By Cat, Oct 2019
I’ve been doing a 5-or 7-day veggie juice fast since 2009, when I took the class offered by the Wellness Education Center (WEC) in Kalispell MT. For the first 7-day fast, you slowly eliminate foods from your daily regimen over 2-3 weeks as follows:
- You begin by eliminating all processed foods, un-sprouted grains and legumes, meats, eggs and pasteurized dairy products (including cheese);
- Then raw milk/cheese, nuts, sprouted grains & legumes, and cooked fruits & veggies;
- On the last day(s), you are eating only raw veggies and fruits.
Then for 4 – 7 days following the fast (Breaking the Fast), you slowly add those eliminated foods back to your daily regimen (in reverse order from the pre-fast). This begins on the last day of the fast with blended raw fruit in mid-afternoon, and with a raw cold veggie soup at dinner-time.
The post-fast is a great time to discover any food sensitivities you might have – foods you should avoid until the sensitivity can be cleared (such as through NAET – Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique).
NOTE: Length of pre-and post-fast for:
- 3-day fast, pre-fast is 4 – 7 days; post fast is only 2-3 days;
- 5-day fast: pre-fast is 7 – 10 days; post-fast is 3 – 4 days;
- 7-day fast: pre0fast is 10 – 20 days; post-fast is 5 – 7 days.
Considerations
- Legumes: Many of these recipes get their protein from legumes. If you are not used to consuming legumes, go easy at first – have just a quarter-cup of beans with a large green salad. And try not to have beans for both lunch and dinner.
- Suggestion: sprout some kidney, white, and garbanzo beans separately and keep on hand for the various recipes. You can even pre-cook them, and store in jars in the fridge.
- Tomatoes: Some of these recipes are casseroles with tomatoes. Don’t overdo them either; perhaps only one or two during a week. Also, remove the seeds before eating the tomatoes (tomato seeds contain toxic lectins).
- Meat: Some recipes include meat. Keep the serving size of the meat to 3 oz or less, and have only during the first few days of the prefast, or last day of post-fast. Remember, you should be eating all-vegetarian for the last week before the fast.
- Cheese: Casseroles with a lot of cheese should be avoided, but a little bit of cheese, especially goat cheese (easier to digest), is OK.
- Fruit: If the suggested dish doesn’t contain fruit, accompany with a bit of fresh fruit such as apples, pears, peaches, banana, berries.
Recipes, Suggestions
‘* NOTE: Recipes in bold are my favs, and/or easy to prepare. Links go to recipes on the Cat’s Kitchen blog, unless noted otherwise.
Prefast for 7-Day Fast
(Differences for 3, 4, and 5-day fasts are added as notes)
Breakfast
- Morning Smoothie (with raw dairy milk or almond/coconut milk, and homemade dairy or almond yogurt or kefir) On last day, only raw blended fruit and no milk of any kind.
- Oat Porridge (presoaked), with berries and/or nuts, preferably sprouted or pre-soaked (optional)
- Fresh apple or grapefruit
- Herbal tea
Lunch & Dinner
In addition to the suggestions here, see Main Course (Vegetarian & Bean) recipe list. Recipes in bold are my favorites.
- Bread: Focaccia – Italian flatbread – is a good accompaniment. Soaked-grain is similar to sprouted-grain (in healthfulness), is partially digested and more nutritious than raw grain.
- Snacks: Fresh fruit and raw carrots, celery, etc. make great snacks and accompaniment for these dishes.
- Salads: See also my Salads menu
- 3- or 5- bean salad made with sprouted and cooked (or steamed) beans
- Beet salad (raw), with hummus and sprouted-grain pita
- Chicken Curry Salad (Raw, except for chicken)
- Chicken-Herb Salad (Raw, except for chicken)
- Coleslaw (raw) with coleslaw dressing, accompanied with falafel or 3 oz baked chicken or fried catfish
- Green salad (raw) with balsamic-basil dressing, and accompanied with fermented beets or cucumbers
- Horiatiki (Greek) salad, with Greek dressing
- Nicoise Salad: potatoes, green beans, onion, peppers, olives, with a Mediterranean dressing (potatoes are cooked and other veggies are blanched). Make without fish for post fast until last day.
