What is meant by "Eat Clean"??

Its a buzz word that means different things for different people. In the end the term is useless.
IIFIYM is what I do, and is a lot more clear cut.

Just scrub your vegetables and call it clean, you will be better off.

I'd say the Clean eating crew would call you out on. the chicken from the Deli. It would be processed.
fry light spray: ZMOG!! the devil
sweetner: you make clean eaters cry.

kmab1985 wrote: »

OK so I'm new to all this exercise etc (well I joined the gym after xmas) and have been eating healthier too as the PT at the gym said to try and eat as clean as possible through the week and enjoy small treats at the weekend but what is meant by "eat clean" and does anyone else stick to an "eat clean" plan though the week!

For example today I'm on:

Breakfast: Spinach, banana, frozen berries and coconut water smoothie
Snack: Banana
Lunch: 1x wholemeal bap with Chicken (from the deli counter) and cucumber
Snack: Grapes
Dinner: Omellette with veggies and using fry light spray
Drinks: 3-4 litres of water and 1 coffee with sweetner and a dash of milk

Is the above classed as eating clean or should I be doing more?

Kel

It's an overly vague term that offers very little detail. Clean eating proponents will usually hype so called non-processed foods even though just about everything is processed in some way. Forget it and focus on what food suits you best, what can you eat that offers you the most physical and mental benefits and helps you with whatever nutrition plan you're on. No food should ever be off limits, what's key is portion sizes.

I think for a lot of people it basically means no processed food, just fruits & veggies, lean protein, & whole grains. But then you have the anti-carb people who say that grains aren't "clean"...
Like the person above said, it means a lot of different things to different people. I try to eat mostly "clean" stuff, but if I can work pizza into my day occasionally, I'm going to do so. Just do what works for you. Make sure you are eating enough, and getting a balanced diet, which it sounds like you are (although I would suggest adding a protein to your breakfast, once I did that it made me feel so much better throughout the day). You will be fine, don't worry to hard about eating "clean" or following a specific diet.

dieselbyte wrote: »

LiftAllThePizzas wrote: »

It means get a new PT.

^This. Food is food.

This. And this.

Tell your pt you used spray and wipe on all the food you dropped on the floor before consuming it this week.

Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »

Its a buzz word that means different things for different people. In the end the term is useless.
IIFIYM is what I do, and is a lot more clear cut.

Just scrub your vegetables and call it clean, you will be better off.

I'd say the Clean eating crew would call you out on. the chicken from the Deli. It would be processed.
fry light spray: ZMOG!! the devil
sweetner: you make clean eaters cry.

Oh...You are supposed to scrub your vegetables???

I thought eat clean meant you must take a shower/bath before eating.

Or at the very least...wash your hands.

SophieKean90 wrote: »

Until i read this i always thought it meant non-processed, healthy, lean, properly prepared meals...

What is "healthy" is relative to your goals and the macro requirements it will take to reach them.

Not sure why lean is clean. Dietary fat is a necessary part of a well-balanced diet.

herrspoons wrote: »

No one knows.

This.

herrspoons wrote: »

No one knows.

agreed

kmab1985 wrote: »

I'm glad I posted this question because you have all just made me feel tonnes better, I've been panicking and feeling stressed about how much "clean eating" I'm doing to the point that if I do have something that might be processed I feel bad, guilty and horrible....

I've cut out white carbs (on advice from PT) and try and stick to brown carbs like wholemeal bread, brown pastas and rice etc.....but just couldn't get this "Eat Clean" out fo my head!!!

Thanks Everyone!

Forget the words"eat clean" and just try to eat in a way that gives you the most nutrition bang for your calorie buck. For most people, this means to make up the majority of your diet with lean meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables that you prepare yourself. Limit the convenience foods (I DO NOT consider things like frozen veggies or fruit convenience foods) and eating out to occasional treats and enjoy the occasional sweet or fast food burger or glass of alcohol if they fit your calorie and macro targets.

ps: I refuse to categorize things as "processed". Most of what you get in a grocery is processed in one way or another. I prefer to use "convenience foods" to designate the pre-packaged meals, box mixes, cans of soup, etc. that can be higher calorie/higher sodium options.

Generally it means eating foods as close to it's natural state as possible. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods. Whole grains rather than finely ground flour. Homemade meals from whole ingredients rather than premade ingredients or meals. Foods without synthetic additives. That sort of thing.

It's pretty hard and expensive to eat that way 100% in today's world. We grow, raise or hunt a good deal of our food, but we still don't eat clean all the time.

anitabix3 wrote: »

My understanding of "eat clean" is not to eat any processed foods, if it didnt grow on land, swim walk or run dont eat it

Well, technically an egg hasn't grown from the land. I don't think they swim or run, either. What about milk? Is cheese not allowed? Technically that's processed. So is butter. And olive oil, because it's pressed. For that matter, you can count out wine. And beer. And, like, a million other things that are perfectly fine to eat.

PRMinx wrote: »

anitabix3 wrote: »

My understanding of "eat clean" is not to eat any processed foods, if it didnt grow on land, swim walk or run dont eat it

Well, technically an egg hasn't grown from the land. I don't think they swim or run, either. What about milk? Is cheese not allowed? Technically that's processed. So is butter. And olive oil, because it's pressed. For that matter, you can count out wine. And beer. And, like, a million other things that are perfectly fine to eat.

I got a book by James Duignam its called the clean and lean diet, and basically there is no processed food allowed, little to no diary, no wheat, no beer or wine just filtered water with a wedge of lime, and if you really want a drink it should be Grey Goose Vodka with filtered water.... so yeah.... that book is on my shelf gathering dust

http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/food-health/food-and-health-news/what-is-clean-eating/

PRMinx wrote: »

anitabix3 wrote: »

PRMinx wrote: »

anitabix3 wrote: »

My understanding of "eat clean" is not to eat any processed foods, if it didnt grow on land, swim walk or run dont eat it

Well, technically an egg hasn't grown from the land. I don't think they swim or run, either. What about milk? Is cheese not allowed? Technically that's processed. So is butter. And olive oil, because it's pressed. For that matter, you can count out wine. And beer. And, like, a million other things that are perfectly fine to eat.

I got a book by James Duignam its called the clean and lean diet, and basically there is no processed food allowed, little to no diary, no wheat, no beer or wine just filtered water with a wedge of lime, and if you really want a drink it should be Grey Goose Vodka with filtered water.... so yeah.... that book is on my shelf gathering dust

I'd be all like...hangry and stuff. I guess they have to allow vodka because otherwise people will be stabby. Yikes!

I also have to laugh that vodka is ok and wine isn't. LOL.

yeah. Apparently distilling is not processing but natural fermentation is.

I once worked for Nestle making Hot Pockets, and let me tell you, that place was CLEAN. There was an entire crew dedicated to keeping the place spotless and every surface was stainless steel. You could literally eat off the floors and not worry about it.

So, my definition of clean eating is getting as much processed food as possible.

Food in its natural state is really very dirty.

This is of course a joke. I'm just demonstrating the meaninglessness of terms that can have whatever meaning one wants to assign to them.