Clean eating
angelb1983
Posts: 160 Member
Looking for advice from those that "eat clean". I want to start this by saying I know that it does not help with weight loss...I am wanting to do it merely for health reasons and to gain a desire for healthier foods. Anyway, to those who clean eat...what does that mean to you? What do you do when you are running around and don't have time to go home and make something. How do you prevent eating out? Do you find that clean eating has reduced your desire to eat less healthy foods, or do you always crave those? What are some breakfast ideas? I can't stand oatmeal because of the texture, but other options would be awesome! And one more question, what are some foods that you always keep in the refrigerator? Would love to look at your diary for ideas...Going from a diet that is 90% processed to 90% clean will have its challenges, I am sure.
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"Clean eating"? Do you mean by not eating pork, etc.?0
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You are going to get so many different opinions on this. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store.-1
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Hi there! I don't do it perfectly (yet) but I eat clean (and paleo) 95% of the time. No grains or added sugars. My fridge is always packed with lean protiens (grass fed/organic), tons of fresh organic vegetables and some fresh fruits. I always have plenty of spices, olive and coconut oil, grass fed butter, raw honey and other natural condiments on hand. I rarely find myself without a healthy option because I shop and prep on Sundays and I never leave home without a snack or two e.g., nuts, seeds, berries, an apple, icelandic yogurt, turkey jerky, hard boiled egg, etc... Whole foods sells Alive and Radiant products and they are clean/organic/Paleo and really good for you so I tend to have a bag of that handy as well. Eating clean has most definitely reduced my desire to eat junk food. I can't even stand the thought of a candy bar let alone eat one! yuk. My overall strength, tone and energy is awesome as a result. I have not been logging much lately because of family issues and time constraints but message me, I'd love to talk more and share ideas. Thanks0
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An idea for breakfast is to eat brown rice with fruits, dried fruits, nuts, etc. Also, eggs scrambled with veggies. I don't eat "clean" but my parents are vegan, so I have some ideas. A crockpot might come in handy.0
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Good for you for wanting to eat a more healthy diet!
As Lifting says, you're going to get many different opinions on this, but yeah, shop the perimeter. Choose whole foods: traditionally vegetables, traditionally grown fruits, grass fed meats, nuts, seeds etc. that you prepare without adding a lot of convenience boxed products to. Aim for breads with fewer ingredients. Aim to limit the HFCS, and other added sugars.
I don't refer to myself as a clean eater, per se. But I try to eat nutritious whole foods. I keep nuts handy for snacks. I pre-cut vegetables. I keep fruits near by. I pre-hard boil eggs for snacks.
And most importantly: join the clean eating group here, the perimeter shoppers group, or the eating to live group, and even the paleo group, as they'll give you answers to questions you have about your goal to eat more whole foods.
They'll each have their own ideas as to what that means, but they'll respect your goal. On the main boards, clean eating threads usually turn into mocking, adolescent, train wrecks where folks become obtuse for "fun".
Best of luck on your journey!0 -
angelb1983 wrote: »Anyway, to those who clean eat...what does that mean to you?
Clean eating doesn't really mean anything to me, to ambiguous of a term... I fill my diet with as much nutrient dense foods as I can. Once my needs are met I fill in the rest with whatever I fancy.angelb1983 wrote: »What do you do when you are running around and don't have time to go home and make something.
If I'm hungry, I make best choice from what is available to me. If I am not hungry, I skip the meal.angelb1983 wrote: »How do you prevent eating out?
I don't...angelb1983 wrote: »Do you find that clean eating has reduced your desire to eat less healthy foods, or do you always crave those?
Cravings have never gone away but that said, I do not consider any food unhealthy. IMO, the devil is in the dose. What manages my cravings though is the fact that I don't deem any foods as off limits.angelb1983 wrote: »What are some breakfast ideas?
I typically start each day with a green smoothie. The recipe varies. Today was...
2 cups water, 1 banana, 1 pear, 1/2 rolled oats, 1 cup frozen peas, 2 cups frozen spinach and 1oz roasted cashews.
