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Nutrition During Detox
Admissions answered 24 hours a day · Most major insurance accepted
Includes reviews of Flourishing Foundations Recovery, now part of Briarwood
The short answer
A healthy diet during drug and alcohol detox is simply a balanced one: carbohydrates, protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, and water. Addiction commonly leaves people malnourished and impairs the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals at all, which is why meals during detox matter more than they might sound.
If you have questions about meals, dietary restrictions or allergies during detox, admissions can answer them now on (866) 710-7710. Free, confidential, and answered around the clock.
What a balanced diet during detox includes
These are the six groups Briarwood’s meals are built around, with the food sources named in the page’s own copy.
| Nutrient | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | Important for the brain and nervous system. Brown rice, sweet potatoes, chickpeas. |
| Protein | The building block that lets the body heal and strengthen itself. Lean beef, chicken, seafood, soy, beans. |
| Fiber | Helps prevent constipation and regulate digestion. Nuts, berries, broccoli, apples, whole grains. |
| Healthy fats | Unsaturated fats can help lower cholesterol and heart-disease risk, unlike saturated and trans fats. Eggs, chia seeds, extra virgin olive oil, fish, nuts. |
| Vitamins and minerals | Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, folic acid and calcium among others. Tomatoes, dairy, green leafy vegetables, bananas. |
| Water | Around eight 8 oz glasses a day. About 60 percent of the body is water. Watermelon and celery also help with hydration. |
Meals are adjusted for dietary restrictions such as egg or nut allergies. If you cannot keep solid food down in the first few days, the kitchen provides easy-to-digest options like jello or broth, plus Gatorade for hydration.
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Healthy, balanced meals for clients in drug and alcohol detox
Why Is Proper Nutrition Important During Drug Detox?
Nutrition, just like physical exercise, is an important part of the physical recovery process. Many individuals who suffer from addiction to drugs and alcohol also develop very poor eating habits. This often leads to malnourishment, mood disorders, and other physical ailments.
Drug and alcohol abuse can also inhibit the body’s natural functions and severely impair its ability to extract and absorb important vitamins and minerals. Other drugs, such as marijuana, may also cause the user to binge on fatty and sugary foods. This is especially true with high‑THC hybrid weed strains, and our hybrid weed guide explains how different THC levels can affect appetite, mood, and detox planning.
At Briarwood Detox Center, we emphasize proper nutrition to help our clients heal and recover both physically and mentally. By providing nutritious meal options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we give each client the best opportunity for lasting recovery. This helps establish healthy eating habits and gives their bodies time and resources to heal from the damage done by drug and alcohol abuse.
What Should a Healthy Diet Look Like in Drug Detox?
A healthy diet during drug and alcohol detox is simply a balanced diet that supports lifelong health. It includes the following essential nutrients.
- Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates play an important role in the functioning of the brain and nervous system. Healthy carbs can be found in sources like brown rice, sweet potatoes, and chickpeas.
- Protein: Protein is a vital building block that enables your body to perform many different functions, like healing and strengthening itself. Examples of protein-rich foods include lean beef, chicken, seafood, soy, and beans.
- Fiber: Fiber helps prevent constipation and regulate the digestive process. Nuts, berries, broccoli, apples, and whole grains are all great sources of fiber.
- Healthy Fats: Although saturated and trans fatty acids are not good for you, unsaturated fats are essential for a healthy, balanced diet and can help lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Healthy fats are found in a variety of foods, including eggs, chia seeds, extra virgin olive oil, fish, and nuts.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Many of the body’s major functions rely on vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, K, folic acid, and calcium, among others. These nutrients can be found in food sources like tomatoes, dairy, green leafy vegetables, and bananas.
- Water: Adults typically need to drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water every day to stay hydrated. Proper nutrition is essential for bodily functions as 60 percent of the human body is water. Certain foods like watermelon and celery will also improve hydration.
What Kinds of Meals are Served at Briarwood Detox Center?
