"I eat, therefore I am." (not Descartes)

Has the health-conscious family gone too far?

If copious quantities of organic produce wasn't enough,
If boycotting 98% of hygienic products didn't do the trick,
If getting rid of our microwave didn't make us look, well, different,

My parents and I are on a mission to dispel the toxins that, despite our neurotic habits, have accumulated in mass quantities within our bodies. Sure, we've tried different supplemental approaches. My folks have also gone on an all-juice diet for a short period. But challenges toward healthier lives are rarely turned down, and we'll try almost anything once.

Thanks to Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body by Dr. Victor Zeines, we recently tried a liver flush. Breakfast consists of an invigorating garlic-and-grapefruit smoothie (complete with olive oil, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper) followed by an herbal tea. A couple hours later, imbibe in a cup of fruit or vegetable juice to tie you over until lunch, a poly-chromatic salad. Forget about the dressing though! Top with lemon juice, olive oil, and/or vinegar (add herbs, dulse, or kelp to taste). For afternoon snack, we have slices of tomato covered in alfalfa sprouts. Supper is a smaller salad and steamed vegetables.
Oh how I lived for that steamed vegetable! Never has squash looked so appealing, so delectable, and (so it seemed) so essential to my survival. Were it not for that singular morsel of warmth, I would have certainly given up on the second day. But yay-me, I made it six (though the original plan was fourteen).

I didn't feel any healthier, but many of the foods I once loved suddenly lost their appeal. Even my beloved cheese and delicious homemade bread find their way less frequently onto my plate. Almost by default, my family is making the shift to a gluten-free vegan diet.

For all our healthy readers, any recipe suggestions (soy- and xanthan- free) would be greatly appreciated.  I'll try to share some of our successes, like this week's sweet potato and black bean enchiladas, here on Herbert. In the meantime, happy snacking!