It’s not a big secret that Oprah has always struggled with her weight. We have seen her lose weight and gain weight as she struggles to find an eating and exercise plan that she can continue to use long term. Now Oprah is trying something completely different from her other attempts… a 21 day cleanse.
Recently, Oprah announced – on her show, on her site, and on her blog – that she is adopting a 21-Day Cleanse outlined in Kathy Freston’s new book, Quantum Wellness.” Some of you may be familiar with Kathy, whose popular article “Veganism is the New Prius”made its way around the web about a year ago. She is a beautiful and eloquent ambassador for veganism, and I’m thrilled she will be guiding Oprah on her journey. This cleanse includes avoiding gluten, sugar, alcohol, and animal products, but it’s not just for health reasons that Oprah is giving this a try.
On her blog, Oprah wrote, “What she [Kathy Freston] talks about in her book is a higher level [of conscious eating]. She speaks of “spiritual integrity.” How can you say you’re trying to spiritually evolve, without even a thought about what happens to the animals whose lives are sacrificed in the name of gluttony? So this 21-day cleanse gives me a chance to think about it differently and see what my attachments are to certain kinds of foods—and what I’m willing to do to change (source).”
This is the eating plan that helped her shed weight and cleanse her body thourghout the 21 days.
Following the cleanse doesn’t mean you have to starve. From king oyster mushrooms to a heaping Buddha bowl, there’s plenty of food that’s okay to eat. Use these menu plans from Chef Tal Ronnen to get meal ideas and see what Oprah’s eating during her 21 days.
Menu Plan 1
Breakfast: Tofu Scramble
Lunch:Tempeh tuna salad over field greens
Dinner:Kale avocado salad and King oyster mushrooms with pistachio puréeMenu Plan 2
Breakfast:Wheat-free pancakes (made with Bob’s Red Mill mix) and Gardenburger soy sausage
Lunch: Buddha bowl (made with oven-baked tofu, kale and brown rice)
Dinner: Caesar salad with Homemade Caesar Dressing and Tempeh Scallopini with Madeira Peppercorn SauceMenu Plan 3
Breakfast: “Cheesy” corn grits with tomato compote
Lunch: Scampi-style Tofu Wrap
Dinner: Artichoke and Oyster Mushroom Rockefeller with side salad and corn chowderMenu Plan 4
Breakfast: Steel-cut oatmeal with cranberries and almonds
Lunch:Zucchini “fettuccini” with Raw Alfredo Sauce
Dinner:Quinoa salad with roasted corn, sweet potatoes, avocado and roasted tomatillo dressingMenu Plan 5
Breakfast: Strawberry-rhubarb wheat-free crepes
Lunch:Mezze plate (white-bean hummus, millet tabouli, balsamic fig compote, marinated olives and almond-rosemary crackers)
Dinner: Celery root soup and Tempeh Creole over grilled corn cakesMenu Plan 6
Breakfast: Egg-less quiche, arugula and artichoke hearts
Lunch: Beetroot ravioli with fresh cucumber and fennel salad
Dinner: Spring asparagus soup and Cajun-Seared Portobello Fillets with Avocado CreamMenu Plan 7
Breakfast: Fruit and Soy Yogurt Parfait
Lunch:Roasted tomato, grilled onion and sweet garlic aioli quesadillas with jicama slaw
Dinner: Vegetable strata with cilantro-lemon pesto and Black Bean Cakes with Lime-Peppered “Mayo”Menu Plan 8
Breakfast: Steel-cut oatmeal with raisins, walnuts and agave nectar
Lunch: Assorted vegetable sushi plate
Dinner:Tempeh marsala with a spring salad
During this 21 day cleanse Oprah blogged about her eating on her website. If you want to get an inside look at her cleanse then visit her site at www.oprah.com.
Obviously, this meal plan isn’t the easiest to follow. Not everyone has a personal chef like Oprah. However, the idea behind the cleanse could and has helped many. I, myself, live on a gluten free diet (due to allergies), it has changed my body in so many positive ways. I also avoid sugar and dairy. These seem like small changes but they can make a huge impact on your figure. Try doing at least one of these cleansing tips for several weeks and watch as your body changes right before your eyes.
Adria Ali
(PES, CES, CPT BSK)
Emily says