Easy Cleanse for Busy Moms
Written by:
Maia James
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If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably gotten sick of my stories about my Sakara meals. (Sakara is a plant-based, organic meal-delivery service). They are so delicious and obviously very healthful, that I find myself wanting to snap a picture of every one.
I’ve done a bunch of different versions of Sakara: four-week programs, three-day programs, a ten-day DIY program, and, most-recently, a two-week plant-based challenge. (Update: My readers now get 20% off Sakara with code MAIASAKARA at checkout).
Through trial and error with various versions of Sakara and other “diets,” as well as a range of meal kits (like Sun Basket), I think I’ve finally settled on my ideal eating plan.
Sakara Versus the Others
Of course, Sakara isn’t the only organic meal delivery program game in town. I haven’t tried any of these other ones, but if you have, please comment below.
- Hungryroot
- Provenance Meals (Update: I really love Provenance–they’ve extended my readers $35 off with code GIMME35.)
- Urban Remedy
- Factor 75
Weekly Easy Cleanse: My Version
Normally, I am not a big “cleanse” person, simply because I don’t have the necessary resolve to, like, drink nothing but lemon water with cayenne for more than maybe half a day, max.
Still, I’ve recently decided to structure my weeks so that they always start with a short, easy cleanse. This means I don’t feel bad about the inevitable weekend indulgences because I’ve spent three days loading myself up with tons of greens, healthy fats, and fiber, and avoiding animal foods, gluten, or alcohol.
I’ve also added intermittent fasting to my routine. The goal is to go 16 hours without eating, but at a minimum I can make it 12 hours each day–I stop eating by 7:00 p.m. and don’t eat again until 7:00 a.m. I’ve found that I can make it to 9:00 a.m. fairly easily (14 hours), but I haven’t quite gotten to 16 hours yet!
Weekly Easy Cleanse: Your Version
Obviously, doing this via Sakara makes it a REALLY easy cleanse because I just have to open up my fridge, but there’s no reason you can’t adopt the same guidelines and simply prepare the meals yourself.
In fact, you don’t even have to do the same easy cleanse I do–perhaps for you, “cleansing” means just giving up red meat for the beginning of the week, or sugar, or starting each day by drinking lemon water instead of a latte.
Or maybe you don’t eliminate anything, but rather focus on adding certain foods IN for the beginning of every week. You could vow to eat green veggies with every meal–spinach in your omelette, a hearty salad for lunch, and a side of broccoli with dinner.
The point is to be intentional about a change in your food intake that you know will make you feel better.
Can Alcohol Be Part of an Easy Cleanse?
No matter how you structure your easy cleanse, I encourage you to skip drinking for at least a few days every week. This has brought about the most meaningful change in how I feel and look.
That said, I’ve found that I absolutely need happy hour pretty much every day during the time I’m preparing dinner for my kids. On my easy cleanse days, my happy hour just doesn’t involve alcohol (more on that later).
What I Eat Monday Through Wednesday: Easy Cleanse
As much as I love Sakara’s delivered breakfasts, I am making my own for the moment because of the cost of having all three meals delivered.
The quick cheat to eating like you’re on Sakara even if you’re not is that you don’t eat any wheat, dairy, meat (including fish), sugar, or processed oils.
1) Easy Cleanse Breakfast
I start my morning with Sakara’s Beauty Water (these will be included with any Sakara plan you order). Next, I make a a smoothie with their Life Source Powder, or I’ll just make mom my’s Miracle Energy Smoothie. I also have a cup of this green tea.
Easy Cleanse Smoothie Recipe
I’ve tried a bunch of Sakara’s smoothie recipes, but my favorite combo is Life Source Powder mixed with this almond milk, half a banana, this almond butter, and a splash each of Olea True and organic vanilla.
2) Mid-Morning Caffeine
A second cup of green tea.
3) Easy Cleanse Lunch
Sakara or Provenance. (If you’re not buying Sakara, make yourself any lunch that doesn’t contain wheat, sugar, dairy, vegetable oils, or meat, and don’t forget to load up on good fats and protein like avocado, nuts, and beans.)
4) Easy Cleanse Afternoon Snack
Something from Sakara’s Clean Boutique, or homemade popcorn with ghee, black pepper, and nutritional yeast. Sometimes I’ll also have Sakara’s beauty tea in the afternoon (I like it much better than their detox tea.)
5) Easy Cleanse Happy Hour Kombucha Mocktail from Just Jessie B.
Kombucha mocktail–guava kombucha, lots of fresh lime, and seltzer, poured over ice. I drink this while preparing dinner for my kids (here’s what they eat) and listening to a podcast or watching reality TV on my iPad.
