How to Cleanse Like a True Foodie

After trying a three-day juice cleanse years back, I said "never again." (I did not have increased energy or feel euphoric; rather, I was an easy-to-anger headache-plagued mess.) Which is why I think Splendid Spoon's seven-day soup plan ($95 per week) is so brilliant. Unlike more extreme, sugary juice- or powder-based cleanses, it consists of a one-day soup cleanse, five lunch-size soups to get you through the workweek, and a cheat day. (The idea being that other meals during the five-day stretch, while up to you, will be health-concious.) While the soup cleanse was low in calories, I found it doable thanks to the fiber and cozy nature of hot soup. My only gripe: most of the soups needed perking up with something acidic, like vinegar or extra salt (at least for my palate).

— NP