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Start tilling your garden now. Also, you can buy hogs, cattle, and chicken on the cheap when they're young.0
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Hi
I have several standard breakfasts.
- scrambled eggs, made with unsweetened almond milk and pepper on soda bread
- porridge (I love it, but the texture used to bother me too). I have it either with cinnamon or with honey drizzled on top
- chopped up apple in a mug with cinnamon and yoghurt
- smoothie (something like frozen melon, spinach, lime juice, almond milk and banana protein powder).
- toasted shop bought bagel (this isn't clean at all, but its quick when I have no energy)
I find that heavily processed food tastes differently, particularly shop bought soup and sauces. They have an artificial taste to them. I still crave sugar, which is annoying but smoothies, fruit and green tea help.
Things I always have in are yoghurt, cinnamon, apples, red grapefruit, spinach (frozen is really handy for smoothies), honey, nuts, frozen bagels/muffins/bread (as I try not to eat too much of these), almond milk, lemons, lime juice, tins of tuna (to have with rice or mixed with yoghurt in a jacket potato), oat biscuits.
I try to only eat out in decent restaurants where they cook food from scratch.0 -
For me "clean eating" means my hands are washed and my plates and silverware are clean before I eat.-1
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It means eating a lot of nutrient dense, whole foods and meals prepared from wholesome, scratch ingredients. I pretty much follow a rule of 80%/20%. Lots of veggies, fruit, whole grains, lean protein sources, and healthy fats...and some ice cream from time to time.Anyway, to those who clean eat...what does that mean to you?What do you do when you are running around and don't have time to go home and make something. How do you prevent eating out?
I'm pretty good about planning. Sandwiches always come in handy on the go...I don't consider bread to be "unclean."
I'm a foodie and always have been. I crave quality and have eaten relatively "clean" most of my life. Again, this is difficult...because most people wouldn't consider something like pizza to be "clean"...but my favorite pizzeria prepares some awesome pies using scratch, whole ingredients...quality is superb...most people would consider that junk, but I don't see anything wrong with it as a part of a well balanced diet. The bigger issue is having a couple of slices vs an entire pie.Do you find that clean eating has reduced your desire to eat less healthy foods, or do you always crave those?
I love eggs and pretty much eat them daily. Right now I'm big into having my scrambled eggs on top of a bed of homemade pinto beans and smothered in New Mexico green chiles.What are some breakfast ideas? I can't stand oatmeal because of the texture, but other options would be awesome!
Too many to list...lots of veggies, chicken, pork tenderloin, white fish, salmon, etc...milk, eggs...etc, etc, etc...lots of whole foods. Shop the perimeter of your grocery store.And one more question, what are some foods that you always keep in the refrigerator? Would love to look at your diary for ideas...Going from a diet that is 90% processed to 90% clean will have its challenges, I am sure.
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The problem is that there is no established definition of "clean" eating. I prefer the term "whole foods." I do eat whole the majority of the time, including making a lot of my pasta and bread. That involves shopping primarily around the outskirts of the supermarket. Produce, meat, dairy. I will include canned beans because I seldom have the time to cook from dried, and I include bottled sauces and dressings and whole grain flours, exotic rices {Browns, reds and blacks) and lentils. Other than that, I shop the aisles for vinegar, oil and spices, and I buy some frozen veggies (I eat mostly fresh, but its nice to have mixes on hand).)0
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I agree with the above poster that a better term is "whole foods." So basically making your meals as simple as possible using few ingredients and making sure they are fresh and not from a package. For example one of my go-to lunches is a grilled chicken breast on a bed of spinach and topped with black beans. That's 3 ingredients, 5 if you count the spices I use (which I generally don't because they have miniscule to no caloric value), and it's delicious and I don't feel the slightest bit deprived. For dinner I will often make chicken/fish/pork, a carb side of brown rice/quinoa/potatoes, and steamed veggies. So again only a handful of foods, meals don't have to be complex, and often times I find they taste better when they are simple. And of course it makes it easier to log!
