloating

Body odor / Bad breath

Skin breakouts / Rashes

Irritable

Sporadic sleep

Old memories / emotions resurfacing

Mucus dranage

Most Commonly Reported

positive Effects AFTER The Cleanse:

Fat loss

Less bloating

Clearer skin

Less craving for sugar / food

Increased sense of taste (healthy food starts tasting better)

Increased energy

More consistent energy

More regular bowel movements

Increased sense of wellbeing

Elevated mood/less depression

Lower cholesterol

Better sleep

Old memories / emotions resurfacing

Most Commonly Reported

Negative Effects AFTER The Cleanse:

Although you may experience negative effects during the cleanse, we have received no reports of negative effects after the cleanse is over

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Day 5 (6 and 7) Detox!

DAY FIVE 

YOU made it to an easier day! It gets better everyday from here! Your body is not craving sugar like it had, and your energy is returning! You are probably in a better mood too! WAY TO GO!

Breakfast: Egg muffin, cashews & V8
Lunch: Broccoli Rabe, & grilled Chicken
Dinner:  (Feeling adventurous? Try Octopus) Not? Have Sausage, Avocado & roasted mixed vegetable

Don't forget Black Coffee, Green Tea (or Black) is okay daily, even more than once!

 DAY SIX

Breakfast: Egg scramble with sausage & side of avocado & V8

Snack: Almonds & Goji berries, maybe even a square of unsweetened chocolate (usually used for baking)

Lunch: Lettuce Wrap of turkey & bacon, celery sticks with peanut butter

Dinner: Coconut-Crusted Chicken Breasts with Mixed Pepper/Onion Stir Fry

DAY SEVEN

Breakfast: Egg muffin

Lunch: Spring mix salad, hard boiled eggs, sliced ham & avocado

Dinner: Turkey Carrot Burger & mashed cauliflower

Peanut Carrot Curry Turkey Burgers

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1/2 c. shredded carrots
• 1/2 c. unsweetend/unsalted almond butter
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. yellow curry
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 2-3 tbsps coconut oil, for frying (optional)

1. Mix all ingredients together (except coconut oil).
2. Heat skillet on medium and melt coconut oil.
3. Add medium-sized patties and press down to flatten a bit. These will be a bit gooey from the almond butter and easier to flatten once you’ve flipped them once.
4. Cook around 4 minutes on each side and flip.
5. If you choose, you can put these on greased pan or parchment and bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes.

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Day 3 (and 4) Detox!

WELCOME to day THREE!
TODAY will be hard, you might feel tired, even grumpy... but do this FOR you! You will feel better when this is allll over! (Keep that peanut butter and spoon handy)

Breakfast: Egg muffin!
Lunch: Bean/quinoa salad over spinach
Dinner: Mini metloaf & roasted squash

If you find yourself hungry between meals, make a healthy choice: a spoonful of peanut butter (or 3) over celery, seeds and nuts "trail mix", carrots and hummus, V8 (no added sugar) and PLENTY of water (add a fresh lemon or lime for flavor)!

If you want to try something "sweet-ish" and "chocolate-ish", make your own chocolate nut butter! Take a cup of nuts of your choice, throw it in your food processor, add some cocoa powder, and mix until it resembles a grittier nutella.

Min Meatloaf!
COOKING TIME: 40-50 minutes

for the sauce topping:

• 4oz tomato paste
• 4oz water
• 2 Tbsp red bell pepper, finely diced
• 2 tsp cilantro, chopped
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 2 pinches of sea salt
• black pepper to taste

• 1 Tbsp coconut oil,
• 1 small onion, finely diced (1/2 cup)
• 2 cloves of garlic, pressed or grated (1/2 Tbsp)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp corriander
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper – or more to taste
• 2 carrots, grated
• 1 bell pepper, any color, grated (or very finely diced)
• 1/4 c cilantro, chopped