- Potato Cucumber Dill Salad (potatoes are not raw)
- Soups & Broths:
For first evening of the fast/end of pre-fast:- Raw, Cold Tomato & Avocado soup or one of these carrot soups:
- Curried Carrot-Ginger Soup (Hot or cold, not raw)
- Creamy, Chilled & Raw Carrot Soup (I’ve not tested this one)
Other soup recipes:
-
- Bieler’s Broth (with or without veggies)
- Borscht (my recipe contains a bit of beef, or at least beef stock, but you can substitute potato broth and skip the beef)
- Lima Bean Soup (not yet added on this blog; see New Vegetarian Epicure, page 190)
- Minestrone Soup (delicious but is a lot of work)
- Winter Squash & Apple or Pear Soup, with Ginger, and accompanied with sprouted grain bread
- Raw Veggie Soup (this makes a LOT of soup)
- Squash & Kale Soup with Tomatoes & Chickpeas (Autumn Veggie Soup)
- Entrees and Sides:
- Bean Salad (3- or 5- beans)
- Cabbage Rolls, with Rice & Mushrooms (wonderful, but a bit of work)
- Cabbage Rolls in Tomato and CreamSauce
- Cabbage Rolls with Chickpeas & Bulgur, Middle-Eastern
- Cauliflower Curry (two versions, one with sprouted chick peas)
- Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil and Ricotta
- Pasta with Fresh Tomato, Roasted Garlic & Brie
- Russian Vegetable Pie (contains cream cheese; a bit of an effort to prepare)
- Spinach Provencale (contains eggs)
- Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie)
- Lebanese Spinach Pies with Yogurt crust (start crust the day before). I make up a batch before the fast, then freeze them, so I’m not cooking during the fast.
- Squash Casserole, with Goat Cheese and Pecans
- Steamed Brown Rice or Wild Rice with 3 oz baked chicken or salmon, and steamed veggies
- Salmon Coconut Curry, with fresh mandarin or tangerine wedges
- White Beans with Baby Potatoes and Herbs, Pasta – Fagioli soup version
- White Beans with Broccoli Raab, Tomatoes and Parmesan
- Vegetarian Pasticcio
Breaking the Fast Suggestions for 7-day Fast
Break the Fast Fruit
This is served as dinner the last day of the fast.
- Don’t combine fruits.
- Organic melon cut into very small pieces and chewed well.
- OR soft Organic berries which can be chewed to a liquid.
Break the Fast Smoothy
- Blend fresh organic fruit with purified water. Only 2 types of fruit at a time, such as apple and berries.
- Don’t use sweet and citrus fruits together (like banana and orange).
- May add flax meal and spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg.
- Don’t add raw milk or kefir until 3rd day (5 & 7-day fast) or 2nd day (3 & 4-day fast)
Break the Fast Salad
- Organic greens, grated veggies, sprouts and fresh herbs.
- Dressing of olive oil and lemon juice OR raw apple cider vinegar, and spiced with fresh garlic and Braggs Aminos or Spike.
Break the Fast Raw Soup
- Organic veggies, herbs and garlic blended with purified water until smooth. Drink slowly and chew before swallowing.
- My soup of choice is Raw, Cold Tomato & Avocado soup (use 1/2 avo); but can’t add avo until 2nd day of 5 or 7-day fast.
Break the Fast Veggie Chips
I don’t have a dehydrator to make these. However, my gas oven, off, with light on, might work.
- Slice green zucchini about 1/4 inch thick, toss in bowl with Spike or Braggs and dehydrate at 105 degrees until crunchy like potato chips.
