The past two months have been a blur. Christmas in Sonoma. Phoenix between Christmas and New Years. New Years Eve in San Francisco. Weekend with my brother. My dad in town for my Big Birthday. Then Chicago last week for work.

I know. Breathe.

Needless to say, the vow I made earlier in 2011 fell to the wayside. I had promised myself (and had actually followed through for quite a while) that I was going to change my eating habits in a healthy way. No more crash dieting for an easy fix — I was making a lifestyle change. Eating organic, locally grown produce. Cage-free, organic eggs and poultry. Grass-fed, organic beef.

And then the holidays came along. And visitors. And travel.

I stumbled upon WholeLiving.com — a Martha Stewart spin-off site that’s designed to offer tips and advice for a well-balanced whole life. The site includes everything to enhance your wellness, balance, food, fitness, beauty. It also provides information on how to live great and how you can help in your community. There are quizzes and worksheets and recipes and plans and I’m in love with this site.

I’ll be participating in the Whole Living 28-Day Mind + Body Challenge: a four-week “jump-start on a year of total mind and body wellness.”

The first two weeks are a detox, full of recipes developed by chef Louisa Shaifia, author of “Lucid Food,” and emphasize clean, flavorful ingredients. Some of which, I’ve never cooked with before.

Week one will be challenging. I’ll be eating fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. No bread or meat for week one. Foods like: Roasted Garlic and Beet Soup and Kale Slaw with Red Cabbage and Carrots will be gracing my table this week.

This, to me, is more than just a cleanse. And the 10 Tenets of Whole Living describe exactly what I’m hoping to get out of the next four weeks:

1. Happiness is a choice. Make that choice today and every day.

2. Good health isn’t a gift; it’s a habit you cultivate.

3. A healthy, fit body is not enough–true fitness engages the spirit.

4. Think more about what you should eat than what you shouldn’t.

5. Laugh at yourself. You’re funny.

6. Nurture your spirit. It’s your source of strength.

7. Stay connected to the natural world. It will feed your soul.

8. Believe in yourself. Your intuition is rarely wrong.

9. It’s never too late to take the first step toward your aspirations.

10. What you pay attention to will thrive.

 

I’ll be posting photos of the food I prepare and will of course, let you all know how it goes!

 

Day 1

Breakfast: Grapefruit, Carrot and Ginger Juice

Lunch: Kale Slaw with Red Cabbage and Carrot

 

Dinner: Roasted Beet-Garlic Soup 

Day 2

Breakfast: Antioxidant Smoothie 

Lunch: Kale Slaw with Red Cabbage and Carrot

Dinner: Roasted Red Pepper, Cauliflower and Almonds 

 

Day 3

Breakfast: Beet, Apple and Mint Juice

Lunch: Spiced Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Dinner: Roasted Red Pepper, Cauliflower and Almonds 

Day 4

Breakfast: Green Juice

Lunch: Spiced Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Dinner: Steamed Broccoli and Squash with Tahini Sauce 

 

Day 5

Breakfast: Green Machine Smoothie

Lunch: Avocado with Bell Pepper and Tomatoes

 

 Week 2

Day 1

Breakfast: Vegetable-Miso Soup with Chickpeas

Lunch: Raw Kale with Pomegranate and Toasted Walnuts