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noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »For me "clean eating" means my hands are washed and my plates and silverware are clean before I eat.
I scrub the dirt off my sweet potatoes
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Thank you all for the comments, and Sabine....thank you for the suggestion to join a group. I forgot about groups.0
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Try steel cut oats. The texture is better. And Google a recipe for baked oatmeal. It is good. I have a lot of crustless quiche for breakfast. I bake 2 and have a slice each morning along with fruit.0
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I have tried to eat real food. If it has a ingredients label I dont eat it., nothing processed. I try to buy organic but not everything. It is a process. I eat no processed sugar or wheat.0
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Oh, I still eat plenty of processed stuff. Ice cream, chocolate, condiments (have you ever tried to make your own ketchup?) and dressings...plus, my sweetheart and I like to eat out. But you won't find junk food in my house. That's strictly for sharing with my beloved.
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There will be much grade-school-style mocking and many people bragging about what non-healthy food they eat, which is somehow supposed to make you feel worse, lol. But good for you!
Lean, white meat. Fresh fruits and veggies. Low or no fat dairy. Whole grain breads.
http://www.fitness.gov/eat-healthy/how-to-eat-healthy/-2 -
There will be much grade-school-style mocking and many people bragging about what non-healthy food they eat, which is somehow supposed to make you feel worse, lol. But good for you!
Lean, white meat. Fresh fruits and veggies. Low or no fat dairy. Whole grain breads.
http://www.fitness.gov/eat-healthy/how-to-eat-healthy/
actually low no fat dairy is not considered clean. Full fat yogurt and milk is fantastic.Dark meat (chicken thighs) are tasty as all get out, especially baked or BBQ'd with skin intact.0 -
I started clean eating recently and have lost a lot more than I thought I would. I eat over 1400 calories a day but it's all chicken, eggs, whole grains and veggies (and sometimes a steak because YUM) I feel fantastic and I sleep better. I'm really happy with how it's going and can't wait to see more results.0
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I recently wrote a blog post about this: https://www.dietbetter.com/community/posts/general/4051-eating-clean-cooking-ahead-is
You don't have to avoid going out completely- get a salad! If it's Mexican, get fajitas and avoid the tortillas. If Chinese, go for lean meat and veggies- Kung Pao is my favorite, and I avoid the rice.
Eating clean has made all the difference in my weight loss journey. To me, it means avoiding processed foods as much as possible- but it doesn't mean you always have to cook. This morning I grabbed some shrimp, threw it in a bag, grabbed some salad greens, threw them in a bag- I'll top it with lemon juice and pepper, and viola- LUNCH!
Good luck to you- feel free to add me on here if you want to.
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angelb1983 wrote: »Looking for advice from those that "eat clean". I want to start this by saying I know that it does not help with weight loss...I am wanting to do it merely for health reasons and to gain a desire for healthier foods. Anyway, to those who clean eat...what does that mean to you? What do you do when you are running around and don't have time to go home and make something. How do you prevent eating out? Do you find that clean eating has reduced your desire to eat less healthy foods, or do you always crave those? What are some breakfast ideas? I can't stand oatmeal because of the texture, but other options would be awesome! And one more question, what are some foods that you always keep in the refrigerator? Would love to look at your diary for ideas...Going from a diet that is 90% processed to 90% clean will have its challenges, I am sure.
By clean eating, what exactly do you mean? My definition of clean eating is eating foods where there are minimal steps (usually 5 or less) to get it from its original state to my plate.
My rule is 80% clean 20% dirty, here's why: if I don't eat the dirty things sometimes I will go crazy. However, I have IBS so after adapting myself to eating clean my flare ups are minimal anymore but when I do choose to eat things not so clean I'm ill afterwards and I pay for it later. This kind of stops me from really binging but sometimes, you can't help it right? You made plans with the girls or with work and you're just going out - you don't wanna seem like the downer right? I think eating clean hasn't reduced my want to the dirty foods - I still love the taste of them BUT I know they will make me feel ill and I don't want to eat them because of how sick I know I will be. I'm not sure how others have felt about this though.
