Autumn Cleanse Time!

Hi Everyone,

It has been a while since I have written a blog entry.  Summer was fun and very family focused!

I am just starting to get reoriented to life with the kids back in school. Towards the end of summer I had a couple of people ask me about doing a sugar or cleanse class.  For that reason, and because I enjoy cleansing at the beginning of each season, I have decided to lead a 10 day online cleanse (very similar to what I lead in January).

If you choose to sign up for the cleanse, here is what you can expect:

• a list of what to include during the 10 days and what to avoid
• a shopping list
• meal and snack ideas
• daily support from me
• lifestyle suggestions for the cleanse
• online community support

This time around, there will be a $25 fee to sign up for the cleanse (a small price to pay to connect with your inner rock star).  If you would like to sign up, you can do so by sending me a check or via phone by credit card (I have one of those square gadgets that enables to take cc’s).  Reply to this message and I will send you my info.

I am excited about the timing as we are about to go into a less than optimal eating zone: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.  The cleanse will set us up for feeling our best for the fall and going into winter.  If you are curious but nervous about the cleanse, please keep in mind that the cleanses I lead are gentle and very doable.  We basically cut out the foods that we all know we would do better without.  Examples are white flour, sugar (pretty much all white food), coffee, alcohol, wheat and cow dairy.  

Since it is a fall cleanse,  and in Chinese Medicine, the organs associated with fall are the lungs and large intestine, we will focus on foods that nourish these organs.  The flavors for autumn are pungent and spicy so I will provide you with recipes that include these flavors.

If you feel like you are ready to have a little more spunk in your step, take the plunge and cleanse with me.  You will feel the benefits of taking better care of yourself!

Also, remember you get to decide whether you avoid all the suggested foods on the list, some of them or just one of them.  Only you know yourself and your own strategy for success.  I am a firm believer that when we take small steps toward healthier living, we make long lasting, powerful changes in our body.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Lysa

845.594.2127
Lysa.Ingalsbe@gmail.com

PS. One of the foods nourishing in the fall is cauliflower. Below is a cauliflower recipe from my gal Heidi Swanson. Enjoy!

Simple Cauliflower Recipe

To make this recipe vegan, just omit the Parmesan cheese finish - still delicious.

2 - 3 heads of small cauliflower (or 1/2 head large)
2 tablespoons of olive oil
a couple pinches of sea salt
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small bunch of chives, chopped
zest of one lemon
freshly grated Parmesan
a bit of flaky sea salt

To prep the cauliflower, remove any leaves at the base and trim the stem. Now cut it into tiny trees - and by tiny, I mean most florets aren't much larger than a table grape. Make sure the pieces are relatively equal in size, so they cook in the same amount of time. Rinse under running water, and set aside.

Heat the olive oil and fine grain salt in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the cauliflower and stir until the florets are coated. Wait until it gets a bit brown on the bottom, then toss the cauliflower with a spatula. Brown a bit more and continue to saute until the pieces are deeply golden - all told about six minutes. In the last 30 seconds stir in the garlic.

Remove from heat and stir in the chives, lemon zest, and dust with a bit of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a pinch of flaky sea salt (if you have it on hand). Serve immediately.

Serves 2-3 as a side.