• Preheat oven to 375F.
• In a small sauce pan over medium-low heat, combine the tomato paste, water, bell pepper, cilantro, chili powder, sea salt, and black pepper and simmer for about 5-10 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients into the meatloaves – stirring occasionally to prevent burning. If your sauce reduces too far and looks like it may burn, add more water 2 tablespoons at a time and whisk to combine. The sauce should have a fairly thick consistency, almost like ketchup, not loose like a pasta sauce.
• In a medium skillet, melt the duck fat and sautée the onions over medium low heat until they are translucent and the edges begin to brown. Add the minced garlic and stir for about a minute.
• In a large-sized mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and then place the ground meat into the bowl with the beaten eggs. In a small mixing bowl, combine the spices, carrots, bell pepper, and cilantro. Then add the spice and vegetable mixture to the meat and egg until well combined.
• Divide the meatloaf mixture into 2 parchment paper lined mini loaf pans (or use 1 large tin, baking time may vary), filling them up and slightly over the top as the mixture will shrink a bit in cooking.
• Spoon about 1/4 cup of the sauce onto each loaf, spreading it into an even layer to coat the top and reserve the remaining amount for dipping after the loaves are baked.
• Bake uncovered for 40-50 minutes or until the internal temperature of the loaves reaches 160 degrees F.

 DAY FOUR

It is getting harder! Today should be the worst day yet... SO, IT WILL get better from here!

Breakfast: Start of the day with an egg muffin (you might need 2 today) and a V8 (non sugar), follow with some peanut butter on celery within the next few hours.
Lunch: Quinoa greens salad (add some Salmon if it is leftover and your co-workers or children won't cringe with the leftover fish smell).
Snack on some cashews and goji berries
Dinner: Kale (in olive oil) and sweet potato with grilled organic chicken

Despite the way you feel, YOU WILL NOT die from lack of sugar! Chin up! We ARE in this TOGETHER!

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Day 1 (and 2) Detox!

On day one, it is important to stay FULL to curb your cravings...
Full means 20 minutes AFTER putting down the fork/spoon you feel satisfied. It does not mean gorging yourself until your pants are snug or you cannot force another bite. (That's where many people go wrong).
Be sure you snack between meals (ONLY when hungry) and always have a glass of water BEFORE eating or grabbing a snack (often your mind THINKS you are hungry when you are only thirsty or even dehydrated).

Today's Meals are:
EGGS w/ spinach & Sausage for Breakfast
Quinoa and vegetables of choice for lunch
Lemon Garlic Chicken (& Kale (or Spinach) with olive oil) for Dinner

If you find yourself hungry between meals, make a healthy choice: a spoonful of peanut butter (or 3) over celery, seeds and nuts "trail mix", carrots and hummus and PLENTY of water (add a fresh lemon or lime for flavor)!

Eggs Stacy

Ingredients

• For the spinach:
  • 2 C baby spinach
  • 2 TBSP bacon fat or lard
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
• For the sausage
  • 1/2 pound loose sausage (the Maple Breakfast, Italian or Chorizo Sausage from Beyond Bacon will work or make or buy your own! Perhaps our Licorice Sausage will work!)
• For the poached egg
  • 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp kelp salt (or sea salt)
  • 2 duck eggs (or chicken eggs)
• For the Hollandaise Sauce:
  • 4 chicken egg yolks (or 3 duck egg yolks)
  • 1 TBSP lemon juice
  • 1/2 C melted butter, ghee or lard
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper(optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Form sausages into 2″ wide patties and place in pyrex baking dish; bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, until sausages are cooked through (about 20 minutes for patties 3″ in diameter and 1″ thick).
2. Melt bacon fat in a medium skillet over medium heat.
3. Add spinach, garlic powder and salt and pepper and saute until greens are softened and wilted.
4. Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat; once boiling, add vinegar and stir. Prep your Hollandaise ingredients.
5. Turn down to medium and carefully crack eggs and gently slide into the hot water, as close to the surface without burning yourself.
6. Cook for 3 – 4 minutes (2-3 for chicken eggs) until white is cooked, but yolk is still runny. Remove with a spider or slotted spoon.
7. Using the bottom of a double boiler or small saucepan, simmer water over medium heat.
8. With a whisk scramble egg yolks with the lemon juice in the top of the double boiler or a small bowl that fits on top of your saucepan (without touching the water, or your eggs will scramble).
9. Place the bowl on the simmering water and gently whisk while the egg yolks warm.
10. When yolks are warm enough to keep butter melted, continue whisking while pouring melted butter into the yolks.
11. Continue whisking until butter is fully incorporated and sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon; then, immediately remove from heat and whisk in salt, pepper and cayenne. If you cook your sauce too much the eggs will scramble and the sauce cannot be recovered.
12. To assemble, create a base of the spinach, place the sausage on top, then gently add the egg before finally pouring some of the sauce over all of it.

