My inner goddess has been giving me her best frowny face all day in response to this weekend’s shenanigans.
Between indulging in a 6-layer ice cream sandwich dessert (layer ice cream sandwiches with cool whip then toffee bits, and repeat!) on Saturday, gobbling down two types of barbequed pork in just as many days, and drinking more mojitospritzerlimecactusmichultras than you could shake a stick at, I think the expression is more than justified.
Although, we did share a special goddess afternoon together when we decided to say screw it, and hunker down for a few hours watching the Sex & the City marathon on E! Saturday afternoon. Will there ever be another show like it?!
Anyway, hoping to get back in my inner goddess’ good graces I slipped on my sneakers for a trail run this afternoon, followed by a rejuvenating at-home toning sesh, then whipped up an ultra-healthy Inner Goddess Detox Salad for supper.
The Inner Goddess Detox Salad is chock full of body-cleansing, toxin-eliminating, and skin-brightening ingredients like dark, leafy greens, fresh vegetables, and juicy berries, which help lessen the blow of a few days of un-goddess-like behavior.
Whether you’re looking to come back from a particularly indulgent weekend, want to look and feel your best, or just try a light, and refreshing salad – the Inner Goddess Detox Salad is your (wo)man!
Start the Inner Goddess Detox Salad with a trifecta of toxin-eliminating leafy greens, including fresh kale.
Kale is one of the healthiest foods in the world due to its extremely high concentration of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and K. It’s also high in chlorophyll, which naturally removes chemical toxins in the body.
You can buy kale at the Farmers’ Market or grocery store, but luckily the kale my Mom and I planted in my raised garden bed 3 weeks ago was primed and ready to be harvested for the first time today. So thrilling. I GREW THIS – whee!
Wash the kale, then tear the leaves from the stalk and into bite-sized pieces. I ended up with about 2 cups of leaves.
Now, the kale from my garden was actually really tender, but most recipes using raw kale will tell you the leaves need a little massage to get them palatable.
I decided to give it a whirl.
After a quick, 1 minute rub down, the leaves had indeed become much softer and more tender. I gave a few a try and they actually tasted a little like broccoli!
Next add 2 cups torn baby spinach on top. Spinach is high in vitamin A, which helps keep skin soft, bright, and supple. Glowing skin is kind of a pre-req for any inner goddess!
Finally, add 1 cup shredded cabbage to the salad base. Not only does cabbage add a special and unique crunch to the Inner Goddess Detox Salad, but it also activates liver enzymes that break down and rid the body of toxins, and helps regulate the digestive system.
Toss the kale, spinach and coleslaw together in a bowl, then place a lid on top and flip. Topping time!
I wooed my inner goddess with a plethora of bright and healthy fruits & veggies on top of the green, leafy base.
Start with chopped almonds, one of the best food sources of vitamin E to nourish and protect skin, and sliced strawberries, which may help diminish the negative effects of a high-fat meal.
Then add sliced carrots which are high in skin and eye-loving vitamins, followed by blueberries which have the highest levels of antioxidants of all fresh fruits, helping to keep skin young looking, and goddess-esque.
Finish with sliced cucumbers which help support healthy hair, skin and nails, and raspberries which protect the skin from free radicals.
Totally inner-goddess approved!
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
Inner Goddess Detox Salad
Description
Inner Goddess Detox Salad is chock full of feel-good greens, fruits, and vegetables!
Ingredients
- 2 cups loosely packed fresh kale, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups loosely packed baby spinach, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
- 10 raw, unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
- 3 strawberries, sliced
- 1 large carrot, peeled & sliced
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1/3 cucumber, peeled, seeded & sliced
- 1/4 cup raspberries
Directions
- Massage kale in a large bowl for 1-2 minutes, or until broken down and tender. Combine with spinach and cabbage, then turn out onto a plate. Top with remaining ingredients, then drizzle with a good, olive-oil based salad dressing.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Immaculate. Sweet, earthy, crunchy, chewy, and oh-so satisfying.
I debated making homemade Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette to drizzle on top, but my inner goddess was starving, so I saved time by using Marzetti Simply Dressed Pomegranate Vinaigrette instead. I’d recommend any good, olive-oil based dressing though.
I love salads like this because you actually don’t need that much dressing. The ingredients already have a ton of flavor on their own!
