Today I have an amazing book to share with you along with the fabulous author that wrote it. Plus her tips on how to find balance in the kitchen when embarking on a plant-based diet.
Melissa Costello, founder of Karma Chow has always had a passion for healthy, delicious food and nutrition. As a Nutritional Educator and Wellness Coach (NHI & Spencer Institute), Melissa works one on one with clients teaching them how to live a happier, healthier life through a plant-based, whole foods diet. She is the creator of The Vital Life 30-Day Food Based Cleanse, which has become popular among celebs in Hollywood as well as hundreds worldwide.
The Clean in 14 Detox is a revolutionary 2-week program that is chock full of satisfying and delicious recipes, easy to follow meal plans and daily actions to help you break bad habits and unhealthy patterns with food. You will not only cleanse your body by giving it a break from every day toxins, you will also kick sugar cravings, lose weight and find your natural energy so you can live a healthier, happier, more vibrant life. No Starvation or Deprivation!
There are a lot of things I love about The Clean in 14 Detox. It’s an easy to follow program that includes all the recipes you need to follow this plan; a shopping list, basic kitchens tools and even a support group you can join to connect with like-minded people. All the guesswork is taken out of this program, all you need to do is concentrate on the heart of the program. You can focus on changing your eating habits and focus on the mind/body balance to help you reach your goals.
“Eating healthy can be a challenge for many, which is why it’s super important to make sure you plan your meals out each week. Health starts in your kitchen, and with what you put in your mouth. It does require a bit more thought at first, and possibly time, but once you get into the groove with planning your meals, shopping and cooking it will become second nature. It’s important to take small steps that are manageable within your schedule. Also, you can look at where you can prioritize more. Often I hear people tell me they don’t enough time to prepare meals, etc. and then when I probe a little deeper I find they are wasting multiple hours on social media and watching TV or browsing the internet every night. These are precious hours you can be using for self-care and meal planning.
It’s all about keeping your eye on the bigger picture, which for many is health. Your health is your true wealth, so with your eye on that, what will you do to make it a priority in your life? It’s time to re-assess and look at where you can make the time for this commitment. Start small, maybe pick one new recipe a week and begin there. The healthier you eat, the better you feel, and if that’s not enough motivation, I’m not quite sure what is.”
Great tips Melissa! We sometimes need to be reminded to focus on what is really important. One small change can get us closer or to our goal. Ask yourself what it is you REALLY want and make it happen.
Melissa’s book also includes mouthwatering mix-and-match meal plans for the 14 days. I am a sucker for salads in general and I LOVE Greek Salads, so of course I had to make this right away. Melissa’s recipe does not disappoint, the dressing is simple, but packed with flavor. It’s been a weekly staple over here since the first time I made it.
- 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- ¼ cup chopped cucumber
- ½ red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup chopped kalamata olives
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 2 tablespoons diced red onion
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3 teaspoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- Put Salad ingredients in a large salad bowl.
- Blend dressing ingredients in a blender until cream and smooth. Pour over the salad and toss until well mixed.
I love to make plant-based meals look beautiful. Some say you eat with your eyes, and this is a perfect example of what I am talking about. Who doesn’t love a show-stopping, gorgeous meal to make for yourself or for a get-together?
- 2 large Portobello mushrooms, stems removed
- 1 large zucchini, cut in half and sliced into ½-inch strips
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup filtered water
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place the mushrooms in a baking dish cap side down with the zucchini slices. Cut the bell pepper into strips and set aside.
- Whisk or blend together all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl and pour over the mushrooms and zucchini. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- Bake the mushrooms and zucchini in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or until soft and juicy. Remove from oven.
- To assemble the stackers, place one mushroom on a plate and spread a thin layer of the cashew cheese over the top. Add a few of the roasted bell pepper strips and a dollop of Chipotle Cashew Cheese. Finish off by topping the stack with several zucchini strips. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
- 1½ cups cashews, soaked in water for 1 hour
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon smoke paprika (optional)
- filtered water
- Drain the water from the cashews and place all the ingredients in a blender with just enough water to barely cover. Blende until very smooth. Add more water if the mixture is too thick or if you’re having trouble blending the ingredients. This sauce should be fairly thick.
Melissa has been kind enough to offer one copy of The Clean in 14 Detox to one lucky reader!
To enter the Giveaway, you MUST leave each entry as a SEPARATE comment or only one comment will count.
- Like Karma Chow on Facebook and leave a comment on her wall.
- Follow Melissa @karmachow on Twitter
- Tweet about this giveaway and tell me that you tweeted in the comments section; “I just entered to win The Clean in 14 Detox @karmachow @purethyme”
- Subscribe to Karma Chow’s Newsletter.
- Share this giveaway on your Facebook Page and tell me that you did so in the comments section
- Pin it
- Like Pure Thyme on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall
All entries must be completed no later than Tuesday, September 15th 2015, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Winner will be announced on Wednesday, September 16th 2015, on my blog, and the winner will also be notified via the email address they provided in the comments section.
Thank you for sharing your book with us Melissa and for giving us some wonderful tips!!
XOXO,
Jennifer