- Or peel yam and slice lengthwise into 3 sections. Using a peeler, create thin strips. Spice and dehydrate until crunchy.
- Return to Juice Fast Introduction and Menu of pages
Sample for Breaking a 7-Day Fast
NOTE: BF means “Breaking-the-Fast” for each day. See also Breaking a 5-Day Fast, below.
Important: Include an enema each day until you have a BM.
Day 7 of Fast:
- AM: regular fast schedule including enema, Green Magma and perfect-7.
- Noon: Half of raw veggie juice. Also have a blended fruit and water mix (see example 2-fruit combos below*). No other ingredients, although can add second Green Magma with the fruit.
- Afternoon Magma as usual in afternoon.
- Evening: Other half of raw veggie Juice; raw veggie soup such as Raw, Cold Tomato & Avocado soup (without Avo until BF-Day1), or blended fruit with water* (can add mango).
- Start soaking of oatmeal for BF-Day 1, if desired.
*keep fruit to two types like apple and berry, peach and berry, or mango and berry
BF-Day 1:
Highlights:
- Continue Green magma (2 tsp) and fiber drink (half-dose); or add fiber to blended fruit, 2x/day.
- If eating out for dinner, can have meat- and dairy-free soup, pasta, or other entree.
Sample menu:
- AM: Green Magma (or add to mid morning smoothie), juice, water, herbal tea
- Mid-Morning: Fruit & water smoothie with avocado wedge; add ½ serving fiber supplement and cod liver oil (can mix into smoothie, or separate).
- Enema: this is the last unless constipated or bloated; also implant bifidus after expelling.
- Lunch: Veggie Juice OR liquid soup (such as Bieler’s Broth); plus
- Salad of greens, sprouts, finely grated veggies; dressing of lemon juice with olive oil; kelp powder, pressed garlic w sea salt are optional. Can eat out.
- I do a light salad, with some pea and lentil sprouts from local Organic store.
- Mid-Afternoon: Green Magma, juice, water, herbal tea, hot broth;
- 30 min before dinner: half-serving fiber in 8 oz water.
- Evening: Several options:
- Salad of greens, sprouts, grated veggies, and ½ avocado if desired, with very light dressing (olive oil, lemon juice, Braggs or Spike), or a simple vinaigrette. I like: small greens salad with nuts, avocado and Basil Balsamic dressing; or
- Lightly cooked veggies.
- Bean casserole or soup. I like: Raw, Cold Tomato & Avocado soup (can include the avo) with savory pie (next) or Sprouted 3 Bean Salad.
- Savory veggie pies with yogurt or cream-cheese crust. I like: Lebanese Spinach Pie or Russian Vegetable Pie
- Goat cheese or fermented cheese.
- Snacks: Tapenade (choose the simple, or the one with capers) with sprouted pita, Salsa, Greens salad, or coleslaw
BF-Day 2:
Highlights:
- If not had a bowel movement (BM) yet, delay reintroduction of foods listed for today, until having BMs. Instead, continue Green magma and Fiber drink 2x/day, and a daily enema. Best if follow 7-day fast schedule beginning with BF-Day 2 of that schedule, until have a BM.
Sample Menu:
-
- Upon waking: Green magma can sweeten with apple juice if desired
- Breakfast: Blended fruit (apple, berries, and mango) and fiber supplement in water; can add Green magma (or powdered green food) and/or leftover veggie juice; also fresh parsley.
- Lunch: Liquid soup or light salad with lemon juice & garlic dressing (no oil). Can add pea/lentil sprouts.