6) Easy Cleanse Dinner
Sakara. My husband works late and is also low-key about dinner–he will happily grab pizza or a gyro on his way home if I say there won’t be a proper meal!
I know that for those of you who aren’t working, the arrangement in terms of who does the cooking may be different. (And, again, here’s what my kids eat.)
What I Eat Thursday Through Sunday: Wheat, Cheese, and Booze!
Once Thursday hits, I am ready to relax, because I do most of my heavy lifting work-wise during the beginning of every week—in addition to my easy cleanse.
Here are my “rules” for the days when I’m not doing the easy cleanse outlined above.
- Even when not “cleansing,” I eat lots of produce. I eat as much fish, eggs, and chicken as I want on these days (I don’t crave much of any of these, so this doesn’t typically amount to much).
- I also eat dairy and wheat again, although I TRY to limit the butter, cheese, and white flour–all of which I crave in pretty much infinite quantities!
- Sugar and alcohol are also back on the menu, but I definitely try to limit these. (Here are some healthier dessert ideas.)
- I keep up with a daily 12-hour fast (usually 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) because it’s pretty easy to do!
Dinner on Thursday-Sunday will be a combo of restaurants, delivery, and Sun Basket easy dinners which we actually eat as a family! (That link will get you $90 off if you want to try Sun Basket).
It’s important to note that even on my non-cleanse days I eat healthfully–lots of salads, whole grain pastas, Olea True drizzled on everything, tons of berries, etc. It’s just that on these days I also might have desserts and wine and cocktails in moderation.
Sun Basket Vs. The Others
There are enough meal-kit delivery services to make your head spin, and I haven’t tried most of them because they aren’t committed to organic ingredients. If you have used any of the following services, please comment with your thoughts!
- Purple Carrot (vegan)
- MaMaSezz
- Nutrition for Longevity (use code GIMME20 for $20 off first trial box and $40 off first subscription order. I’m about to get my first order and am super excited!)
- Hello Fresh
- Blue Apron
- Green Chef
- Plated
- Home Chef
- Jet Fuel Meals
- Paleo Plan (this one is just recipes and plans–no food)
It’s probably important to note that I am not crazy strict with any of this. It’s just not in my nature to be regimented, so some weeks I follow this more closely than others, depending on how I feel and what kind of social plans might crop up.
I’d love to hear your ideal food plan. Please comment below!
Stay sane,
Maia, Founder & CEO
P.S. My readers now get 20% off Sakara with code MAIASAKARA.
P.P.S. Here is the link for $90 off at Sun Basket.
I am always tweaking my workout plans, but I’ve found that I do best if I schedule out four days a week of classes (for me this is barre, pilates, and sometimes a Soul Cycle).
The other three days, I am intentional about getting in a lot of steps, at the very least. Sometimes I’ll even go for a jog if the weather is nice.
I also treat myself to a restorative yoga or self-care class at least once a month.
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You seem very dishy, why don’t you send me a piccy. easy divorces
Have you read about or tried https://nutritionforlongevity.com/? I would love to hear your thoughts? I tried Sakara and really like it but its very expensive. This plan seems very healthy but at less than half the price.
Really grateful for all your recommendations, as well as your willingness to share what works for you as a busy, accomplished, professional parent. I’m concerned about the amount of plastic that Sakara uses, however. I recently heard that only 5% of plastic is recycled (in CA, where I live), in large part due to the fact that China no longer accepts our recyclables. I wish Sakara would use PLA/compostable plastic (though most of that unfortunately ends up in the landfill and doesn’t biodegrade), or collect their packaging and ensure it’s recycled. What do you think – are you able to justify it?
Hi! Honestly, it bothers me too, and the only way I can justify it is that the simple reality is when I don’t order Sakara, I eat frozen meals (which are in plastic) or get takeout (in plastic). It stinks, and I too hope they come up with a better solution ASAP!
How do you only sign-up for a 2 meal/day plan with Sakara? I can only find 3 meals/days plans
Hi Maia,
I don’t live in the US but keen to get my hands on a superfood powder. By any chance, is this a brand you would be willing to review please:
https://shop.vibranthealth.com/products/maximum-vibrance?variant=47532835716
https://shop.vibranthealth.com/products/green-vibrance?variant=47456246980
Alternatively, happy for any other suggestion you may have.
Thanks!
I’ll look into these!
You are so incredibly wonderful to explain your routines on your website for anyone to read. It’s so refreshing to hear your honesty and it’s obvious how much you care about what you do and enjoy sharing your research. It is SO MUCH APPRECIATED. What a fun job you have and we are so very lucky to reap the benefits of your hard work. THANK YOU!!!
Thank you Hadley! Comments like this really make my day:).
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