What exactly is "Clean Eating"?

RB4470
RB4470 Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
I've heard of clean eating but don't really know what it means exactly.
Does it mean for example, that if you're making a Pasta/Spaghetti Sauce, you make it using actual Tomatoes and not ones in the Can?
So No Canned or Packaged foods, right?
If so, that's not so easy or cheap to do! :noway:
Would love to see some Meal idea's.
«13456

Replies

  • Chrisparadise579
    Chrisparadise579 Posts: 411 Member
    The problem is, clean eating means different things to different people, but usually it means cutting out all junk food, including the pasta you mentioned. Essentially it is eating only whole foods. And suprisingly its not that expensive if you dont try and buy the organic foods, just stick to single ingredient foods and you should be on the right track.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    Ask 25 'clean eaters' and you'll get 25 different answers. It's a nonsense term that means nothing
  • libbydoodle11
    libbydoodle11 Posts: 1,351 Member
    I've heard of clean eating but don't really know what it means exactly.
    Does it mean for example, that if you're making a Pasta/Spaghetti Sauce, you make it using actual Tomatoes and not ones in the Can?
    So No Canned or Packaged foods, right?
    If so, that's not so easy or cheap to do! :noway:
    Would love to see some Meal idea's.


    I think it means different things to different people.

    Someone just posted this link the other day and I thought it was a good read.

    Check it out...

    http://www.healthylivingheavylifting.com/the-perils-of-clean-eating/
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    The problem with "clean" is that everyone has a different definition. However you choose to define it, it's not a bad way to eat most of the time but don't feel like you need to be 100% with it. There's nothing wrong with "dirty" foods in moderation either. Here are some clean eating websites I reference sometimes:

    http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/

    http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/
  • morehealthymatt
    morehealthymatt Posts: 208 Member
    I was told it was washing your cookies before eating them.
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    Really?
  • sunnyside1213
    sunnyside1213 Posts: 1,205 Member
    My doctor defines it as avoiding anything with a label.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    There are so many different definitions.

    "Clean" and "moderate" are words that are frequently tossed around, but have no actual definition that is common to all who use the words. You kind of have to guess...or ask the person, "How do you define that?"
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,708 Member
    I've heard of clean eating but don't really know what it means exactly.
    Does it mean for example, that if you're making a Pasta/Spaghetti Sauce, you make it using actual Tomatoes and not ones in the Can?
    So No Canned or Packaged foods, right?
    If so, that's not so easy or cheap to do! :noway:
    Would love to see some Meal idea's.

    If you search in the MFP database you will probably find a couple of hundred threads on the subject and in case that is not enough you could always google. I really don't think that anyone could say anything new on the subject in this thread.
  • kouzzzz
    kouzzzz Posts: 540 Member
    I consider clean eating as a food with just one ingredient. For an example, Chicken, beef, tuna, spinach, lettuce, almonds, rice, potatoes, etc...
  • sarahbear1981
    sarahbear1981 Posts: 610 Member
    If you are interested in clean eating I recommend the book Clean Eating Recharged by Tosca Reno. I think it is an excellent guide for beginning clean eaters and it explains the concept very well. The book is available for online download. It includes some recipes ideas and a grocery list. Edited to add info
  • TestingFun01
    TestingFun01 Posts: 89 Member
    I think it means you wash the food with soap or bleach it to get all the buggers off people smear on it while handling it...

    Pretty clean stuff.
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    My doctor defines it as avoiding anything with a label.
    My bag of apples have a label....So do my carton of strawberries and my chicken breasts...
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    I consider clean eating as a food with just one ingredient. For an example, Chicken, beef, tuna, spinach, lettuce, almonds, rice, potatoes, etc...

    Do you just eat all those foods straight up with no seasonings, salt, or dressings?
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    A general definition would be eating whole, unprocessed foods, but each person has their own definition of what fits into those categories and what is an acceptable level of processing for a food to still be considered clean. Often the categories and acceptable processing levels have more to do with the individual's personal beliefs than any actual science.

    The best eating philosophy I can offer you is to eat foods you like and want to eat, which do not cause you physical pain, fit into your personal philosophical beliefs about food sources/animal cruelty/GMO/organic/whatever, which can be easily procured within your financial means, and realistically match your actual lifestyle and not the lifestyle you pretend to/want to have, all while helping you meet and stay within your calorie, macro, and micronutrient goals.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    I personally think clean eating is rinsing my produce and meat before I cook/eat it.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Washing your food before you eat it.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    a general definition would be cutting out random entire food groups for no particular reason. (except hydrogenated trans fats)
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    I just thought it was eating more or mostly unprocessed/whole foods. No idea why people make such a fuss about it, even if you dont like or dont agree with the idea.
  • TeresaB1979
    TeresaB1979 Posts: 158 Member
    Not something I am particularly interested in but as far as I understand it's something that involves eating mainly fruit, veg and pulses and avoiding processed packaged foods and fast food. But that's just what I've gathered.

