The alkaline diet follows a simple set of guidelines. Eat foods that have an alkalizing effect on the body, and minimize foods that have an acidic effect on the body. Generally, alkalizing foods fall in the category of leafy greens, beans, berries and some nuts. Acidic foods fall primarily into the groups of meat, dairy, grains, and sugars. We don’t like to advocate for the vegan lifestyle, since meat carries so many valuable nutrients in quantities so much greater than in any plant based sources. For this reason, the general rule of thumb with this diet is to aim to eat 80% alkalizing foods and 20% acidic, so that you can make sure you are getting plenty of minerals and nutrients from the best sources possible.
Eating an alkaline diet is much easier than it sounds like. I usually start my day with a big glass of spring water, which is the most pure, mineral rich form of water. I try to avoid tap water and filtered water, which is just filtered tap water. You can learn more about my picky water preferences here.
From there, I will usually have a green smoothie and sometimes a hash-brown as well. I have this smoothie around the 11-1 timeframe, and it is the first thing I usually eat. My green smoothies vary in ingredients, but I have a rotating list of alkaline ingredients that I’ll use:
- avocado
- celery
- kale
- mixed greens
- spinach
- bananas
- apple
- frozen berries
- pineapple
- chia seeds
- flax seeds
- grapefruit juice
- coconut water
I usually will choose a base like banana or avocado, a leafy green, and a sweeter berry to bring some sweet flavor into the mix. I try to always add what seeds I have available, since they are alkaline and a great source of antioxidants. One of these smoothies always gets my day off to a good start. For some great inspiration for delicious alkaline smoothies, I recommend reading this amazing book that is filled cover to cover with delicious smoothie recipes. If for some reason I’m particularly hungry, I’ll make a hash-brown as well. Potatoes are slightly acidic, but the goal is 80/20 and a potato does a great job of filling my tummy if the smoothie doesn’t do it. When I don’t have smoothie ingredients or aren’t in the mood, I’ll usually opt for some eggs and avocado, or leftovers from my dinner the night before. I try to keep my breakfast pretty quick and simple, so that I can get on with my day.
For my next meal, I usually have a mid-afternoon snack. I am a snacker, but if you aren’t then just keep with what feels best for you! For my mid-afternoon snack, I’ll usually munch on some macadamia nuts, rice cakeswith almond butter, or whip up some quick eggs and avocado. I try to always keep avocados on hand because of their alkaline nature and ability to fit easily into almost any meal.
By the time dinner rolls around, I’m always excited to cook up a delicious meal. I’ve been experimenting with some different alkaline recipes and trying to expand my horizons. Some tasty creations I’ve tried so far are:
- Cowboy Caviar – This delightful concoction can be altered to suit your tastes, but I usually include black beans, garbanzo beans, black eyed peas, avocado of course, tomatoes, onion (red or white, whatever I have on hand), cilantro, and I make a simple dressing with lime juice and a little red wine vinegar. This is a great meal for on-the-go, and you can switch it up by using different beans, adding corn or bell peppers, tossing in hot peppers for a little kick, or using it to fill up your favorite tortillas.
- Vegetable Chili – I LOVE chili, and this recipe did not disappoint. I found it in the book In Balance for Life by Alex Guerrero. His book is super helpful breaking down the facets of the alkaline diet, how the foods we eat impact our bodies, and provides some great starter recipes for those transitioning into this lifestyle. His vegetable chili recipe contained rich bell peppers, crunchy celery, and plenty of beans. One way I’d like to spice this recipe up next time is with some jalapeño and carrots. Of course, he advises to garnish with avocado, which I’ll have to agree with.
- Homemade Fajita Bowls – Inspired by Chipotle’s fajitas, I recently went into a fajita making craze. They’re so easy to make and so delicious. All you need for fajitas is an onion, two bell peppers (I do red and green), olive oil for cooking, and some paprika and cumin. Slice up the onions and peppers into long thin strips and get them cooking! I season them with salt and plenty of the paprika and cumin. One they’re well cooked, enjoy them with a delicious mix of ingredients! In my fajita bowls, I’ve done fajitas, avocado, pinto beans, and a bit of cilantro-lime rice. Another great fajita bowl I made was a breakfast bowl, with a hash brown, fajitas, scrambled eggs, and avocado. These bowls are variable and you can get creative with them! Fajitas are super alkaline and I always feel awesome and satisfied after eating them, so I would highly recommend trying them.
To sum it all up, the alkaline diet is super simple and involves a lot of home cooking. Why do you have a kitchen if you aren’t going to use it? No really though, this diet is easy to follow and just takes a little extra time to do. How good you’ll feel on this diet is so worth every extra second you’ll take in the kitchen though, mark my words. I always feel my best when I’m eating plenty of good alkaline meals. After dinner I’ll usually want a little sweet treat, as many of us do. If you find yourself in this position, I recommend trying some fresh fruit, maybe some mango slices or a few dates, and if you must you could go for a few bites of dark chocolate. I am a dark chocolate fan and will absolutely treat myself to it from time to time. Again, this diet isn’t about being perfect, it’s about consistently eating 80% alkaline, 20% acidic. If you take care to really push for these guidelines, I’m confident that you’ll start to feel really good both physically and mentally.