How do you keep your food intake "Clean"?

jonnythan

I am staying away from things like potatoes, corn, bread, pasta, juice, sodas, sugars, rice, condiments, and any other processed foods. I try to eat grilled, baked, or broiled meats, fresh veggies, and fresh fruits. I only drink water. And I limit the oils I use to prepare meals. To me that's eating clean.

so you eat basically nothing?

Maybe that's nto what you eat, but, assuming that's at an appropriate level of calories, how does that qualify as "nothing?"

if said person is not eating "sugars" then that means they are not eating carbs, which would eliminate whole swath of foods from their diet...oh but then they said they eat fruit, so I guess they are eating sugar...now I am just confused..

I doubt that you really are confused. I imagine that you knew very well when they said "sugars" they were refering to added sugars like table sugar, honey and syrups.

sugar is sugar...

So sucrose, fructose and glucose are exactly the same? No difference at all? Isn't it odd that someone went to the trouble to make up difference names for them?

Fructose is fructose no matter what it's in. Etc.

JoRocka

So sucrose, fructose and glucose are exactly the same? No difference at all? Isn't it odd that someone went to the trouble to make up difference names for them?

and yet they all still qualify as "sugar"

kind of like body weight training with progression is still progression even though it's not weight training. Progression loading is progression loading no matter which way you do it.

martinkristyk

I was about to post this same topic, so thank you. :-)

I, too, have been working to eat more "clean." From what I've been reading and learning, to eat truly clean means to avoid anything that's processed or has ingredients you can't pronounce. A better way of looking at it- could our ancestors 150+ years ago eat this food? If the answer is YES (which generally means fruits, vegetables, grains, and meat), then it's clean. If the answer is NO (ie: processed chips, crackers, meals in a box, etc.) then it's not clean. In general, many experts recommend an 80/20 split. We're going to end up eating SOME things that come from a factory- just make wise choices and aim to have at least 80% of your food come from natural sources.

I challenged myself to eating 100% clean this week, and I'm finding that I keep hitting some gray areas. Fruits, vegetables, and meats are easy. But, technically, yogort, salad dressing, etc. might not be considered "clean." I did allow myself hummus today with raw vegetables, and, yes, the hummus came from a factory. So, I'm not sure if that means I've broken the 100% clean rule. :-)

I look forward to reading other responses on this topic, and I hope this has been helpful.

WinoGelato

If you cant pronounce the names of the ingredients or the list takes up half the label, you shouldn't be putting it in your body.

I have a chemistry degree and can pronounce all of the various naturally occurring chemical components in an apple. Same thing with all the added chemicals listed in the container of Easy Mac that I make for my kids at least once a week. I can also give you the chemical formula for most of those and write out and balance the biochemical reactions that occur in your body after you eat said apple or said Easy Mac.

You know what I cannot, for the life of me ever pronounce? Quinoa.

bcattoes

I am staying away from things like potatoes, corn, bread, pasta, juice, sodas, sugars, rice, condiments, and any other processed foods. I try to eat grilled, baked, or broiled meats, fresh veggies, and fresh fruits. I only drink water. And I limit the oils I use to prepare meals. To me that's eating clean.

so you eat basically nothing?

Maybe that's nto what you eat, but, assuming that's at an appropriate level of calories, how does that qualify as "nothing?"

if said person is not eating "sugars" then that means they are not eating carbs, which would eliminate whole swath of foods from their diet...oh but then they said they eat fruit, so I guess they are eating sugar...now I am just confused..

I doubt that you really are confused. I imagine that you knew very well when they said "sugars" they were refering to added sugars like table sugar, honey and syrups.

sugar is sugar...

So sucrose, fructose and glucose are exactly the same? No difference at all? Isn't it odd that someone went to the trouble to make up difference names for them?

Fructose is fructose no matter what it's in. Etc.

That is a little different though, no? And do you honestly believe this is what the poster was referring to when they said "sugar"? Or you choose to bring it down to that level for arguments sake?

Every dictionary I have tried lists crystalized sugar made from cane or beet as the first (usually indicating the most common) definition. That, and the context of the post, makes it pretty obvious what was meant.

Greytfish

If you cant pronounce the names of the ingredients or the list takes up half the label, you shouldn't be putting it in your body.

I have a chemistry degree and can pronounce all of the various naturally occurring chemical components in an apple. Same thing with all the added chemicals listed in the container of Easy Mac that I make for my kids at least once a week. I can also give you the chemical formula for most of those and write out and balance the biochemical reactions that occur in your body after you eat said apple or said Easy Mac.

You know what I cannot, for the life of me ever pronounce? Quinoa.

How about acai?

bcattoes

So sucrose, fructose and glucose are exactly the same? No difference at all? Isn't it odd that someone went to the trouble to make up difference names for them?

and yet they all still qualify as "sugar"

Fruit, bread, vegetables, and other food that contains sugar does not qualify as sugar.

