What does clean eating mean to you?

ali_b83

To me, it's not eating packaged crap. We eat a lot of chicken, fish, beans, rice, eggs, quinoa, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, etc. When I need something sweet I have homemade protein bars that I make, that way I know exactly what's in them. Basically, we eat nothing that comes in a box.

See, that right there kills your definition of "Clean"...Rice (Processed), Beans (dried, processed)..same with quinoa, cheese, yogurt, NUTS. NOW, the question is "How Processed" do you want to get your food? And how much additives/sodium will you allow. I have no problem with Frozen Veggies, or canned organic-sodium free beans. Clean is what YOU say it is....because I eat "clean" but now and then I will eat a burger out or a bag of chips.

My thing is to eat Healthily, forget the "Status" crap! Read the book if you want to get technical. It's just a "concept with a twist" that's been around like forever! Same shyt, different day! Just like MOST of the stuff out now...new generation>>>REITERATIONS!

Okay, I'm generalizing. I think there's a big difference between eating dried beans, or eating a frozen pizza. Technically, a cut of beef has been "processed". How about we just say "not crap"?

WhoTheHellIsBen

asking the chick to shower first

Ruz456

Lean and Green, thats what I try to stick to, oh and tons of water too thats all your body needs

peachyxoxoxo

To me, it's not eating packaged crap. We eat a lot of chicken, fish, beans, rice, eggs, quinoa, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, etc. When I need something sweet I have homemade protein bars that I make, that way I know exactly what's in them. Basically, we eat nothing that comes in a box.

See, that right there kills your definition of "Clean"...Rice (Processed), Beans (dried, processed)..same with quinoa, cheese, yogurt, NUTS. NOW, the question is "How Processed" do you want to get your food? And how much additives/sodium will you allow. I have no problem with Frozen Veggies, or canned organic-sodium free beans. Clean is what YOU say it is....because I eat "clean" but now and then I will eat a burger out or a bag of chips.

My thing is to eat Healthily, forget the "Status" crap! Read the book if you want to get technical. It's just a "concept with a twist" that's been around like forever! Same shyt, different day! Just like MOST of the stuff out now...new generation>>>REITERATIONS!

Well put. People get too wrapped in grand ideas like "eating clean." Just eat healthy. You are not going to truly "eat clean" unless you're planting and growing your own food.

tpittsley77

Read Just The Rules by Tosca Reno for how to begin a clean lifestyle. She defines a clean food as anything with 5 or under ingredients. Anything not processed. Wheat flour, turbinado sugar, honey, as alternatives. Any kashi meals, frozen as well, fit. If you are reading labels andcannot identify a chemical, not clean. I strongly suggest you read that book. Great and quick read.

jg627

Five second rule.

Easywider

Raw materials, whole foods. Not necessarily organic, grass-fed, free-range, hormone free, no extemporaneous additives...ect. Just grass roots or farmed centric.

julialla

To me, clean eating is no junk food. No chocolate, chips, icecream..You get the picture! I had macaroni and cheese for dinner today. As long as I keep my cals under my goal, then I consider it clean eating Yes, and this includes popcorn like yesterday! HA. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to survive this new lifestyle change.

sun33082

I heard a great rule to tell if you should eat it.. ask yourself if your grandparents would recognize it as food, and would have had it available to eat.

lol my grandma is still alive and eats cheetos. That won't work for me lol

strawberrie_milk

Using lots of soap.

13inchestogo

Well, to me it is avoiding all the white demons that are white sugar, white flour and anything else bleached to look 'pretty' lol. Avoiding sweeteners made in factories as well as most in general except for the least processed kinds.

So in my own little opinion I think the less processed (or not at all) the more clean it is.

Silverkittycat

sorry... copying because I've already answered

Copying from my previous post -

I guess it depends on how you define clean. Many define it as food that is not processed or altered from it's original form, in any way. Right now I'm finding it hard to get raw milk instead of pasteurized and homogenized, so I usually use organic, not ideal but what can you do. I buy packaged and deli meats and chicken and such because I won't go to a butcher. I don't want to grind my own meat or flour. Cows and chickens running around my backyard are something my city frowns upon.

Same with things in cans - I like tuna from a can or pouch, I know it's processed but I'm okay with that. It's hard to find almonds unprocessed, let alone corn or soybeans that aren't genetically modified. I drink processed coconut water. I eat pasta that comes in a box or bag. Luckily in Florida we've got plenty of fruit and even a few veggies I can get unaltered. I do try to avoid preservatives, additives, pesticides and fungicides and I take part in my local organic food delivery program and our community garden, but I still buy and eat processed food. I guess I really don't want to put the time in to make things like yogurt or spaghetti sauce from scratch.

I respect and admire people that put in the effort to eat clean, it's much more time consuming than most realize.


* I've heard this used a lot to define "clean eating" - If you can shoot it, catch it, or grow it - eat it!

saraann4

no processed crap. eat more whole foods. I would love to get on a semi-clean diet. I'm trying

MFPBrandy

I love Amy's Kitchen meals -- they're my fallback. Eating clean isn't an all or nothing deal. Cut out the processed stuff as much as you can afford to with the time and money you have. I try to make big meals & freeze single-serving portions for the rest of the week, but even my dishes that are crammed full of fresh veggies straight fom the farm still have (dried) beans & ground turkey. I'm okay with that. And when I run out, I eat Amy's, which are damn good and seem to be the closest thin out there to "real" food.
Bottom line -- don't feel guilty if you're not doing 100% clean; the only one it matters to is you.

Winnis30

Clean eating to me means no processed foods. I do all my shopping in the perimeter of the grocery store, stay away from the aisles in the middle of the store, that's where are the bad stuff is.
So lean proteins, fresh fruits and veggies and lots of water.

Jkmumma

Using a napkin.