I can't help you with breakfast because I eat yogurt and granola almost every morning. When I'm not eating that, I cook some eggwhites with a bit of shredded cheese on top and eat that for breakfast I do meal prep though, so I make all of my meals and snacks for the week on weekends and that way I'm not tempted to buy anything. If I am buying something I usually plan it because I know ahead of time. This allows me to be able to plan going out within my caloric intake and within my own limits. Also - someone once told me to not think of breakfast as just breakfast, but to think of it as a regular meal. With that being said, you can eat almost anything you want for breakfast. If you have something you can whip up quickly and know you like to eat but you usually have it for lunch, don't let that stop you - eat away!! Breakfast doesn't have to be just cereal, it can be anything you want it to be.
Good luck though! It can be tough to make the switch, but when I did I felt better and was much less bloated, with less flareups0 -
angelb1983 wrote: »Looking for advice from those that "eat clean". I want to start this by saying I know that it does not help with weight loss...I am wanting to do it merely for health reasons and to gain a desire for healthier foods.
You know lots of people try to eat healthy without buying into the "clean eating" thing or who simply think that terminology is vague and unhelpful, right?
I also wonder why people want to limit discussions of eating healthy to people who buy into a particular kind of language, especially one that seems to vary so dramatically in its meaning. And especially when you start by asking what "clean eating" means to people. Why not ask what healthy eating means to people. Again, I suspect a huge number of people who don't self-define as "clean eaters" care about health just as much as you do.What are some breakfast ideas? I can't stand oatmeal because of the texture, but other options would be awesome!
Paleo types wouldn't even agree that oatmeal is "clean" and neither should the "non-processed" people, since it's processed by definition. I like Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut, but like most oatmeal, it comes in a package.
Anyway, not sure why I'm answering this, as my answer is irrelevant as a non "clean" eater, but I generally eat a vegetable omelet with whatever veggies are on hand plus (usually) some feta cheese. Today's was mushroom, onion, broccoli, and spinach.
Because I like large breakfasts and more protein, I also usually have something else. Today it was lowfat cottage cheese (which, of course, is not "clean" under many or most definitions, although I am picky about the source of my dairy). Often it's fruit, yogurt, or smoked salmon (also processed, obviously).And one more question, what are some foods that you always keep in the refrigerator?
Meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy, eggs. I generally have potatoes and sweet potatoes on hand also.
I eat some processed foods (as it is usually defined)--lots of dairy products, occasional sausage, some oatmeal and other grains, canned and dried beans (not as much as I should), more rarely pasta, plus a good amount of ice cream, protein powder and Quest bars. Also frozen fish and meat (the latter from a farm). However, most of what I eat (despite not being a "clean eater") is made from whole foods, although I do go out to eat not infrequently. So with those caveats, you are welcome to look in my diary if you want.
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There will be much grade-school-style mocking and many people bragging about what non-healthy food they eat, which is somehow supposed to make you feel worse, lol. But good for you!
Lean, white meat. Fresh fruits and veggies. Low or no fat dairy. Whole grain breads.
http://www.fitness.gov/eat-healthy/how-to-eat-healthy/
There will also be a lot of people who make the assumption that they know what "clean" means, but since there are no clear parameters, it means something different for every person who does it. Some eat no sugar at all, some include honey since it's natural...or agave or turbinado or "less processed" sugars. Some don't eat grains, some include whole grains. Some pay more attention to sustainability and fair trade practices in their food's "cleanliness" than others.
For example, quinoa can no longer be considered fair trade or "clean" in most instances because it has been priced out of reach of the very people who grow it, who traditionally used it for a staple, and now must find less nutritious, more affordable food while they grow our quinoa. Whole? Sure. Clean? That's questionable.
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Great blog 33Freya! Acorsaut89, I think 80% is probably where I will be, and by some standards maybe not even that. I will still eat cheese (not sure if that is "clean" or not)100% whole wheat bread, and occasional dark chocolate. I may even have a day that I eat the "dirty" foods haha that word for food I find funny, anyway, I agree that overly depriving yourself can lead to binging. Been there done that.....0
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »clean eating threads usually turn into mocking, adolescent, train wrecks where folks become obtuse for "fun".
