As some of you may have read, I recently got back from a lovely trip to Colorado. The trip itself was great, but between you and me, I may have eaten few more Voodoo Doughnuts during the trip than I’m okay with admitting. Eating healthy while traveling is hard. I don’t know how David and Luise over at Green Kitchen Stories do it. Personally, when I got home from that week in Denver, my body felt pretty beat up after how badly I was eating. Which brings me to cleansing / detoxing….

The medical community has all but debunked the idea of “detoxing” as we think of it (read: juice cleanses). I was pretty bummed when I read article after article about how the kidneys and liver basically do the job for you (no $60/day juice package required). But I think it’s wrong to dismiss the idea of detoxing/cleansing altogether. Even though there may be no “quick fix” by drinking juice or smoothies all day, the psychological effects of such practices cannot be ignored.

The concept of a “fresh start” is something that is ingrained in nearly every culture in the world. While the methods of being cleansed or being born anew may differ from culture to culture, what cannot be denied is how the mental effects of being cleansed translate to our overall wellness. Read: you simply feel better when you eat better.

So while this sushi may not be “cleansing” in a strictly physiological sense, it is full of fiber, vitamins, and healthy nutrients to give your body a push in the right direction. :) (And it doesn’t hurt that it’s absolutely delicious!!)

Just a quick note about making sushi – the actual rolling part can be rather difficult, so I would highly recommend looking at this fantastic tutorial by Minimalist Baker before you commence your sushi endeavors!!

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Cleansing Sushi Roll w/ Spicy Kale + Green Veggies

This raw, cleansing sushi roll is a delicious way to eat clean + vegan!

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 3 Rolls

Ingredients

• 1 Cucumber
• 1 Avocado
• 3 Nori Sheets
• 1 Cup Kale packed
• 2 Tbs Vegan Mayo
• 1/2 Tsp Sriracha optional

Instructions

• First, prepare the kale salad. Take 1 cup (packed) kale and chop finely. In a bowl, mix kale with 2 tbs vegan mayo and 1/2 tsp sriracha. Mix well, ensuring that kale is evenly coated.
• Prep the cucumber by slicing into thin strips. Likewise, prepare the avocado by slicing into thin chunks as well. You may have some veggies left over when you’re done making your sushi!
• Start assembling the sushi by laying out your nori sheets. They should be set out wider than they are tall.
• About an inch from the edge closest to you, lay out the cucumbers, avocado, and kale salad in a strip about 1-2 inches wide. Note: if you have a sushi mat, this is the time to use it! If not, you can also roll the sushi by hand (which is what I did here).
• Using both hands, tuck the sushi filling in with your fingers and tightly wrap the nori around it. If it’s not super tight, it might be harder to cut but that’s not a problem!
• Once the sushi has been sufficiently rolled, take the sharpest knife in your kitchen and wet it with some water. Slice the sushi, wetting your knife between every 1-2 cuts.
• Serve sushi with tamari and extra sriracha (for my fellow spicy lovers out there). Enjoy!

Song of the Day:

Two of Us On the Run – Lucius