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I’m quite certain I’m not the first and definitely won’t be the last person blogging about a “detox” New Years recipe. After weeks of cookie consumption (which I fully support) I don’t blame you if your body is crying for vegetables. I know mine is.
My body is funny that way. It legitimately craves vegetables. Occasionally you might actually find me turning down cornbread and cake for kale and carrots.
Some of you may be trying out detox juice cleanses or starting out on a path to making healthier choices this year. I’ve done a juice cleanse before and I was a hangry monster. I don’t condone them though and kudos to you if you feel like they work. It’s just not my cup of green juice. I do NOT however support fad diets. If you’re looking to lose weight or start eating healthier in 2014 please do not deprive yourself. Eat real food and enough of it.
I think a lot of people who make the resolution to “eat healthier” misconstrue healthy eating with eliminating food. Sure you can’t go binging on Big Macs daily, but I would love if people could focus on incorporating more nutritious foods rather than on what they shouldn’t be eating. I realize that what I’m promoting here is like trying to cure cancer (thank you diet industry for that…) so instead I’ve decided to start with just me.
I have one more resolution I did not include in yesterday’s list. I’ve made it my personal mission to eat at least one salad a day. Some days that might mean a large salad for lunch and other days a side salad with dinner. This is a choice of mine that makes me feel good at the end of the day. The best part about this is how creative you can get with salads. Ain’t got time for boring salads around here.
I would love if you guys decided to join me for the fun so why not start with this delicious Detox Kale Salad?
Detox Kale Salad
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Keywords: bake appetizer entree gluten-free vegan sweet potatoes kale
Ingredients (Yields: 4 large salads or 8 si)
- 4 oz baby kale
- 1 large sweet potato, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp coconut oil or olive oil (or spray of either)
- 6 hearts of palm, chopped
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (roasted or raw)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- For the dressing:
- 3 T balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 T dijon mustard
- 1.5 tsp honey
- 1 squirt of anchovy paste (optional)
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Spray or drizzle sweet potatoes with oil of choice.
3. Roast for 15 mins. Remove from oven and flip over before roasting for another 10 mins.
4. Assemble kale, hearts of pal, pumpkin seeds and cranberries into a large salad bowl. Top with sweet potatoes once done roasting.
5. Whisk together dressing ingredients.
6. Toss salad and drizzle with enough dressing to coat.
Do you want to join me in eating a salad a day in 2014? How do you detox?Â
“…Focus on incorporating more nutritious foods rather than on what they shouldn’t be eating. ” Absolutely. I say this time and time again. It’s a lifestyle. It’s not about restrictions. It’s about balance, and finding what works for you 🙂
Amen sista!
See? Just a few weeks ago, you were wondering if you would ever crave veggies again! I knew it would come back – the body is amazing at balancing us out. Like you, I believe in focusing on incorporating MORE healthy foods, rather than completely eliminating things or doing extreme fad diets. This salad looks delicious!!
I know right?!?!! Sometimes you gotta OD on the butter and sugar to start craving veggies again. That or my body is trying to tell me I have scurvy…
This salad looks delicious! I love roasted sweet potatoes! I am doing a detox that Laura from MommyRunFast is doing. It’s eating real food (not juicing) and it’s a 21 day cleanse. I am looking forward to it!
That sounds fantastic!
Would the detox work if I poured that salad dressing all over my body and a hot man licked it off?
OHHH HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYY sexy TMI! lmfao! Merry.. No… Happy NEW YEAR! 🙂
Yes…in fact I just bathed in the dressing prior to feeding Lee some chocolate covered strawbs. HAWT.
Things just got…. That much more INTERESTING 😉
I love me some kale, nom nom nom. I’m planning on buying a TON this weekend and making a huge green salad to take to my placement which starts monday!
I totally agree with you about fad diets; so done with that. I like to ‘detox’ by adding more blended dishes to my diet, which gives my stomach a bit of a break 🙂
This looks so yummy! I have a hard time eating salads when the windchill is below zero but I definitely need to start getting some kale in my life. Detoxing is definitely necessary after the holidays!
Looks delicious Davida! I try and eat at least one salad a day, but the month of December turned into one every few days :S This looks like a great way to get back on track!
I aint got time for boring salads either. This one looks like a party in your mouth. Making this for lunch today!!
Only healthy living bloggers would refer to a salad as a party in your mouth…I love us.
I’m so glad you support extra cookie consumption over the holidays, and a great kale salad is always a good way to get back on track. Looks delicious!
Love baby kale and sweet potatoes in salad is just plain delicious! I like your goal of eating a salad a day. For January, my goal is to drink one green smoothie daily. This is tough for me only because it’s so cold. 😉
In this -40 degree weather no green smoothies for me but come summer it will happen!