Thank You Cleansing Foods

Starting on New Years, I decided to be the kinder, empathetic husband and joined my wife on a  "cleansing diet" for three weeks. Although I didn't need to lose weight, the other health benefits are well documented so I "bit the bullet"

Check this out however - no caffeine, no alcohol, no wheat, no dairy, no refined sugar, no red meat, no trans fats...there are now complete aisles of the supermarket I shouldn't even go near.

After two weeks, my energy levels are amazing and even as this crash diet nears a close, we have likely made a permanent positive lifestyle change in our diets. Yeh!

Now here's the bad part --- there are only so may eggs, fish, oranges, cranberry juice and rye bread a guy can eat and come 3:00pm,  the afternoon hunger pangs and low blood sugar counts are foreboding.

I wanted to take time out here and thank the products and businesses that helped me get over those humps. You are my personal word of mouth dieting stash and my intervention when the bulk of your unhealthy competition was screaming like the devil on my shoulder - "just take one bite, what's it going to hurt":

The Restaurants

Il Fornello - for a restaurant that is a long established Italian Toronto-based restaurant chain that could rest on its laurels, the existence of an organic spelt flour bread pizza on your menu was an oasis in the desert of thick crusted fatty pizza dough

Booster Juice - there is nothing like the redemptive and natural powers of a Marathon Power Booster Juice as part of a post-workout routine, also the only pace I have found in Toronto that sells jucies made with the Brazilian Acai berry

Green Mango - nothing in the fridge, Friday night late, need to eat healthy - who you going to call? - Green Mango!  This place is not only priced reasonably, packs the place in but also has some of the best-tasting healthy food in town.

Fresh - my support group for healthy eating - the vegan and organic-embracing patrons and staff here make me feel like I've joined a pretty enlightened and cool sort of club -and with an awarding winning menu and architectural design to boot

Products

Rizopia - you were my light when things were bleakest - beyond my morning coffee ritual , I've missed pasta the most but this small Canadian company actually produces RIce Pasta with identical mouth feel to real pasta - mamma mia!

Revolution Tea - sure it cost $13 per sleeve at my local boutique store but who knew Organic Tea would taste so good - the metal cannister and pyramid-shaped bags are also highly buzzworthy

Europe's Best Frozen Fruit - I don't know how something produced in Chile and prepared in Montreal is called Europe's anything but the mix of pre-chopped fruits is a huge time saver for my DIY smoothie production

Tropicana - there are many pretenders and contenders but there really is only one Tropicana juice - I will gladly pay  $1-1.50 more per bottle because  you are the gold standard for product quality, don't ever change or cheapen yourself

With new year's resolutions still in force and fitness clubs delivering a January splurge, I'd love to know about special products that have actually helped you through a difficult or troubling episode of your life. Cheers.