MY DARLING LEMON THYME

the famed green juice recipe from my 3 day detox

green juice

I’m craving a huge bowlful of yoghurt, topped with berries, bananas and nuts. Like, really really craving them. As I sit here late at night typing up this post I am only one sleep away from my dream bowl of yoghurt. By the time you’ve read this tomorrow morning I will have finished my 3 day detox, eaten that said bowl of yoghurt, not topped with bananas as we are all out, but most definitely sprinkled with the few scavenged berries from the pots out back and a generous handful of almonds.
It’s funny how the second we can’t eat certain things, it’s all we crave. First thing in the morning for the past three days all I’ve wanted is yoghurt, same goes for late at night before I go to bed. I swear I’ve been eating it in my dreams.

I’m not one of those people who do cleanses all the time, sure I think about doing them often but I’ve always got some completely valid excuse not to (don’t we all?!). That’s not to say that I haven’t done them at all, I have. But if I’m being completely honest the last one I did was well over 2, okay maybe three years ago now and my body has been screaming out for another ever since. 

green juice
green juice

Like a lot of you out there I wanted to start the new year off on the right foot, but doing a detox right in the middle of recipe testing for the book, well that’s just a pretty silly idea I thought. While I was in the midst of trying to convince myself that maybe waiting a few more months until my manuscript was done would be the smarter idea, I saw the shout out on facebook from the guys behind Hungry for Change. They had just put up their simple little quicky detox and were providing support and advice over the next three days, would I like to join in? Try as I might, I really had no excuses left.

green juice
So on the eve of the end of my little detox do I feel any better than I did before? Not really. I possibly felt a little less tired waking up this morning than I usually do, but that could have something to do with the fact that both kids slept good last night? I dunno. And without trying to sound too self-righteous my diet is pretty damn healthy to begin with (vegetarian, gluten-free, mostly dairy-free, don’t smoke/drink coffee, very little alcohol blah blah blah, oh except for all that extra baking I’ve been nibbling on lately for testing purposes, honest!) so I wasn’t expecting miracles in a mere 3 days. Every other cleanse I’ve done in the past has been a full-on 7-10 day thing, where you take copious amounts of herbs that cleanse all manor of things from your body, all the while you only eat salad or something and then, you really do come out the other end with glowing skin and a lovely flat stomach. But what I have got out of this little cleanse is the self satisfaction of knowing I’ve finally got it together to actually do one, even with the current busyness of life. 
For any of you out there who like me, can’t really think of any excuses fast enough to turn down a 3 day detox, I thoroughly recommend this one. All the info and recipes are there, it’s free, 3 days, real food and no expensive herbs. Bamm. Do it.
green juice



“Parsley cleanses your entire blood supply and it also gives you fresh breath, it contains so much chlorophyl that is cleanses the whole system. Cilantro (coriander) binds with heavy metals, many people are exposed to mercury poisoning through their dental amalgams. Cilantro binds with mercury and eliminates it from the body so it doesn’t get lodged in your brain cells.” ~Mike Adams, Hungry for Change



green juice
Juices really should be made to your own tastes, so take this recipe and run with it. If you don’t like kale, use spinach. Don’t have fennel? No worries, use more celery. Not a fan of coriander in your juice? Just use the teeniest amount, or leave out altogether. Taste and adjust as you see fit. 
Makes approx 500-600ml or one large serve


3 stalks of celery
1/3 telegraph cucumber or 1 small Lebanese one
2 kale leaves
2 silverbeet (chard) leaves
1/2 small fennel bulb
1 apple
1 pear
1 small lemon, peeled
a good handful of parsley
a small handful of coriander (cilantro) leaves + stalks, optional
1 teeny piece of ginger (or as much as you like), optional

Cut all the fruit and vegetables into pieces small enough to fit in your juicer (I juice the stalks of all the veges and herbs too), and pass the whole lot through the machine. Drink immediately taking small sips and enjoy!

Adapted to suit my own tastes and from what I had on hand from the 3 day detox plan from Hungry for Change.

Please note that I am in no way affiliated with the Hungry for Change site, books or DVD and only recommend this detox from my own personal experiences and because I wholeheartedly believe in what they are trying to teach people.

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24 Responses

  1. I just bought some kale this morning, my grocer has started stocking it quite frequently in recent times. I'm craving a banana, kale, pear, nut kind of smoothie. I tend to try new combinations all the time. This looks good, keeping it in the reader to try! I've never done a detox before but like you, I try to listen to my body. I did have a very indulgent Sunday this week though! 😉

    1. Hi! Telegraph cucumbers are the long, thin skinned ones. Lebanese cucumbers are the lovely little sweet ones normally about 10-12cm long. Google the name and you'll find a photo if that helps? xx

    2. What I should have also said, is that it really doesn't matter what kind of cucumber you use! Whatever you can get your hands on is all good xx

  2. Well done. I love juicing but it does take that will power. I usually do one every January too but this year I think I will do one in Feb because my fridge is still full of leftovers from the festive season and dare I say it – I'm not that strong yet!!! "have to find my will" 🙂

  3. I bought my husband a juicer for Christmas and it's been a wonderful way to start the day. I'm not sure that I'm up for detoxing though – did that once and took me a week to recover :o(

  4. The juice sounds great on it's own! I am negotiating with my physio to let me start a modified exercise program, so adding this detox might help me kick start my metabolism for the year 🙂

  5. That looks soooo good,been -30ish here so juice fasting not a great idea for a few months!!I need to bookmark.Not jealous of your weather,heard about all the fires over here,scary stuff!

    1. Haha yes -30 is not exactly juicing weather! Far out that's cold! Yep the fires here in Aussie have been insane, I really feel for all those poor people being effected by them 🙁

    1. I have a Oscar DA-900. It's great but very expensive! I only have one after my brother won it and sold it to me for cheap 🙂

  6. Been thinking about doing some form of detox exercise. To be honest – I've been afraid and reluctant, thinking about the onset of headaches, etc. Sugar I can easily give up for a week of detox. Not such a problem since we eat a lot of veg & some grains & pulses at home and there's a good bit of sugar in there. But I'm a coffee drinker from way back (I'm sure it's from birth). The thought of suffering the headaches that come with no coffee isn't pleasant – I get one if I even forego it for half a day! But…
    I might give this green juice a go and do that morning lemon & ginger drink thing recommended by Hungry For Change and see how it goes before falling headlong into 3 days or a week's worth of detox! Thanks for the inspiration Emma. 🙂 x

  7. Good on you….being a New Year I have also been thinking about a detox!! I think we all do….certainly looking forward to some healthier, less indulgent living once the parents head home next week. Locked & loaded for 6 week programme at gym, so exercise & good food is imminent!

    1. I'd say the splitting you get is more from the type of juicer you are using. That said it really doesn't matter if it splits, just give it a stir back together and enjoy! xx