I'm confused, what does "eating clean" really mean?

There are tons and tons of websites and of course google to help tell me what eating clean is. But I'm just confused, I'm not dumb or perhaps I am? I look up "eating clean" and sites just basically say eat clean proteins, veggies, fruits, nuts and such.

But what do they mean by eating clean? How do I prepare my proteins? Do I just use salt and pepper? Can I add other spices? Some of the recipes I use requires some sugar or honey is that okay? Or is that not clean?

I would love a more thorough explanation please. I'm a college student living at home and I cook for my parents and siblings, I just want to have a better understanding so I can help my entire family, not just myself.

TIA, I appreciate it :)
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Replies

  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    Nobody knows what it means. It's provocative. It gets the people going.
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
    Normally means don't eat processed food. It's a buzz word right now so you'll see 500000000 different definitions.

    Basically, shop around the perimeter of the supermarket. If the majority of your purchases come from produce, dairy, and meat you're probably doing well.

    And yeah, season stuff however you want. Don't go nuts with the sugar of course, but otherwise go nuts with the spices.
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  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Nobody knows what it means. It's provocative. It gets the people going.

    :heart: :heart: :heart: :drinker:

    You are confused because there is no "real" meaning. Many people interpret it different ways. The link I liveheavyacrylics posted are good explanations.
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    Nobody knows what it means. It's provocative. It gets the people going.


    No it's not. It's gross.
  • So it basically means prepare your own food (how you want to) and not go out and get fast food.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    Nobody knows what it means. It's provocative. It gets the people going.

    :heart: :heart: :heart: :drinker:

    You are confused because there is no "real" meaning. Many people interpret it different ways. The link I liveheavyacrylics posted are good explanations.

    Yessssss! Someone got it.
  • HappyStack
    HappyStack Posts: 802 Member
    Clean eating is that false sense of health you get at the beginning of every other "diet".
    Clean eating is the precursor to binge eating.
    Clean eating is part of the reason people think they're addicted to food.
    Clean eating is why people feel "healthy" means "bland and boring" or "complicated".
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    So it basically means prepare your own food (how you want to) and not go out and get fast food.

    Did you read the first link I posted? It means minimal processing. But what "minimal" means is different depending on who you ask. So to some people cheese might be fine, but to some people it might be off limits. It goes off of the erroneous assumption that processing food is always unhealthy.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    So it basically means prepare your own food (how you want to) and not go out and get fast food.

    No, not really. A lot of people consider a lot of ingredients "off limits". What those are depends on what version of "clean eating" you follow.

    Paleo "clean" is different from Tosco Reno's version of "clean eating" which is different than (I can't remember the doctor's name) clean diet - which is basically vegan.

    For example, some allow for "natural" sugar substitutes like stevia and agave nectar, others do not. MIlk and milk products is another thing that is considered clean for some and not others.

    There really is no definition. Its all how people interpret whatever version they are doing.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,218 Member
    It's whatever anyone says it is, in other words all the answers your going to get to night are 100% correct regardless of how ridiculous or wrong another person may feels, right. :wink:
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    "Eating clean" is diet-speak for being pretentious.
  • abheshek
    abheshek Posts: 525 Member
    It means different things to different people.For the likes of me who are into super heavy lifting it means no junk and only protein.
  • Ctrum69
    Ctrum69 Posts: 308 Member
    as non processed, and as natural as possible.

    Other definitions:

    No meat.

    No dairy.

    No gluten.

    No sugar.

    No soy.

    No fun.

    honestly though, the less processed and less preserved the food, the better it is believed to be for you.

    velveeta < american cheese pre-wrapped < deli american < mild cheddar processed cheese < heluva sharp cheddar that has three ingredients.

    Nutrasweet < HFCS < regular corn syrup < white table sugar < raw sugar < agave nectar.

    Let not the best be the enemy of the good, but pay attention to what's going in your mouth, including all the unpronounceable stuff after "Water, Sugar, flour... " on the labels.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    It means different things to different people.For the likes of me who are into super heavy lifting it means no junk and only protein.

    Only??
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    It's what I do after the shower.
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    "Eating clean" is diet-speak for being pretentious.


    This
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
    Another definition that may help you out is that "eating clean" is staying within the parameters of what you consider to be a healthy diet.

    Of course almost anyone would consider vegetables and fruits part of a healthy diet.

    Some may consider meat, others might prefer meat alternatives (tofu/tempeh)

    Basically think about your goals and what you consider to be a healthy diet. Think about what you want going into your body on a regular basis. If you're hitting that goal, then congrats, you're "eating clean".
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
    Clean eating is that false sense of health you get at the beginning of every other "diet".
    Clean eating is the precursor to binge eating.
    Clean eating is part of the reason people think they're addicted to food.
    Clean eating is why people feel "healthy" means "bland and boring" or "complicated".

    Did clean eating pick on you in elementary school or something?
  • Thank you for these sites.
  • Derpes
    Derpes Posts: 2,033 Member
    "Eating clean" is diet-speak for being pretentious.

