time to Start Preparing

Your 7-14 Day Plan before arrival

On your Escapada journey, we will explore an Eastern Medicine approach to Healthy Eating and Gut Health.
We will guide you through many principles and ways to integrate our kitchen into your daily life at home.
Anything that can help nourish you on a daily basis, can have an immense healing effect and give you a sense of well-being.

We will serve a delicious seasonal vegetarian diet during your stay with us, a diet that will nourish all your senses. We wish to show you that a life of a “little bit less” with some principles, is much more achievable than a diet of restrictions and rules. Our daily diet is nourishment and should be seen as such ~ something to be enjoyed and make us feel simply amazing.

To start preparing your body for the retreat days, we ask you to start making these small changes 7-14 days prior to your arrival.

8 Small Changes that Make a Big Difference

1. Start your day with a cup of hot water with a few drops of lemon juice
   The warmth and sour taste will kick-start your metabolism and support detoxification.
   
   

2. Eat "Happy" Foods
   You not only are what you eat, but you act like what you eat, too. Food affects mood, behaviour and relationships. Foods that support happy moods are fresh, whole, and organic, where possible. Meals that include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy oils such as ghee and olive oil, and unprocessed sweeteners are recommended in Chinese Medicine. Your gut health loves lots of variety, taste and colour. Foods that are cooked fresh each day by yourself is ideal as you know exactly what it contains.
   
   

3. Reduce foods that show little love
   Foods such as leftovers, frozen, canned or processed foods are of little nutritional value, and that will show up in your health, gut health mood and skin health.
   
   

4. Watch your sugar and sweets intake
   Reduce/ avoid sugar. Although the sweet taste is vital in our daily nutrition. So start using natural substitutes such as honey, maple sirup, dates, raisins and cooked fruits.
   
   

5. Drink enough still water
   It’s a golden oldie but to get maximum benefit from a cleanse, your body needs to be well hydrated. Drink approx. 2 liter in small sips throughout the day. Have still water either at room temperature, warm or as herbal tea. Ideally it’s filtered or you buy glass bottles.
   
   

6. Half your coffee & alcohol intake
   Be aware of fluids like coffee and alcohol, as they can dehydrate you. Perhaps, start looking at reducing your coffee intake and replacing it with some herbal teas you like.
   
   

7. Eat only good quality meat
   If you choose to eat meat, know your sources and reduce the intake to once or twice a week. We don’t serve meat on retreat but see it as a vital energy source for those who need it in the right amount.
   
   

8. Stop eating when you feel satisfied
   Many of us overeat on a regular basis, especially if meal times are irregular. Sit down for your meal, chew well and take time to enjoy your foods. Ensure your last meal of the day is more or less before 7.30pm to not overload your digestive system. An overloaded digestive system can lead to poor quality sleep. During the night, your body goes into repair mode and shouldn’t be digesting.