Between the sweat sesh, and this healthy meal, I’m feeling better already. It’s almost as if the 4lbs of smoked pork butt I inhaled last night never existed! Ah, a girl and her inner-goddess can dream. ;)
Delicious Detox Salad « « TodaysMama TodaysMama 05.30.2012
[…] detox salad post from Iowa Girl Eats is more that just a pretty presentation. Kristin breaks down, in detail, the […]
Sarah 05.29.2012
This salad looks AMAZING!! Can’t wait to try it!
Julie 05.29.2012
The salad looks delicious but I hope I never hear the phrase Inner Goddess ever again. That book was terrible!
Nicole @ http://healthygirladventures.wordpress.com/ 05.30.2012
haha! that made me laugh Julie. I”ve never read the book so I can’t relate to what everyone is saying. However anytime I hear of that phrase “inner goddess”, I think of the Venus razors and their shaving commercial- I’m your Venus, I’m your fire. At your desire. “
Jessica 05.29.2012
Well doesn’t that look delicious?! Those are the types of salad that I enjoy the most, with a kick of sweetness! I tend to put kiwi in everything right now, which I think would be lovely on this detox salad. Also, I enjoyed a glass of FlipFlops wine this evening and LOVED it! Thanks for making the recommendation!
Al Fosterz 05.29.2012
I am interested in “detox”?
I didn’t know that foods can “detox” your body. This is extremely interesting. What is the mechanism in kale that performs the “detox”
Don’t your liver and and kidneys do this constantly?
Iowa Girl Eats 05.30.2012
Check out this article! http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?dbid=38&tname=foodspice
Em 05.29.2012
Looks awesome! Way to go!
Guest 05.29.2012
Well someone has been reading 50 shades!!! Salad looks awesome! Keep on reading :-)
Kate 05.29.2012
I think I’m becoming a bit of a salad snob because the usual bowl of greens just doesn’t do it for me anymore. I need salads that really pack a punch and are full of color and flavor. Helloooo Inner Goddess! I’m going to have to mop the drool from my keyboard…oops…overshare? Sorry! But honestly, I’ve never had this reaction to a salad before. I can’t wait to make it! In fact, I think I’ll take my post-3 day weekend, toxin-filled bod to the store right now!
Lauren 05.29.2012
What a beautiful salad! I always find myself so refreshed after eating a salad filled with fruit!
Jeri 05.29.2012
YAY! for growing your own Kale!! Have you tried Kale chips? OMG they are so good. I had mine just with olive oil and S&P, because I forgot the parmesan cheese *gasp* as much as I love cheese, the chips would probably have been over the top if I would have remembered!
Iowa Girl Eats 05.30.2012
I have – ADORE them!
Lauren 05.29.2012
Kale massage. Who knew? Thanks for the tip!
Ryan @ Spicy Richmond 05.29.2012
I’m right there with you with the detox. I had salads for lunch and dinner trying to detox my system.
Stephanie 05.29.2012
Want a crunchy, slightly sweet snack? Throw those TJ’s raw almonds in the freezer. Sooo delicious!
kelly 05.29.2012
Looks delicious but I would swap out the blueberries for avocado!
Heidi @ Food Doodles 05.29.2012
What a gorgeous salad!
Beth 05.29.2012
You are so wonderful! I can’t wait to go grocery shopping to get the berries for this. Since you said it was 3 weeks til you could harvest kale, I’m gonna plant some this week too! I use $10 of kale every week!
Tiffany 05.29.2012
If I ever make it big time, will you live with me and make me this every day?
Anna @ Food Fitness and Frolicking 05.29.2012
I love the looks of this salad!!! Yummmo!
I bet a bit of feta cheese would be great on there as well!
Nicole @ http://healthygirladventures.wordpress.com/ 05.30.2012
Yes Anna! Great idea. IN fact I just bought some feta the other day. Mmmmmm this maybe on the list for a Saturday lunch.
K. Bell 05.29.2012
I’d say that salad’s about 50 Shades of Fruit, and Christian Grey-approved. Laters, baby. :)
Debbie 05.29.2012
I got it…too funny!
Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields 05.29.2012
As soon as I read “inner goddess” I thought of Fifty Shades … Kristin, are you reading this book?? ;)
Iowa Girl Eats 05.30.2012
I’m not! I actually saw a “Goddess Juice” recipe the other day, which sparked the idea. :)
Kristin from MN 06.01.2012
Haha! I kept thinking about 50 Shades too! Too funny! ;)
Michelle 01.03.2013
50 Shades is what I thought about….. Love that book!
Laura @ LauraLikesDesign 05.29.2012
I love the bright colors that adorn this salad–it’s gorgeous and full of so many nutrients! Truly the best of both worlds!