JoRocka

Fruit, bread, vegetables, and other food that contains sugar does not qualify as sugar

heh- here in lies the problem.

because yes- yes they do.

If you cant pronounce the names of the ingredients or the list takes up half the label, you shouldn't be putting it in your body.

I have a chemistry degree and can pronounce all of the various naturally occurring chemical components in an apple. Same thing with all the added chemicals listed in the container of Easy Mac that I make for my kids at least once a week. I can also give you the chemical formula for most of those and write out and balance the biochemical reactions that occur in your body after you eat said apple or said Easy Mac.

You know what I cannot, for the life of me ever pronounce? Quinoa.

I think I love you.

that literally made me almost spit water out my mouth... at work. on my computer screen.

WinoGelato

If you cant pronounce the names of the ingredients or the list takes up half the label, you shouldn't be putting it in your body.

I have a chemistry degree and can pronounce all of the various naturally occurring chemical components in an apple. Same thing with all the added chemicals listed in the container of Easy Mac that I make for my kids at least once a week. I can also give you the chemical formula for most of those and write out and balance the biochemical reactions that occur in your body after you eat said apple or said Easy Mac.

You know what I cannot, for the life of me ever pronounce? Quinoa.

How about acai?

Not sure I can pronounce it but I sure love those dark chocolate covered acai treats from Brookstone. Good thing I don't have that arbitrary limitation on whether or not I can eat certain foods.

bcattoes

Fruit, bread, vegetables, and other food that contains sugar does not qualify as sugar

heh- here in lies the problem.

because yes- yes they do.

No, they are foods that contain sugar.

JoRocka

Fruit, bread, vegetables, and other food that contains sugar does not qualify as sugar

heh- here in lies the problem.

because yes- yes they do.

No, they are foods that contain sugar.

and your body... processes it... as sugar.

bcattoes

Fruit, bread, vegetables, and other food that contains sugar does not qualify as sugar

heh- here in lies the problem.

because yes- yes they do.

No, they are foods that contain sugar.

and your body... processes it... as sugar.

It processes the sugar in it as sugar, but not all foods that contain sugar are processed the same. But what has that to do with the subject at hand?

RonnieLodge

I pick it up REALLY quickly when I drop it on the floor and blow any dirt off it.

fast_eddie_72

That is a little different though, no? And do you honestly believe this is what the poster was referring to when they said "sugar"? Or you choose to bring it down to that level for arguments sake?

Kind of a thing here.

All food is the same.

bcattoes

That is a little different though, no? And do you honestly believe this is what the poster was referring to when they said "sugar"? Or you choose to bring it down to that level for arguments sake?

Kind of a thing here.

All food is the same.

Yeah, I have noticed that nonsense. And I continue to rail against it.

fast_eddie_72

That is a little different though, no? And do you honestly believe this is what the poster was referring to when they said "sugar"? Or you choose to bring it down to that level for arguments sake?

Kind of a thing here.

All food is the same.

Yeah, I have noticed that nonsense. And I continue to rail against it.

Me too

fast_eddie_72

If you cant pronounce the names of the ingredients or the list takes up half the label, you shouldn't be putting it in your body.

I have a chemistry degree and can pronounce all of the various naturally occurring chemical components in an apple.

That's a new one. Good thing we have finally someone with a chemistry degree. This site has been sorely lacking for the chemical make up of an apple. Hasn't been posted in at least fifteen minutes. For my next trick I'll post about the guy who lost weight eating only Twinkies. Hey, what counts as water, anyway? Am I going into starvation mode? I did 4 minutes of yoga and burned 1,100 calories - my HRM said so. Does muscle weigh more than fat?

Going to go advise an F1 team now. Wasting all that effort on carbon fiber. They should join here and discover that lead weighs exactly the same amount. Think of the money they'll save.

ndj1979

Fruit, bread, vegetables, and other food that contains sugar does not qualify as sugar

heh- here in lies the problem.

because yes- yes they do.

No, they are foods that contain sugar.

and your body... processes it... as sugar.

well I am back, and I see that Jo-Rockas has pretty much cleared this up for me...

The original person said they avoid "sugar" which would mean they would have to avoid all of those foods...hence, my point being that they must only eat meat and oils. That person is free to come back and clarify what they meant...

Then again, you are doing a rather amusing job of trying to divine their intentions...

TR0berts

That is a little different though, no? And do you honestly believe this is what the poster was referring to when they said "sugar"? Or you choose to bring it down to that level for arguments sake?

Kind of a thing here.

All food is the same.

Yeah, I have noticed that nonsense. And I continue to rail against it.

Me too

Only people making specious arguments (at best) try to twist what has been said into that sort of argument.

bcattoes

well I am back, and I see that Jo-Rockas has pretty much cleared this up for me...

