Fonio is an ancient West African grain that nutritionist Maya Feller introduced us to. It wasn’t a hard sell—a gluten-free grain that cooks as quickly and easily as couscous or quinoa but has more iron, protein, and fiber than brown rice? Sign us up. We love it warm or cold in pilaf or salad, and it makes a speedy and satisfying breakfast porridge. Adding chia seeds and blending half the mixture before serving gives it a decadent pudding-for-breakfast vibe. Fonio might not be widely available in grocery stores in the US, but you can buy our favorite brand, Yolélé , online. If you’re following the 2021 detox and can’t track down the fonio, try this brown rice overnight breakfast porridge instead.

Starting the day with a creamy bittersweet chocolate smoothie sure feels like a treat. Using frozen cauliflower is a nice way to sneak some veggies in first thing, and we like the changeup from typical greens—plus it adds creaminess when blitzed.

“Grain bowls are a popular way to showcase heirloom grains and farmers’ market bounty. They have become a staple at many eateries throughout California. This breakfast version is a cozy way to start the day but is suitable for lunch or dinner.” —Vivian Lui

This is a plant-based riff on one of our favorite deli-inspired lunch dishes. Chickpeas are hearty and serve as a nice earthy-neutral canvas for ginger, lime, garlic, and curry powder.

Okay, technically this isn’t hummus (“hummus” translates to “chickpeas and tahini”) but this sweet potato tahini dip is made lovingly in its image. Cumin, garlic, lemon, and salt round out the sweet, creamy, earthy mix of sweet potatoes and tahini. Serve with crunchy raw veggies, Grain-Free Seed Bread, or crackers alongside a few briny olives for a satisfying snack board lunch.

DIY dinner menus like these poke bowls are a hit because everyone gets to make theirs just how they like it. While it does have a lot of components, everything comes together quickly and a few of the fixings can even be store-bought (crispy shallots, Sriracha vegenaise). The MVP among them is definitely the Japanese Chili Crisp—it adds texture and incredible flavor. GP said she’d eat it on plain white rice and be very happy.

A lot of traditional Japanese marinades call for mirin or sake (delicious, but sugary and alcoholic, respectively, so not very detox-friendly). We’ve found that coconut aminos bring a similar sweetness that complements the salty miso. It’s worth noting that miso and coconut aminos tend to burn on the grill. We learned a tip from the Japanese food blog Just One Cookbook: Completely wipe the marinade off the chicken before grilling. Don’t worry, the marinade soaks in for twenty-four hours beforehand, so you won’t lose any flavor.

Simply prepared fish, vegetables, and salsa verde makes the kind of satisfying meal that’s almost accidentally healthy. Serve this as is or over a bed of brown rice, quinoa, or fonio.

A sweet potato–black bean–cauli rice bowl might not be a revelation, but it always hits the spot. One new thing we’ve added to this bowl is quick-pickled slaw inspired by Salvadorian curtido, which is typically served as the fresh acidic foil to rich savory pupusas. The combination of vinegar, cabbage, onion, and oregano is next-level.

Yes, this is a deluxe version of the apple slices and peanut butter you had as an afternoon snack growing up. Slathering a center-cut slice of a tart Granny Smith apple with almond butter, sprinkling it with salt, then dunking it into a pile of mixed seeds and nuts results in the best crunchy-creamy-then-crunchy-again textural experience we’ve ever had in a snack. You can follow the directions and get all food-style-y on IG with a seeded ombré or you can fully just mix the toppings all together. It will taste delish regardless.

GP is a french fry connoisseur, which is why her OG fry recipe requires a soak and a double fry. Soaking the raw potatoes helps release excess starch, and doing two separate rounds of frying—one at a lower temperature and one higher—yields a pillowy-tender interior and a super crispy exterior. We adapted this method for the air fryer, and we’re thrilled with the results.

There’s no competing with a real french fry. This is a different game. We like the idea of changing it up and diversifying our fry habit with some nutritious root vegetables. The air fryer keeps these veggie fries pleasantly crispy, and they go so well with Old Bay seasoning.

The best way to introduce kids to new foods is to have them take part in making it. This inspired DIY lunch gets them involved and allows them to make it just how they like it. And packing the elements separately keeps them nice and crisp.

Fried rice is a culinary home run with kids. This version comes together quickly and works no matter what combination of veggies you have on hand. You can easily make it vegan by nixing the egg and adding tofu or edamame for a little extra protein.

Kids love to eat this simple bean salad (with some sautéed spinach sneaked in) with pita. It’s easy to make; delicious warm, cold, or at room temperature; and full of protein and fiber to keep them going for the rest of the afternoon.

“This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. I loved Rye Happies as a kid, and then made them for my children. They’re rich in healthy omega-3 fat from the walnuts, and with polyunsaturated fats, phytosterols, and plant fibers, this recipe could have been designed for cholesterol-lowering. Make some when it’s your turn to bring snacks for the soccer team. Although brown sugar is only a little better than white sugar in terms of nutrient content, with little bits of calcium and iron, in this recipe, it is the only imperfect ingredient.” —Gerda Endemann

These blondies are rich and fudgy with a perfect sweet-salty balance, and if kept in an airtight container, they’ll stay moist for days. They’re great as is, but you could doctor them up any way you like. Try chocolate chips, golden raisins, and shredded coconut for a more-is-more seven-layer-bar vibe.

The buckle is a great summer dessert that doesn’t get the attention of a cobbler or cake, but it’s the easiest to make. Our version uses browned vegan butter, almond yogurt, and a flax egg to provide moisture, and ripe summer peaches and lemon zest for that balance of sweetness and tartness.

Fonio is an ancient West African grain that nutritionist Maya Feller introduced us to. It wasn’t a hard sell—a gluten-free grain that cooks as quickly and easily as couscous or quinoa but has more iron, protein, and fiber than brown rice? Sign us up. We love it warm or cold in pilaf or salad, and it makes a speedy and satisfying breakfast porridge. Adding chia seeds and blending half the mixture before serving gives it a decadent pudding-for-breakfast vibe. Fonio might not be widely available in grocery stores in the US, but you can buy our favorite brand, Yolélé , online. If you’re following the 2021 detox and can’t track down the fonio, try this brown rice overnight breakfast porridge instead.

Starting the day with a creamy bittersweet chocolate smoothie sure feels like a treat. Using frozen cauliflower is a nice way to sneak some veggies in first thing, and we like the changeup from typical greens—plus it adds creaminess when blitzed.

We wanted to include a bread of some kind in our detox menu for everyone who became an amateur bread baker in 2020. Gluten-free and grain-free baking can be challenging, but we promise this one is a cinch. This loaf is dense and studded with many types of seeds, more like Danish rye than airy ciabatta. It’s great for dunking into our Everything Green Soup or topping with Curried Chickpea Salad, and it has endless breakfast toast possibilities (avocado and lemon, almond butter and dates, vegan ricotta and fruit compote).