The Soup Box cleanse review: Gaby and Tami

Spring is near!

You might be feeling the need to shake things up, clean out the closet, and “spring” into the new season with a body reset. We certainly are! Thankfully, we have lots of guinea pigs willing to try new approaches to eating at Spud so we enlisted Gaby and Tami, Holistic Nutritionists and members of the Customer Engagement team, to try the Spud Soup Cleanse.

In their words…

We love our treats but the truth is, overindulging in processed foods high in refined sugars, flours, additives and preservatives left us tired, bloated, irritable, and with periodically upset stomach.

The Soup Box cleanse seemed like a great way to get back on track. The cleanse consists of five soups which are plant-based, 100% organic, and always made from scratch with all natural ingredients.

1. Alert & Energize: carrot, ginger and turmeric
2. Nourish & Fortify: kale, quinoa and mushroom
3. Green Power: broccoli, zucchini, spinach and avocado
4. Build & Restore: sweet potato, cauliflower and curry
5. Promote & Soothe: lemongrass and ginger

Here are some tips that we wish people had shared with us before we started!

• Schedule your cleanse for a time without many stressful commitments.
• In the days leading up to your cleanse, focus on clean eating. Limit sugars, processed foods, wheat, dairy, caffeine and alcohol.
• Adjust your exercise regime if you’re used to high intensity workouts (opt for a walk or a gentle yoga class instead.)
• Stay hydrated! Aim for at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. Herbal teas are great too!
• Eat mindfully – for optimal digestion, make sure you take your time eating your soups. You want to enjoy them, not chug them. This will also help you feel satiated for longer.
• During the cleanse, if your hunger ‘pains’ are too strong or if you are feeling faint, it’s OK to stop! Have a small snack such as carrots, celery, a salad, or a piece of fruit.
• Try to get plenty of rest.  Go to bed as early and take naps.  Deep healing occurs during rest and relaxation.
• Do introspective activities like meditation, writing in your journal writing, or walking outside.
• Take the time to reflect and notice how you feel. Make a note of cravings and your mood.

After cleanse completion, our nutritionists had made some interesting realizations about themselves.

“I noticed my need for caffeine and sugar is much stronger than I imagined!” says Gaby.  “The solution? Cutting back on my daily sugar intake (fruits included) and asking for a smaller cup of coffee next time.”

Tami noticed her longing for the ‘crunch factor’! “Sticking to soups for a day made me miss the satisfying act of chewing. This experience definitely brought me more awareness to my relationship with food and eating patterns.”

In summary: If you’re feeling weighted down and are looking to shake things up, give the Soup Box cleanse a try. It’s a great way to kick-start healthy eating, and if you’re already pretty food-aware (like these Spud nutritionists) it’s an interesting exercise in eating mindfulness. There’s nothing to lose and lots to gain.

Disclaimer: Consult your doctor prior to starting a cleanse. Cleansing is not intended for use by minors, pregnant or nursing women, or by anyone using prescription drugs or with a  health condition. Abruptly switching from a high-calorie diet to a multiple day cleansing regimen may cause you to feel hungry or weak. Any information provided here should not be a substitute for a physician’s consultation or treatment.