By Briya Freeman
A rest-and-repair diet is a good idea anytime you want to give your digestive system a reboot, such as after the holidays, illness, low digestive fire, at the change of seasons or in times of stress.
You may choose to follow this diet once a week, 2-3 times a week, or for 2-3 weeks, as necessary.
Favour:
- Kicharee (mung bean and rice soup) – see recipe week 2
- Detox dahl – see recipe week 1
- Steamed (or well-cooked) vegetables
- Sweet potatoes
- Cooked beets
- Cooked apples
- Oatmeal, rice, quinoa, kasha or millet
- Congee (rice soup)
- Seeds (e.g. flax, hemp, sunflower — rather than nuts)
- Small, well-cooked beans and legumes (e.g. mung beans, red lentils)
- Healthy oils like ghee, coconut oil, and olive oil
- Meat/Seafood: Small amounts of well-cooked white meats or fish
- Small amounts of raw local honey or maple syrup (1–2 teaspoons per day)
- Teas: ginger, cinnamon, fennel, tulsi, green, cardamom, triphala;
- Hot water
- Hot water with lemon on an empty stomach
- Bone broth (for non-vegetarians) or classic homemade chicken noodle soup
Avoid/reduce: Refined sugars, wheat, red meat, eggs, dairy.
Optional: Small portions of fermented foods, such as
- Yogurt or kefir (buy plain organic and add maple syrup or honey)
- Kimchi, sauerkraut or fermented vegetables
- Miso paste (e.g. soups)
- Kombucha
- Tamari