Juice January: A 21-Day Juice Cleanse

As many of you already know, I like to call January "Juice January." Why? Because for the past three years, it's been a tradition to start my year off with a juice cleanse. This year I would love to have you along for the ride. It's a simple plan... I juice all day and eat a clean meal for dinner. I will be sharing some of my favorite juice combinations and would love to hear any of your go-to juice recipes as well.

I use a Breville Juice Fountain, which I love, but any juicer will do.

My plan starts on Jan. 2 and will go for 21 days (three weeks). This cleanse is a little different because if you know me I like everything in moderation. I am not an extreme type when it comes to cleansing, or anything for that matter, so with that said, here's my meal plan everyday for 21 days.

21-Day Juice Cleanse Sample Menu

Juice in the morning — I like one orange, one mango, one cucumber, and a handful of parsley

Juice mid-morning snack — I like 3 cups kale, half-inch piece of ginger, three apples

Lunch juice — I like 3 cups kale, five carrots, half lemon, and one pear

Mid-afternoon snack juice — I like one large beet, three carrots and 3 cups kale, and three stalks of celery

Dinner — a light meal. I love a salad; make sure to make yours colorful. Be creative! Keep it interesting with textures and colors. Pair your salad with a protein like chicken or fish as well as a steamed vegetable like broccoli or green beans. I also like including a half-cup of lentils, pinto, or white beans. Soup is an amazing dinner while on a cleanse. I'll be sharing a few yummy soup recipes as we go along.

Why do a juice cleanse?

The point is to give your GI system a break from processed foods and having to work hard to break down our daily intake of food. Make sure to stay away from anything packaged for 21 days and NO alcohol.

Coffee? You might be asking yourself about coffee... My thinking is that a cup of coffee is not going to kill you. Remember, I am not into torture. Just make a good cup, will you?

What can you expect?

  • Week one is an adjustment as you get used to your liquid diet.

  • Week two you get in the groove and actually look forward to juicing.

  • Week three you are feeling great, really great. You may lose a few pounds but mainly you can expect to feel really energized, light, and happy. Yes happy.

Let me know how it's going. I will check in a couple of times every week. Have a question? Leave it in the comment section and I'll be sure to get back to you.

So instead of saying, "let's party," I'm going to say, "let's juice"!

Happy and healthy new year. 2014, it's going to be a great one! Disclaimer: This is not a weight loss program nor am I a doctor. This plan is just what I do and I love the way I feel. However, this is not a regimented program.

Click here to follow Annette's Journey!