Fall Enrichment

It's pretty common this time of year to see people talking about or advertising a "fall cleanse."

Seasonal transitions are a popular (and useful) time to mark a shift in nature, prepare our bodies for a change in weather, light, and activities, and check-in with how our systems fared in the last season. And it makes sense to eat what is in the season to ensure a variety of nutrients.

But the word cleanse can be a little misleading. A cleanse isn't necessarily a detox, which can be harsher. A detox might mean a juice fast, or a total food fast! A cleanse, on the other hand, is more about simplifying the diet so the body has an easy time digesting, not using any more energy than necessary on processing and absorbing the nutrients.

Because I associate the word cleanse to something more aggressive, I like to rephrase it as nourish.

And honestly, most of us don't need to "strip away" more in our lives. Yes, there are foods to refrain from in this delicate transition time, but we do it by "crowding out" rather than "cutting out."

What most of us need is more deep nourishment -- for our cells, our hearts and our minds.

So... Enrich yourself as we enter fall.

Simplify your food. That might mean eating mild kitchari for most meals, or it might mean increasing your whole food, plant-based nutrient intake.

Here are a few guidelines.

Choose a timeframe -- 5 days, 10 days, 14 day, 30 days? You pick.

Give your system a break from:

• Dairy

• Eggs

• Sugar

• Excess Salt

• Caffeine

• Alcohol

• Meat and Fish

• Gluten

• Soy

• Corn

• Anything processed or in a package

Instead, fill your meals with:

• Seasonal organic fruit like apples, pears, figs, prunes, papaya, etc.

• Seasonal organic veggies -- root veggies and fall/winter squashes are GREAT, as well as leafy greens, cabbage, celery and sweet potatoes

• Whole organic grains such as brown rice, quinoa, amarynth, buckwheat, millet

• Beans and lentils

• Vegetable juice and broth

• Soups and stews made with vegetables, legumes and grains

• Small amount of oil (minimize the oil, as it is a processed product)

• Raw honey (sparingly)

• Warm water with lemon and/or ginger every morning

Here are a few recipes to inspire you:

Butternut Squash Soup with Sage

Roasted Veggies with White Beans

Wild Rice and Beet Salad

Fennel Squash Soup

Speaking of meals, it's important in this season to regulate your mealtimes. And don't overeat -- stop at about 80% full (which will give your brain time to realize that your belly is satiated).

If you'd like more tips for the fall transition, a little yoga, some time by the pool and someone to cook for you, there are two spots left in this weekend's

Women's Retreat on the Farm.

Want to come?

Let me know your thoughts/questions/experiences with your Fall Enrichment!

Michelle Marlahan
Where Self Care becomes Soul Care

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