So what the heck is clean eating, anyway?
Ponkeen
Posts: 147 Member
Is it just generically healthy? Is it all sustainable organic? I generally eat what I consider to be healthy food (veggies, good quality meats and cheeses, whole grains, very limited sweets on occasion)- am I already 'eating clean,' or what?
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Everyone will give you their own definition. There's no consensus as to what "clean eating" is. Personally, I don't bother with it and focus on moderation, getting my nutrients in and enjoying treats when I can.0
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Everyone will give you their own definition. There's no consensus as to what "clean eating" is. Personally, I don't bother with it and focus on moderation, getting my nutrients in and enjoying treats when I can.
Okay- that's what I figured, but wasn't sure if I was just missing something.
Thanks!0 -
Everyone will give you their own definition. There's no consensus as to what "clean eating" is. Personally, I don't bother with it and focus on moderation, getting my nutrients in and enjoying treats when I can.
Okay- that's what I figured, but wasn't sure if I was just missing something.
Thanks!
Yup, for some people it's Paleo with all sorts of meat and no grains. Others think raw vegan is clean food. Then others think any food in it's natural state. Usually less processed food is in there *somewhere*, but not always, and it's about the only thing that most clean eaters have in common.0 -
There is no concrete definition. Generally, you can sub in the word "healthy" and get the gist, but there are almost as many definitions as there are people using the word. If you REALLY want to know, you have to ask the person what they mean, exactly.0
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"Clean eating" will be defined subjectively by whomever you ask. There is no definitive answer since there are many approaches to how people eat.
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It is pretty much whatever you think it is since everyone you all will have a different definition. I am not a clean eater, but if I were to follow it I would use Tosca Reno's definition. I like her books and website and definition of clean eating seems reasonable and her plan wound be easy to follow.0
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Yep. Exactly. Those are the right foods for you.Is it just generically healthy? Is it all sustainable organic? I generally eat what I consider to be healthy food (veggies, good quality meats and cheeses, whole grains, very limited sweets on occasion)- am I already 'eating clean,' or what?
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Clean eating to me means I didn't drop it on the floor!0
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I agree with the above posters - from what I have observed it's an umbrella term for various diets that are generally wholefood and less manufactured foodstuffs. Everyone is different but with a common goal if you like....0
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RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »Clean eating to me means I didn't drop it on the floor!
As long as i can't see all the cat hair on it, I'll eat it anyway....0 -
Yep. Exactly. Those are the right foods for you.Is it just generically healthy? Is it all sustainable organic? I generally eat what I consider to be healthy food (veggies, good quality meats and cheeses, whole grains, very limited sweets on occasion)- am I already 'eating clean,' or what?
I agree that's a good way to eat. It likely doesn't count as "clean" by the usual definition -- no processed foods -- as cheese is processed, whole grains are processed, meat is generally processed (obviously stuff like boneless, skinless chicken breast, although I buy from a farm and even then everything must go to a processor before being sold--of course, for some reason meat usually gets a pass often even more processed stuff like bacon or deli turkey). The oddest is when people start claiming it means nothing with a label, as even the eggs I buy at the farm or the meat and dairy have labels, as does oatmeal, etc.
So anyway like others I find the "clean" thing unhelpful, as the terminology doesn't mean much (and food isn't really clean or not--it's clearly chosen to be insulting), and because processed foods vary so widely. I generally prefer to cook from whole foods (which is a somewhat different issue than focusing on nutrient dense foods, as both whole and processed foods can be more or less nutrient dense). I do find, though, that a number of processed foods help me reach my goals, including smoked salmon, greek yogurt (plain), cottage cheese, occasional protein powder, dried pasta (whole wheat), dried beans, oats, etc. And some processed foods are just delicious like, well, cheese.
So my preference is simply to focus on having an overall healthy, balanced diet.0 -
@lemurcat12 why do you find it insulting? I'm curious. The word clean is used in lifting I believe? Is it the same for that? I'm not trying to be a smart *kitten* I am genuinely interested in why....0
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@lemurcat12 why do you find it insulting? I'm curious. The word clean is used in lifting I believe? Is it the same for that? I'm not trying to be a smart *kitten* I am genuinely interested in why....
Doing a clean in lifting doesn't insinuate that all other lifts are unclean and should be shunned.
If I walk up to someone and ask for diet advise and they tell me "you need to eat clean, stop eating all that crap" it is said to be insulting. Shame you into eating something else. Especially when that "crap" is your steak, or some bread, or pretty standard fare that is considered healthy by most of the world. I can't count the number of times people say something is "garbage" without understanding what they are talking about. Thinking HFCS is garbage, but praising Agave nectar, all while bashing fructose.0 -
If someone said that then it's not the word - it's just because they are bloody rude!0
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I agree with a lot of people here. I believe the majority of my diet is clean. To me, eating clean is eating fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, nuts/seeds, some cheese when I want, etc. I can't eat grains, but if I could I'd put things like brown rice or steel cut oats on my list. I don't eat baked goods and skip the majority of the aisles in my supermarket, as things like packaged cookies, cakes, crackers, etc are not clean to me.
However, people take things to the extreme.- "Oh you only have an 80% clean diet? Mine is 100%!"
- "Oh, you have a 100% clean diet, but is your food organic?"
- "My food is not only organic, it's locally grown!"
- "Oh, yours is organic and locally grown, but do you consume raw foods only?"
