If you’ve been a follower of ours for a while, you’ll have noted that I’m a fan of the GOOP diet cleanses. Every year, they provide a new 5-day “Annual Detox Diet” plan as they call it. It’s a great way to start dealing with the excesses of the festive season.

I know the words “detox” and “cleanse” have become the subject of huge debate. You should think of it more as a kick-start to cleaning up your eating. Eliminating foods that are potentially inflammatory and harmful, and replacing these with foods that we know are good for us. This helps the body in its efforts to expel harmful toxins and will contribute to improved health and longevity. (I included a “Ditch List” in my review of last year’s Annual GOOP Detox here. It’s a list of the items you’ll be eliminating from your menu during your 5-day detox.) You’ll generally feel better, and have way more energy to tackle the New Year.

I like the Annual GOOP Detox as it gives me a pretty strict, clean-eating 5-day menu and interesting, nutritious recipes that are generally super easy to make.

 

THE 2019 ANNUAL GOOP DETOX

I must say, I preferred last year’s menu which I reviewed here. I think this year’s menu leans more towards the currently popular “Keto Diet” which forsakes carbs in favour of more fats and protein. Day 1 in particular left me hungry but then I guess that’s part of the reset process. Regardless, this is a great 5-day diet reset to kick off your New Year on a healthy footing. After day 5, you’ll start feeling pretty great!

One thing they don’t really do is provide strict guidance on quantities, serving sizes and calories. I guess that’s because the focus is on the clean ingredients but rest assured, you’re cutting back on calories. I’ve included some additional guidance where the menu plan or recipe is silent.

 

OTHER SMALL DETOX POINTERS

-Use as many organic and/or GMO free ingredients as possible to restrict your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals and toxins.

-Sweat it out. Make sure you keep moving – go for walks or do some yoga. Take a sauna, spend time in the steam room or take a relaxing detox mustard bath.

-Drink lots of water.

(RELATED POST: New Year Reboot Bath-time detox)

 

THE MEAL PLAN

All the recipes have links to the original Goop detox recipe on the Goop website. Just click on the recipe name to go there. Where there’s a number (1) next to a recipe name, I’ve included additional comments or local substitution recommendations in my notes below.

 

Monday

On waking: Warm water with lemon (and ginger) ¹

Breakfast: 1 Cup Grain-Free Granola with almond or coconut milk

Lunch: Borscht ² (Not my favourite recipe but beet root or beets have very impressive health benefits which you can read about here.)

Snack: Brown rice cake with ¼ avocado

Dinner: Salmon Patties with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice (The recipe makes 4 small or 2 larger patties. Have half tonight and the other tomorrow.)

 

Tuesday

On waking: Warm water with lemon (and ginger) ¹

Breakfast: Blueberry Coconut Chia Smoothie ³

Lunch: Salmon Patties with a dollop of toum served on a bed of rocket with lemon and olive oil (Toum is like a mayo-free version of garlic aioli.)

Snack: Apple and 1 tablespoon of almond butter (Almond butter is very calorie-dense with 98 calories per tablespoon so don’t be tempted to have more.)

Dinner: Beans and Greens Soup with Harissa and Saffron (Makes 2 servings – have half tonight and the rest for lunch tomorrow.)

 

Wednesday

On waking: Warm water with lemon (and ginger) ¹

Breakfast: Grain-Free Granola with almond or coconut milk

Lunch: Leftover Beans and Greens Soup

Snack: 2 Date Balls

Dinner: Roasted Chicken and Cauliflower with Herb Salad (The recipe makes 2 servings – have half tonight and the rest for lunch tomorrow.)

 

Thursday

On waking: Warm water with lemon (and ginger) ¹

Breakfast: Cauliflower Black Bean Scramble

Lunch: To make things easier for myself, I had the 2^nd portion of last night’s Roasted Chicken and Cauliflower with Herb Salad. The original menu has a Kale Caesar with Chicken and Crispy Chickpeas salad for lunch. You can use the 2^nd portion of chicken from last night’s dinner for this salad. Also, if you choose to go this option you should soak your cashews for the dressing overnight on Wednesday.

Snack: Toum with crudités of your choice (I like a rainbow combo of fresh cauliflower, crunchy radishes, carrots and sugar snap peas.)

Dinner: Tom Yum Soup (This broth is so yummy and satisfying! I now use it as a soup base and add some protein like 100g shredded chicken.)

 

Friday

On waking: Warm water with lemon (and ginger) ¹

Breakfast: Blueberry Coconut Chia Smoothie ³

Lunch: Detox Bun Salad ⁴

Snack: 2 Date Balls

Dinner: Blackened Trout with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Arugula Salad ⁵

 

RECIPE NOTES

1. Lemon water with ginger

This is a brilliant inflammation fighting, detox drink which I like to start my day with. I fill a small 1-cup tea infuser with freshly grated ginger. Allow it to steep in a cup of hot water for at least 5-minutes. Remove the tea infuser and add the juice of half a lemon and a slice of fresh lemon to the water.

 

2. Borscht

This dish can be eaten hot or cold so you can make it on Sunday and refrigerate for lunch on Monday. Leave the fresh dill and parsley garnish out though and add only when ready to eat.

 

3. Blueberry Coconut Chia Smoothie

I didn’t have coconut meat and wanted more protein so I improvised and made my own smoothie. I used 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 1 scoop of whey protein powder, 1 cup frozen blueberries, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, ½ teaspoon ground cardamom and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon.

 

4. Detox Bun Salad

The recipe calls for “sweet potato vermicelli”. I used King Soba Sweet Potato & Buckwheat Noodles available from Faithful to Nature here. It also calls for “coconut aminos” which you can also find at Faithful to Nature.

 

5. Blackened Trout with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Arugula Salad

Buy your trout the day before or the day of so it’s really fresh for dinner. You can substitute the dairy free garlic aioli in the recipe with Martinnaise Vegan Garlic Mayonnaise available from Faithful To Nature.

 

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(RELATED POST: A 3-day diet reset for Spring)