Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (29 page)

Drinks

Start drinking more water. Most of you do not drink nearly enough and you know it. Other options include:

Herbal teas: nettle, fennel, rose hip, lemon balm, lemon verbena, chamomile, licorice, peppermint, spearmint, dandelion, raspberry leaf, etc.

Vegetable juices.

Coffee substitutes: dandelion-root coffee is great (avoid the instant variety, as it contains lactose). There are others available containing naturally caffeine-free ingredients such as chicory and barley.

Warm water with lemon juice: a great way to start the day. This alkalizes the body and kick-starts the liver and bowel.

Freshly pressed fruit juices: have these in moderation because of their sugar content.

Treats

I am definitely not a stick in the mud. I enjoy my treats and you can too. You will find that as your tastes change you no longer want the usual coffee and doughnut. Here are some healthy and delicious ideas instead:

Carob brownies—see my
You Are What You Eat Cookbook
.

Soaked dried fruit salad: soak dried apricots, figs, peaches, and golden raisins in water with a bit of cinnamon or ginger.

Fruit and nut bites: whiz up dried fruit with soaked almonds, hazelnuts, or cashews in the food processor. Shape into balls and roll in raw cacao bean powder, carob powder, coconut, or sesame seeds.

Avocado and date smoothie: blend an avocado with some medjool dates.

Cashew nut cream: soak cashew nuts and blend with orange juice and zest.

Cacao bean smoothie: blend two small bananas, half a cup of soy milk, some raw cacao bean nibs, and raw cacao bean powder. Add some cinnamon powder or ginger if you like. It’s a truly delicious pick-me-up!