    Also, it's something that makes everyone on here argue and repeatedly crack 'hilarious' jokes about washing their food or having a shower before they eat (seriously, the same comments over and over).

    Oh and plenty of people telling the person who asks about it how they eat pizza, cake, pop tarts etc. and are still able to lose weight. I eat pizza and icecream, chocolate etc. and lose weight, don't know why people feel the need to gloat about it. ;-)

    Do a search for 'clean eating' in the forums here and you will get plenty of information (and see lots of.b*tching and the aforementioned comedians:-P ). Good luck!
  • GingerLolita
    GingerLolita Posts: 738 Member
    I eat mostly clean because it makes me feel healthier and better. To me, this means eating foods that are not processed or processed as little as possible. I will eat some packaged foods, but I exercise judgement based on the ingredients. For example, I prefer canned/boxed tomatoes with tomatoes as the only ingredient and I buy granola with ingredients I would be able to put in my own. It is not necessary for weight loss, but I find that I am more full eating this way and feel better overall.
  • MississippiMama87
    MississippiMama87 Posts: 204 Member
    I consider clean eating as eating only whole foods....no additives, no altering. Basically meat, vegetables and whole grains.

    That being said, I'm a dirty, dirty girl...eh, I mean eater.
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    This thread alone proves that the term "clean eating" is basically meaningless. While we can most agree that "eating clean" refers to eating minimally processed whole foods, this is where the agreeing stops and the senseless bickering begins. Many people mentioned whole grain as "clean". There are many who would argue grain/gluten were never meant to be consumed by humans. The same goes for milk. Milk can be minimally processed (just pasteurized) but plenty of people claim that we shouldn't drink cows milk ever.This is why all encompassing terms like "clean eating" fail. It's also silly to think that if your diet is mostly comprised of minimally processed whole foods, that having a snack or two that is processed will make any difference at all.
  • LifeWithPie
    LifeWithPie Posts: 552 Member
    'Clean Eating' is a marketing term used to sell books and it's completely arbitrary.
  • MississippiMama87
    MississippiMama87 Posts: 204 Member
    This thread alone proves that the term "clean eating" is basically meaningless. While we can most agree that "eating clean" refers to eating minimally processed whole foods, this is where the agreeing stops and the senseless bickering begins. Many people mentioned whole grain as "clean". There are many who would argue grain/gluten were never meant to be consumed by humans. The same goes for milk. Milk can be minimally processed (just pasteurized) but plenty of people claim that we shouldn't drink cows milk ever.This is why all encompassing terms like "clean eating" fail. It's also silly to think that if your diet is mostly comprised of minimally processed whole foods, that having a snack or two that is processed will make any difference at all.

    /end thread
  • kouzzzz
    kouzzzz Posts: 540 Member
    @ OdesAngel -- I use seasoning...no dressing. Seasonings have one ingredient.
  • bcanderson123456
    bcanderson123456 Posts: 45 Member
    The problem is, clean eating means different things to different people, but usually it means cutting out all junk food, including the pasta you mentioned. Essentially it is eating only whole foods. And suprisingly its not that expensive if you dont try and buy the organic foods, just stick to single ingredient foods and you should be on the right track.
    care to elaborate on how pasta is junk food?
  • fitspiration1989
    fitspiration1989 Posts: 5
    As well my vegetables, milk, cheese.

    Cookies in a bakery have no label on them when you look at them at first, same thing at tim horton's :D
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,023 Member
    There IS NO exact meaning.

    Vegans would consider eating meat "dirty".
    Low carb eaters would consider white carbs "dirty".
    Paleo would consider just about anything processed "dirty".
    Some people consider fast food "dirty".

    Me I consider unwashed or anything with dirt or flies on it "dirty".

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • bcanderson123456
    bcanderson123456 Posts: 45 Member
    @ OdesAngel -- I use seasoning...no dressing. Seasonings have one ingredient.

    not necessarily true. Depends on whether you buy only whole seasonings and grind them yourself. A lot of seasonings actually contain fillers, and no they aren't listed on the label. Anything below a certain percentage does not have to be listed. So maybe you aren't eating as clean as you think.

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