Health darlings tend to eat corn tortillas rather than wheat flour tortillas. These beauties believe that gluten, a protein found in wheat, is believed to inhibit your body’s natural detoxification work. As a result, you may experience sluggishness and low energy over time.

What are corn tortillas?

Corn tortillas originated in what is now the region of Mexico, where they have remained a food staple for hundreds of years. The “tortilla” (“little cake” in Spanish) was originally made from pure corn only. Today, however, tortillas are also made with white and whole wheat flour. Corn tortillas have a more pronounced taste and a heartier texture. Wheat flour tortillas have a milder flavor and are usually a little softer and more pliable.

Are corn tortillas better for you than flour tortillas?

Traditional diet divas point to the fact that wheat flour tortillas are often higher in calories and fat than corn tortillas. (Flour tortillas average 100-150 calories per tortilla. The same sized corn tortilla averages about 60-70 calories per serving.)

Detox darlings, however, think less in terms of calories and fat grams when embracing a naturally rejuvenating lifestyle. While portion awareness is always in vogue, these beauties think more in terms of eating foods that are easy for your body to recognize, utilize and eliminate. Feeding your body these types of foods enables more energy to be spent on healing and rejuvenation work rather than digestion all the time. You see the benefits of this work often in the form of greater energy and an upbeat mood.

Where do you find corn tortillas?

You can pick up corn tortillas at most mainstream grocery stores.

Where do you find sprouted corn tortillas?

Some of you beauties may consider investing in a sprouted corn tortilla. Sprouted corn tortillas are less processed than many wheat flour tortillas. They are often less processed than traditional corn tortillas too. Over processed foods tend to be stripped of many nutrients. They are often filled with artificial ingredients too. These fillers tend to require a tremendous amount of your body’s digestive energy. Look for sprouted corn tortillas in the freezer section of your grocery store. Or consider ordering them online here. I recommend buying the Food For Life brand.

Sprouted corn tortilla recipes

Sprouted corn tortillas are less pliable than regular corn tortillas and flour tortillas. They do not wrap well in a burrito, for instance. Enjoy them as a big corn chip instead. The best way to do so is to warm them in a sauté pan with a little butter. Remove them from the pan when they are just browned and crispy around the edges. At the moment, I love these tortillas warmed and then topped with freshly roasted asparagus and some soft ricotta cheese. These are a few of the other ways I like to eat sprouted corn tortillas:

• Bite-sized corn chips Break up a toasty tortilla into bite-sized pieces and enjoy it with salsa, fresh guacamole or hummus.
• Better-for-you nachos Give these healthy Surfer Style Nachos a try.
• Yummy Taco Bites Replace the brown rice tortilla with a sprouted corn tortilla in this recipe for a little rustic flair.
• Crunchy chili topping Add a few crunchy bits of corn tortilla on top of this Chickpea Chili or this Mixed Bean Soup.

Learn more

You may also appreciate this article: Is Gluten Bad for You?

Build on your pre-cleanse prep work with this 7-day whole foods detox. Learn more about the principles behind this detox and then download the pretty version of this 7-day plan.

Goals: Seven day whole foods detox

In general, these are the goals with this seven day cleansing program.

1. Gentle introduction to detoxification with whole foods
2. Incorporate more naturally cleansing foods (leafy greens, fruit, uncooked veggies)
3. Reduce intake of foods that are believed to slow your bod’s cleansing work (including soy, dairy, refined flours and sugars)

Wedding Cleanse: Grocery List

• 1 box quinoa (I like the Ancient Harvest brand) or steel cut oatmeal
• 2 bananas, 1 pound of strawberries
• 1 package blanched almonds (~10 oz)
• 1 half gallon container almond milk (I like the Blue Diamond brand)
• 4 apples (organic if possible)
• 1 loaf sprouted grain bread (I like the Food for Life brand; Grocer’s freezer) or good quality whole wheat bread
• 2-3 lemons
• 2 bags pre-washed mixed greens or baby spinach leaves
• 3 bell peppers (any color)
• 1 package brown rice tortillas (I like the Food for Life brand; Grocer’s freezer) good quality whole wheat tortillas
• 1 6 oz container plain Greek yogurt or 1 avocado (for tacos, optional)
• 1 small bunch broccoli crowns, 1 handful green beans, 2 plum tomatoes
• 6 organic eggs
• 1 pack frozen veggie burgers
• 1 can chickpeas
• 1 medium leek
• 1 small jar/tube tomato paste
• 1 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 1 medium butternut squash
• 1 medium yellow squash
• 1 bunch asparagus
• 1 bag frozen peas
• 2 medium white potatoes
• Lara bars (5) (Why these? )

Pantry Items

• butter (organic if possible)
• 1 jar organic almond butter or organic peanut butter (Why organic?)
• 1 jar tomato sauce
• 1 jar of salsa
• extra virgin olive oil
• coconut oil (optional for the veggie stir-fry)
• few tablespoons of dried coconut
• sea salt + black pepper
• 2 16 ounce cartons veggie stock
• 1 box herbal tea
• spices: cinnamon, cumin, red pepper, turmeric
• better-for-you sweetener: honey, maple syrup or Stevia
• 1 box Dr. Ohhira’s probiotics (Learn more.)

