How to Detox your Diet when you Really LOVE Food

I think I speak for a lot of women when I say that I really love great food. I, myself am a restaurant diva; trying every new place that opens and amassing a loooong list of favorites along the way. I also want to look like an Instagram model on a yacht- therein lies the problem. Rarely am I uber-excited about fire roasted brussel sprouts but instead have been on a two-year eating bender that includes an obscene amount of refined carbs and cream sauces. I’m so done and recently professed my newfound zeal to the world that I WILL get back on track and lose weight once again. As you know, easier said than done because while my resolve is steadfast early morning by noon I’m elbow deep in friend chicken and Vanilla Coke. These tips below have been the easiest way to transition from a junky, sugar addicted diet of processed food to clean, whole foods that help you shed pounds effortlessly and allow you to feel amazing. It’s truly a domino effect, once you get started and get through the initial withdrawal your body functions so beautifully you wonder how you were able to tolerate all that madness in the first place.

the. water- While I don’t expect most people to flat out replace their calorie laden beverage vice of choice with boring ass H2O I do implore that you start getting in your water intake somehow to keep things moving and give your body a fighting chance to process all the crap food you eat.
Make one meal a day less junky- For me breakfast was the obvious choice because I’m always home and not ravenously hungry so if you go from 3 meals of horrendous nutritional value to 2, then eventually 1 etc. etc. there is hope yet. My favs: whole grain toast with almond butter and a piece of fruit, scrambled eggs with spinach and Laughing Cow cheese, All-Bran cereal with almond milk and strawberries.
Find a support system- This is the most beneficial tool I’ve ever had. Whether its with a walking buddy, a Weight Watchers meeting group, or online – make sure you make yourself known so someone (and there’s always one) will stalk you until they ruin your planned binge with invasive questions and flat-out eater’s guilt.
Join a CSA- Community Supported Agriculture commits you to buying at minimum one box of organic produce on the regular. It’s a tad pricier then shopping in stores so I force myself to use up the entire box before I go grocery shopping. It can introduce you to vegetables that you’d never dream of trying unless it’s right in front of your face.
Splurge at a fancy market- With four kids the bulk of my grocery shopping comes from big box stores, that’s just the cold hard truth in suburbia. However, once a month I treat myself to single, NYC woman status and shop at Gelson’s, Whole Foods or Bristol Farms. I pick up the most amazing organic foods and let me tell you, when I’ve got a $14.99 per pound Salmon Filet waiting at home there’s no way I’m hitting the drive through.

These are just a few of the baby steps that worked for me. I’ll share more in future posts! I’d love to hear your tips and tricks!