One of the things I really like about The CLEAN Program is the knowing what to expect. Dr. Junger has a number of videos on the free CLEAN community site that have helped us be prepared.  In the “Before Your CLEAN Ends” he talks about re-introducing foods that were on the “Foods to Avoid” list during the CLEAN Detox and the best steps to take.

One suggestion was to have only one food at a time and pay attention to what happens to your body, your sleep, your moods – so we have tried to do that.

We added in tomatoes … delicious, no notable changes. HOORAY!

We added in cubanelle peppers … hip, hip hooray no notable changes. ANOTHER HOORAY!

Next we had a Publix Sub Sandwich – no cheese, but we did have their whole wheat bread … we also had the Boar’s Head lunch meat and on the Boar’s Head site they state  “our meats and cheeses contain no fillers, gluten, artificial colors, flavors or trans fat”. In keeping with some of our newer reduced portion needs – we shared 1/2 of a half sub each. In the past we would have split a whole sub.

As best we can tell Toi didn’t have any reaction to speak of, but I awoke the next day with a sort of sinus reaction that I normally get with dairy, and on the 2nd day it turned worse.  I treated my symptoms with saline drops and by the next day it was all clear again.  I can’t swear that it was the whole wheat – but I will steer clear for a few more weeks. I am not a big grain eater anyway (after learning more from The Primal Blueprint)  – and during the clean it was fun to find wheat alternatives like coconut flour, buckwheat flour and even picked up some brown rice flour we hope to use to make our own fresh noodles for Pho. (We have made a CLEAN version of the pho – with store bought organic brown rice noodles).

Homemade Pho - Vietnamese Noodle Soup

Could our palates really change?

The next thing we tried … Toi, some coffee  — Michelle, some beer.

Toi was really disappointed in her first taste of coffee — something that she has been drinking EVERY day for at least the last 20 years. It was bitter and overwhelming in taste. She is hoping that a lower acid organic coffee will have a better taste. The other thing she noticed are painful bumps on her tongue – and we are not for sure it’s the coffee – but really there was nothing else she had that could have caused it.

How about that beer for me… disappointingly I wasn’t all that impressed with one of my favorite beers. I didn’t have any physical reactions — but I sure didn’t “enjoy” the flavor it may have been the only time in my life I poured out over a half of a cold beer. I have always thought of myself as a professional beer drinker so I am still sorta sad over this palate change. However my friend Lena is pretty sure this is a WIN for me. Probably is, but for now I choose to sulk — for just a bit.

On tonight’s menu?  PIZZA … Gluten Free & Dairy Free … and absolutely delicious.  Not expecting any reaction from these — whoo hooo I am glad I still have a taste for one of my favorites.

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Pizza on Millet Flax Bread

clean program