———– ————-

7-Day Wedding Cleanse: Menu Plan

(All recipes follow.)

Wake Up
Glass of water with lemon and a probiotic.

Breakfast (~400 calories each)
Enjoy one of the following for breakfast:

• Creamy hot cereal with nut butter. Use either quinoa or steel cut oatmeal. (3 days)
• Strawberry + banana cereal with strawberry milk (2 days)
• 2 apples sliced with 2 tablespoons of almond butter (1 day)
• 2 well toasted pieces of sprouted grain toast with butter and cinnamon. Can’t find sprouted grain toast? Use good quality whole wheat bread and toast it well. (1 day)

Note: 1 small cup of coffee ok with breakfast. (Upgrade options: Decaf coffee or tea).


Mid Morning

• Herbal tea with lemon.

Lunch (~400 calories each)

• Baby spinach salad with vegetable burger and salsa (2 days)
• Taco Bites (3 days)
• Crunchy orange + yellow pepper salad with sautéed eggs (2 days)

Afternoon Snack (~200 calories each)

• Lara Bar, an apple or a few carrots

Dinner (~400 calories each)
Enjoy 1-2 cups of baby spinach or mixed greens with each meal. Top your side salad with salsa, hummus, a mustard vinaigrette or simply extra virgin olive oil and lemon.

• Medium baked potato with veggie chili (2 days)
• Vegetable Detox Pizza (2 days)
• Veggie stir-fry + 1 slice well toasted sprouted grain bread (2 days)
• Two eggs (or 1 veggie patty) prepared your way with a leafy green raw salad topped with salsa (1 day)

———– ————-

Wedding Cleanse: Recipes

• Creamy Quinoa Cereal with Nut Butter: Warm, nutty and comforting.
• Strawberry + Banana Cereal with Strawberry Milk: Simply, creamy and delicious.
• Baby Spinach Salad with Vegetable Burger and Salsa: Place 2 cups of baby spinach leaves on a plate. Toast up your vegetable burger and place it on top with a few tablespoons of salsa.
• Orange and yellow pepper salad with sautéed eggs: Slice up a half of an orange pepper and half of a yellow pepper. Serve topped with two sautéed eggs and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and pepper.
• Veggie Stir-Fry with Coconut: Caramelized veggies set atop a well toasted piece of sprouted grain bread.
• Veggie Chickpea Chili: An easy and quick vegetarian dish.
• Taco Bites: Packed with protein rich quinoa.
• Vegetable Detox Pizza: Veggies never tasted so good!

This Vegetable Stir-Fry with Coconut is delicious, easy to make and it’s cleanse friendly. As you dabble in more fresh pressed juices, smoothies and raw foods this spring, don’t forget the importance of your cooked foods. Fresh, uncooked foods including leafy greens, vegetables and fruit act as natural cleansers for your body. Cooked foods, on the other hand, help compliment the cleansing power of these raw foods. They serve to balance out the pace of your body’s detoxification work. Too many raw foods and fresh juices at once, will only overwhelm your body and dampen your “ready-to-cleanse” spirit.

Vegetable Stir-Fry with Coconut

Serving Size: 2, ~470 calories per serving

Better-for-you ingredients

Learn more about the better-for-you ingredients in this recipe:

• Roasted veggies Fresh, uncooked foods act as natural cleansers for your body. The addition of roasted and lightly steamed veggies help compliment a cleansing diet by keeping your body’s detoxification work balanced. Learn more here.
• Sprouted grain bread These breads are made with an easier-to-digest grain which allows more of your bod’s time to be spent on rejuvenation and slimming work as opposed to digestion all the time. I recommend the Food for Life brand. Check your grocer’s freezer.

Directions

Place sliced veggies into a frying pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 2 tablespoons of water. Let veggies sauté until slightly soft and caramelized.

Meanwhile, toast sprouted grain bread and distribute 2 tablespoons of coconut oil across the four slices of toast.

