Tag Archives: Herbal Cleanse

February 17, 2012 · 5:00 am

Easy Grilled Tuna Steak Recipe!

Okay, I know half of you saw the title of this post and said, “Ewww!” But stay with me here. Fish is too good for you to ignore (and so is this recipe). :)

Did you know the American Heart Association recommends you eat two servings of fish per week? Fatty fish like salmon and tuna are chockful of omega-3′s, which are an essential component in reducing heart disease.

One of my favorite ways to eat tuna is to grill it. You can find tuna steaks in the meat department of your local grocery store. (The fresh stuff is really expensive, but you can find a cheaper version that is flash-frozen.)

So here it is…

Sarah’s Grilled Tuna Steaks

4 tuna steaks (about 6 ounces each)
Olive oil
Fresh lemon, cut in half
Minced garlic
Fresh minced basil (or dried basil works too)
Salt
Pepper

Drizzle both sides of the tuna steaks with oil, then squeeze half of the lemon’s juice on top. (I save the other half for fresh squeezing when the fish is served.) Rub the garlic, basil, salt, and pepper on both sides of the steaks. (I didn’t put any measurements because I usually sprinkle based on my tastes that night. :) )

Grill, covered, or broil for 4-5 minutes on each side or until done to your preference. (I like a little bit of pink in the center so it doesn’t get too dried out.) Broiling tip: Fill the bottom of the broil pan with a little bit of water. It keeps the meat from losing too many juices and it makes cleanup easier.

*Side note: This recipe is cleanse-friendly too! You’ll just want to eliminate the salt or use a little bit of sea-salt if you must have it.

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That’s it! Super easy, healthy, and yummy. I took a fancy picture, but alas, my camera decided to die and lose everything I’d taken in the last three months. So here’s a photo of another version of tuna steaks from Taste of Home.

Are you a big fish eater? What’s your favorite kind of fish to eat? Any cooking tips to add?

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January 27, 2012 · 5:00 am

My Post-Holiday Cleanse Diet: Success? Or Epic Fail?

I don’t know about you, but I spent the holidays eating wa-a-a-y too much junk food. So I decided to schedule a post-holiday cleanse for myself a few weeks ago. (Results and takeaways are coming, so hang on. :) )

There are lots of cleanses out there–everything from juice diets to cleanses that include supplements. Last summer I did a ten-day cleanse through Advocare. It was crazy-hard, but I couldn’t believe how much my energy and overall health improved as a result!

This time around, I decided to create my own cleanse diet–mostly to save money but also just to see how the results would differ from the formal cleanse program I did before. Some cleanses are pretty strict and don’t allow protein in the diet, but I included some “clean” proteins so I wouldn’t starve. :)

The basics of my diet were to eat mostly whole foods–fruits, vegetables, a few lean proteins (fish, chicken, etc.), unsalted nuts and seeds, and grains limited to whole oats and brown rice. I also used olive oil a LOT and mixed it with balsamic vinegar for salads. Oh, and no dairy. That’s a must on a cleanse diet.

So what were my end results? Well, semi-success and semi-failure. I originally set out to do the diet for 10 days, but I only lasted 5. I think mostly because I didn’t have accountability this time. (If I do another cleanse, I’ll shell out the dough and do Advocare again…There’s something about spending money that makes me stick to it.)

The other factor that made the diet difficult was my overall health. I was dealing with sinus issues and ended up on three different medications during the diet, which whacked out my body big-time.

In the end, though, it wasn’t a total failure. I did lose 3 pounds in 5 days. (Technically I lost 6 pounds, but 3 of them were due to extra weight from my medication. I wasn’t going to count it, but my hubby says to take the credit. :) ) And, I’ve managed to keep those pounds off by getting back into a normal diet and just being careful to not overdo the calories.

So would I do a cleanse again? I’d say maybe. If my body feels as sluggish as it did after the holidays, I probably will. I just might seek out a more accountable system next time.

In the coming weeks, I’ll share some meals and snacks I ate during the cleanse that are also great to eat any other time of the year!

Have you ever tried a cleanse or detox diet? What do you think would help you succeed? What scares you most about them?

*Pastry photo by Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
**Scale photo by dream designs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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December 2, 2011 · 5:00 am

The Easiest Homemade Fries Ever!

When I went on an herbal cleanse and detox a couple months ago, I spent the first few days with my body craving those foods I’d indulged in before. Then my friend Karin from All Points Whole gave me this awesome recipe. It was my savior!

Now I’m so hooked on these, they’re a regular staple in my family. And my husband–who’s about as anti-organic as they come–even eats them up. I have to fight him for them!

First of all, start by scrubbing however many potatoes you want (You can use regular or sweet potatoes). I usually figure one-half to one whole potato per person.

Then cut them into slices. You can vary this to your preference, but I usually cut mine so they’re about steak-fry size. (I recommend leaving the skin on! It softens right up after they bake so you don’t even notice it, and it has lots of added nutrients.)

Then toss them in a little bit of olive oil. Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with nonstick spray (like in the picture above). Then sprinkle them with sea salt. (Regular salt works too.)

Bake at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. (If you cut smaller fries, you’ll want to check them sooner.)

Here’s the final product:

Dip them in ketchup and you’ll have some major yum! Not to mention they’re much healthier than the fast-food variety.

What’s your favorite version of French fries? Have you ever tried to make them at home? Any tips or secrets to share?

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