So, I’ve noticed that this term is confusing to so many people.
What is Clean Eating exactly and how do I eat clean?
The most common definition of clean eating is eating less processed foods and more real whole foods. My definition of clean eating is to know AT ALL TIMES what the hell you are putting in your body. You know that saying “When you know better, you do better”? Well for food, you need to know as much about your food as possible, in order to insure that you are choosing the best possible things to feed your body.
Let me just tell you what’s NOT clean.
Processed foods/Junk foods
~ Fast food items
~Chips
~Cookies
~Candies
~Ice cream (I know I’m so sorry)
~Cakes
~Pies
~Pastries, etc
Simple/Refined Carbohydrates
These carbohydrates include sugars and refined grains that have been stripped of all bran, fiber, and nutrients.
~White breads, Pizza dough,
~Pastas
~White rice
~Some breakfast cereals
~Basically anything made with white flour, added sugars (mentioned below), and processed grains.
Added Sugars
~Junk foods (as mentioned above)
~Juices/soft drinks
~Energy drinks
~Sauces (BBQ, Ketchup, Salad Dressings etc.)
~Some granola bars (read the labels, the less ingredients the better.)
~Some canned items
~SMOOTHIES (I cannot stress this ENOUGH, watch those smoothies)
~Breakfast cereals
Now i'm not saying you have to rid your diet of these completely right off the bat but try to reduce how often you are consuming them. Moderation is the key to life AND healthy eating.
If you read all those things and thought “well damn what can I eat?” then LMAO we have some work to do sis! Knowing how to shop and what to shop for is extremely important on this journey to better health. I get a lot of my staple groceries from Thrive which is basically an online grocery store that offers all the non-GMO, Organic, Gluten-Free, and Vegan foods and healthy products you love at 25-50% below retail price. PLUS it's all shipped right to your front door! They also provide a free membership to a low-income family, teacher, or veteran with every paid membership which is AMAZING so definitely check them out! Here is a list of clean foods that you absolutely should divulge in.
My Tips for Eating Clean
1. Cook your own food, period. It’s the only way to know what is exactly in what you are eating.
~ Restaurants tend to use oils and that essentially add more calories that you will unknowingly consume. Restaurants also have the tendency to serve meals up to three times the recommended serving size, causing people to over eat.
2. Eat the rainbow. Fruit and vegetables give you a boost of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and it just makes you feel good.
~Look at the foods you are typically eating in a given day. Reflect on whether or not you are feeding your body enough of the essential nutrients for all of your systems to even function properly.
~Eating for nourishment allows for your body to be properly energized through your workouts as well.
3. Reading the nutrition label. AGAIN, know what is in the foods you are eating, this means be sure to look at the added sugars, carbs, fats, and calories an item may contain.
4. Avoid processed foods.
5. LIMIT added fats, salts, and sugars.
6. Choose Wisely when eating on the go.
~Do some research on some of your favorite food places and look into what some of your favorite food items contain, you may be surprised. If necessary find an alternative that you like on the menu and swap it out for that healthier option.
Whether or not to eat clean is ultimately your decision but its going to be hard to reach any of your current or future fitness and health goals if you are not fueling your body properly.
Health is Wealth Sis,
Darian Ormond