The whole point of my cleanse last week wasn’t to detox and then pig out on loads of bad food. It was about a kick-start to consistently healthy eating all year long — a great way to kick the sugar, dairy and wheat habit that slowly crept up on me at the end of last year and started to wreak havoc on waistline.

But the key to great health is always beginning with the end in mind.  It’s not enough to just do a cleanse or detox. While it’s helpful in the short term, the whole point is to have a vision and plan for the healthy eating you’ll do once you’re done with the cleanse, and then will maintain. By plan, here’s what I mean:

• Get  clear about what you’ll eat the day or two after the cleanse.If you happen to do a cleanse where you’re not doing any food prep, you don’t want to find yourself clueless about what to eat when you’re done. Keep it light and clean with a focus on fruit, vegetables and lots of water.
• Have an eating plan for the week after the cleanse. What will you eat? What will you avoid? How will you slowly build in more foods, in a healthy way? Before your start your cleanse, think about what you’d like to achieve when it comes to consistent, healthy eating so that you’ll have a clear target and planning will be easier. This week I’m focused on a mostly vegetarian diet, some raw (more juicing, of course!), some cooked but no sugar, dairy, wheat, packaged food or soy and the smallest amount of animal based protein (fish).
• Make healthy food shopping a priority. Whether you’re turning over a new leaf or just continuing with healthy eating post-cleanse, be sure to carve time into your schedule for a trip to the store to stock up on all the healthy items you’ll need.  When will you go and what will you need? A healthy shopping list is the key.

I’m in great shape this week because I was clear on what we’re eating and how to transition as easily as possible back into food prep.  And I took ample time this weekend to plan and shop.

How can you ready yourself for a cleanse and begin with the end in mind? What’s worked for you in the past?

Unsure how to get started? Let me know and I can guide you on creating a simple, super-healthy post cleanse plan that’s just right for you.

Filed under: Cleansing, Food preparation, Healthy Meals, High Quality Food, Meal Planning, Raw Foods