Our Top Ten Clean Lunches
Our Top Ten Clean Lunches
Dr. Alejandro Junger’s Clean program has become a pillar of goop’s annual January detox. The goal is to help your body heal itself by removing foods that are potential allergens and replacing them with nutrient-rich alternatives. The rules are similar to an elimination diet: no caffeine, alcohol, gluten, added sugar, processed oils, nightshades, corn, shellfish, red meat, soy, eggs, or dairy. The list might seem long, but the list of what you can eat is longer (we’re talking roasted sweet potatoes with spiced dal, garlicky black beans with guacamole, nori wraps stuffed with grilled chicken and kimchi, green salads studded with quinoa and root veggies, and so on).
Over the last ten years, we’ve created many recipes around the Clean program, all of them delicious, easy to make, and totally satisfying. The ones we turn to most often are the lunches—simple to pack up and take to work and really something to look forward to midday. We chose the ten that are the most popular, hands down.
Roasted Kabocha Soup
This warming winter soup has a good kick of ginger, which helps stimulate digestion.
Farmers’ Market Chopped Salad
All the different colors, flavors, and textures of this salad make eating clean a pleasure, and the combination of protein-packed quinoa and chickpeas will keep you full and happy.
Brown Rice Summer Rolls
We love summer rolls because basically they’re handheld salads with a delicious dipping sauce. We’ve swapped traditional vermicelli noodles for zoodles here, which add a little heft and crunchy texture.
Kimchi & Grilled Chicken Nori Wrap
We make this with cooked sushi rice from the grocery store and leftover grilled chicken. Full of protein and probiotic-packed kimchi, this is one of our favorite lunches even when we’re not detoxing.
Miso Kelp Noodle Pot
A splash of tamari and a dollop of miso provide an instant Asian-inspired soup base here. Add whatever combo of raw and cooked veggies you like. Kelp noodles are made from sea vegetables and can be found near the tofu at Whole Foods and most health food stores.
Indian Spiced Black Dhal-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
This lunch is super filling and an immune-boosting powerhouse. Both sweet potatoes and lentils are rich in fiber that will keep you full well through the afternoon.
Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi Salad
This is a detox-friendly version of one of our favorites, a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich.
Cauliflower Black Bean Bowl with Kale Guacamole
This quick and easy dish is a perfect dinner after a long day. The kale guacamole makes a great snack with raw veggies.
Crunchy Kale Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette
The combo of raw kale and crunchy kale chips in this salad is a revelation. Plus it’s full of iron, good fats, and antioxidants, which means it’s great for your body both inside and out—an all-around winner.
Red Lentil & Caramelized Onion Soup
High-fiber lentils provide vegetable protein, along with some iron and B vitamins. We love combining these earthy gems with the deep, roast-y, slightly sweet flavor of caramelized onions. This soup will gently warm your stomach and keep you satisfied.