Inner Goddess Detox Salad

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!

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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!

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. ;)