Eat Clean Experiences

toffee2013

Hi ,

I have heard the term ' EAT CLEAN' a lot on mfp , what is it and does it work for you ?

Confuzzled4ever

Just means healthy whole foods...
fruits, veggies, whole wheat, no chemcials not processed. lean no hormone injected meat.
etc..
not necessarily organic..
that's what it means to me at least.

ModoVincere

To me, it means avoiding pocessed foods and fast foods.
Eating natural, whole foods.

An example, if I want something sweet a pear is clean eating while a snickers bar isn't.

drmerc

I follow the 3 second rule

BCSMama

It seems like you get a different answer for every person you ask, lol. For me, I try to eat foods that are not processed or minimally processed most of the time. I try to avoid boxed foods or fast food. The closer the food is to it's natural form, the better. For me personally, I find this way of eating makes me feel better, my skin looks better and I like the way the food tastes better.

WendyTerry420

I follow the 3 second rule

^^^ This...... Unless it is something like an M&M. The hard candy shell makes it easy to wipe off any dirt if you happen to drop it.

Chief_Rocka

I've had more success at eating foods I enjoy in moderation, rather than making a naughty list.

neanderthin

I follow the 3 second rule

^^^ This...... Unless it is something like an M&M. The hard candy shell makes it easy to wipe off any dirt if you happen to drop it.

Over 50 and it's the 5 second rule.

FitBeto

I follow the 3 second rule

If its meat I wash it off and re-season - after intensely inspecting for hairs for at least 16 minuets - I am deathly afraid of hairs.

sunsnstatheart

you'll hear a lot of silliness on MFP

neanderthin

I follow the 3 second rule

If its meat I wash it off and re-season - after intensely inspecting for hairs for at least 16 minuets - I am deathly afraid of hairs.

Hair is healthy, low calorie and adds fiber.

melsinct

To me, it means avoiding pocessed foods and fast foods.
Eating natural, whole foods.

An example, if I want something sweet a pear is clean eating while a snickers bar isn't.

Agreed. I mainly eat clean by eating home cooked foods free of preservatives, dyes or additives. However, I don't always eat perfectly. I go out to eat at a restaurant and don't sweat it. I enjoy birthday cake with everyone else in the office. If I want some boxed snack once in a while, then I will have it. In order for it to be sustainable for me (I have eaten this way for 10 years+, before it even had the label of "clean"), I eat my definition of clean *most* of the time. However, I am not going to miss out on life, social functions, or the occasional Cheez-It in order to live 100% clean.

bjshields

For me, it's eating single-ingredient foods (i.e. broccoli, spinach, fish) 90% of the time and allowing myself that 10% of leeway so I don't go nuts and can live in the real world. It's also about going towards health rather than avoiding unhealthy stuff. Oh, and I am a big believer in organic -- what your food ate before you ate it matters, IMO!:drinker:

FitBeto

I follow the 3 second rule

If its meat I wash it off and re-season - after intensely inspecting for hairs for at least 16 minuets - I am deathly afraid of hairs.

Hair is healthy, low calorie and adds fiber.

But fiber is high in carbs

toffee2013

so basically eating fresh foods instead of processed foods ?

ModoVincere

To me, it means avoiding pocessed foods and fast foods.
Eating natural, whole foods.

An example, if I want something sweet a pear is clean eating while a snickers bar isn't.

Agreed. I mainly eat clean by eating home cooked foods free of preservatives, dyes or additives. However, I don't always eat perfectly. I go out to eat at a restaurant and don't sweat it. I enjoy birthday cake with everyone else in the office. If I want some boxed snack once in a while, then I will have it. In order for it to be sustainable for me (I have eaten this way for 10 years+, before it even had the label of "clean"), I eat my definition of clean *most* of the time. However, I am not going to miss out on life, social functions, or the occasional Cheez-It in order to live 100% clean.

agreed. In fact, I see this whole journey as one of improvement, not perfection.

dym123

Just means healthy whole foods...
fruits, veggies, whole wheat, no chemcials not processed. lean no hormone injected meat.
etc..
not necessarily organic..
that's what it means to me at least.

This is me. I noticed I have a lot more energy, my skin is clearer, also I'm not as hungry and I am no longer craving sweets like I used to. I'm not 100% and I try not to be anal about it if I'm eating at someone's home or eating out, but I try to be mindful of my choices.

neanderthin

I follow the 3 second rule

If its meat I wash it off and re-season - after intensely inspecting for hairs for at least 16 minuets - I am deathly afraid of hairs.

Hair is healthy, low calorie and adds fiber.

But fiber is high in carbs

If it were a hair ball, then yes I would be concerned about the carbs too, but a few straggling hairs, I wouldn't even record that, almost like a negative calorie.

newcs

For me, I cut back on processed foods and concentrated on eating whole foods (unprocessed meats, fruits, veggies, homemade meals from whole foods, etc). I feel way better and have pretty much no digestion issues now. I had an upset stomach pretty frequently before. It's also a lot easier to keep calories and sodium down if you eat clean.

RainbootsToBikinis

so basically eating fresh foods instead of processed foods ?

Basically yes

Leslietheriot

I started eating "clean" a week ago today. I cut out all processed foods and fast food. I eat a lot of veggies, fruits and lean meats. I have a lot more energy and feel better. I have also lost 7 pounds...a lot of it is water weight because I have cut way down on sodium as well.

Psychedelicately

http://cleaneatingmag.com/How-To/Article/What-Is-Clean-Eating.aspx

pfgaytriot

The term clean eating could vary from person to person. The term for me means a paleo diet. True, there are times that I veer off from the diet while traveling, etc., but eating clean, for me, mean only eating meats, fruits and veggies, but no grains. I started with Whole30, which is basically paleo, but stricter. If you'd like to learn more about Whole30, check out http://whole9life.com.

Calantorntain

I find the label of "clean" eating to be a bit silly, but some people are happier when they can label their habits.

I suppose that I eat "clean." I mostly eat veggies, I prepare almost all of my food from scratch, and I rarely buy processed food (cereals, snack foods, frozen dinners, etc). I haven't bought fast food in months. But I don't do it to "avoid preservatives" or "avoid HMO" or any silliness like that. It's cheap, delicious, and makes it harder to overeat (it's easy to munch on a box of oreos. But when given the choice between chopping up some veggies and dipping them in hummus, or going through the tedious process of baking cookies, I'll pick the veggies any day!)

Fit_And_Heathy_Goalie

If you make a conscious effort to eat clean (lots of veggies, protein, good carbs/beans/sprouted whea) and minimize the processed foods, fast food, etc. I think you'll feel better and have an easier time meeting your weight loss goals. I follow the 90/10 rule and enjoy the occassional non-clean treats. My diary is open to friends if you're looking for inspiration!

Bikini27

Best way to get into it is to start by substituting a candy bar for a piece of fruit or pita chips for regular chips. You can take it as slowly as possible, but you'll notice a difference in the way you feel as you go along. The cleaner I eat, the clearer my brain feels and the more willing my body is to do my Insanity workouts.

A great magazine to grab for inspiration is Clean Eating. Awesome food ideas and substitutions for your fav meals.

At the end of the day, it really is Calories In vs. Calories Out that help you lose weight. I just feel better and it's easier to stick to my caloric limits when I eat nutritionally dense foods.

Good luck! :flowerforyou: