Tag Archives: cleansing

{meatless mondays : colourful roasted mushrooms w/ veggie ribbons}

24 Mar

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i noticed a few new followers have joined the fun – thank you and welcome!

in case you don’t know this about me, i love to eat anything with colour. i believe in living by the motto… well, a lot of “mottos” really – but one of them is “eat the rainbow.”  if your food has colour naturally, it is good for you!  this dish definitely meshes with that motto.  i whipped it up last week when i was doing a short veggie cleanse.  i just love mushrooms – do you?!

this is a great vegan dish, or a healthy random way to get in a ton of veggies all at once.  sometimes i’ll construct meals entirely of vegetables… this one i just made up on the spot, when inspired by the fresh-looking produce in the market.

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simple ingredients : portabella mushrooms, zucchini, purple cabbage, shredded carrots.

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i’m fascinated by the intricate insides of certain vegetables – like cabbage. Continue reading

{cherry sweet-tart vitamix smoothie}

22 Mar

i’m a little late on posting today – it’s snowing here in colorado… and, sigh – i’ll just go ahead and say it – i’m over it!  can we please be in spring now?!  i’m just dying to put on my sanuks and put away my wellies.

i’ve been making a smoothie every morning since we are ‘officially’ in spring now – but i admit it’s just not as satisfying first thing in the morning as a warm cup of coffee or tea.  but i’m determined to start cleansing my body out, preparing it for a different season, and lots of different veggies to compliment!

in the meantime, here’s another smoothie recipe.  i created this one in mind as more of an evening smoothie. tart cherries and tart cherry juice are good for insomnia, remember?!  i call it “sweet-tart” because i used sweet frozen cherries and tart cherry juice… and it turned out rather delicious!

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cherry sweet-tart vitamix smoothie :

– frozen sweet cherries {1/2 cup}

– 3 frozen strawberries

– 3 frozen pineapple chunks

– 1 pitted date

– 1/2 cup coconut milk

– 1/2 cup tart cherry juice

{thirsty thursday – lovely lemon water}

20 Mar

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a few reasons why lemon water is amazing :

– balances pH levels {although lemons do contain citric acid, our bodies metabolize them to be alkaline within – so cool, right?! lemons are actually one of the most alkalizing foods out there!}

– boosts metabolism {sure does!, not that i personally need that…}

– freshens breath {cool, huh?!}

– boosts vitamin C levels {yay immune system!}

– digestive aid {yay tummy!}

– helps clear skin {i particularly enjoy this fact – who doesn’t love to ‘glow’!}

– detoxifying {bye bye toxic mess!}

– energizing {WEEEEE!!!! i love lemon water!!!}

i drink a warm glass of lemon water immediately upon rising.  it’s my favourite new way to start my day.  i find it also encourages me to drink more water throughout my day… and in these high altitudes, that is extra important! 😀

so drink up {and down}!  when you drink water, it’s like your whole body says, “AHHHHH” 😛

{a week of vitamix smoothies – day three : bananas, blueberries, flax seeds, coconut milk}

28 Aug

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yep…

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– frozen blueberries

– frozen banana chunks

– flax seeds

– coconut milk

– 1 pitted date or teaspoon honey to sweeten {optional}

…that’s it.

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kept this one SUPER SIMPLE.

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and what a lovely colour, i must say!

drink the rainbow! 😀

{thirsty thursday – the everything vitamix smoothie}

1 Aug

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there’s a lot going on in this smoothie i’ve been having in the mornings lately :

– frozen blueberries

– frozen bananas

– frozen pineapple

– frozen grapes

– frozen cherries

– frozen strawberries {they are hiding! :)}

– carrots

– celery

– spinach

– dates Continue reading

{vitamix juice w/ dates, pears, green lettuce}

31 May

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i threw a lot of random stuff in this one…. {choosing organic where possible}

– 1 small clementine, peeled

– 1/2 pear, stems and seeds included

– 2 pitted dates

– a few banana slices

– handful of romain lettuce

– orange juice

– almond milk

– some raw protein powder

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you just never know what colour to expect… but the taste is always amazing!

i’m a huge fan of using dates for sweetening.  usually all you need is one or two per 12 oz. serving.  they are inexpensive and the vitamix can handle it! just make sure to buy pitted dates!  the lettuce flavour was a little stronger in this compared to good ol’ spinach, but i had run out so i had to replace *something* green… 😉

have a great weekend!