The original person said they avoid "sugar" which would mean they would have to avoid all of those foods...hence, my point being that they must only eat meat and oils. That person is free to come back and clarify what they meant...

Then again, you are doing a rather amusing job of trying to divine their intentions...

Because this sentence " they would have to avoid all of those foods" is 100% false.

ndj1979

well I am back, and I see that Jo-Rockas has pretty much cleared this up for me...

The original person said they avoid "sugar" which would mean they would have to avoid all of those foods...hence, my point being that they must only eat meat and oils. That person is free to come back and clarify what they meant...

Then again, you are doing a rather amusing job of trying to divine their intentions...

Because this sentence " they would have to avoid all of those foods" is 100% false.

well if they are avoiding sugar then they would as all those break down as sugar in your body...

HarrietSabre

I eat some processed food because I find it easier to calorie count with those than with making all my food from scratch. I never know how much oil to count, and some things are really complicated to weigh every single ingredient every time you cook. Easier to just use a packet which already tells you!

RivenV

I eat some processed food because I find it easier to calorie count with those than with making all my food from scratch. I never know how much oil to count, and some things are really complicated to weigh every single ingredient every time you cook. Easier to just use a packet which already tells you!

I'm just kidding!

I actually find processed, packaged food easier to track than a lot of other things. I eat those other things, too, but a glance at my diary will indicate that I eat a lot of delicious premade foods.

eta: image was removed

daliyanin

Eating clean means eating no processed foods or minimally processed foods. Lean meats, fruits, veggies, nuts, cheese.

fast_eddie_72

the original person that I quoted (see above) said they stay away from sugars, which would be all carbs too, which means they eat no pasta, bread, vegetables, fruit, and anything else with carbs in them...so I guess they just eat meat and oil...so essentially, nothing.

Sounds like you're just working from different definitions of sugar. Still wouldn't be nothing. Might not be healthy, but that's different.

In one of the sugar fiascos last week a woman told me she had to go off all sugar because she was addicted. Her diary said she ate three bananas that day, so....:noway:

umm no sugar is sugar..so I have one definition.

No sugar is sugar?

ndj1979

the original person that I quoted (see above) said they stay away from sugars, which would be all carbs too, which means they eat no pasta, bread, vegetables, fruit, and anything else with carbs in them...so I guess they just eat meat and oil...so essentially, nothing.

Sounds like you're just working from different definitions of sugar. Still wouldn't be nothing. Might not be healthy, but that's different.

In one of the sugar fiascos last week a woman told me she had to go off all sugar because she was addicted. Her diary said she ate three bananas that day, so....:noway:

umm no sugar is sugar..so I have one definition.

No sugar is sugar?

except when it is delivered from angels in the form of fruit..then it is fine….but added sugar…that stuff will make you go on a one month bender and you will end up broke living in ditch surrounded by a pile of your own vomit….

JoRocka

the original person that I quoted (see above) said they stay away from sugars, which would be all carbs too, which means they eat no pasta, bread, vegetables, fruit, and anything else with carbs in them...so I guess they just eat meat and oil...so essentially, nothing.

Sounds like you're just working from different definitions of sugar. Still wouldn't be nothing. Might not be healthy, but that's different.

In one of the sugar fiascos last week a woman told me she had to go off all sugar because she was addicted. Her diary said she ate three bananas that day, so....:noway:

umm no sugar is sugar..so I have one definition.

No sugar is sugar?

punctuation matters LOL

ummmm no.
Sugar is Sugar.

LOL

WakkoW

I love kale. Kale is the new kid on the block in trendy nutritional circles. Before it was hip, people never heard of it unless they grew up in southern Maryland or farther south. I grew up on it.

Well, no, actually kale is quite common in a lot of dishes in a variety of cultures. It's just more likley to be a new idea here because few people who are overweight got there on a diet including a healthy amount of vegetables.

About the only way I hand't already had kale was the "trendy" over baked "chip" style. But, that probably has more to do with not having been raised on potato chips and never really thinking about any sort of chip as a snack. They are quite handy through as a travel snack.

This is a really interesting point. Recently I read on these boards that quinoa was the new and trendy thing.I wondered where they were from. I've been eating it on a regular basis for more than a decade. I guess I'm just way ahead of my time.

Same with kale. And other greens. I don't think of these things a trendy at all. They are simply food items I enjoy eating. But then again, I come from a family that enjoys cooking and isn't afraid to try something new. Also, I have never been obese. Maybe 20 pounds overweight at my heaviest.

fast_eddie_72

except when it is delivered from angels in the form of fruit..then it is fine….but added sugar…that stuff will make you go on a one month bender and you will end up broke living in ditch surrounded by a pile of your own vomit….

Wow. I just thought you burn the energy from it quickly and will get hungry again soon. I didn't know all that. Where'd you hear that? You'd think that kind of info would be shared here.

lozeliz

BUMP - love reading this thread :P