I disagree. People dislike being told that they don't care about health or eat "unclean" foods just because they don't share certain debateable (at best) premises, like that grains are bad or that all processed foods are bad or (most weird) that oatmeal and store-bought yogurt aren't really processed.
Why can't people share ideas about healthy eating more broadly instead of insisting that they exchange ideas only with those who self-identify as "clean" or join groups of people who self-identify as "clean" or "paleo," and the like.
I do not concede that someone who self-defines as say "paleo," cares more about health that someone who doesn't. They might just have different ideas about what's healthy. For example, I think it would be healthier for me to eat more beans than I do, whereas someone who self-defines as "paleo" claims that I should give up beans for health and someone against processed foods ought to (for consistency) point out that they are processed (even though I could easily grow them in my garden and dry them myself).
One can debate whether it's useful/healthy to include something processed like protein powder, but usually people don't include it because they are uninterested in health. That's why these discussions drive me crazy. The subtext is only people who self-define as "clean" eaters are concerned about healthy eating or worth discussing nutrition with.0 -
lemurcat, this is why I get so confused. It is all the rules associated with differing viewpoints on what "clean" or "whole" is. I can't see myself giving up every processed food if yogurt is even considered processed. My goal, I suppose, is to eat less boxed foods, less out to eat, and more foods that actually have a nutritional value. I guess I am not sure if that is "clean" or "whole" after all.0
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I look at it like this: If it's possible for me to make it myself, with fresh ingredients, then I do. If it's not possible or I'm not particularly inclined (beans, for instance), then I look for the most minimally processed, preferably organic, option available.
If I can't buy fresh, then I choose frozen over canned, hermetic packages over aluminum cans, etc. and pay attention to the ingredients. If I'm buying black beans, the ingredients should just say black beans, or at most, black beans and salt. I'm going to rinse them anyway, so the added salt will be minimal.
I eat as wide a variety of foods as possible, including lots of different kinds of veggies, cheeses, grains, legumes, and proteins.
I've learned to make my own breads and pastas, ice cream, nut butter, and I'm planning to make my own cheeses and salad dressings. It makes a huge difference in the taste when you make learn to make these things yourself.0 -
I don't consider myself a 'clean eater', I don't really know what that defines to be totally honest. I choose to eat as little processed food as possible, choosing fresh ingredients and snack items over pre-made or pre-packaged.
For example, I have smoothies in the morning for breakfast which consist of a couple different fruits veggies, yogurt, skim milk and some flax seed meal or chia seeds.
My lunches tend to be a piece of meat (oven baked chicken for example) and some veggies/fruits. Chicken Caesar salad is a favorite of mine at work. Fish, beef, pork...there are lots of options to couple with a huge array of salads. I do use store bought dressing however and this takes up the larger portion of my calorie count - which I account for.
Dinners can be a variety of things but I often make homemade soups from all fresh ingredients on the weekends and freeze in individual portions for during the week. I dislike cooking when I get home from work and this has put a near stop to my fast food issues. I say near because I've found that the chicken wraps from McDonald's are delicious and fairly guilt free on-the-go dinner (within my daily caloric intake) when I just don't have time or didn't prepare.
Some of the things I keep on hand at all times are lots of fruits (apples, bananas, oranges) and veggies (carrots, celery, broccoli) that make great snacks any time of the day. Granola bars and almonds are another great filler in between meals. I try not to keep any junk food in the house such as chips, ice cream or other items I have a weakness for. I personally find it too hard to control myself when it's right there.
Overall, I am not completely clean or whole or whatever you want to call it. However, when I used to have Tim Horton's coffee and a bagel slathered in cream cheese for breakfast, some heavy fried items with French fries for lunch, topped off with a heavy fast food dinner...then evening snacking on chips and ice cream...I'll say I'm eating a heck of a lot cleaner!0
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