{fabulous flax seeds}

7 May

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once upon a time not long ago – for like four months, i was a pretty strict vegan.  i just wanted to try it out… see how i felt.  i will do it again, for sure  – but for the most part, i just eat what my body tells me to and sometimes that includes organic, humane animal products.

when i was eating vegan i wondered how to get my omegas in my diet because i noticed when i took fish oil it gave me heartburn and i didn’t like the way it tasted.  i haven’t gone back to fish oil since discovering flax oil. now – it’s not anything new to me, i’ve always known about flax…  i just didn’t supplement with it until recently when it was suggested to me that i take it versus the fish oil.

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omegas are good for our hair, skin, nails, heart, blood, and brain… among many other things.  they help us stay “lubricated” and give our skin a lovely glow.  i take flax oil by the capsule daily, but i love being able to buy the whole seeds in bulk such as this…. Continue reading

{drink the rainbow! – chartreuse vitamix smoothie}

30 Apr

this one is SUPER yum and i just love the colour!!!  another great post-workout drink!

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– frozen mangos {about 1/4 cup}

– frozen pineapple {about 1/4 cup}

– frozen bananas {about 1/4 cup}

– coconut milk {about 1 cup}

– splash of orange juice

– handful of fresh spinach

– a couple pitted dates

–  sprinkle in some golden flax seeds

i’ve somehow almost got it down to a magical science now- that whatever i put in my vitamix makes *just enough* for this glass jar i drink out of {which i believe is about 12 ounces}:

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isn’t that colour awesome?!?!

{not the prettiest vitamix juice on the planet…}

17 Apr

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but a damn good-tasting one! and good for you, too!

the recipe is something like…

– frozen mixed berries {1/4 cup}

– frozen mango {1/4 cup}

– frozen pineapple {1/4 cup or less}

– frozen banana {a few cut pieces}

– a few dates {pitted}

– 1/4 apple of choice

– fresh kale {about 1/4 cup}

– orange juice {about a 1/2 cup}

– almond milk {about a 1/2 cup}

– ground flax seeds

…or just wing it like i do and get a different creation each time! 😉

{drink the rainbow! – “strawberry sunrise” vitamix juice}

8 Apr

i LOVE this one!

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– fresh strawberries

– frozen pineapple

– 1/4 frozen banana

– coconut water

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*glug glug* – what a pretty colour! cheers!

side-note : i use frozen bananas because i believe it takes over the flavour too much when using fresh, plus it’s a cheap way to save overripe bananas.  just chop ’em up and freeze ’em. then you can use a little at a time.  some things are just better fresh, and others work fine frozen – like berries or pineapple.  last week i just happen to catch fresh strawberries on sale, so i hooked it up!  plus, mixing it up with frozen and fresh helps the smoothie stay cold.  if you want to use only fresh ingredients, just make sure to throw in a little ice 🙂

“i see you” {AKA audrey michelle’s very emotional, real, and cathartic DIY cleanse update}

21 Jul

well, here it is – the official “end” i suppose.

{oh and by the way, this is one LONG AND WORDY POST!  be forewarned.}

i made it 5 whole days {entering my 6th now} eating only raw or steamed organic fruits and vegetables, juice, water and kombucha.  funny thing is, i don’t think i’m going to stop.  i had absolutely no idea how this cleanse would effect me – i certainly didn’t fathom it effecting me more on an emotional level than physical.  and i dare say – spiritual.  it almost brings tears to my eyes {again} as i write this.

yesterday was rough.  the worst day to date.  so why the hell would i want to keep putting myself through this?! good question… Continue reading

audrey michelle’s colourful DIY cleanse – DAY #4

19 Jul

today was rough, i will admit that. and i think this photo shows it  – maybe i should’ve photoshopped the bags from under my eyes – hA!  oh well, i’m an honest person – this is how i look and feel on a 5-day DIY cleanse i randomly decided to do and invent 😉

today was harder than yesterday.  but it makes sense now – after i did a ton of research on cleansing and symptoms.  see, this is how i roll – i just wing it… whatever “it” is.  sometimes it works out, sometimes i learn a valuable lesson the hard way, meh.  anyway – i was super nervous about how i was feeling today… mostly because i was unsure if it was “normal,” if you will. and plus, i was abruptly awoken this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep, so i knew i’d be a little irritable, but i worried i was doing more damage than good with this cleanse…

until google clarified it all… Continue reading

audrey michelle’s colourful DIY cleanse – DAY #3

18 Jul

today was different.

