Clean Food for a Clean Start

I don’t know about you, but I overdid it this holiday season. There was no amount of chocolate and baked goods, rich dinners, cheese plates, fancy cocktails and luxurious bottles of wine that could satiate my jolly appetite (I say as I rub my jolly belly).

It started around the drive home for Thanksgiving and didn’t let up until New Year’s Day, when — after a Lowcountry Oyster Roast and a heaping plate of BBQ and Hoppin’ Johns — I had to unbutton my pants just to sit down and comfortably enjoy a movie with my folks.

When you’re so full you wish you could take your pants off in a public place, it’s probably time to reassess the value of a gooey Camembert over common public decency.

This time around, decency triumphed over Camembert, which for me means bumping up my whole foods and plant based diet, and letting animal products — meat, cheese and other dairy — take the backseat for awhile.

What am I talking about? I’m talking about FRUIT people, VEGETABLES, nuts and WHOLE GRAINS! Why? Because it’s freakin’ good for you, that’s why! (And remember that whole decency thing? I’ve never heard anyone say, “Oy, I’ve got to take my pants off, I ate too many almonds.” Am I right?)

So naturally my first stop was to The Vegetable Bin, for which I’ve already sung many praises. I loaded up on kale, bibb lettuce, mango, avocado, tomatoes, red bell peppers, grapefruit and pears.

If I’m going to be eating more simply I like to punch up the volume with color and let the fresh flavors speak for themselves. Just one thing… before you down a “Green Juice” packed with kale and ginger like I did, be sure to drink tons plenty of water, because that’s a lot of fiber — know what I’m sayin’?

(Yes, I know how scary this looks.)

Here’s a Spicy Black Bean Bowl that’s sure to add some spice and vibrance to your clean start… you may even keep your pants on.

1 can Cuban black beans

tabasco (as many dashes as desired)

1 onion

1 sweet potato

1 avocado

1 mango

1 red bell pepper

1 lime

salt & pepper

Dice onion and saute in a pan with hot olive oil

Add a can of spicy Cuban black beans (I like Trader Joe’s brand)

Pump it up a notch with tabasco

Let this simmer while you chop the bell pepper, mango, avocado and sweet potato (skin on) into big chunks

Pour a generous helping of black beans into a bowl and top with your fresh ingredients, adding a few more dashes of tabasco and salt & pepper

For the final touch: a citrusy squeeze of lime right on top

Serves 2

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