The Detox Shopping List You Need for Success!

I’m sharing my experiences during a 21-day food detox. If you’d like to start reading from Day 1, click here.

Plan for success…

Like most endeavors in life, a key to success is planning. Before I began my detox diet, I did some quick meal planning so I would have plenty of go-to foods during my detox. One thing I’ve learned over the years: if I set myself up for success, nine times out of ten, I succeed. So I try to help out my future self whenever possible.

We’ve all heard it a thousand times: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
So true.

On any given day, meal planning definitely attributes to the healthy habits I’m trying to teach my family. When I don’t take the time to meal plan, I feel stuck, overwhelmed, and a healthy dinner doesn’t happen. Planning doesn’t have to take long and you can allow for flex days where you’re not sure if you’ll be home for dinner or not. I typically plan 3-4 meals a week and then we eat leftovers 1-2 nights, or eat out if we happen to be out and about during dinner time.

If you are looking for an online tool that makes meal planning a breeze, I highly recommend PlantoEat.com. Import your recipes, drag them onto your calendar, and a shopping list is automatically generated for you. You can print the list or sync it with your phone and then head to the store armed and ready. You can also group recipes into menus to re-plan them anytime, making planning so quick and easy. I absolutely love it!

On Day 3, I gave you a quick overview of foods to eat (and not eat) during a detox regiment. I thought it might be helpful to go into a bit more detail, so I’m sharing my detox shopping list, along with a few tips for how I use the different ingredients…

TIP: Shop for organic products whenever possible.

Many of these foods are on my typical shopping list, but here’s a specific list of what I buy before a detox:

• Green tea (to help diffuse caffeine cravings)
• Herbal tea (drink hot, iced, or make infused water—I like spearmint and Tazo Passion – though I haven’t been able to find organic Tazo)
• Sparkling water
• Almond (or other nut milk) make sure it’s unsweetened (you can also make it)
• Lemons and limes (I use these in my detox smoothies and water that I drink throughout the day)
• Fresh or frozen berries (for detox smoothies, infused water, or a satisfying snack)
• Raisins (to use sparingly in salads or for a sweet treat)
• Olives (these pack a flavor punch when a craving hits; make sure there’s no sugar added to the brine)
• Stoneground mustard (adds pizzazz to any dish or dressing)
• Almond butter (a spoonful is a satisfying treat, also good in smoothies)
• Raw nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc. for snacking)
• Organic chicken (for Quick Chicken Curry or sauté with veggies for a quick dinner)
• Wild-caught fish, like salmon (NOT farmed or “Atlantic”)
• Chicken breasts or thighs (organic is very important here)
• Quinoa (great with any meal, or for making vegan Quinoa Summer Veggie Salad)
• Black beans (for dishes like these 20-minute Black Bean Lettuce Wraps, or add to soups or salads) – best if you cook them yourself, but canned work too
• Fresh herbs (Italian parsley and cilantro are my favorites)
• Ginger (I use a big chunk in my detox smoothies—I’m kind of a ginger junkie)
• Variety of fresh vegetables (for eating raw, soups, stews, salads)
• Spinach, kale or mixed greens (I add a handful to detox smoothies, or use in a salad for lunch or dinner)
• Sprouts (grow your own or there are many varieties available for purchase—”spicy” is my fav.)
• Cucumbers (for eating or adding to flavored water)
• Avocados (a great snack, salad topper, or addition to a smoothie)
• Coconut oil (great for cooking, or added to a smoothie or a Dairy-free Spiced Latte)

Do you have a go-to healthy food list? Please share in the comments below!

DAY 8

I’m feeling really energized today—I think my body is getting the hang of this detox thing.

Wins: I made it out for a walk after lunch. It always lifts my spirits, clears my head, and I get the best thinking done when I’m out in the fresh air!

Flubs: Ummm…coffee…just a tiny cup

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