On two plates, distribute the four toast slices. Remove the roasted veggies from the pan and distribute them evenly across the two plates. Finish with two tablespoons of dried coconut. Serve!

This weekend was my first weekend back in New York City after an extended summer season in California. The city was alive, and bustling. Fall in New York is always such an exciting time. Everyone is back after being away for the summer, and it’s almost like we are all little kids back for the first day of school. Everyone is excited to see each other and visit our favorite little haunts. One of my favorite little spots to frequent is located downtown in Nolita. It’s called Caffe Falai. On a nice day, I love to sit at one of their outdoor tables tucked together by a few boxwood trees. The sun embraces the tables in the early afternoon with just the right amount of warmth and light. It’s a perfect weekend spot to catch up with friends over brunch.

I was delighted to visit Caffe Falai this weekend and find a Papa al Pomodoro soup on their menu. This soup is one of my favorites. It is so simple, maybe that’s why I enjoy it so much. Originating in Tuscany, true Papa al Pomodoro consists of not much more than tomatoes, bread, and olive oil. Traditional Papa al Pomodoro is flavorful and deeply satisfying.

In my version of Papa al Pomodoro, I change the rules a little bit. I like to use fresh, roasted plum tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes (vs canned) don’t take that much longer to prepare and add such a wonderful depth of flavor to the soup. Also instead of using old crusty white bread to thicken up the soup, I choose to use a white bean puree instead. It’s more nutritious than white bread and more complimentary to a cleansing lifestyle (the body knows exactly how to process and eliminate these white beans). The white bean puree also provides a similar creamy, thickness to the white bread. I then add a few sprouted grain bread croutons on top. Be generous with the fresh basil here, it really makes the soup. I also recommend folding in some freshly grated parmesan cheese just before serving this dish. You may of course leave out the cheese if you like, but I wouldn’t.

The ingredient list may look a bit long here, but don’t be alarmed. This figure friendly and mood friendly soup comes together quite quickly. What makes this version of Papa al Pomodoro so figure and mood friendly you ask? Learn more here.

Papa al Pomodoro

Serving Size: 2-4 (as an appetizer or an entree)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place plum tomatoes on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a touch of olive oil, sea salt and pepper. Place in the oven to roast for ~20 minutes.

Meanwhile, take leeks and place them in a soup pan with a 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil, sea salt and pepper. Let the edges brown and caramelize. At that point add in the vegetable stock. When the roasted tomatoes are done place them into the soup pot as well. Add rosemary and 3/4 of your basil. Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce and let simmer for 40 – 45 minutes.

After the appropriate time has passed, remove half of the soup from the soup pot and place it in a food processor along with 1/2 cup of the white beans. Puree until you have a creamy consistency, but not like baby food. Divide into several servings. Repeat the process with the remaining soup in the soup pot and the remaining 1/2 cup of white beans.

Serve each bowl of soup with 1/2 – 1 tablespoon of freshly grated parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. I personally like to fold the cheese in. Top with a few pieces of fresh basil. If you like you might also consider toasting a piece of sprouted grain bread, cutting it into small crouton sized pieces for each serving.

Notes *:

1. Fresh vs canned tomatoes: Most Papa al Pomodoro recipes call for canned tomatoes. If you choose to use canned tomatoes use a good quality (aka flavorful) tomato such as a San Marzano tomato. If you like you may also use a combination of both roasted plum tomatoes (6 plum tomatoes should do here) along with a quality canned tomato as well (a 1 pound can will do here). In season, I would recommend using fresh plum tomatoes. The incremental time investment in preparing the tomatoes is worth it.
2. Leeks: are root vegetables. To prepare them, cut off the top green portion of the leeks which are tough and lack flavor. I usually cut off about 2/3 of the green tops. Be sure to slice each leek lengthwise and clean between the layers well. Leeks are often full of dirt and sand need to be washed well. I love leeks for their mild flavor, and I’m not generally an onion or garlic fan.
3. Rosemary: Invest in some fresh rosemary, use what you need here and then freeze the rest. Then you’ll have some on hand for future soups and stews. (I would remove the stems before freezing.)
4. Basil: Fresh basil is delicious in this soup as well as in green smoothies, and tossed into salads.
5. Clean up: To save time on clean up, consider lining your baking sheet with parchment paper before roasting your tomatoes.

In celebration of summer, here is another naturally slimming meal to enjoy for lunch or dinner. You might also consider this as a breakfast alternative to your bagel and cream cheese (which as we all know is not so figure friendly).

This Roasted Red Pepper + Goat Cheese Sandwich is made with ingredients that are easily recognizable, utilizable and digestible by your body. Feeding your body more of these types of foods then enables your body to spend more time focusing on its housecleaning, healing and repair work. This “housework” is good for your mood, your happiness and your figure (of course).

