Two delicious and easy-to-prepare salads for support of your spring cleansing efforts.

Green Cabbage Salad

Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable known for its anticancer properties. It is also great for weight loss and detoxifying the body, in addition to being highly nutritious! Cabbage is rich in folic acid and vitamin C, and contains selenium, an antioxidant mineral many of us are deficient in. This salad also contains cilantro, an herb that facilitates the detoxification of metals from the body. This recipe is a healthy alternative to the standard coleslaw. Vegan, raw, gluten and dairy-free.

Servings: 6   Calories: 108   Carbs: 8g   Protein: 2g   Fat: 8g   Fiber: 3g

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized head of cabbage, outer leaves and core removed, finely shredded (equal to 4 cups)
3 carrots, peeled and finely shredded
1 cup cilantro, finely chopped
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil (or, try 1 TBSP of toasted sesame + 1 TBSP olive oil)
1 TBSP flax oil
2 TBSP raw apple cider vinegar (try Bragg’s)
1 tsp. honey
2 TBSP sesame seeds
sea salt/pepper to taste

Instructions:

A food processor works great to shred the cabbage and carrots. Or, shred by hand with a grater. In a small jar or bowl, make the dressing by combining the olive oil, flax oil, apple cider vinegar and honey. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, carrots, and cilantro. Stir in the dressing and sesame seeds. Add sea salt and pepper to taste.

Red Cabbage and Apple Salad

This salad is simple to prepare and a great cleansing, low-calorie option to have in the fridge for munching whenever you are hungry. The deep red/purple/blue color of the cabbage leaves is from the powerful antioxidant anthocyanin. You cannot go wrong with eating a lot of cabbage! Vegan, gluten and dairy-free.

Servings: 6   Calories: 75   Carbs: 13g   Protein: 2g   Fat: 2g   Fiber: 3g

Ingredients:

1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1 medium-sized yellow onion, sliced
1 large apple, peeled and chopped
1 small-sized head of red cabbage, outer leaves and core removed, chopped
1 cup water
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions:

In a medium/large saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil and saute the onion and apple until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the cabbage, water, apple cider vinegar and salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover and let cool. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy.

Follow Origin as we undertake a six-week cleanse and detoxification program. This marks week number one where we are easing into things with a basic elimination diet, avoiding all toxic and congesting foods. The diet is vegan (although some fish or chicken can be consumed for those with greater protein needs) and based on non-allergenic, organic whole foods. The idea is to gently cleanse your body and get prepared for a more intense cleanse, eventually taking in only vegetables, fruits and/or juices. For the more robust, a 2-3 day fast without food will follow the vegetable/fruit only portion. We will then ease out of the cleanse, again supporting our bodies with the basic elimination diet.

Week-by-Week Cleansing and Fasting Plan:

Weeks 1 and 2- Transitional stage, will focus on removing toxins and congesting foods from the diet.

Week 3- Continuation of week 1 and 2 with a focus on raw foods.

Week 4- A diet of just fruits, vegetables and various low-sugar juice; 2-3 days will be juice only without food.

Week 5- A transition back to a diet mostly of raw foods.

Final Week- A transition back to a diet like the first two weeks, eating non-toxic and non-congesting foods.

Toxic and Congesting Foods

What to avoid these first two weeks: All common allergenic foods (dairy/milk, wheat/gluten, soy, eggs, shellfish and peanuts), red meat, pork, hydrogenated fats, all toxic/refined fats, refined flours, bread, baked goods, sweets, refined sugars, soda (diet too), drugs, alcohol, and coffee or excessive caffeine. Avoid all processed foods (pretty much all pre-packaged foods) and eat only organic foods, if possible.

Cleansing Foods

What to eat: Fruits, non-starchy greens and herbs, which are the least congesting foods. Followed by all other non-starchy vegetables, and then starchy vegetables such as winter squash, beets, carrots, peas, and root vegetables (like sweet potatoes and parsnips). Next the gluten-free whole grains- rice, amaranth, buckwheat, millet and quinoa. Slightly more congesting, but definitely acceptable foods for the first two weeks are nuts (raw or soaked, almonds are the best choice), seeds, legumes (beans) and oats (look for gluten-free).

