THE real food detox Program

Nope! The meal plans (there are two 7-day plans) are there for those who need a break from thinking and planning, or those who find structure necessary. You can make substitutions if needed, mix and match recipes, or if you want to veer off the plan, the "rules" to keep in mind are: eat whole foods (with the exception of minimally processed pantry items) and avoid gluten, dairy and sugar. Note that the meal plans are designed to support blood sugar balance, so if you have metabolic health concerns, I'd encourage you to follow the plans as best you can.

Since the meal plans are blood sugar balancing, you should feel satiated after meals and snacks. Also, something magical happens when you eat real food. When your body starts to get what it is actually looking for (protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients) to carry out its thousands of biochemical processes 24-7, hunger signals quiet down.

After you register for the program, I'll send you a link to a short questionnaire which includes a question about allergies and foods you avoid. This will help me recommend substitutes or adjust the meal plans so that they're still delivering adequate protein and other nutrients.

Although many elimination diets go longer than 14 days (depending on the protocol; there are many), removing gluten, dairy, sugar and ultra-processed foods for 14 days can be enormously beneficial. Participants are welcome to continue on their own after this period, and the longer you go, the easier (and better) it will feel. If you choose to stretch out your "detox" to three or four weeks, I will be happy to actively support you during this extended time.

This program will help you identify whether you're sensitive to gluten and/or dairy since those are the food categories being eliminated. (Everyone is sensitive to sugar and ultra-processed foods!) After the 14 days are up, you will be re-introducing gluten and dairy using instructions I provide, and your reactions to those foods will give you the answer. 

This is your choice. I strongly recommend a maximum of one cup per day, before noon. If you want to completely eliminate caffeine, you can start to taper down the week before the program begins. Since the program is dairy-free, if you do have coffee or tea, you'll need to use a "clean" non-dairy milk or creamer (we will cover this in the kick-off call). Finally, if you decide to drink decaf coffee, I encourage you to make it yourself using a chemical-free brand such as Swiss Water (there are others).

The meal plans will list "approved" beverages during this program. Alcohol is strongly discouraged.

You should stay on all prescription medication prescribed by your healthcare practitioner. With supplements, there is no need to make any changes to your protocol during this program.

During the first few days, it is possible that you'll feel tired and/or have a headache. This is a sign that your body is trying to process and eliminate stored toxins. This can be expected if avoiding gluten, dairy, sugar, alcohol and ultra-processed foods is a significant departure from your normal routine. If you experience discomfort, the best thing you can do is increase your water intake, rest as much as you can, and know that it will pass.

This is no problem at all. Most restaurants have options that will work for you. We will discuss this in our group calls. 

Of course, but don’t overdo it, and pay close attention to how your body is feeling. If you're not sure, start with light exercise (such as walking or yoga) and stretching.