i definitely felt the cleanse, or my body detoxing slightly, or the odd sleeping, or something.  something was different.  i don’t feel bad per se, i just feel different.  my head is much more clear, as in not cluttered with stupid thoughts or particularly, anxious ones.  which is good!  mostly i feel a little sluggish, surprisingly, and my head {although clear} feels kind of weird. maybe it’s because it’s clearer, don’t know – but i feel different.

i have been dreaming of food, however.  hAhA! i think last night i dreamt of pizza – no joke. i was browsing the food section on WP late at night, i’m sure that didn’t help – hA.  a reader asked me if was craving anything in particular, and i will say that today i did notice i was missing carbs, starch, etc.  so i made potatoes with dinner, which seemed to scratch that itch – for now.

here’s how the menu went today : Continue reading

audrey michelle’s colourful DIY cleanse – DAY #2

17 Jul

alright.  here we are.  my roommate and his friend are drinking a nice cold hefeweizen in the room downstairs, and i’m sitting here next to my homemade soda water.  *ahem*  and i’m okay with that… actually, i really am. as much as i love my brewskies, i realize that the ones i like to enjoy would and do keep me pretty much couch-bound for the remainder of the evening. mmmm, la fin du monde

it’s odd how my energy levels have shifted.  i’m definitely having a harder time in the morning “waking up” and i tend to get my energy after around 2 p.m., where i’d normally be tired.  it’s interesting.  i kind of like it.  especially since i work at night, or will be again once my vacation is over.

okay, so here’s how day 2 went : Continue reading

audrey michelle’s colourful DIY cleanse – DAY #1

16 Jul

welp, so far so good.  18 hours into my cleanse and i actually feel pretty decent… sleepy, but decent.

here are the colourful things i came home with today :

a few organic produce items for the cleanse :

– cabbage

– peppers

– celery

– carrots

– peaches

– avocados

– strawberries

– sunchokes

– english peas

– black plums

– kiwi

and the list goes on…

i had no anticipations of feeling lousy, as i do typically eat this kind of food anyway.  the real key for me was avoiding the coffee, alcohol, and that occasional entire bag of late july dude ranch tortilla chips.  oh man, those sound good right now… Continue reading

audrey michelle’s 5-day colourful DIY cleanse

15 Jul

greetings, you awesome readers, you.

{i’ll be using this a lot next week}

so – i’ve decided to do a juice and raw veggie cleanse for the first time in my life.  i eat very well – 80% vegetables in my diet.  but i binge on my occasional “healthy junk food” as i call it.  and really, it’s not about anything other than i think i need to do it.  my body is telling me to.  this also goes along with an “intuitive eating lifestyle” i always talk about.  i know it’s time to do this.  for me, it’s not just a cleanse.  it’s a chance to hit the “reset” button.  to start over, kind of.  i’ve been living in colorado for a year now, and it was a really rough adjustment after leaving new york city… and i’d kind of like to say, “forget all that hardship, let’s start over”  so, i’m hoping a cleanse of the body will also cleanse the mind and my emotions, and allow me to let go and move on 🙂

i have always admired people who can do fasts like the master cleanse or even just juice or liquids alone. however, i have come to learn that i am not one of those people. i need to chew occasionally!

so, i made up my own cleanse.  mostly a fruit and veggie cleanse void of any meat, dairy, wheat, gluten, soy, oil, sugars {other than naturally occuring}, or processed ingredients.  just raw fruit and veggies in several forms.  and a TON of liquid flushing!  i’ve also decided against any grains or nuts, nutmilks, or anything solid, really – other than veggies and what’s in the protein powder i am using… so, it WILL be colourful!

i’m also adding in a minimal exercise routine – as to not overexert myself.  but also, to keep the body moving and the blood flowing. — isn’t that what it’s all about anyway?! 😉

and – the saddest part : no coffee, no alcohol — womp womp. Continue reading

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