Clean eating challenge...anyone?

chicklidell

We just started this challenge at work, thought maybe ppl on the boards would enjoy it as well.

Here's the deal, we want to eventually achieve clean eating for 6 days of the week...1 off day..you can call it a replenish day..cheat day..I hate that word, but whatever you like!

We start this Sunday, Sunday is your official "clean eating day" then you stick with the rest of the week. eating as you would. Week 2 Sunday and Wednesdays are clean days, week 3, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Week 4 Sunday, Monday, Wed, friday. Week 5 sunday, Monday, Wednesday, thursday, Friday. And finally week 6 We've added in tuesday. Wednesday evening at the end of this cycle will allow you a 150 calorie non clean eat. anytime before 3p.m otherwise you stick to the program, Saturday are your off days..but if you want to keep em clean..keep it that way..otherwise this day will allow you 1 MEAL, not an entire cheat day!, whatever you want. My colleagues have been quite successful with this program, we pretty much eat clean anyhow...but the new hires and some of our docs and nurses have the wrost eating habits...so the challenge is on...any takers???

We can log on here, and we share our clean eating days....some people don't ralize that there's many foods that one would think is clean, but isn't!! if you mess up...you start over, simple!

tbollig123

I am game, what exactly do we eat? Fresh fruits, veggies, meat?

I'm a little confused. I have wanted to try this but need some help.

gillybumbler

I have been doing it for two weeks now (what I consider clean at least)

SRH7

Oooh, I wanna know more!

Kittens08

count me in!!!!

gbsngrl

Sounds like a really healthy thing to do...but can someone clarify what is considered "clean foods"? Thanks.

renwilliams

I'm interested! Please let me know what is meant by clean eating. Are you saying we should eat fruits and vegetable, whole grains and nuts and use good fat to cook with?

sjcply

I"m in!!! I need to re-focus on clean eating and be held accountable!!!

reaolliemama

I'm in...I've been seriously learning about this and doing it for the last couple of weeks...it's great. Check out Tosca Reno...she's got some great recipes, just google her. also there's a website that I've found helpful www.thegraciouspantry.com. If anyone has more suggestions please share them. There is a clean eating group on MFP, but I don't find them to be as active or responsive as I need as a newbie!

brett1117

BRING IT

_Corinne_

I'm interested.

gbsngrl

I'm in...I've been seriously learning about this and doing it for the last couple of weeks...it's great. Check out Tosca Reno...she's got some great recipes, just google her. also there's a website that I've found helpful www.thegraciouspantry.com. If anyone has more suggestions please share them. There is a clean eating group on MFP, but I don't find them to be as active or responsive as I need as a newbie!

Thanks for the tips on where to get info! This was really helpful.

reaolliemama

According to my research, this is my definition... a person who eats clean generally practices the following:

Eliminates refined sugar (I'm working on this...it's a toughy also NO artificial sweeteners, I use natural sweeteners like honey, agave, stevia)
Cooks healthy meals (check)
Packs healthy meals (check, most of the time)
Makes healthy choices when dining out (struggling, depends on where we go... I don't eat out often!)
Drinks a lot of water (check)
Eats 5-6 small meals per day (working on this too, specifically splitting lunch into 2 parts has helped)
Eliminates alcoholic beverages (or significantly limits it) (still to come, LOL) :drinker:
Always eats breakfast (check, mostly)

I hope this helps!

sjcply

Clean eating is the basic foods- lean meats (not processed) veggies, fruits, whole grains! Nothing processed or altered by man in any way!

gillybumbler

According to my research, this is my definition... a person who eats clean generally practices the following:

Eliminates refined sugar (I'm working on this...it's a toughy also NO artificial sweeteners, I use natural sweeteners like honey, agave, stevia)
Cooks healthy meals (check)
Packs healthy meals (check, most of the time)
Makes healthy choices when dining out (struggling, depends on where we go... I don't eat out often!)
Drinks a lot of water (check)
Eats 5-6 small meals per day (working on this too, specifically splitting lunch into 2 parts has helped)
Eliminates alcoholic beverages (or significantly limits it) (still to come, LOL) :drinker:
Always eats breakfast (check, mostly)

I hope this helps!

check! except for 5-6 small meals

skinnyfat14

Sounds like a really healthy thing to do...but can someone clarify what is considered "clean foods"? Thanks.

Yes, I'd like to know that too.

chicklidell

According to my research, this is my definition... a person who eats clean generally practices the following:

Eliminates refined sugar (I'm working on this...it's a toughy also NO artificial sweeteners, I use natural sweeteners like honey, agave, stevia)
Cooks healthy meals (check)
Packs healthy meals (check, most of the time)
Makes healthy choices when dining out (struggling, depends on where we go... I don't eat out often!)
Drinks a lot of water (check)
Eats 5-6 small meals per day (working on this too, specifically splitting lunch into 2 parts has helped)
Eliminates alcoholic beverages (or significantly limits it) (still to come, LOL) :drinker:
Always eats breakfast (check, mostly)

I hope this helps!

You got it! lean meats, fresh/frozen fruit veg, whole grains..limit sugar, sodium....know where your food is coming from!!! It's a smart way to eat. I will post some meals..Tosca is Queen of clean eating! there are desserts you can have..baked apples with stevia and raisins come to mind....we can all help each other out..you'd be cutting out things like, pre packaged foods, anything high in sodium, packaged snacks..granola bras..that knd of thing

bcattoes

Eats 5-6 small meals per day (working on this too, specifically splitting lunch into 2 parts has helped)

What does meal frequency have to do with clean eating? Clean food is clean food. And what constitutes a "meal"?

dtucker4403

I'd like to start eating this way all the time. I have started, but it'd be great to have support. I just ordered the book "Clean and Mean" Diet by James Duigan. I read samples from it, and it really explains why you shouldn't eat sugar, caffeine, alcohol, etc. I will check out the websites you have listed too. Thanks.

dtucker4403

Ooops. Sorry I had a typo. The book is "Clean and Lean" Diet. :blushing:

maddmaddie

I'm eating pretty clean right now I think, but I do like the idea of having a cheat meal one a week.

cyrenamae

What is "clean eating"??

nikolaim5

Sounds like a really healthy thing to do...but can someone clarify what is considered "clean foods"? Thanks.

That's where you wash all your food before you eat it!

http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-dirt-on-clean-eating/

chicklidell

Eats 5-6 small meals per day (working on this too, specifically splitting lunch into 2 parts has helped)

What does meal frequency have to do with clean eating? Clean food is clean food. And what constitutes a "meal"?

it doesn't have anything to do with it...but I think what could have been meant by that, is that when you do follow a clean eating plan, you tend to get hungry..often, especially if it's new..spreading out the calories helps with this...you wouldn't be able to really eat 2-3 times a day and achieve 1200-1500 calories unless your meals are huge!

RonSwanson66

Here's a clean eating challenge for you:

I challenge you to find a consistent, objective definition of "clean eating"

reaolliemama

Eats 5-6 small meals per day (working on this too, specifically splitting lunch into 2 parts has helped)

What does meal frequency have to do with clean eating? Clean food is clean food. And what constitutes a "meal"?

it doesn't have anything to do with it...but I think what could have been meant by that, is that when you do follow a clean eating plan, you tend to get hungry..often, especially if it's new..spreading out the calories helps with this...you wouldn't be able to really eat 2-3 times a day and achieve 1200-1500 calories unless your meals are huge!

I believe that is the reason I've read!

reaolliemama

Here's a clean eating challenge for you:

I challenge you to find a consistent, objective definition of "clean eating"

If that existed it'd be too easy now wouldn't it?:noway: :noway: