Clean eating - what does it mean to YOU! (new)

MeDoula
MeDoula Posts: 233 Member
Hi everyone,
I'm new to the group. In the last couple years, my eating habits changed a lot but could be better. We try to eat lots organic, fruit, veggies, whole grains, etc.

I've been browsing the group and I wondered....what does "clean eating" mean to you personally?

I look forward to getting to know everyone and make new friends with same goals.
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Replies

  • WalkingGirl1985
    WalkingGirl1985 Posts: 2,046 Member
    Lots of fruits and veggies, switching from white to brown..most importantly staying under 2500mg sodium.
  • For me it means eating lean meats, vegetables, nuts & seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar. Avoiding processed foods and seeking wholesome ingredients in any recipes. It also means feeling great and glowing from the inside out. Eating clean has an immediate impact on how I feel and it gives me fuel to power through my hard core workouts :happy:
  • adry20
    adry20 Posts: 82 Member
    To me clean eating means eating everything as close to it's natural state as possible, minimally processed. We eat a lot of organic produce, we eat sprouted grain bread but still eat some whole wheat, I try to avoid anything artificial or genetically engineered, I don't touch soy products and eat very minimum corn, I try to drink raw goat and cow's milk whenever I can get myself to my local farm and I also buy local grass fed meats, pastured eggs, we eat whole milk yogurt and I make my own kefir and kombucha (great on probiotics).
  • tazzamac
    tazzamac Posts: 10 Member
    I am still quite new to eating clean but to me it means cutting out the unnatural stuff. So no preservatives, no numbers, and very few ingredients. My main goal is trying to find foods that don't give me reactions as I suffer from IBS and used to be bloated pretty much every day of my life. I am not completely clean yet, although I am getting there, and I certainly notice when I eat something that is not clean. All the more motivation to clean up my act, pun intended ;p
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
    Fresh, organic, minimally processed foods as locally sourced as possible. No artificial anything. I also believe that clean eating should include free trade food--especially products like coffee and cacao where many times the people in 3rd world countries where it is usually grown get practically nothing for it unless it is free trade certified.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    I probably a little bit different than everyone else in this group. I don't look at specific food choices as "clean" or "dirty," I consider whether someone's overall diet is healthy or unhealthy. By "healthy" I means getting sufficient micronutrients, protein, EFA's, etc.

    I think the important distinction here is that your diet can consist 100% of foods you consider to be "clean," yet you're still lacking in a particular area because your diet isn't balanced. By the same token, depending on your calorie intake you can eat cookies or cake everyday, and still get sufficient micronutrients etc.
  • sicchi
    sicchi Posts: 189 Member
    eating everything natural, no numbers, no preservitives, making my own baked goods (bread, muffins), concentrating on carbs 40/protein 30/ fat 30. Its all about balance and natural foods. Nothing white (sugar/bread/potatoes) all my food is a colour (with the exception of cauliflower). almond or soy milk ect.... the deeper the colour the better for you. also getting 30 gr fibre a day is important to me. Add me if you like :)
  • garlic7girl
    garlic7girl Posts: 2,236 Member
    I try to eat less "bar-coded'' foods but I ain't gone lie I AM NOT PERFECT and I eat a chip! So that said I try to eat 'clean' 85-90% of time but that also depends on my budget. Organic food is not cheap. So I get the healthiest fruits and veggies and whole grains I can...I am trying now to eat half plate veggies at lunch and dinner.
  • lindaw66
    lindaw66 Posts: 258 Member
    bump
  • Kelley247
    Kelley247 Posts: 4 Member
    Hi Everyone,

    Clean eating for me is non-processed food. Foods without added vitamins, preservatives, color dyes, etc. I try to buy all organic to support non-genetically modified foods limiting pesticides and chemicals in food supply and the environment. I avoid eating things from cans and plastics. Eating lots of raw, cooked or frozen veggies and fresh fruit. However, this is an ideal situation and I'm definately not able always eat clean.
  • mbojan2
    mbojan2 Posts: 43 Member
    Simple.......If it didn't grow from the ground or didn't have a mother.......I don't eat it.
  • livelifebreath
    livelifebreath Posts: 14 Member
    Just trying to eat less processed foods or making them yourself.
  • Loulady
    Loulady Posts: 511 Member
    Just trying to eat less processed foods or making them yourself.

    Pretty much this. I try to get the majority of my diet from the produce section and meat counter. If I'm getting something that's packaged, I check the label and think "if I was making this from scratch, would I use all these ingredients?"

    I don't always stick to that, but that's my main guideline.
  • heroyalslimness
    heroyalslimness Posts: 591 Member
    Simple.......If it didn't grow from the ground or didn't have a mother.......I don't eat it.

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    For me--(not perfect) but no preservatives--or processed-or refined sugars.

