Time for a detox...

This morning I woke up hungover, wearing last nights make-up, my mouth tasting of the junk food eaten the night before - it would seem that that playing hard is my default reaction to working hard. This week has been a busy one, as well as working long hours everyday, plus three evenings, I have been to three gigs, thrown a dinner party for six, been out for two lavish dinners and survived a tequila fuelled girls night. The past week has been taxing; physically, mentally and financially. So, I have decided to go on a detox this week.

I shall not consume, or allow myself to pine for: caffeine, added sugar, refined carbs, alcohol, dairy, meat, poultry or fish.  Sounds hardcore but I know I'll feel amazing, relaxed and refreshed by this time next week. Having completed a strict 'Raw Fairies' detox in the past I am confident that I can be disciplined, even when meeting up with a group of girls at my favourite French Bistro later in the week.

I'd like to invite you to join me on my detox this week. Party season is upon us and as Christmas draws closer it would be good to have a purge before a month of over excess kicks in. Below are some of my favourite detox meals that are easy, quick and tasty, I urge you to give them a go.

Breakfast:

• Banana, blueberry and coconut water smoothie - just blend together!
• Oatmeal soaked in pressed apple juice with cinnamon and raisin - soak the oatmeal and raisins in pressed apple juice over night with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
• Papaya with raspberries and lime - hardly a recipe really - halve a papaya, scoop out the seeds, fill the cavity with raspberries and spritz over the juice of half a lime.

Lunch:

• White bean salad - finely sliced red onion steeped in a little red wine vinegar with minced garlic and olive oil stirred through white beans with a massive bunch of roughly chopped parsley thrown over.
• Vegetable rice wraps - finely sliced cucumber, carrot, spring onion, red pepper, chilli, black sesame seeds and fresh mint leaves wrapped in rice wraps and dipped in a sauce of fish sauce, ginger, garlic, agave syrup and rice vinegar.
• Miso soup or tom yum soup with added thinly sliced vegetables and tofu

Dinner:

• Black rice with Vietnamese dressing and avocado - black nanking rice or black Venus rice (not wild rice) boiled in water with a vietnamese dressing stirred through and avocado scooped out on top (Dressing: 1/2 clove minced garlic, 1/2 fresh red chilli, minced fresh ginger, 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp lime juice, 2 tbsp water, 1/2 tbsp agave syrup).
• Speltotto - pearled spelt cooked like risotto with minced onion, garlic, celery and vegetable stock. At the last minute stir in fresh spinach and peas and a few drops of white truffle oil.
• Vegetable pakoras - finely sliced fennel, onion and roughly torn coriander mixed with gram flour (made from chickpea) and Indian spices. Add a little iced soda water to make into a light batter, fry in rapeseed oil and spritz over lemon juice.

If this is too much hard work you can always eat soup! Let me know how you get on...