Cheater! Cheater!
Your only mission during your Cooler Cleanse is to stay on course. Once you’ve ordered your juices, the investment alone should help solidify your commitment. But if there comes a moment when you are ready to reach for a sweet, try these emergency cheat tactics before blowing it all on a double-chocolate-chunk cookie:
Lemon Avocado Pudding
Half an avocado blended with lemon and dates has the rich creamy texture of dessert and the satisfying combo of fat and fiber that squashes hunger pangs without disrupting the cleanse.
Ingredients:
½ cup avocado, mashed
flesh of 1 lemon, without peel and seeds
½ cup pitted dates
Cut a ripe avocado in half. Scoop out the flesh from one half and set aside. Wrap the other half, then refrigerate. Peel the lemon. Cut it in half and slice, removing seeds as you encounter them.Combine the avocado, lemon slices and dates in a food processor or blender until smooth.
Raw Zucchini Hummus
Hummus is a staple for many people, and this raw, bean-free version is particularly delicious. Enjoy with a few slices of cucumber or celery.
Ingredients:
1 medium-sized zucchini
¼ cup lemon juice
½ tsp. sea salt
¾ tsp. cumin
½ cup raw tahini
Peel the zucchini until all the skin is removed or the hummus will be chunky and green. Combine all ingredients in a blender and whiz to a rich perfection!
A handful of raw nuts will also help ease hunger pangs, but if you’re truly having a bail-out moment, try organic, high quality nut butter. One tablespoonful can be the special treat that keeps you from sabotaging your cleanse.
No time to chop, blend, or run to a gourmet store? Snack on a few cucumber slices, celery sticks, or fresh berries. If you feel very hunger challenged, drink your nut milk earlier in the day for a quick protein boost. Remember, a big glass of water can often extinguish hunger’s hottest fire.
Don’t go overboard with these cheater treats—they are emergency back-ups. Use them only if needed, so you stay on track and reap all the benefits of your Cooler Cleanse. Your body will thank you.