Roasted Red Pepper + Goat Cheese Sandwich

Serving Size: 1-2, ~135 calories per serving

Directions

Take the sprouted grain bread and place it in your toaster. While the bread is toasting, take the peppers and slice them into long strips.

When the bread is toasted, spread the goat cheese lightly across the two pieces of toast and lay the sliced peppers on top. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh pepper. Enjoy as an open-faced sandwich, or as a traditional sandwich. Enjoy!

Note: If you have found a strict adherence to food combining principles works best for you, you will want to use a good olive oil here instead of the goat cheese. Goat cheese for you combines best only with vegetables and leafy greens.

The quest for savory delights never gets old. Bouts of low energy and an expanding waistline however, can definitely get long in the tooth. What you’re eating can have a big impact on you, surprisingly.

In your quest for a delicious and nutritious lunch, that is waist friendly and won’t leave you ready to take a nap at your desk – give these Minty Hummus Wraps a try. Make them at home or take them to work.

I would recommend using collard greens to amp up the energy boosting, slimming and detoxifying power of this lunch, but a brown rice wrap or a whole wheat wrap would also work. Consider adding in some lettuce and sliced carrots and sliced yellow pepper to your wraps. That would be delicious.

For some of you, reducing or eliminating refined flours and wheat (basically by eliminating store bought breads and wraps most often) can make a positive impact on your health and a slimming impact on your body. Women often have a harder time digesting wheat and grains, but every woman is different. Go wheat-free for a few days and see if you notice any changes in your mood or energy levels. This experiment with a wheat-free meal plan is a big focus of Dr. Alejandro Junger’s Clean Program.

This minty hummus spread would also be fantastic with crudite or topped on sliced-triangular sprouted grain toasts. I have also been seen scooping a generous portion on top of a salad. Creativity is half of the fun!

Minty Hummus Wraps

Serving Size: 2

Directions

Take the garbanzo beans (remember to rinse and drain them if you are using canned garbanzo beans), mint, olive oil, salt and lemon juice and combine in a food processor. Add scallion if you desire. Pulse until well combined. Blend more if you are looking for a creamier texture, and less if you would like a slightly more chunky texture.

Set hummus purée aside.

Take your collard greens, (or sprouted grain wraps, or whole wheat wraps) and add a generous portion of the hummus purée. Top with baby spinach leaves, sliced carrots and peppers and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Wrap up and enjoy!

Here’s a look back at the week here at Green Lemonade as we get ready for bathing suit season.

If bathing suit season snuck up on you before you were ready, don’t panic. A few days of fresh pressed juices, and some organic, whole foods will get you back on track.

Your best bet is to consider a few days of “juicing until dinner.” It’s the hippest get-me-more-energy, glowing skin and back-into-my-bathing-suit-in-time-for-summer trend that is rapidly developing a cult following here in New York City. It’s so popular, that it’s not even just for spring anymore. After all, skinny jeans are popular year round too.

Fresh pressed juice recipes

Here are some great fresh pressed juice recipes to inspire you. Don’t have a juicer? Consider this fabulous one from the Breville family for only a $100.

1. South Beach Minty Green Apple Juice - A delicious green alkalizing drink with a sweet touch of apple.
2. South Beach Frothy Pink Tomato Juice - A delicious tomato based juice with a hint of dill.
3. Classic Sagaponack Carrot and Celery Juice - A favorite, fun orange colored juice loved by kids, husbands and friends alike.
4. Minty Green Lemonade - A refreshing way to start your day; Lemons and mint with a hint of natural sweetness.

Delicious, light sandwich and salad ideas

These vegetable packed sandwiches would also be delicious for dinner after a day of juicing.

1. The W South Beach Veggielicious Sandwich - A sprouted grain bread, toasted sandwich filled with an abundance of vegetables.
2. The Viceroy South Beach Poolside Lunch - A wonderful, alternative way to celebrate more leafy greens and avocado for lunch.
3. Salads too are always terrific after a day of juicing. You might consider this super creamy avocado and basil dressing. It’s a recent favorite of mine!

Interested in a day of just juice? Try out this one day juice fast

Some of you might also consider one full day of just juice. If so, check out how to create your own 1 day juice fast at home.

Learn more

Interested in learning more about the beauty of eating more whole, natural foods to cleanse your body, gain energy, and make your skin truly glow? Check out these resources.

