Clean Slate by The Editors of Martha Stewart Living
Publisher/Year: Clarkson Potter | December 16, 2014
Pages: 336
Series: Stand-Alone
Genre: Cookbook
Format: Paperback
Source: The Publishers through Blogging for Books (Thanks!)
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. That did not sway my opinion in the least.
Summary (From Goodreads)
It’s time to hit the reset button. This book emphasizes eating clean, whole, unprocessed foods as part of a primarily plant-based diet, with delicious and healthy recipes that make it easy to do just that. Refreshing juices and smoothies, savory snacks, protein-packed main dishes, and even delectable desserts will keep you satisfied all day long; among them are plenty of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and allergen-free options, each identified by helpful icons. Comprehensive, informative, and utterly satisfying, Clean Slate is the complete go-to guide for boosting your energy and feeling your best.
More than just a cookbook, Clean Slate, from the editors of Martha Stewart Living, provides you with the nutritionally sound information you need to shop for and prepare food that nourishes body and mind. You’ll find guidelines for restocking your pantry with whole grains, beans and legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats; glossaries of the best sources of detoxifiers, antioxidants, and other health-boosting nutrients; and menus for a simple 3-day cleanse and a 21-day whole-body detox, with easy-to-follow tips and strategies for staying on track.
First Off…
I liked that this wasn’t a straight vegetarian book, because I do eat fish. So I thought I’d give this a try, especially since one of my goals for this year is to get healthy.
Thoughts:
This will be a two part review. One is for recipes and the other for the detox.
The Detox
This was the firsts detox I’ve ever done, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I knew I needed to reset myself on carbs and sugar, but my coffee addiction is one I accept about myself, and I wasn’t keen on giving it up. However, I have given it up for three weeks. The first week was the worst. and I actually had to start week 2 early, because I wasn’t struggling to keep up at work. Halfway through week 2 all that was keeping me going was stubbornness which got me through the rest of the time. I realized that I’m not a detox kind of girl. There are times that I need to majorly need to reduce my sugar intake, since I’m a sweets kind of person, but this was extreme compared to anything else I had done.
The one thing I was really confused about was whether I was only supposed to eat what was on the detox menu, or if fruits and nut based snacks were ok. I went ahead and snacked because I really wouldn’t have made it otherwise. Also, not exactly the best detox to try and do in the winter. Half the recipes I couldn’t do because finding a ripe avocado or pineapple in Cincinnati in the winter is impossible. But the other recipes made enough food that I could just double them up and eat them a couple extra times.
At the end of it all, I can tell I’ve changed some of my cravings, but I still can’t wait to have coffee and chocolate back. It was good to remind me that I do have time to cook healthy for myself, and that not every snack needs to be carb based.
The Recipes
I was limited on which recipes I could do because of the detox. It’s gluten and dairy free for the whole time, so there are more recipes that I’ll try now that I’m off the detox, but several of the detox recipes are one’s I’ll keep. I liked the chickpea soup and the red lentil soup are both favorites now, and I was surprised that the cauliflower soup was good, I was expecting to be sadly disappointed.. The vegetable stir-fry with cauliflower rice easy to make, and I’ve always liked veggie frittatas, but I substituted mushrooms for jalapenos. I did try some of the smoothie and juice options, but decided they aren’t for me.
In the End
I like the book, not the detox. Probably won’t do that again, but there are a lot of good recipes that will be added to my staples, and I can’t wait to try out some of the recipes that were off limits during the detox.
10 Second Summary:
1. Great for flexitarians– Yes that’s a thing. It’s the word for people who mostly don’t eat meat, which is me.
2. Detox not so great– If you like doing detox’s you might like it. I might have liked it ok if I hadn’t given up coffee for three weeks to do it. If I do one again, I’ll only give up coffee for a couple days.
3. Easy Healthy Recipes– Most of the recipes took me less than 30 minutes to make, which was great, because I don’t have as much time to cook as I would like.
Paperback. I like it because it makes being a flexitarian easy. If you have food sensitivities, this would be a great book for you because they say if it’s gluten or dairy free or vegetarian.