Unbelievably Tasty Detox Lunches
Whole grains, vegetables and lean proteins never tasted so good. Make these easy dishes early in the week, then enjoy them for days.
By Lynn Andriani
A No-Greens Salad
If you feel like you've been through every iteration of greens-with-toppings, try this grain-based salad. It combines fiber, protein and iron-rich
quinoa, which has a nutty flavor, with sweet orange segments and chopped mango, plus tender hearts of palm. English cucumber and either Marcona almonds or toasted pine nuts make this colorful dish taste even better.
Get the recipe: Quinoa Salad with Lemon-Shallot Dressing
Photo: credit: Zoonar/Thinkstock
A Way to Cut Back on Carbs and Still Enjoy Rice
This alternative to rice uses fiber-rich parsnips as a stand-in; blitzed in a food processor, the root vegetables turn into tiny flecks that resemble grains. They're great in a salad; here, they serve as a tasty complement to inflammation-reducing ginger, plus coconut and broccoli.
Get the recipe: Parsnip "Rice" and Broccoli
A Leafy Salad That Tastes Better with Age
You're probably not surprised to see kale on a detox menu, since its
high levels of iron, vitamin A, lutein and omega-3s are well known. But there's another reason to love the dark, leafy green: It's hearty enough to stand up to dressings that would wilt romaine or other lettuces, so you can prepare it ahead of time and it'll still taste delicious (or even better) when served. This salad also includes colorful beets and sweet potatoes.
Get the recipe: Winter Kale Slaw
A Quick-Cook Meal with Surprising Depth
This chia-spiked lentil soup will keep you feeling sated all afternoon (a cup of the legumes has
18 grams of protein), while chia seeds can give you the energy to power through (containing
healthy omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, antioxidants and calcium). The savory stew comes together in under an hour but tastes rich, thanks to cumin, coriander and turmeric.
Get the recipe: Lentils with Chia Seeds
Photo: violleta/Thinkstock
A Stew That's Lighter Than Most
This welcome break from traditional heavy, meaty stews is still warm and filling. It gets deep flavor from chicken sausage and garlic, an extra boost of protein from chickpeas and iron and calcium thanks to a dose of fresh spinach leaves.
Get the recipe: Chickpea, Spinach and Sausage Stew
The Dessert-y Main Course
If you're craving something sweet but are trying to avoid sugar, this high-fiber sweet-potato soup is the answer. You roast the tubers, along with garlic and onion, which brings out their candy-like flavor even more. Then you puree them in a blender with spices, lime juice and olive oil. The finished dish is smooth and creamy, yet dairy-free.
Get the recipe: Roasted Sweet Potato and Garlic Soup
Published 07/29/2015