    Fresh fruits- veggies---lean fish---water--some dried fruits--nuts--seeds---
    nut milks--
    the jist~
  • msstuard
    msstuard Posts: 131 Member
    I try to do a light macrobiotic style diet. Cut way back on processed foods, cut way back on dairy, only lean free range meat. no farmed fish, do to sanitary conditions. Of coarse it all out the door when eating over other peoples houses.
  • I try to eat less "bar-coded'' foods but I ain't gone lie I AM NOT PERFECT and I eat a chip! So that said I try to eat 'clean' 85-90% of time but that also depends on my budget. Organic food is not cheap. So I get the healthiest fruits and veggies and whole grains I can...I am trying now to eat half plate veggies at lunch and dinner.
    I suggest buying your food from Target and Coscio. I just spend $126 last week on organic items minus a few kid friendly items.
  • AdriAfterAll
    AdriAfterAll Posts: 16 Member
    Simple.......If it didn't grow from the ground or didn't have a mother.......I don't eat it.

    I love it! That's about where I am, too. :)
  • fryxgal
    fryxgal Posts: 14 Member
    I'm still new to clean eating and learning a lot from posts in this group.
    To me clean eating is cutting out the processed foods and sugar, while using as many fresh ingredients as possible.
    I ask myself, "can I point to it on a farm?"
  • vbutlerb
    vbutlerb Posts: 44 Member
    I probably a little bit different than everyone else in this group. I don't look at specific food choices as "clean" or "dirty," I consider whether someone's overall diet is healthy or unhealthy. By "healthy" I means getting sufficient micronutrients, protein, EFA's, etc.

    I think the important distinction here is that your diet can consist 100% of foods you consider to be "clean," yet you're still lacking in a particular area because your diet isn't balanced. By the same token, depending on your calorie intake you can eat cookies or cake everyday, and still get sufficient micronutrients etc.

    Good point. Focus on getting the essentials in. Rather than focusing on what not to eat. I like that.
  • mariiyah
    mariiyah Posts: 136 Member
    -avoiding salt, oil & sugar as much as possible.
    -having whole grains instead of refined.
    -completely cutting out junk & processed foods from my life.
    -lots more fruits & veggies.
  • Kszczesniak6
    Kszczesniak6 Posts: 5 Member
    For me, clean eating means taking all the processed foods out for my diet and eating a bounty of natural food that mother earth has provided for us. I really need to get better at eating this way, though, because life has gotten in the way and I have been leaning towards quick fix meals and snacks.
  • treehugger215
    treehugger215 Posts: 97 Member
    Making health AND ethical choices :) Knowing where my food comes from, visiting the garden it was made in, and supporting local businesses.

    To me it means every ingredient that is going into my body is nutritious. That is more important to me then the calories!!
  • nalena1
    nalena1 Posts: 2 Member
    So I really dont know what clean eating is but from the looks of it, clean eating is fruit or veggies frozen or raw not canned, non-processesd foods are not clean eating. Hopefully since I joined this group I will learn more about clean eating.
  • Closest to nature as possible, and for me, I would like to know what is in my food and hopefully where it came from! Too many ingredients than I steer clear!!
  • To me clean eating is avoiding over processed foods, but most importantly it means avoiding any and all GMO ingredients. Genetically modified corn, soy, sugar from sugar beets, and canola are the main culprits in our American diet. I eat as clean as i can, and I know when my husband go out to eat we probably consume gmo's but I don't ever bring them into my house. I also avoid unclean meat. I am fortunate enough to have grandparents who raise grass fed beef, and I get my hormone/antibiotic free chicken and fish at the grocery store. I only eat meat that lived a happy life while on this earth. I also avoid dairy products unless it is a special occasion. That is what eating clean means to me!
  • tashaa1992
    tashaa1992 Posts: 658 Member
    Clean eating, to me, means eating only fruit, veg, meat, because if eating clean to me meant eating wholegrains and dairy too then I'd eat 100% clean every single day. I feel healthier in myself when I stick to a strict diet.
  • jackihf3
    jackihf3 Posts: 8 Member
    Minimally processed foods. I do enjoy dairy (milk, cheese and yogurt) and try to limit meat to once or twice a week at most. I avoid white foods and added sugars. Sodium becomes a non-issue for the most part since most Americans get the majority of their sodium from processed foods.
  • caseythelab
    caseythelab Posts: 25 Member
    I like the 'bar code less' definition! However, we've got some dangerously excellent bakeries near my house, so I have to avoid those too!
    Here's a link to an article on which foods are most important to buy organic, you're right, it can be hard to afford as much organic produce as we'd like. I try to shop more frequently and buy in smaller quantities, the food you throw away is the most expensive of all!
    http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods
  • Songbirdcw
    Songbirdcw Posts: 320 Member
    I've been sticking to clean eating for a few months now. Clean eating to me means staying away from processed foods, and eat more fresh and organic foods, whole grains. I try to keep my sugar, sodium, and carb intake low. I try to make healthy alternatives to foods choices from my fav restaurants and fast food places.
  • jesswait
    jesswait Posts: 218 Member
    To me eating clean means fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, antibiotic/steroid free quality cuts of meat, little or (ideally no) prepackaged foods. Using simple herbs to season instead of heavy sauces or excessive salt on everything. Some people's idea excludes grains but I enjoy having around two servings of steamed organic grains like oatmeal, quinoa or black rice in a day.

    I do not eat 100% clean yet, but it's what I am working towards.