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken

Author: Melissa @ No. 2 Pencil

Recipe type: Dinner

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  4 hours

Total time:  4 hours 10 mins

Serves: 4

An easy slow cooker recipe for Lemon Garlic Chicken.

Ingredients

• 4 lemons
• 2-3 heads of garlic
• 1 whole chicken 4 to 5 pounds
• Fresh rosemary, or any fresh herbs
• All-purpose steak seasoning or salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Cut garlic heads and lemons in half and lay in bottom of slow cooker.
2. Cut the bottoms off the lemons so they lay flat.
3. Add a sprig of rosemary, or any herbs.
4. Remove insides from chicken, rinse chicken and pat dry.
5. Season chicken well, inside and out, with all-purpose steak seasoning or salt and pepper.
6. Lay chicken on top of garlic and lemon slices and stuff the chicken with a garlic head cut in half, and a lemon cut in quarters.
7. Cover top of chicken with additional lemon slices and rosemary.
8. Turn slow cooker to high, and cook for about 4 hours, or until chicken reaches 165 degrees.
9. Slow cooker cooking times vary.
10. Important: Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
11. When chicken has reached 165, turn off slow cooker and let chicken rest for about 15 minutes.
12. Remove from slow cooker, carve and serve.
13. Liquid from slow cooker can be strained and served over chicken. 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    DAY TWO!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    STAY STRONG! You CAN do it!
    
    Egg Muffins for breakfast
    Quinoa, black beans & veggies for lunch
    Dinner is Salmon, sweet potato & greens salad
    
    If you find yourself hungry between meals, make a healthy choice: a spoonful of peanut butter (or 3) over celery, seeds and nuts "trail mix", carrots and hummus and PLENTY of water (add a fresh lemon or lime for flavor)!
    
    
    Egg Muffins 

    Yield: 4 large muffins or 8 small muffins

    Ingredients
    

    • 1 tsp Salt
    • 1/2 tsp Coconut Oil, Organic
    • 1 cup Broccoli, chopped
    • 1/2 Onion, chopped
    • 1/4 whole Green Bell Peppers, chopped
    • 1/4 whole Red Bell Pepper, chopped
    • 1 tsp Black Pepper
    • 8 Eggs,

    1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
    2. Grease the muffin tin with coconut oil.
    3. Rinse and chop all vegetables into 1/4-inch pieces.
    4. Divide vegetables evenly between muffin tins.
    5. Whisk the eggs, then pour into the tins, dividing it evenly.
    6. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then stir the vegetable and egg mixture briefly to evenly disperse the vegetables throughout the egg.
    7. Bake the egg muffins in the oven for 18–20 minutes.

     Lemon Rosemary Broiled Salmon
    

    • 2 Tbsp butter, ghee or coconut oil
    • 1 lb wild salmon
    • 1 lemon
    • 1 tsp Rosemary Salt Blend

    1. Preheat the oven to a low broil setting.
    2. Place thinly sliced pats of butter in a baking dish where you will place the salmon (or spread ghee or coconut oil down).
    3. Place the salmon in the dish and sprinkle with the rosemary salt. Place more thin pats of butter on top of the salmon, then top with slices of lemon.
    4. Broil on low for approximately 10-15 minutes or until the salmon is cooked to your liking. A thicker piece of fish may take closer to 15 minutes while a thin piece will take just around 10.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

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Why Do I NEED a Sugar Detox???

