Everyone I know goes on a detox or cleanse for the new year, and don't we all need one? Don't we need to purify ourselves with $6.99 green juices?

Yes… and no.

Our bodies already have mechanisms to detox; they are called our livers and kidneys.

Green juice will not purify you. 

Especially if you turn around and go face down in a pile of nachos because you've juiced for the last 12 hours and are so starving your brain …

Happy New Year! 
 
This meal plan has:

1. Party foods 
2. Lazy meets IMPRESSIVE 
3. Traditional New Year's’ fare 
4. healthy “mini detox” food for, well, you know. 

Can a meal plan really do all these things? Yes!

Everything you need and want in one convenient place. 

For New Years Eve:
Red Lentil Party Dip
Taco Poppers
“Fish” Croquettes

For New Years Day:
Cajun Black Eyed Pea Cakes 
Cornbread (my famous foolproof recipe)

For Weeknights:
Stuffed Pepper Soup
Sriracha Sushi 
Italian Chimichangas 
Buffalo-style …

The holidays generate up to 25% more garbage in the weeks leading up to, and after, a major holiday. Part of what is thrown away in unwanted holiday decorations. Everything from live trees to holiday lighting can find itself on its way to the rubbish bin, creating an estimated 1 million tons of extra garbage each week.

But what if there was a way to help reduce its environmental impact, and create less waste each holiday season? Through recycling, repurposing, …

Ho ho h-OMG.

This weeks menu speaks for itself:

• Holiday Tamale Cakes
• Supreme Pizza Soup
• Spinach & Artichoke Dip Casserole
• Christmas Cobb Salad
• West African Peanut Stew (new)
• “Beef” Stroganoff 
• Yule Thai’d Chili
• Cranberry Kringles (new) 
• Bread Pudding in a Mug (new) 

Holiday helpers ✅

“Familiar” Foods ✅

Trust these Christmas meals with meat eaters.

I thumbed through all our customer reviews from last December and these recipes were the favorite, most well-received recipes. 


These meals are pantry wonders, too. …

51% of annual weight gain happens between Thanksgiving and New Years.

Here are 12 scientifically-backed ways you can avoid weight gain this season from Brian Wansink, Ph.D.and the Cornell Food Lab:

1. Survey first. Do a loop around the buffet and decide what you really want to eat rather than taking a little of everything you don't hate.

2. Always sit to eat. If you only eat when you are sitting, you'll mindlessly munch less.

3. Use tall glasses for booze. …