Post-Christmas detox tips and recipes

The turkey carcass is in the bin, wrappers from of a tin of Roses lie strewn across the table, and your paper recycling pile looks like it was sourced from a small forest. If you're determined to show 2021 who's boss, and get rid of the Christmas-induced sluggishness, we've got some detox tips and recipes to make sure you start the new year feeling cleansed and ready for anything it throws at us. 

For more new year's resolutions tips and advice, sign up to Gransnet now...

1. Ditch the booze for H2O

Chances are, you probably can't face looking at another bottle of prosecco but, just in case, January is the perfect time to give your body a rest and call it quits with alcohol (at least for a while). You could even challenge yourself to Dry January while you're at it.

Drink as much water as possible as it will cleanse your body. Aim for six-eight glasses a day, and gradually cut back on (or, even better, cut out) any fizzy drinks and caffeine. If plain old water seems unappealing after the decadent excesses of Yule, add a sliced lemon, a quarter of a sliced cucumber and a few leaves of bruised mint to a jug of water. Not exactly minced pies and chocolate, we know.

However, not only are the flavours particularly refreshing, but lemon is the king of detox ingredients, mint helps to aid digestion and cucumber has anti-inflammatory properties. Not bad for things you probably have lying around in your fridge already, eh? 

Another easy detox drink is green tea, which is full of antioxidants and has been proven to burn fat and boost your metabolism (Authority Nutrition). Try green tea infused with Jasmine or mint for extra flavour.

2. Stock up on the good stuff

There's no need to waste your Christmas leftovers - on the contrary there's plenty you can do with them to make sure it all gets eaten. And once those last indulgent bits and pieces have gone, give your fridge a good clear out. Seeing fresh ingredients every time you open it will mean you're far more likely to transform them into a healthy meal. 

Colour is key - stock up on bright whole fruits and go green with lots of vegetables (particularly kale, spinach and broccoli), pulses, brown rice, lean meat and fish. Steam or grill your meat and vegetables as much as you can and avoid salt wherever possible by using herbs and spices for flavour instead.

Recipe to try:

Grilled marinated monkfish salad

A great low-calorie option.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 300g (raw weight) monkfish fillet
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 2 bag of green salad leaves
• A handful coriander leaves
• 2 tbsp diced red pepper, to garnish
• 4 lemon segments, to garnish

Method

1. Mix the lemon juice, olive oil, soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Pour the mixture over the monkfish fillet. Cover and leave to marinate for 1-2 hours.
2. Remove the monk fish from the marinade. Grill for 3 minutes on each side. Turn frequently until the fish is cooked through. Leave to cool.
3. Divide the green salad leaves and coriander leaves between 4 plates. Break the cooked monkfish and arrange on the top of the salad. Garnish with diced red pepper and a lemon segment.

3. Try alternatives

Replace your cooking oil with coconut oil. The health benefits of this wonder product are seemingly endless, and its understated taste makes it versatile and easy to use in a huge variety of dishes, both savoury and sweet. Try stir frying your vegetables with coconut oil - and if you're not fond of the taste, you could always opt for refined virgin coconut oil, which is very subtle. 

Recipe to try:

Coconut rice pudding with fresh mango and toasted coconut

This creamy, sweet and nourishing dish is a twist on the classic rice pudding. It makes the perfect breakfast or luxurious pudding.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 15g Lucy Bee coconut oil
• 80g pudding rice
• 1 400ml tin coconut milk
• 400ml water
• 20g stevia
• 1 vanilla pod, split lengthways
• 1 mango, cut into small slices
• 20g coconut flakes, lightly toasted

Method

1. Heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan until hot, then add the pudding rice and stir for about 2 minutes until lightly toasted and coated with oil, but not browned.
2. Pour in the coconut milk, water and stevia, and stir. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer.
3. Add the vanilla pod and simmer for 35–40 minutes until cooked, stirring to ensure it doesn’t catch on the bottom of the saucepan.
4. Pour into individual bowls, top with the mango slices and toasted coconut flakes and serve.

For more healthy and delicious recipes, sign up to Gransnet now...

4. Cut out sugar

This is easier said than done, what with all the hidden sugar and sweeteners found in everything from breakfast cereal (yes, that includes the 'healthy' brands too) to condiments, salad dressings and even chewing gum. 

The easiest way to control your sugar intake (apart from chucking out the last of those Roses, of course) is to cook from scratch. Here are some carefully-crafted, low-calorie recipes to get you started - they will also help to reduce your blood sugar levels without making you feel like you're missing out.

Recipe to try:

Pear and Brazil nut chocolate brownies

A great after-dinner treat, and a recommended blood sugar diet recipe. 

Makes: 16

Ingredients

• 60g pitted dates, finely chopped
• 60g coconut oil (or unsalted butter, softened), plus extra to grease
• 3 eggs
• 100g ground almonds
• 1 pear, quartered and cored, skin on
• 140g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
• 25g Brazil nuts, chopped
• Pinch of salt

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a 20cm square cake tin. Put the dates in a small saucepan with a splash of water. Cover and gently simmer for 3-5 minutes or until they soften.
2. Allow them to cool, then blend them with the coconut oil in a food processor or with a hand blender. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add the eggs, then the ground almonds, and beat until everything is incorporated.
3. Dice the pear into centimetre squares and stir it into the mixture too. Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over, but not touching, a pan of steaming water (or microwave it on a medium heat for 1-2 minutes).
4. Allow it to cool a bit before stirring it into the brownie mixture. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake it for 15-20 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Delicious with a dollop of crème fraîche (adds 90 calories).

5. Go low-carb

It's best to cut right back on carb-heavy white bread, pasta and white rice, which all contain refined starch. Once digestion begins, the starch acts in much the same way as sugar, leaving you with a sugar slump and bloating to deal with. Lots of these products are also made with bleached white flour, which is heavily processed - and detoxing means staying away from the processed stuff. Instead, try replacing bread or pasta with wild rice, quinoa or bulgur wheat (quinoa and bulgur wheat are also superfoods) for a meal that will keep you fuller for longer.

Recipe to try:

Salmon and pesto with roast vegetables

Easy to make and contains no carbs!

Serves: Dependent on number of salmon steaks used

Ingredients

• 1 large salmon steak per person
• Pesto, fresh or homemade
• 1 sweet pepper
• 1 red onion
• 4-6 mushrooms

Method

1. Coat the top of the salmon generously in pesto and wrap each steak loosely in foil. Set aside.
2. Chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces and toss in oil with plenty of freshly ground pepper.
3. Spread them onto a baking sheet and cook at 200°C for 35-40 minutes (reduce the time if you prefer them al dente).
4. Halfway through, add the salmon.

6. Get moving

Doing some daily exercise will improve digestion and help your body sweat out any Christmas-induced toxins, not to mention get your heart pumping and slough off the last dregs of the carb coma that many of us find ourselves in come New Year's Eve. A brisk daily walk, or gentle cycle should be enough to seal your detox deal, aid your mental wellbeing, and make sure you start the new year as you mean to go on.

Other things you might like:

Simple steps to start living a more natural life

Fast Diet with Michael Mosley

Images: Shutterstock