As every year, the festivities of Eid come with excess. After a month of (far too) rich iftars, have the chebakias and other delicacies taken a toll on your figure? Fear not, we have the solution to put things back in order: the lemon detox! It’s easy to prepare and hash simple recipes and readily available ingredients. Come on, you’ve got this!
A Refreshing Beverage
Firstly, prepare a “detox water” to drink as much as you want: lemon, mint, and cucumber.
Preparation (for 1.5 liters):
Slice a cucumber and a lemon thinly, then place them in a large pitcher of water along with mint leaves. Chill the mixture for a few hours before drinking, allowing the ingredients to release their properties.
Day 1
Breakfast: the power bowl for an energy boost
In the morning, opt for a complete and indulgent bowl containing fiber, antioxidants, and nuts to avoid cravings and to stay energized throughout the day.
Preparation:
Instead of your usual breakfast, in a bowl mix some berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries), a banana, the equivalent of a handful of crushed almonds, half a plain yogurt, and the juice of half a lemon.
Lunch:
No skipping meals or starving allowed. Eat light and healthy by choosing steamed vegetables, seasoned with a dash of lemon juice and cumin, accompanied by white fish or grilled chicken, all while avoiding white bread.
Dinner: pea and lemon soup
A vitamin-rich and flavorful recipe, nothing beats a good soup to facilitate the detox process while you sleep and to make up for excesses.
Preparation (for two servings):
- 300 grams of extra-fine peas
- ½ onion
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil
- 1/2 lime
- Some sprigs of cilantro
Sauté the onion in oil, then add the peas and coriander. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for about fifteen minutes. Blend. Add the lime juice. It’s ready!
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Day 2
Breakfast: a new twist on the power bowl
Preparation: To avoid boredom, slightly vary the ingredients: add a handful of oat flakes to the first recipe, add slices of kiwi, etc.
Lunch:
Same as the first day. Eat light but don’t starve. AND AVOID WHITE BREAD (seriously)!
Dinner: zucchini soup with lime zest
Low in calories, zucchini pairs with lime for a light and tangy recipe.
Preparation (for two servings):
- 500 grams of zucchini
- One lime: its juice and zest
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 onion
- Salt & pepper
In a saucepan, sauté the onion in a dash of olive oil for a few minutes. Then add the finely sliced zucchini. Simmer for fifteen minutes. Once it has cooled slightly, blend. Add the lime juice and zest.
Day 3
Breakfast: the bowl is back
For the morning bowl, you can once again vary the recipe, this time by mixing a kiwi (cut into small pieces), a few strawberries, a handful of muesli, 10 cl of almond milk, and – always – the juice of a lemon.
Lunch:
Do we really need to say it again?
Dinner: carrot, ginger, and lemon soup
Another star ingredient (alongside lemon, of course) of detox diets, is ginger; it cleanses the liver and accelerates digestion.
Preparation (for two servings):
- 500 grams of carrots
- One lemon: its juice and zest
- Some shavings of fresh ginger
- 1 onion
- Parsley
- Salt, pepper
In a large saucepan, sauté the onion in a dash of oil for a few minutes. Then, add the carrots (sliced). Cook for about twenty minutes, until the carrots are tender. Once off the heat, add the lemon (juice & zest), ginger, and parsley. Blend and enjoy.
