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!
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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. ;)
Sarah 05.31.2012
I totally made this today at lunch and the girls I work with just watched me cut up everything in our break area and were intrigued. Thanks a bunch!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar 05.31.2012
This salad is stunning! Love it!
Traci Baird 05.31.2012
I love SALAD! I can’t wait to make this. Thanks for sharing
Jane 05.31.2012
awesome. Going to hunt down some kale at the farmers market today! I have everything else! Yay!
Inner Goddess Detox Salad | Iowa Girl Eats « ehm en ehm 05.30.2012
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Destinee 05.30.2012
What is the nutritional information for the salad and dressing?
Trisha 05.30.2012
This salad looks positively radiant!! I’m not sure if that term is okay to use for food but I’m going with it…
Katie | Healthnut Foodie 05.30.2012
Yum! This looks so gorgeous! We just lost all of our garden kale to cabbage moths 2 days ago so I am back to Whole Foods for my fix. Saw your post on Tastespotting and was reminded of a recommendation to follow your site via Kelsey and Ben Huebsch!
Sonnet 05.30.2012
Yum! This is beautiful!
Lauren T 05.30.2012
I didn’t know kale was so good for you! What does it taste like? Like spinach or lettuce?
Monica 05.30.2012
I happened to have all of the ingredients lying around (except kale so I used romaine), so I packed this for lunch today! So delicious! I tossed in some roasted baby beets from TJ’s and used TJ’s raspberry vinaigrette. I’ll definitely be making this again, thank you!
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum 05.30.2012
Kristin! This salad is amazing.
Kati Mora, MS, RD, Kellogg's FiberPlus(R) Wellness Advocate 05.30.2012
This salad is gorgeous! I love all the colorful, fiber-licious fruits and veggies you’ve managed to fit into it. What a great way to get back on track after a holiday weekend!
Emily 05.30.2012
So beautiful!I love fruit and its cleansing properties. My husband said his mother went on a fast for a week, and ate nothing but fruit. Her skin was really soft because of it. She must have tapped into her inner goddess; she probably looked like one too!
Have a great day!
Alysha @Shesontherun 05.30.2012
SATC is one of the best shows ever made. I have all the DVD’s and have watched each episode at least 3 times. I should start that up this summer :)
Holly 05.30.2012
I had kale in my salad yesterday for the first time and I loved it! I’ll definitely have to put this on the menu, it’s so pretty and I bet it tastes even better. :)
Michelle (Better with Berries) 05.30.2012
Love everything in this! I’ve never heard of massaging kale – I’ll have to try that next time!
Stephanie @cookinfanatic 05.30.2012
These pics are gorgeous!!! This salad looks so refreshing and amazing – also how perfect is it that you got to use homegrown kale – love it :)
Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables 05.30.2012
salads like these are the best!
Villy @ For the love of Feeding 05.30.2012
I could totally hung this photo in my kitchen! The colors are insane!