- Mid-afternoon: Green Magma; sweeten with apple juice if desired. *Cat’s note: I switch to Amazing Grass’s Brain Elixer (see iHerb AMG-00570)
- 30 minutes before dinner: Green Magma or Brain Elixer; can add fiber powder such as Tri-Cleanse
- Dinner: Greens salad with avocado; with lemon and olive oil dressing; and/or Veggie soup such as Curried Carrot & Ginger Soup, Raw (Warm or Cold Soup)
- Mid-evening: Blended fruit plus fiber and pea or rice protein powder
BF-Day 3
Highlights:
- If not had a bowel movement (BM) yet, delay reintroduction of foods listed for today, until having BMs. Instead, continue Green magma and Fiber drink 2x/day, and a daily enema. Best if follow 7-day fast schedule beginning with BF-Day 2 of that schedule, until have a BM.
- Otherwise, can add whole, sprouted grains, nuts, seeds, or legumes; tofu, yogurt and raw eggs in afternoon/evening. Also cooked sprouts and raw milk or kefir.
Sample Menu:
-
- Breakfast:
- Smoothie (no dairy, yogurt or kefir); can add coconut milk and fiber powder such as Tri-Cleanse; and/or leftover veggie juice; or
- Presoaked oatmeal porridge with fresh berries and sprouted pecans or other nuts; can add coconut milk
- Lunch:
- Greens salad with avocado and pea/lentil sprouts; dressing of lemon or apple cider vinegar with garlic and olive oil.
- Dinner:
- Greens salad with avocado and/or tomato and vinaigrette dressing (I like Basil Balsamic dressing); can add cottage cheese.
- Veggie dinner; I like a bowl of Squash, Carrot & Ginger Soup or Winter Squash & Apple Soup, with Ginger; and/or Lebanese Spinach Pie
- Mid-eve: Blended fruit plus fiber and pea or rice protein powder; or leftover smoothie
- Breakfast:
BF-Day 4
Highlights:
- If not had a bowel movement (BM) yet, delay reintroduction of foods listed for today, until having BMs. Instead, continue Green magma and Fiber drink 2x/day, and a daily enema. Best if follow 7-day fast schedule beginning with BF-Day 2 of that schedule, until have a BM.
- Otherwise, can add whole, sprouted grains, nuts, seeds, or legumes; tofu, yogurt and raw eggs in afternoon/evening. Also cooked sprouts and raw milk or kefir.
Sample Menu:
- Breakfast:
-
- Protein smoothie with yogurt and coconut or raw milk, and fiber powder such as Tri-Cleanse; and/or
- Presoaked oatmeal porridge with fresh berries and sprouted pecans or other nuts; can add coconut or raw milk.
- Lunch:
- Greens salad (as for Day 3); can add raw cheese; vinaigrette or mayo dressing.
- Dinner:
- Sprouted 3- or 5-bean salad and/or cottage cheese; Russian Vegetable Pie or Pierogi or Lebanese Spinach Pie (for example).
- Mid-eve: Blended fruit plus fiber and pea or rice protein powder; or leftover smoothie
BF-Day 5
- Breakfast:
- Full-meal smoothie with yogurt and coconut or raw/pasteurized milk, cottage cheese for protein, and fiber powder such as Tri-Cleanse; (see recipe section of Juice Fast Info Summary)
- Presoaked oatmeal porridge with fresh berries and sprouted pecans or other nuts; can add coconut or raw milk.
- Lunch:
- Greens salad (as for Day 3); can add raw cheese; vinaigrette or mayo dressing.
- Fresh Apple (or other fruit) and cheese
- Dinner:
- Braised kale, broccoli, green beans and/or asparagus with sliced onion and garlic
- Greens salad with vinaigrette dressing and/or cottage cheese
- Vegetarian main course option:
- Non-vegetarian main course options:
- Salmon and wild rice, or salmon coconut curry with fresh mandarin wedges; OR
- Chicken cutlets sautéed with olives, capers and roasted lemons; OR
- Borscht (with beef) or homemade chicken soup (such as Chicken Soup from Scratch, with optional Noodles or Thai Coconut-Ginger Soup, with Chicken)
BF-Day 6
- Normal diet
Sample for Breaking a 5-Day Fast
NOTE: BF means “Breaking-the-Fast” for each day.
