Juice Fast!!! That’s what I’ve been running around my house screaming ever since I went to the library the other week and found my new favorite book, “The Detox Prescription.” Per usual, I was perusing the new books section after systematically filing through the fiction system (basically I look for any book that is pink, by Jane Green, or contains the words “Shopaholic”) when it practically fell off the shelf and onto my lap.

I think it was fate, because I’ve been dying to try a real detox (more than just eating really delicious garlic soup) for a while now but I just can’t get on board with no real food for more than, say, three hours or recipes that are booooring. Now, don’t get me wrong, this books calls for a 3-day detox consisting of ONLY juices and smoothies and nut milks but these are RIDICULOUSLY good juices and fill-you-up smoothies and you are feeding yourself almost every two hours. Hunger pains are non-existent.

Then, once you complete the 3-day detox, you can move onto 4 days of clean, vegan eating – again, with really good recipes. Then, if you’re really into the detox, you can do two more weeks of clean, veggie-focused eating with a little dairy and fish thrown in. I won’t get into all the scientific facts, but apparently it’s a total makeover for your system. Of course, I don’t have the patience, discipline or willpower to do any kind of eating plan for 3 weeks (I can barely make it for 3 meals). Inevitably, there will be a new recipe that I need to test or a new restaurant that I must try. But, if my culinary life weren’t so out of control, I would have no problem sticking to this regime. Because, again, the recipes are fantastic.

The first smoothie we tried (yes, we – Alasdair actually agreed to do this with me for a day or two, though he ended up lasting only one meal) was an avocado and pear smoothie. Really simple – an avocado, a pear, coconut milk and some water. Blend. Enjoy. And I did enjoy – so much so that I was actually looking forward to this smoothie the second day, and I totally wouldn’t mind giving up my usual breakfast and replacing it with this smoothie, say, FOREVER (except on the weekends when I need eggs benedict, of course). While all the smoothies were good, this one was just above and beyond. It was fantastically refreshing and smooth. Alasdair went on a run afterwards, and he was all “wow, that run was so much easier than usual.” And, I was all “its the smoothie.” The only downside of the smoothie is that it does not photograph well or maybe I just don’t photograph drinks well. Le sigh. #foodbloggerproblems

But seriously, after this winter, we’ve both been feeling so lethargic and out of shape and run down and just, generally, blah, that I’m super excited to do a system reboot and refresh. Especially, since we’re about to hit upon another few busy months of traveling… This is just what I needed before shoveling some travel eats in my mouth. The avocado is a rich source of heart-healthy, cholesterol-lowering good fats, cancer-fighting beta-sitosterol, vitamin E, and a bunch of other things, including the body’s master antioxidant. The pear provides toxin-binding power which is just what you need to rid your system of all those crappy winter toxins.

Thank you D.C. Public Library. You made my month. 🙂