I get asked this question a lot…what is clean eating?
Basically, it means that you avoid anything processed. Check the ingredients on the foods you’re eating. There really shouldn’t be a long list of ingredients. If you can’t pronounce it, you shouldn’t eat it.
People who eat clean give up: soda, sugar, fast food, artificial sweeteners, deli meats (processed meats), microwavable TV dinners, and junk food.
People who eat clean typically eat whole grains, lot of fruits, veggies, legumes, and lean meats.
Some people may have a different approach to clean eating. For example, some people will not eat dairy as a part of a clean diet, while others think it’s ok. I always say do whatever works best for you. As long as you are limiting the amount of processed foods you are eating (and no, organic Oreos are not a part of a clean diet), then you’re on the right track.
So is clean eating low carb? Low fat? Low sugar? Not really…fruit has sugar, so you can’t really cut all sugar out of your diet. Fruit, whole grains and legumes have carbs, so cutting them out of your diet just to be low carb is silly (in my opinion). And fats like coconut oil, nuts, and avocados are GOOD for you, so they definitely have a place in a clean diet.
So what would a sample clean eating day look like?
Breakfast: oatmeal with a piece of fruit and a serving of nuts
Snack: hummus and vegetables
Lunch: big salad with a lean protein like tuna and homemade or organic salad dressing
Snack: guacamole with organic corn chips
Dinner: veggies (steamed, roasted, sautéed, just not fried, and easy on the oil), a lean protein like salmon and a carb, like sweet potato
Starting to eat clean may be hard at first, especially if you’re used to eating a lot of processed foods. Don’t worry–it WILL get easier. Your body will get used to the clean food, and eventually you won’t even want the junk you once craved.
