Juice Cleanse Available at Costco Organic Suja Juice CleanseAs a restaurant reviewer, I have days when I eat more food and intake more calories per day than many people. I realized this within 24 hours of being on a strict juice cleanse regiment. I also realized I need to cut down my portions and develop better discipline from the temptations around me. I found myself wanting to eat the scraps off my daughter's plate and stopped myself. I almost grabbed an apple and stopped mid-air. You might say, "What's wrong with an apple?" Hey, every calorie counts. The Suja Essential Organic 3-Day Fresh Start said it would "cleanse my system and rethink how I eat each day." Registered dietitian Julie Upton, MS, RD developed the organic juice and meal plan to get people feeling better. I purchased two boxes with 9 juice bottles inside. My daughter (over 18 years old) and I were to drink three juices a day and consume three supplemental mini meals designed by Suja co-founder Annie Lawless with Upton.

The booklet inside the box offers a Vegan and Non-Vegan meal plan that is low in sodium. Meals are to mix and match, yet potion control is essential to keep with the necessary calorie counts per day. In between we were to drink plenty of water to keep our metabolic rate high and help with digestion. We were also encouraged to attempt at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Day OneThe first morning we woke up and slowly drank the spicy lemonade. It contains 16% juice and has 120 calories a bottle. Made with purified water, organic maple syrup, organic lemon juice and cayenne pepper. That cayenne gave it a zip. After the first sip, the cayenne pepper mellowed a little and the lemony drink wasn't too sweet. I actually liked it and sipped slowly. We were instructed to wait for 30 minutes later or when hunger hits to have a meal. Our Day 1 meal consisted of a bowl of raw oatmeal (recipe in booklet) or 1 medium apple with 20 almonds. For a Non-Vegan protein option we could eat two hardboiled eggs with asparagus and avocado or an apple with plain Greek yogurt and cinnamon.

We prepared the oatmeal the night ahead and ate it 30 minutes after our drink and before we went to work. I had a meeting that morning where there was a lavish display of croissants, fruit, coffee cake and an egg dish. I was perfectly content and had no temptation to fill up my plate. I actually was quite proud of myself. Others sitting around me were nibbling on these calorie enriched treats, while I sat contributing to the conversation. Afterwards, I drove home for lunch. backpack ardennenMy daughter was there, so we twisted the bottle top open of our green bottle and took a sip. serial i2c backpack"Hmmm," we both said. vorn backpack"I don't know if I can do this," said my daughter. backpack ascii art

I believed I could. I love salads, and this drink contained 96% juice from organic apple, celery, cucumber, kale, spinach, collard greens, lemons, ginger, peppermint and spearmint brewed tea and a few other ingredients. This drink was easier to consume than the morning drink, because it didn't have the jolt of cayenne pepper. It had 115 calories. After 30 minutes we were allowed to eat lunch. We both made a low sodium veggie burger with no bun with baby greens, tomato, onion, mustard and 1/8 of an avocado. They also offer a Non-vegan protein option of low sodium turkey slices or unsalted tuna with baby greens. After lunch, I was full until 5 p.m. We both drank our last drink of the day - Vanilla Nutz before dinner. It was sweet with 12 grams of fat, yet it had a soapy aftertaste. I took a 30 minute walk with my dog before sitting down to dinner of a baked sweet potato with nut butter. We calculated we consumed less than 1000 calories. I slept well and was eager to sip my spicy lemonade beverage in the morning.

Day 2 on Suja I woke up eager to sip my lemonade with a kick. After taking my younger daughter to school, I finished my beverage and took our family dog for a 45 minute walk. I had lots of energy and looked forward to breakfast. I could have two hard-boiled eggs with asparagus and avocado. Since I was too lazy to wait for my eggs to hard boil, I fried them in a non stick pan without oil. I added half a small avocado, because I didn't have any asparagus. During the morning, I almost grabbed a handful of cherries, yet stopped. I have less than 2 days left on this cleanse and I wanted to follow it exactly as the booklet recommends. Before lunch I drank my green drink and ate a can of tuna on a bed of lettuce with a few tomatoes. My daughter accompanied me on a few errands and she commented that she was getting tired and hungry. I still had some energy left in me. By 5 p.m. we both opened the top to our Vanilla Nutz and started preparing dinner. For dinner I had the option of a Black bean salad from a recipe in the booklet or 2 unsalted brown rice cakes + 1⁄4 cup dairy free guacamole or a frozen veggie burger with no bun topped with baby greens, tomato, 2T hummus.

It's enough to take the hunger edge off, yet in no way will you walk away from the table feeling full. Have you ever been on a Juice Cleanse? Yes, It worked for me. The Suja Essentials juices are never made with ingredients that have been genetically modified. This is verified by the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit offering North America’s only third-party verification and labeling for non-GMO food and beverages. Hydrate & NourishThe Suja Essentials 3-Day Fresh Start provides hydration and whole foods that make you feel your best. Cold Pressed juice uses High Pressure Processing (HPP) to kill harmful bacteria, yet preserves nutrition and taste.The vitamins and minerals included help you function optimally, with three cold-pressured beverages and three supplemental mini meals designed by Suja Co-Founder and Certified Holistic Health Coach, Annie Lawless. The meal plan provides your body with a complete range of plant based nutrition including hydration, protein, fats, and carbohydrates.

This Organic 3-Day Fresh Start will help you eliminate unhealthy foods from your diet and jump start your healthy habits. Day ThreeThe Suja Essentials 3-Day Fresh Start Program helped me be more conscious of a healthier lifestyle. For three days I didn't have unprocessed foods and eliminated the desire for unhealthy options. The program reset my taste buds, reduced cravings for sugary foods, and increased my awareness of what I put into my body. Unfortunately, I had two restaurants to review that weekend. I tried to make healthy choices, yet when the chef came out with a steak, truffle fries and a sticky toffee pudding cake, I had to take a forkful or two. I instantly realized my portion size for these meals was much larger when I was on the 3-Day Fresh Start program. When not reviewing restaurants, I try to carry the principles I learned and practice to eat and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Shopping List of Items to Buy When CleansingWhen I felt hungry, I drank a lot of water and ice tea.

Portion control is essential to keep calorie counts in check, so I tried to stick to the plan. Here is what I purchased to eat: Some of the items are for those who want to prepare everything in their kitchen. Others are for a "Grab and Go" option. Beans/Legumes - For one meal I could have 1 can unsalted white kidney beans or 1 can unsalted black beans for salads. Nuts/Seeds - They recommend Chia seeds and ground Flax seeds and unroasted almond butter. Unroasted almonds and pumpkin seeds are ok too. I bought unsweetened almond milk for the oatmeal. Protein - Unsalted veggie burger, salmon, tuna and white chicken breast. Produce I could eat - 1 medium apple 2 Avocados 1 Grapefruit 1 Banana (small/medium) 1 Onion 1 Bag Baby Greens 1 Baby Carrot Snack Pack 1 Medium Sweet Potato 2 Pints Cherry Tomatoes 1 Cucumber 1 Red Onion 1 Head butter lettuce 1 Head lacinato kale 1 Tomato 1 Mango 1 Medium apple 2 Lemons 1 Lime 1 Bunch Cilantro 1 Bunch Parsley 2 Avocados 1 Cup baby greens 1 Bag arugula 1 Orange 1⁄4c Blueberries