Zia's

Zia's was one of the most surprising items Kasia pointed out during the Whole Foods tour. They sell vegan, raw desserts and some dips at a few local grocery stores. I didn't really think I had a sweet tooth but missed something sweet on occasion during the detox. The lemon chiffon pie was a huge treat and seriously to die for good.

This is half a slice. They are very rich and I only needed a sliver to whet my sugar craving.

It is made without eggs, sugar or dairy of any kind. The crust is formed with toasted coconut.

They even cater to the raw food vegan dieter! Click here for the menu. 

I can't wait to actually have lunch at Zia's in Towson. That has been the hardest part about this Whole Foods way of eating, where the heck can you eat out? Kona Grill offers soy sauce alternatives and has wonderful seaweed salads. I'm still holding strong with no sugar, no caffeine, no dairy but am looking for other restaurants that serve raw vegan foods. Please send suggestions if you live in the DC/Baltimore metro area.

Whole Foods Tour

I mentioned on Sunday that my favorite day of our detox was the two hour tour of Whole Foods with Kasia. She does these healthy shopping classes often. Click here to find out when her next class is. We started in the produce section. She showed us how to look for organic fruits and vegetables and gave the Environmental Working Groups Dirty Dozen list and Clean 15 List. You can sign up here for the list and download an app to your phone. If you aren't eating organic foods you should be washing your fruits and vegetables in soap and water before eating. It's so much simpler to buy organic.

She taught us some great basics like how to cut up a pineapple. She suggested slicing sweet potatoes and soaking them raw in water to eat as chips with hummus or pesto. She teaches this class often and I found it completely eye opening. 

We learned that the olives and artichokes at the olive and salad bar are good for our gut.

We took copious notes and I shot many photos to help me remember what we learned.

I've never cooked bok choy but love it with fish and rice and have had it at restaurants many times.

We eat a lot of kale but usually stir fried. E's first dinner he ever cooked me was vegetarian with a kale, ginger and carrot ribbon stir fry. It still makes me swoon. I've been using Kale in a green drink. It's delicious, mixed with spinach, mint, apples, pear, lemon juice and peeled ginger. Pulse in a food processor for a great mid morning snack or afternoon treat.

Have you ever had a dandelion salad? Dandelion root tea is good for your liver and digestion. I'm now a convert to raspberry root tea and green teas instead of coffee. I've even switched to organic skin care products and Dr. Bronner's soap.

Beets are great for your blood and liver. E. and I love hot pink juiced beets with ginger and apples. We received a Breville juicer for our wedding and use it weekly. Kasia told us we can cook the beat greens too. Who knew?

This is the fava bean in a pod. Again, I would never think of shelling these bad boys but am up for it now.

She encouraged us to buy Celtic sea salt which has magnesium. A little pinch of this in your water bottle is more hydrating than any sports drink. Great for all you athletes and runners. This salt on roasted salmon is so amazingly tasty. I'm also a huge convert to Bragg's liquid aminos as an alternative to soy sauce. Roast a few raw almonds for 10 minutes on a cookie pan, toss with a few tablespoons of Bragg's and you have a great salted almond that is E's favorite snack now.

My dinners consisted of protein and vegetables. We were taught this is the smallest meal of the day and is a supper...as in supplement. 

This type of meal became so satisfying. When I ate a larger lunch during the day I wasn't hungry in the evening.

Hope some of you in this area can go to Whole Foods with Kasia. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and look out for our graduating Detox class on Today's Letters in the Fist Pump Friday section. 

Container Detox

While Tweeting about Kasia Kines and my 30 Day Whole Foods Detox the world shrank as it does on Twitter, and especially as it does in Smalltimore. @BriHoffman, Erica Penn's fiance suggested we follow each other on Twitter since she had completed Kasia's Detox. Erica was invaluable. Here are a few of her wise Tweets. Start reading from the bottom of the screen shot.

Erica was with me all 30 days and we created a hashtag for #kasiakines on Twitter because we love her that much. @Erp5005's most valuable Tweet was "Tupperware will soon be your best friend." She was absolutely correct. I had Tweets asking what detox I was doing at all hours of the night. I should have said, "It's called a Container Detox."

Luckily I'm king of a freak when it comes to food storage containers so I was well prepared. I started a great routine after the first stressful week of trying to figure out how I was going to change my whole way of thinking about food. I'm a foodie. I love sauces, foie gras, amuse bouches, cream, cheese, wine, gin not to mention sugar in all forms. But I've been having weight issues for years and my energy level was to the point of near depression. I had to change my habits or go see a therapist. I knew I wasn't depressed, but exhausted and turns out malnourished. Odd for someone overweight to be malnourished, but it all makes sense on the other side of the detox. Now each night I make a beautiful salad and a fresh vinaigrette. I use a tiny 3 oz glass ball jar (as seen below next to the Kim-Chi) and seal it tight. Spinach, sunflower seeds and organic strawberries from California is the perfect salad but also visually just beautiful.

At the beginning of the week the fridge is now crammed with Tupperware containers ready for lunches. Some of the weekly items are fresh beets, kale, leeks, mushrooms, Brazil Nuts, Miso, pears, lemons, apples, ginger, broccoli, cilantro, parsley, cut strawberries, curry soup, homemade hummus, hemp milk, quinoa, barley, and brown rice. The beer has been there for weeks and the milk now spoils quickly since I'm not drinking it as well. 

I'm now a Bragg's Apple Cider convert, but the first week I had lots of items in the pantry already for my vinaigrette. 

Basic Vinaigrette 

3/4 Good Olive Oil

1/4 Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar, or lemon juice

dash of Celtic salt 

1 tablespoon of any one of the following: almond butter, raw honey, tahini, mustard

Use a Ball Jar to shake up and seal tight in the fridge. Will last for one week!

The key to a good container detox is GOOD containers. I had a curry soup explosion happen in the car the first week and it nearly derailed me. Good thing we sold that car. My dear and beloved Martha Stewart came to the rescue by way of her glass storage containers at Macy's. They are completely soup proof! 2.5 cups and a perfect lunch or dinner size. 

In the beginning it felt like every night was a little stressful trying to figure out what to eat for every meal. Now, 30 days into it I have a great routine and it is all about the storage containers!

Nightly routine:

Eat by 7:00 pm, small meal of protein and vegetables

Cook Eric piece of chicken or fish with vegetable and starch for his dinner.

Make my salad for lunch in a small container.

Make salad dressing in a 3 oz. ball jar for lunch.

Take piece of chicken from E's dinner preparation, barley (rice or quinoa) and green vegetable for my lunch entree and pack in another small container for lunch.

Heat (4) cups of water, (1) cup of steel cut oats on the stove until it boiled. Remove from heat. Cover overnight.

Load the dishwasher. Clean sink.

Go to be before 9:30 pm

Morning routine:

I've started waking up at 5:45 am every morning just with the sun and birds. It is now easy for me to get up in the morning and have a relaxing start to the day.

Heat water in tea kettle.

Remove lid and heat oatmeal on stove, 10 minutes.

Take vitamins.

Get ready for work.

Tweet.

Eat oatmeal at the dining room table, sometimes with my sweet Charlie.

Pack lunch bag for work with salad, salad dressing, cloth napkins, "S" monogrammed fork and knives from my Sites Great Grandparents, entree, snack of almonds, hummus and carrots or apple.

Erica, thank you so much for your Tweet support during Kasia's detox program. I'm still on the plan and loving every minute of it. I'm also always on the look out for the best in Tupperware options. Kasia, looking forward to seeing you later today for your Tweetervention.