Meals at our Austin Location - All of the meals served at Briarwood Detox Center in Austin are carefully planned and proportioned to meet your nutritional needs while you’re completing your drug and alcohol detox program. Our experienced Executive Chef has partnered with a dietician to provide meals that are both healthy and delicious. Weekly meal plans are designed to incorporate all the essential nutrients needed for a balanced diet, and we are more than willing to adjust meals for individuals who have dietary restrictions such as egg or nut allergies.
Meals at our Houston Location - All of the meals served at Briarwood Detox Center in Houston are prepared and provided by several select high-quality, local food establishments. With a wide selection of food options available, clients can choose the type of food they prefer to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While a variety of meal options are available to our Houston clients, our staff encourages a nutritious, well-balanced diet to aid with detox and recovery.
In some cases, you may not be able to eat solid foods during the first few days of your detox program. If so, our chef will make sure you have easy-to-digest foods like jello or broth and Gatorade to make sure you stay hydrated.
Here is an example of one of our dietitian-approved menus at our Austin location:
Monday
Breakfast: Continental Breakfast
Lunch: Blackened Catfish, Jalapeno Grits, Braised Greens
Dinner: Fried Chicken, Mac-n-Cheese, Broccoli
Tuesday
Breakfast: Continental Breakfast
Lunch: Pesto, Mozzarella Chicken Ciabatta, Black Pepper Fries
Dinner: Grilled Char Sui Brisket, Garlic-Ginger Mashed Potatoes, Crispy Vegetables
Wednesday
Breakfast: Continental Breakfast
Lunch: Garlic Seared Chicken, Quinoa Salad, Pico de Gallo
Dinner: Chef’s Choice
Thursday
Breakfast: Continental Breakfast
Lunch: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Marinara, Zucchini, Garlic Bread
Dinner: BBQ Pork Ribs, Baked Beans, Corn Bread
Friday
Breakfast: Continental Breakfast
Lunch: Asian Chicken Salad, Egg Rolls, Sesame Ginger Dressing
Dinner: Whole Grain Mustard Pork Loin, Red Potatoes, Sautéed Vegetables
Saturday
Breakfast: Continental Breakfast
Lunch: Beef Picadillo con Chili Verde Quesadillas, Spanish Rice, Charro Beans
Dinner: Turkey Burgers, Swiss, Sweet Potato Fries
Sunday
Breakfast: Continental Breakfast
Lunch: Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Bacon and Swiss, Spinach Salad
Dinner: Chef’s Choice of Pizza, Caesar Salad
Straight answers
Common questions
What should you eat while detoxing from alcohol?
A balanced diet: healthy carbohydrates, protein, fiber, unsaturated fats, vitamins and minerals, and plenty of water. Addiction often leaves people malnourished and impairs the absorption of vitamins and minerals, so the goal during detox is restoring the basics rather than following any special detox diet.
What is the best food to eat while detoxing?
There is no single best food. Briarwood’s meals are built around six groups — carbohydrates, protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, and water — with sources like brown rice, lean protein, berries, olive oil, leafy greens and fruit. The table above lists each group and where it comes from.
What if I cannot eat solid food during detox?
In some cases you may not be able to eat solid food in the first few days. The kitchen provides easy-to-digest options such as jello or broth, along with Gatorade, so you stay hydrated.
Can Briarwood accommodate allergies or dietary restrictions?
Yes. Meals at the Austin location are planned by an Executive Chef working with a dietician and are adjusted for restrictions such as egg or nut allergies. In Houston, meals come from several selected local food establishments and clients choose from a range of options at each meal.
What reduces alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
Not food. Eating well supports recovery, but it does not manage withdrawal, and for alcohol that distinction matters more than for anything else — alcohol withdrawal is one of the few that can become dangerous on its own. What reduces the symptoms is medication: ASAM names benzodiazepines as the first-line treatment, given under supervision. Which setting that happens in depends on risk, and it is a clinical judgement rather than a preference.
Coverage
Our center is in-network with many insurances
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