Calling all clean eaters

Amandac6772

I am really trying to work on this but need ideas. Can any of the clean eaters let me see their diaries??

SarahLovesCheesecake

Im pretty clean....mine should be open

olag00

Sure you can see mine. I am an Independent Beachbody coach and I can coach you for free through your eating and workouts if you visit my website and click "Join the Team" or follow this link http://www.teambeachbody.com/signup?referringRepId=100238

tlynnweb

Depends on what your definition of "clean eating" is. You can refer to a blog I love called The Gracious Pantry or one called Emily Eats Clean. The second one hasn't been posting since January but she usually posted what she ate daily. So, you could go back and look at all of the old posts. Both of the blogs have a section called Clean Eating 101 that gives the principles of clean eating. It's tough! As far as supplements (protein powders, etc.) go, I HAVE NO CLUE b/c most of them have 80 ingredients listed that I cannot even pronounce so most likely--not clean. Hope that helps!

WeightLossTrek

You can look at mine if you would like.

joanneeee

i think my diary's pretty clean - you can check it out and add me if you want.

Swimgoddess

I peeked at two of the previous poster's diaries. All I can think of is GAWD, your grocery bills must be obscene. If I was single with no kids, I'd do it in a heartbeat! Unfortunately, I have a meat-n-potatoes hubby who's breadwinning funds our family of 5's grocery bill. He REFUSES to eat veggies unless it's salad or stuffed mushrooms.

joanneeee

I peeked at two of the previous poster's diaries. All I can think of is GAWD, your grocery bills must be obscene. If I was single with no kids, I'd do it in a heartbeat! Unfortunately, I have a meat-n-potatoes hubby who's breadwinning funds our family of 5's grocery bill. He REFUSES to eat veggies unless it's salad or stuffed mushrooms.

Swimgoddess

Thanks! But considering my hubs would refuse to get on board, how do I justify making him spend $ on separate meals for me? He is already pouting about my gym time and unsupportive generally. I guess I'll have to wait it out until he deploys or something.

kristelpoole

Well, don't look at my fast food dinner last night, but usually I'm a clean eater and my diary is open.

What's your goal as it relates to how you eat? I understand that not everyone in a family has the same food preferences, but if you can get him what he wants and what you need for the same cost as take out, then why isn't that a perfect solution?

My biggest question is how you view "clean eating" because it sounds like you see it somewhat negatively as well...maybe?

kristelpoole

For example, you said he likes salad and stuffed mushrooms, right?

What about making different kinds of salads?
Spinach or mixed greens with beets, toasted nuts, goat cheese and a light dressing. Healthy taco salad. Asian salad with grilled salmon. Romaine lettuce with bleu cheese and steak slices. Shrimp caesar salad, etc.

If he likes stuffed mushrooms, find a healthy version online for stuffed portabellos and then next time try stuffed peppers.

Work with him, just find healthier ways to make what you guys already enjoy? :flowerforyou:

Uk_Yogini

What is your definition of clean eating ? I ask because seems people have very different ideas.

Swimgoddess

Kristelpoole, thank you so much for your responses! I didn't intend on highjacking the thread from the OP.

I'm interested in eating "clean-ER". I've made leaps and bounds of the fitness front, but aside from basic portion control/calorie restriction, I haven't really done SQUAT towards improving my nutritional situation, except maybe I pay more attention to my carb/fat/protein-ratio. It just doesn't feel right, ya know?

I'll certainly see what I can get by with by varying up what hubs does-eat veggie wise, but uh, so far... when I make myself a taco salad, he makes a bowl of refried beans, taco meat, cheddar cheese with a pinch of diced tomatoes on top. Says he'd rather enjoy every bite and die at 50 than "eat cardboard" and live 'til 90. Soooo, yeah... that's what I got to work with. Getting him to come around takes some constant effort.

kristelpoole

Kristelpoole, thank you so much for your responses! I didn't intend on highjacking the thread from the OP.

I'm interested in eating "clean-ER". I've made leaps and bounds of the fitness front, but aside from basic portion control/calorie restriction, I haven't really done SQUAT towards improving my nutritional situation, except maybe I pay more attention to my carb/fat/protein-ratio. It just doesn't feel right, ya know?

I'll certainly see what I can get by with by varying up what hubs does-eat veggie wise, but uh, so far... when I make myself a taco salad, he makes a bowl of refried beans, taco meat, cheddar cheese with a pinch of diced tomatoes on top. Says he'd rather enjoy every bite and die at 50 than "eat cardboard" and live 'til 90. Soooo, yeah... that's what I got to work with. Getting him to come around takes some constant effort.

When you say "it" doesn't feel right, what are you referring to?

I took a look through your food diary over the past week and can see that there's room for improvement if clean eating and nutrition are becoming more important to you. I was amazed that some days you don't eat a single vegetable! I guess this makes sense to me because I had a feeling that eating clean was something you're not really comfortable with either.

How much do you spend on food on an average month, including all those oat bars, power bars, dove bars and protein shake mixes? I would bet that you could make yummy food that feels comforting for your family and generally be more nutritious for about the same amount of money.

Let me know if you want to talk about it more outside of this thread. My live-in boyfriend went from fast food and steak to the same, mostly clean diet that I eat in a matter of months because it tasted good and he felt better. Losing weight was just a bonus for him.

Swimgoddess

Our family grocery bill is about $225-$280. We usually only shop on military paydays... 1st & 15th each month. #1 obstacle to produce... it doesn't keep. We do pre-plan our menu between trips. Most of the recipes using fresh produce get assigned to the first week, while stuff that freezes well or has a shelf-life worthy of a nuclear emergency pantry gets assigned to the following week. It's a pain to shop with 3 kids, two of which want anything and everything not on the list and it's a battle & emotional drain. Obstacle #2; I'm not fond of cooking. I hate that the prep-work/cooking/clean-up time often exceed the length of the meal by over an hour usually (yes, we all do sit down together. Hubs has been out of state suddenly for a couple nights which is why right now the foods in my diary are so random right now.) Most days I just don't have the energy.

As for me personally, I'm making a mini-goal to stock my refrigerator produce drawers so I can at least get in a couple veggies/fruits per day while hubs is at work. Baby steps.

Hit you up with a friend request

H_82

You're more than welcome to look at my food diary. I'm not a "perfect" clean eater...but my own version of one... I do the 90/10 (sometimes 80/20) version

vlc1979

bump

kristelpoole

I think it's going to boil down to a shift of mind for you, and then eventually for your family. You don't have to do anything overnight. Just trying to keep some apples and oranges around (inexpensive and they will keep for 2 weeks) for you to grab. That would be a start. As far as cooking goes, you might learn to love it if you try to look at it differently. Look at it as a challenge, or a learning opportunity or whatever motivates you. There are plenty of meals you can cook for your entire family with minimal preparation and time involved, you just have to figure out what works for you. Google it, buy a "fast and healthy" cookbook, whatever you need to do.

In the end, it's a lifestyle change, not a diet, so if you want to be healthier and you want your kids to learn proper nutrition, you will have to make some changes. Just set baby goals because otherwise you'll get overwhelmed and frustrated.

And make it fun, be positive! I swear this can be a fun process for you if you let it.