It’s pretty simple. At first, your cravings for sugar may be more pronounced.
After you get over it, you will stop craving sugar all together. (It usually takes 3-4 days) Buckle down and use all of your will power.
Believe it or not, the longer your stay off sugar the easier it gets. This doesn’t mean that you’ll never be able to eat fruit again or enjoy a piece of bread. This is a temporary cleanse to over-correct your blood sugar.

This is when the cravings for sugar disappears, and you energy goes way up! Not to mention that most people see a huge difference in their skin.
Sugar makes you fat, tired, and ugly.
Eating fat doesn’t make you fat, sugar does.
Eating too much sugar and carbs is the reason that most people are tired all the time as well. Not to mention that sugar zaps the collagen in your skin, and dulls your complexion.
Most Americans consume up to three pounds of sugar every week!
It’s not always easy to get away from sugar because they put it in almost everything these days. It’s added to so many processed foods we eat, not just in what we consider “sweets”.
The more sugar you eat, the more your body craves, so just limiting sugar won’t do the trick. You literally have to cut it out completely, cold-turkey, to stop the addictive cycle.
Studies have shown that it can be more difficult to get off of sugar than cocaine.

Signs that your blood sugar may be out of balance
• Cravings for sweets, sugar, or bread products.
 • Fatigue after eating a meal, or “food-coma”
 • Get lightheaded if meals are missed
•Eating Sweets does not relieve the cravings for sweets
•Depend on coffee to keep yourself going or started
•Difficulty losing weight

How to balance your blood sugar:
• Eat more protein
•Digest more protein (check stomach acid levels to make sure you are digesting properly)
•Eliminate simple carbohydrates and sugar
•Eat more complex carbohydrates
 •Eat more good fats and essential fatty acids
 •Eat more fiber
•Do a 21 sugar detox!
•Take a multi-vitamin and supplements specifically for balancing blood sugar.

Taking all that into account, I need a detox. Do you?

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Say YES to these foods! (Pregnant/Nursing List)

The 21-Day Sugar Detox– 

The 21 day diet can be broken into 3 tiers/levels. Level one being the most lenient and three being very strict and limiting.  The following "YES" foods are good for all three tiers. 

Eat plenty of these foods for 21 days.

