Editor-Tested: 4 Non-Juice Cleanses to Try Before Bikini Season
Juice cleanses had their moment (some might argue that they’re still having their moment). But since their first explosion into the health scene in 2012, women everywhere have realized that sometimes, you can have your juice and eat things too. But not eat just anything, mind you—healthy, carefully-curated and nutritionally rich things, selected and created by nutritionists and health experts.
With that in mind, we couldn’t help but notice a new generation of cleanses quietly enter the scene. These cleanses (or “detox programs”) are much less painful, and involve everything from crisp salads and nutritious smoothies to even a guilt-free sweet-treat (or two). With bikini season looming not too far in the distance, we took it upon ourselves to try out four of the most buzz-worthy ones and report on the results. Water weight was shed, shakes were stirred, and chocolate avocado pudding was enjoyed—suffice to say, we now have an arsenal of alternatives to our standard juice cleanse. Keep scrolling to read our reviews!
The Cleanse: Urban Remedy Cindy’s Essentials
Created by: Neka Pasquale, Chinese nutritionist and certified acupuncturist
Duration: 3 days
Price: $175
Includes:
3 Cold-brewed coffees and teas
3 Breakfast meals in a bottle
7 Ready-to-go lunch and dinner items
3 Satisfying snacks
3 Green juices
You know it’s a good sign when you open the shipment, stare at the various packaged foods and juices, and actually feel excited to start the cleanse. Our editor could not say enough good things about this three-day organic, plant-based, Cindy Crawford-approved detox. Each morning, you’ll start your day with a Mint Cacao Chip Shake (delicious and incredibly filling) and Cold Brew or Matcha Au Lait (a non-caffeine version includes three beauty detox teas), while lunch and dinner options include filling salads with flavorful dressings, or quinoa bowls (which weren’t as flavorful as the salads, but filled you up). The portions are large, and you can munch on the Trail Mix, Sweet Potato Hummus with Veggies, or Spicy Lemon Almonds when your stomach growls, as well as sip on one of the green juices. Eating cold, raw foods for three days is no easy feat, but after the three days, our editor reported she felt lighter, healthier, and more energetic than she had in a long time. (Tip: If you have a sweet tooth, save half of the Mint Cacao Chip Shake to sip on throughout the day and satiate your craving.) You can find out more about the cleanse here.
The Cleanse: Paleta Mind & Body Cleanse
Created by: Kelly Boyer, Executive Chef
Duration: 5 days (also offers 10-day cleanse)
Price: $345
Includes:
Paleta PurifyPlus powder
Targeted meals and snacks
Herbal Tea
Shaker bottle
Soothing bath salts
The company is beloved by celebrities—everyone from Jessica Biel to Shay Mitchell, Jamie King, and the cast of Entourage have spoken out about Paleta’s meal delivery service—and it's no wonder they all have such enviable bodies, because this cleanse is the real deal. The primary component of the Paleta 5-day Mind and Body Cleanse is a specially-formulated protein shake which you're supposed to drink four times a day to supplement the program's mini-meals (and they are indeed mini). Standout mini-meals include the day-five butternut squash and gluten-free crackers, but you have to really like and commit to the protein shakes to get through the full cleanse. So, if you’re already a fan of protein shakes, you will love it, and definitely feel lighter after five days—but cleanse newbies be warned: our editor says this is probably not the best option for beginners. Find out more about the Mind and Body Cleanse here.
The Cleanse: Kore Kitchen Kore Cleanse
Created by: Meryl Pritchard, Certified Nutritionist
Duration: 3 days (also offers 5-day cleanse)
Price: $95 a day
Includes:
Superfood smoothies
Cold-pressed juices
Vegan salads for lunch
Curated snacks
Fiber rich soups
Evening teas
Our editor loved this cleanse from new LA-based organic meal delivery service Kore Kitchen. Food options included delicious superfood smoothies to start off each day (the Blueberry Mint Smoothie was a standout), filling, protein-rich lunch options like Vegan Pad Thai, and warm, comforting soups for dinner. The best part? Each day you get a small sweet treat—the chocolate avocado pudding and dark chocolate truffle made our editor feel satisfied and like she was “cheating,” even though each snack was full of good fats and antioxidants. At the end of three days, she reported that she had lost a significant amount of water weight, felt confident in her body, and even found the whites of her eyes to be brighter. Click here to find out more about Kore Kitchen!
The Cleanse: Soupure Cleanse
Created by: Angela Blatteis and Vivienne Vella
Duration: 1 Day (also offers 3 and 5-day cleanses)
Price: $79 - $375
Includes:
1 Pineapple Basil Water
1 Pear Yuzu Water
1 Zucchini Basil
1 Sweet Potato
1 Chicken Broth
1 Nuts & Seeds
1 Strawberry Cashew
1 Banana Sesame
LA-based soup cleanse company Soupure’s website says, “Souping in the New Juicing”—and after our editor’s experience, we might just believe them. Her favorite was the Banana Sesame Tea, which “tasted exactly like homemade banana nut bread,” and the Japanese Sweet Potato Soup for dinner. Surprisingly, she said she stayed full the entire day, and eagerly looked forward to the next soup, since there were so many unique flavors. If you’re looking to shed some major weight, she recommends trying the three or five-day cleanse—but the one-day cleanse still left her body feeling clean, healthy, and refreshingly full. Click here to order a Soupure cleanse!
Have you ever tried a non-juice cleanse? What is your favorite? Tell us below!