I will personally be including some fish or chicken, about twice a week (this is optional). As far as fats go, small amounts of olive and coconut oil are acceptable. The only sweets allowed are small amounts of maple syrup and honey. At this point, you can choose to drink limited amounts of black and/or green tea, although it is best to avoid caffeine all together. Unlimited quantities of herbal teas, Cleansing Lemonade, and water should be consumed frequently throughout the day.

Later This Week

Look to our blog this week for more on how and why to cleanse and detox. To support the program, we will be posting satisfying and yummy recipes so you don’t feel like you are missing a thing.

Recipe for Cleansing Lemonade:

Juice of one organic lemon

2-3 tsp of pure maple syrup

pinch of ground cayenne pepper

8-12 oz of pure spring water

Sports drinks are a contentious issue for me.  Despite their assumed athletic relevance, they generally remind me more of consumerism and excess than they do of actual athletics.  I think of a specific Gatorade ad starring Kevin Garnett where he appears to sweat the color of his Gatorade.  I think about sports drinks’ bright colors and completely radical names that I always deliver in a certain way when I read them aloud.  Finally I think about sugar.  A 32-ounce bottle (pay attention to serving size when you read the label; the 32-ounce bottle in your hand is likely broken down into four servings) of a typical sports drink contains over 50 grams (13 teaspoons) of sugar and 200 calories.  Is this something I really need after a four-mile run on the trail by my house, even if it is a grueling uphill climb, switchback after switchback?

My contention with sports drinks isn’t that they don’t have a purpose, it’s that they’re generally overconsumed and overhyped.  I can’t help but think that sales figures are sports drink manufacturers’ biggest concern, but Kevin Garnett’s bellow seems to scream otherwise.  What’s the reasoning behind the typical sugar, water, and electrolyte composition of these drinks?  When, if at all, does it become important to rehydrate with something other than water?  What, beyond the commercial viability of selling sugar water, are the real benefits to professional athletes and amateurs alike?
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Making Hummus Artichoke Dip at Winter House

Origin represented Tribe Mediterranean Foods at the 2010 Winter House PR event held in Park City, where various media experts came to experience a variety of great products and participate in numerous fun events. Origin put on a cooking show, showcasing four mouth-watering hummus recipes created with Tribe’s all natural hummus. On the menu was Hummus Crostini, using Tribe’s Roasted Eggplant and Sundried Tomato Basil Hummus; Grilled Flatbread Hummus Pizza; Hummus Mozzarella Pesto Panini; and, my favorite, Hummus Artichoke Dip. The Hummus Artichoke Dip was so good we had to post it!

Tribe Hummus Artichoke Dip
It is hard not to love artichoke dip. This version uses hummus in place of mayonnaise (used in typical recipes) for a lower calorie/fat option, with equal the amount of flavor~ more to love! Serve it hot out of the oven with pita chips, tortilla chips, crackers, crostini toasts, or your favorite cut vegetables. Always a party pleaser.

Ingredients:
1- 8oz tub of Tribe Roasted Garlic Hummus
1-8oz cream cheese, softened
1-14oz can of artichoke hearts, or 2-6oz jars marinated artichoke hearts, drained & coarsely chopped
1-2 scallions, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium sized bowl, beat the hummus and cream cheese together with a hand mixer at med speed until well combined. Stir in the artichoke hearts, scallions, and parmesan cheese until combined. Add the worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

Pour into a small casserole baking dish, 8×8 or 8×6. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes until bubbly and browned. Serve immediately with pita chips, tortillas chips, crackers, crostini toasts, or cut vegetables. Enjoy!

Stay energized with this nutritionist-approved energy gel. It really works to give you that extra boost in order to finish strong during a challenging workout or race. Because it contains complex carbohydrates, protein, and fat, it works better than the standard gels made of just carbohydrates or simple sugars.
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