• Proteins
  • All meats – e.g. beef, bison, lamb, pork, veal, bacon, sausages, cured meats
  • Poultry – e.g. chicken, turkey
  • Fish – e.g. lemon sole, wild salmon, tuna, white fish
  • Shellfish and other seafood – e.g. clams, mussels, shrimp
  • Eggs
• Vegetables
  • Non-starchy vegetables – artichokes, asparagus, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery/celery root, chard, collards, cucumber, eggplant, fennel, garlic, ginger, green beans, horseradish, jicama, kale, leeks, lettuce, all leafy greens, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, peppers, radicchio, radishes, rutabaga, scallions/green onions, shallots, snow peas/snap peas, spaghetti squash, spinach, sunchokes, tomato, turnips, yellow squash, zucchini
• Fruit
  • Lemons, limes
• Nuts and seeds
  • Whole, flour, or butters
  • Nuts – almonds almond flour, almond meal, Brazil nuts, filberts (hazelnuts), macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts (no cashews or peanuts)
  • Coconut – all unsweetened forms – coconut, dried coconut, coconut flour, (coconut sugar is a no)
  • Seeds – chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds/pepitas, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, tahini
  • Cocoa/cacao (100%), cocoa nibs
• Fats & oils
  • Saturated fats from plant sources – coconut oil, palm oil from sustainable sources. Organic, unrefined forms are ideal
  • Saturated fats from animal sources – butter, ghee/clarified butter, duck fat, lamb fat, lard, schmaltz (chicken fat), tallow. Pasture-raised/grass-fed & organic sources are ideal
  • Best oils for cooking, best first – coconut oil, butter/ghee, cocoa butter, tallow/suet (beef fat), palm oil from sustainable sources, lard/bacon fat (pork fat), duck fat
  • Unsaturated fats for cold use only (don’t cook in these fats) – avocado oil, nut oils (walnut oil, pecan oil, macadamia oil), olive oil, sesame oil, flaxseed oil (higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids, so consume in extremely limited amounts). Organic, extra-virgin, & cold-pressed forms are ideal
  • Best oils to eat cold, best first – avocado oil, macadamia nut oil, olive oil, rice bran oil. Store in the refrigerator and use to finish recipes or after cooking is completed, for flavor
  • Avocados
  • Olives
• Beverages
  • Nut milks – almond milk (unsweetened/homemade), coconut milk
  • Coconut cream (full-fat )
  • Coffee (espresso), teas (herbal, green, black, white, etc.) – unsweetened
  • Water, mineral water, seltzer, club soda
• Condiments/Misc
  • Baking soda, broth (homemade only), capers, coconut aminos, dulse flakes, kelp flakes, nori, fish sauce, hot sauce, gluten-free mustard, nutritional/brewer’s yeast, tomato paste
  • Homemade condiments, Ketchup (no store-bought ketchups are allowed), Healthy Homemade Mayonnaise, homemade salad dressings
  • Extracts: vanilla, almond, etc., and vanilla bean
  • Hummus made using cauliflower
  • Spices: all are OK; check pre-mixed blends for hidden ingredients – allspice, chili, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, fennel seeds, granulated garlic, ginger powder, nutmeg, onion powder, paprika, pepper, pumpkin pie spice
  • Herbs: all are OK; check pre-mixed blends for hidden ingredients – basil, chives, cilantro, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme
  • Vinegars: apple cider, balsamic, distilled, red wine, sherry, white
• Building your plate
  • Proteins first, then fats, then veggies – meals and snacks
    

    Level 1 Energy modifications for pregnant/nursing

  • With the Energy modifications, your portion of whole grains or legumes will increase. You will also need to add starchy carbohydrate vegetables to your meal plan that are considered “No foods” listed above.
  • Recommended carbs per day
    • Pregnant/nursing: 100+ grams – if you are pregnant or nursing one or more children, add these carbohydrate sources as you see fit. If you find that your milk supply is low or you feel more fatigued than usual, increase your intake of more carbohydrate-dense foods.
    • These are estimates. If you find that you need more carbs to maintain activity, adjust to your needs. Do not limit them assuming it will lead to better results.
  • Whole grains & legumes
    • Include up to 1 cup total (cooked) per day – the same foods as listed for phase 1 foods to limit, but double the portion
  • Starchy carbohydrate vegetables
    • Amount varies based on your activity level and energy requirements; Add 30–50 grams of carbohydrates to a minimum of one meal per day, especially after exercise (could be the starchy vegetables listed for level 3 foods to limit, or the one piece of fruit allowed for the day).
    
    
    

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BAD Foods

Foods to Avoid:

Agave Nectar

Alcohol

All Fried Foods

All Fruit not on Good Foods list

All Grains not on Good Foods list

Artificial Sweeteners

Breads

Buckwheat

Candy

Cereal

Cheese

Cream Sauces

Dairy

Evaporated Cane Juice

Exekiel Bread

Flour

Fructose

Fruit Juice

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Honey

Hydrogenated Oils

Maple Syrup

Millet

MSG

Oatmeal

Potatoes

Raw Cane Sugar

Sucrose

Sugar

Tortillas

Trans Fats

Vinegar

White Rice

Yogurt

This is a list of foods only during the 21 day cleanse. After the cleanse you can slowly add back fruits, whole grains and all natural sweeteners, such as agave nectar and stevia. However, processed sugars and processed grains should still be avoided.

It seems all my favorites made the list! Dairy, yogurt, pasta, bread, candy...I am certain the little Italian girl in me will struggle with the lack of pasta over the next 21 days, mentally, physically and financially. I may struggle more in the beginning with the lack of fruit.

Which bad foods will be your greatest challenge?

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