    THIS!!!!!!
  • schotas
    schotas Posts: 150 Member
    Tosca Reno has a great book called the Eat Clean Diet Recharged that explains it. Basically, it involves avoiding processed foods and sugar, and eating lots of fruits/veggies/complex carbs/lean proteins--you know...all the stuff we know we need to do to be healthy anyway:smile: . I started eating clean on January 1st, and I've lost 7 pounds so far. It has made me more mindful of what I eat even when we go out to dinner. I don't feel deprived at all. My niece is in excellent shape. She eats clean, and she inspired me to give it a try. I'm really glad I did.
  • carolyn000000
    carolyn000000 Posts: 179 Member
    I think it is what is the best way to eat for you. For me, clean eating is no process foods, no preservatives, nothing from a can, no fast food, no soft drinks, and very little sugar. I am okay with eating bread made of white flour as long as it have only natural ingredients, no preservatives or added sugar. Some will say there is no way I am eating clean if I have white flour. I know some people who will not eat grains at all, and to eat clean they have to avoid them. I will eat pizza from a local pizza pallor that uses only fresh ingredients, but would never eat Pizza Hut, Domino's, or Papa John's. I I eat lots of fruit, veggies, and lean meat.

    For a fast food, soda drinking , process food addict eating clean might just be avoiding those things.

    I don't discuss it with people or compare, I know what is good for me and what is not. I feel great and am at my goal weight.
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member
    It means nothing to me. I leave it on the table for other people to worry about it.
  • Ctrum69
    Ctrum69 Posts: 308 Member
    Tosca Reno has a great book called the Eat Clean Diet Recharged that explains it. Basically, it involves avoiding processed foods and sugar, and eating lots of fruits/veggies/complex carbs/lean proteins--you know...all the stuff we know we need to do to be healthy anyway:smile: . I started eating clean on January 1st, and I've lost 7 pounds so far. It has made me more mindful of what I eat even when we go out to dinner. I don't feel deprived at all. My niece is in excellent shape. She eats clean, and she inspired me to give it a try. I'm really glad I did.

    How do you avoid sugar while eating fruits? Grape juice has twice the sugar of coke..

    Not knocking it if it works for you, but we at some point decided that three teaspoons of sugar in a thing of grapes is awesome, but in a can of coke will kill you.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Tosca Reno has a great book called the Eat Clean Diet Recharged that explains it. Basically, it involves avoiding processed foods and sugar, and eating lots of fruits/veggies/complex carbs/lean proteins--you know...all the stuff we know we need to do to be healthy anyway:smile: . I started eating clean on January 1st, and I've lost 7 pounds so far. It has made me more mindful of what I eat even when we go out to dinner. I don't feel deprived at all. My niece is in excellent shape. She eats clean, and she inspired me to give it a try. I'm really glad I did.

    How do you avoid sugar while eating fruits? Grape juice has twice the sugar of coke..

    Not knocking it if it works for you, but we at some point decided that three teaspoons of sugar in a thing of grapes is awesome, but in a can of coke will kill you.

    But coke will clean an engine, do you want that in your body?!




    Not srs.
  • amandakev88
    amandakev88 Posts: 328 Member
    dirt, leaves and nuts and berries

    pretty much.

    stuff thats not processed, usually has only 1 ingred.
  • gigglesinthesun
    gigglesinthesun Posts: 860 Member
    Tosca Reno has a great book called the Eat Clean Diet Recharged that explains it. Basically, it involves avoiding processed foods and sugar, and eating lots of fruits/veggies/complex carbs/lean proteins--you know...all the stuff we know we need to do to be healthy anyway:smile: . I started eating clean on January 1st, and I've lost 7 pounds so far. It has made me more mindful of what I eat even when we go out to dinner. I don't feel deprived at all. My niece is in excellent shape. She eats clean, and she inspired me to give it a try. I'm really glad I did.

    How do you avoid sugar while eating fruits? Grape juice has twice the sugar of coke..

    Not knocking it if it works for you, but we at some point decided that three teaspoons of sugar in a thing of grapes is awesome, but in a can of coke will kill you.

    But coke will clean an engine, do you want that in your body?!




    Not srs.

    so does hydrochloric acid and yet it's in the body from birth to help digest stuff
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    Tosca Reno has a great book called the Eat Clean Diet Recharged that explains it. Basically, it involves avoiding processed foods and sugar, and eating lots of fruits/veggies/complex carbs/lean proteins--you know...all the stuff we know we need to do to be healthy anyway:smile: . I started eating clean on January 1st, and I've lost 7 pounds so far. It has made me more mindful of what I eat even when we go out to dinner. I don't feel deprived at all. My niece is in excellent shape. She eats clean, and she inspired me to give it a try. I'm really glad I did.

    How do you avoid sugar while eating fruits? Grape juice has twice the sugar of coke..

    Not knocking it if it works for you, but we at some point decided that three teaspoons of sugar in a thing of grapes is awesome, but in a can of coke will kill you.

    But coke will clean an engine, do you want that in your body?!




    Not srs.

    Now I want baked ham basted in Coke.
    Thanks a lot!