Day 5 of Fast and BF-Day 1
- see Day 7 and BF-Day 1 of 7 day fast, above
Highlights of BF-Day 1:
- Can add whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, tofu, yogurt and raw eggs in afternoon/evening. Also cooked sprouts and raw milk or kefir.
- Continue Green magma (2 tsp) and fiber drink (half-dose); or add fiber to blended fruit, 2x/day.
- If eating out for dinner, can have meat- and dairy-free soup, pasta, or other entree.
BF-Day 2
Highlights:
- If not had a bowel movement (BM) yet, delay reintroduction of foods listed for today, until having BMs. Instead, continue Green magma and Fiber drink 2x/day, and a daily enema. Best if follow 7-day fast schedule beginning with BF-Day 2 of that schedule, until have a BM.
- Otherwise, today is last day of breaking the 5-day fast, unless you want to stretch it out one more day.
- Add whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, tofu yogurt, kefir, real cheese, raw eggs and raw milk (no pasteurized dairy products until evening).
- Can add Ranch Dressing or Cole Slaw Dressing at lunch if made with raw-egg mayo and raw cream; if at dinner, can be made with pasteurized dairy and/or coddled egg.
- In evening, can add pasteurized dairy, yogurt, meat, fish and cooked eggs in small quantities. If have had a BM, then can make this the last day of breaking the fast, as follows:
Sample Menu:
- Breakfast:
- Blended fruit and water and wedge of avocado (if no BM yet, or otherwise need to delay introduction of animal-based foods);
- OR full-meal smoothie OR Bran or other whole grain muffin, OR bowl of presoaked-oatmeal or buckwheat/kasha porridge with raw cream.
- Lunch:
- Green salad with nuts, sprouts, chicken or salmon, and whole grain bread with butter on side.
- Or leftovers from BF-Day 1.
- Apple with cheese, and creamy custard or clafoutis for dessert. NOTE: defer cheese, custard/clafoutis to an extra day (Saturday, below, if have not had enema).
- Dinner:
- BF-Day 1 leftovers (especially if need to delay reintroduction of animal foods and/or fats;
- OR pasture-fed meat or wild-caught fish). Accompany with greens salad and braised greens, broccoli, cauliflower or asparagus. I like: Salmon Coconut Curry, with fresh mandarin or tangerine wedges. If wild salmon is not in season, make Chicken Cutlets Sautéed with Olives, Capers & Roasted Lemons.
BF-Day 3
This applies only if need to postpone reintroduction of animal foods and/or fats.
Sample Menu:
-
- Breakfast:
- Full-meal smoothie (see recipe section of Juice Fast Info Summary);
- OR bran or whole grain muffin, OR bowl of presoaked-oatmeal or buckwheat/kasha porridge with raw cream.
- Lunch:
- Green salad with nuts, sprouts, chicken or salmon, and whole grain bread & butter on side. Or leftovers from BF-Day 2.
- Fresh Apple (or other fruit) and cheese
- Dinner:
- Vegetarian dish; I like Russian Vegetable Pie or Pierogi or Cauliflower Curry
- OR brothy soup; I like one of the following:
- Borscht – Eastern European Beet Soup (need to start this the day before if don’t have homemade stock on-hand),
- Chicken Soup, from Scratch (need to start this the day before if don’t have homemade stock on-hand), or
- Minestrone Soup with Cannellini & GarbanzoBeans, Basil & Dark Greens (NOTE: it takes a while to make this soup from scratch.
- OR pasture-fed meat or wild-caught fish. I like Salmon Coconut Curry, with fresh mandarin or tangerine wedges; or if salmon not in season, Chicken Cutlets Sautéed with Olives, Capers & Roasted Lemons.
- Accompany with greens salad and braised greens, broccoli, cauliflower or asparagus.
- Breakfast:
Sources:
- Wellness Education Center, Kalispell, MT