March=Spring Cleaning the Inn and Eating Clean

With the arrival of March I get the itch to commence my annual, old fashioned style of "spring cleaning". Especially since we've become the owners/inn keepers of the Korner Kottage Bed and Breakfast in Suttons Bay, I adhere to this old custom of mine even more. It just feels good to move out all the furniture, wash the walls, repaint if necessary, wash and open up windows to let out the old stale air, and let in the fresh spring breezes...even if it is still less than "warm" outside. It is such a satisfying feeling to put everything back together and have it look and smell~fresh, shiny and sparkling clean.

It has also become a custom of mine, in March, to do some spring cleaning of my body as well. Last year I embarked on the "Master Cleanse" which was an interesting form of fasting, drinking only lemonade/cayenne pepper drink, lots of water and a sea salt water drink before bed to "cleanse" from the inside. I lasted on that cleanse for 6 days, which was a huge feat in itself....but then immediately went back to my normal eating habits. I just wanted to try it.

This March I started another cleanse which is much easier to follow. It is called the Quantim Wellness Cleanse by Kathy Freston. It is all about eliminating foods from your diet for 21 days that have negative effects on our healthy systems.

Therefore I have eliminated to the best of my ability all sugars, caffeine, diary, cheese, eggs, meat, or any other animal products, all gluten and alcohol as per her suggestions. This was very intimidating at the onset. I suffered some deprivation the first few days, especially a withdrawal from my morning 2 cups of coffee with creamer. The caffeine headache only lasted 2 days at the most.

Soon I began to feel the up side of this detoxing process. I immediately began to lose unwanted belly fat and a few extra pounds. After the first week I was feeling more energetic than I had anticipated. During this process I am continuing to do my normal daily workouts of running 3 miles every other day and free weights on the off running days. This cleanse has not inhibited my ability to do these workouts at all.

I am now starting the last week of the 21 days. I am already determined that I will continue eating this way even longer. I will probably bring back eating fruit as I do miss that from my diet....but pretty much that is the only thing I miss at this point. I have been finding many interesting ways to prepare vegetables that are very creative and tasty.

I shop at the store in a much more conscious and enlightened way. I mostly end up eating "natural" food which just has to be better for me. I'm even beginning to see my husband adopt some of these food choices as well without any coaxing from me at all.

Normally, my husband does the majority of the cooking at our "inn". He does "all" the breakfast cooking for our guests. But now I am choosing to do the cooking so I am becoming more responsible for the shopping part as well. I must say I am enjoying the whole experience much more than I thought I would.

Today I food a recipe for vegan split pea soup and that's what we're having for dinner tonight. The aroma as it has been simmering this afternoon is filling the house with such good smells. Here is the recipe in case any one would like to try it. Of course the only reason it's vegan is because it is meatless.

Vegan Split Pea Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 onion chopped, 1-2 bay leaves, 3 garlic cloves, 2 cup dried peas,
1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 7-8 cups water(can use part vegetable broth as well), 3 carrots shredded, 3 celery stalks chopped, 1-3 potatoes (optional), 1/2 cup chopped parsley,
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Saute onion, garlic, bay leaves and celery in olive oil. Add peas and remaining spices with water and vegetable broth. simmer 2 hours and then add carrot shreds and continue simmering until carrots are tender. Can puree part of soup if you like it thicker and less chunky. Enjoy...this is the basic recipe but it can be altered with different spices and addition of mushrooms or spinach, barley.

Here's to more "clean" eating in the future.