Eating Clean

Many foods are processed to a certain extent. Extra virgin olive oil still has to be extracted from the olive. The concern comes when the process strips the food of its nutrients and fibre and adds sugar, salt and chemicals.

For example, I've got two jars of peanut butter here, one from the health food shop and one from the supermarket.

One contains peanuts (96%) and palm oil.

The other contains peanuts (91%), peanut oil, cane sugar, vegetable oil, salt.

Now having a spoonful of the second one isn't going to kill you, but it's clear which one is the healthier choice.

That to me is what eating 'clean' boils down to: making healthier choices.

I still eat refined grains like pasta and rice. I just eat less of them, less often. It's not the healthiest, but it is healthier.

My tips would be

1. If you're not already doing so, monitor your sugar intake. It may come as a shock.

2. Look at it as an experiment. Have fun with it. Don't just cut out foods, add foods, too. And pay attention to how you feel.

3. Don't be afraid of fat. Most low-fat and fat-free products are laden with sugar and additives. Healthy fats in moderation fill us up; sugar makes us want to eat more and more and turns directly to fat in the body anyway.

4. Cook for yourself. This is the best way of knowing what you're eating. Cook in bulk and freeze extra meals, if you can. Then you know you've always got nutritious, filling meals at home, just ten minutes in the microwave away. No need to order take out or buy a ready meal.

5. Be kind to yourself. This is the most important one. I've suffered from depression for most of my life and self-care has been a struggle at times. When I'm eating healthily, I feel like I'm taking care of myself. Sure, it's more expensive to buy organic peanut butter (for example) and I have to find time to cook my own meals - but that time and money is an investment in my health and well-being. Whenever I have a bad day now and begin to berate myself (you know, 'Oh, I should have sent that e-mail earlier; now they won't get it till tomorrow morning and it'll probably be too late by then and everyone will think I'm a screw up and they'd be right, I'm no good for anything') I go and buy myself a packet of herbal tea. It's like a hug in a mug. Because we all have bad days - it doesn't mean we're bad people. I used to eat bad food because I felt bad, but it only made me feel worse. I didn't think I deserved any better, but I do and so do you and so does everybody.

Feel free to add me if you want to look at my diary for ideas.

Thanks for the advice people .. i am a bit concerned hat buying fresh will be more costly .. does anyone else find this ? and also it doesent last as long? x

If you are a diehard bargain hunter, it should not be more expensive... plus, if you are fortunate to live in a region/country where its warmers for longer periods of time, growing your own garden is definitely a bonus!!!!

A farmer's market is quite cheap comparatively. buying frozen come very close to fresh.
I bag of frozen quality vegetables is much cheaper than a bag of chips. same with a bunch of carrots/celery.

The one thing that will be more expensive is lettuces, so buy it when on sale. (except spinach)

I think one problem many people have is they don't have a good grasp on cooking.

Also skip "white foods" such as white rice, white bread, that sort. foods with ingredients that are hard to pronounce. fructose corn syrup and blended veg. oils.