Your Holiday Detox

Whether you wind up having one plate too many at your Thanksgiving Day feast or succumb to an overabundance of fudge, crab dip, and cookies at your annual office shindig, it’s likely you’ll experience the unpleasant aftermath of a holiday eating spree at some point during the next few weeks. We all know the story: temptation gets the best of us, and we’re left with to suffer the miserable consequences—feeling puffy, achy, sluggish, and downright blech.

If you’re looking to quickly undo the damage of a day of merrymaking and festive splurging, help is here in the form of my holiday detox plan. Simply follow this ultimate recovery menu for 1 to 3 days after a day of feasting to offset the calorie gorge, blast away bloat, burn fat, ramp up energy, and put you back in a positive mindset. There are no hoakie juices or potions here, just real, whole foods that provide the right mix of the right ingredients—lean proteins, healthy fats, smart carbs, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals—to get your body back to baseline fast.

Here are the basic guidelines:

• Follow the same daily menu for one to three consecutive days after a day of splurging.
• Eat these 5 mini meals evenly spaced throughout your day.
• Eat only what is listed on the menu–no added sugar, honey, sugar substitute, salt, salad dressing, condiments, etc.
• Drink only what is listed on the menu—no soda, fruit juice, alcohol, or diet beverages. Feel free to add additional water throughout the day.

DAILY MENU

Meal 1

Veggie Scramble

Whisk together 1 whole egg with 3 egg whites. In a medium skillet coated with oil spray, sauté unlimited mushrooms, spinach, and chopped tomato over medium heat until soft. Add the eggs and scramble until fully cooked. Season with preferred herbs.

½ grapefruit (or 1 orange)

Optional black coffee or tea (caffeinated or decaf)


Meal 2

Drink one 8-ounce glass water (with optional lemon) within 30 minutes of eating.

1 nonfat Greek yogurt

15 pistachio nuts (unsalted)

1 mug green tea


Meal 3

Drink one 8-ounce glass water (with optional lemon) within 30 minutes of eating.

Mediterranean salad
Combine 3/4 cup chickpeas (rinsed and drained) with half a cucumber (diced) and half a red bell pepper (diced). Drizzle with unlimited balsamic vinegar.

1 mug green tea

Meal 4

Drink one 8-ounce glass water (with optional lemon) within 30 minutes of eating.

Baked, grilled, broiled, or poached fish
5-6 ounces cod, sole, flounder, halibut, or haddock, seasoned with fresh lemon and desired herbs

Unlimited steamed broccoli
with optional fresh lemon and black pepper

1 mug green tea


Meal 5

1 apple with 1 tablespoon natural peanut or almond butter

1 mug decaf peppermint tea