1. Eat More Real Foods, Feel Better
2. The Benefits of Starting Your Day With A Green Smoothie Or Juice
3. Should You Do A Cleanse?
4. Green Based Juices Are Best For Juice Fasts
5. Prepare for a 3 Day Juice Fast – Juice Until Dinner
6. Looking To Do A Whole Body Cleanse?
7. More About The Real Foods Movement and Green Lemonade

Sign Up For Weekly Inspiration, Natural Cleansing Tips, Tricks and Recipe Ideas

Sign up for weekly inspiration, and natural cleansing tips and tricks at Green Lemonade. Each week I’ll share with you one or two enjoyable, simple ways to embrace a naturally detoxifying lifestyle for greater energy and glowing skin through delicious, real, whole foods and fresh juices. I’ll also toss in the occasional indulgence and a little something special here and there just to make you smile.


Nibble on this energizing and bikini friendly lunch inspired by a recent visit of mine to The Viceroy Hotel in South Beach. It’s so good, I would happily enjoy this meal for dinner too!

I would suggest enjoying this avocado sandwich open-faced with one half to one full avocado. Drizzled with a good olive oil, and a dash of crushed red pepper flakes these toasts are as satisfying as they are delicious! These toasts would also be delicious with a slice or two of jalapeno pepper and some simple sprouts on top. Tomato slices would also be tremendous.

Don’t fear avocados ladies. While they are higher in calories, they are one of nature’s most perfect foods. The body knows how to fully recognize, utilize and eliminate them. So no body “waste” is created from avocados. “Waste” (from poor eating, artificial fillers and preservatives) = excess weight on that beautiful frame of yours. Try and rack up a few more salads and vegetables and fruits in your day, and then an avocado here and there won’t be so much of a concern. After all, when you eat more foods from nature, you give the body more of the nutrients it needs, and it starts to run more efficiently.

“Avocado Toasts” with Leafy Green Salad

Serving Size: 1

Directions

Take the avocado and spread it generously on the sprouted grain bread. Top it with olive oil, a touch of salt, pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.

Next, place the baby spinach on plate with the avocado toasts, sprinkle the leaves with a drizzle of olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Enjoy this dish poolside!

Notes
If you have any left over spinach leaves finish them off this week in a classic green smoothie, or in a creamy green avocado smoothie for breakfast. There’s nothing like a green smoothie for breakfast to build an energizing start to your day.

This veggie sandwich, inspired by a recent trip to South Beach, contains a few simple ingredients. This sandwich can be made in advance at home, or you can put it together at your local salad bar. If you don’t have access to sprouted grain bread just take the whole wheat toast you do have and toast it well. Bread is easier for the body to work with in a well-toasted form.

The W South Beach Veggielicious Sandwich

Serving Size: 1

Directions

Take the sprouted grain bread and drizzle it with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Place the orange and yellow peppers, zucchini, broccoli and shredded carrots on one side of the toasted sprouted grain bread. For convenience I would keep the zucchini and broccoli florets uncooked. The broccoli florets will add a nice crunch. But if you like you could also roast the zucchini and broccoli for some added flavor.

Top your veggielicious sandwich with leafy greens or sprouts and enjoy! If you have a little extra sunny avocado and basil dressing that would also be a fine addition to this mid-day sandwich.

Contrary to popular belief, even “baked” Lays aren’t that good for you. The body doesn’t know how to fully digest many of the ingredients in boxed and bagged goods; White bread, pasta and baked goods also fall into this category. What the body can’t effectively metabolize results in waste (which then turns into excess weight) on our bodies.

If the concept of not eating pre-packaged, overly processed breads, crackers or cereals seems overwhelming to you, go slowly – no need to go cold turkey. But start to think about more natural, whole food alternatives to incorporate into your daily meals. The less processed your food is, the less artificial ingredients it contains and the easier the food is for the body to metabolize and then eliminate.

Experiment with some of these healthier, less processed foods choices:

• Sprouted grain breads

  1. Food for Life
  2. Alvarado Street Bakery

  Both make some good sprouted grain breads.
  The benefit of sprouted grain breads is that the grains are kept in a form which makes their nutrients and vitamins more readily assimilated by the body. Additionally, these breads do not contain chemical preservatives nor additives.

• Carrot “fries”

  Seasoned with butter and dill, carrot “fries” make a nice alternative to greasy, deep fried potato fries. They are so easy and quick to make.

• Homemade sweet potato “fries”

  They taste just like fried sweet potatoes without the frying. I like mine baked simply and sprinkled with a little sea salt. If you get the oven hot enough, the “fries” will caramelize on the outside and develop a nice crunch.

• Sprouted grain crackers are also nice

  And for the more adventurous of you out there, cheesy kale chips are also delicious.