So many people feel the need to one up each other or put other people's eating habits down to make themselves feel superior. People should do whatever works for them. I do not eat all organic food. If I want a piece of dark chocolate, I'm going to have a piece even if it's not considered clean eating. As long as I see results I want, that's what matters to me.0 -
I agree with a lot of people here. I believe the majority of my diet is clean. To me, eating clean is eating fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, nuts/seeds, some cheese when I want, etc. I can't eat grains, but if I could I'd put things like brown rice or steel cut oats on my list. I don't eat baked goods and skip the majority of the aisles in my supermarket, as things like packaged cookies, cakes, crackers, etc are not clean to me.
However, people take things to the extreme.- "Oh you only have an 80% clean diet? Mine is 100%!"
- "Oh, you have a 100% clean diet, but is your food organic?"
- "My food is not only organic, it's locally grown!"
- "Oh, yours is organic and locally grown, but do you consume raw foods only?"
So many people feel the need to one up each other or put other people's eating habits down to make themselves feel superior. People should do whatever works for them. I do not eat all organic food. If I want a piece of dark chocolate, I'm going to have a piece even if it's not considered clean eating. As long as I see results I want, that's what matters to me.
I only eat raw beets that I grow myself and fertilize with my own beet poop.0 -
It means whatever you want it to mean. For me I think it means lots of fruit, nuts, produce and less stuff that's deep fried or comes in a box. To each their own.0
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Ready2Rock206 wrote: »It is pretty much whatever you think it is since everyone you all will have a different definition. I am not a clean eater, but if I were to follow it I would use Tosca Reno's definition. I like her books and website and definition of clean eating seems reasonable and her plan wound be easy to follow.
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I have a couple of Tosca Reno's books and agree on all counts.0
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@lemurcat12 why do you find it insulting? I'm curious. The word clean is used in lifting I believe? Is it the same for that? I'm not trying to be a smart *kitten* I am genuinely interested in why....
I think saying "I'm a clean eater" or "I eat only clean food" suggests that other food (or other ways to eat) are unclean or dirty. Since we are not really talking about cleanliness, or the purity or sanitary quality of the food, it's a strange word to choose. I dislike it, and don't think it's really related to what I consider important -- trying to eat an overall nutritious, healthy diet. For example, when I ask what clean is people say "not processed," as if giving up all processed food should be a goal. Yeah, I suppose I could make my own yogurt, but why is eating Fage plain or -- as I said before -- smoked salmon or packaged whole wheat pasta or cheese, etc. something I should endeavor to remove from my diet when they are actually foods that help me meet my goals (and IMO make my diet more healthy overall)? What's the benefit of saying "I eat clean" (especially since virtually everyone who says that does too eat processed foods) vs. saying "I try to eat a healthy diet"? Or "I try to focus on nutrient-dense whole foods"? Personally, I would never, ever say I ate "clean," but I care a lot about nutrition, and try to focus on nutrient-dense whole foods, especially vegetables, and I get as much of my meat/eggs/dairy and produce from local farms as I can manage.
To be completely open, though, I never really noticed or minded the term "eating clean" pre-MFP. Here it's ridiculously common for self-proclaimed "clean" eaters to make rude assumptions about how others eat, so I've gotten annoyed by the term and started thinking more about the meaning of the language chosen.0 -
If someone is giving you unwanted advice and telling you how you should eat, that is rude.nordlead2005 wrote: »@lemurcat12 why do you find it insulting? I'm curious. The word clean is used in lifting I believe? Is it the same for that? I'm not trying to be a smart *kitten* I am genuinely interested in why....
Doing a clean in lifting doesn't insinuate that all other lifts are unclean and should be shunned.
If I walk up to someone and ask for diet advise and they tell me "you need to eat clean, stop eating all that crap" it is said to be insulting. Shame you into eating something else. Especially when that "crap" is your steak, or some bread, or pretty standard fare that is considered healthy by most of the world. I can't count the number of times people say something is "garbage" without understanding what they are talking about. Thinking HFCS is garbage, but praising Agave nectar, all while bashing fructose.
If someone says, "I like to eat clean" and I get all upset because I've imagined an insult that didn't exist and give them unwanted advice on what words they should use, I am the rude one.
The word "clean" is not, in and of itself, offensive. Using it isn't rude.
Sometimes people get too hung up on demanding that everyone else use the words they, themselves, prefer. It's okay to not like a word. We all have terms and phrases we don't like. Insisting that everyone else change their diction because we don't like it is a problem.
Ask for clarification, cool. Point out that since 10,000 people have 9,000 definitions, there is no way to know what the word/phrase means, okay. Insist that they stop using words that we don't like? No.
If we are going to interact with others, we will have to learn to not get so upset every time someone chooses their own words and those words happen to be ones that we wouldn't use.-1 -
When I hear the term "clean eating" I usually imagine the food pyramid, media articles, eating predominantly vegetables, whole grain, lean meat, fish...etc. Basically things that are naturally rich in nutrients. I don't like to bother with terms though. In most cases "clean eating" and "moderation" are essentially the same thing, except one group defines itself by what they eat more of, and the other defines itself by what they eat less of. One group likes to classify foods into "good" and "bad" and the other likes to classify them into "often" and "sometimes" (or "a lot" and "a little").
I personally define my eating style by what I like to eat (basically I practice "foods I like" way of eating), although I could be comfortably squeezed into either pre-defined group if I describe my diet to someone who likes to classify eating styles. I don't mind using either term to describe my eating style if that gets an idea across better.0 -
@lemurcat12 Thanks for the reply - insightful0
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Ask for clarification, cool. Point out that since 10,000 people have 9,000 definitions, there is no way to know what the word/phrase means, okay.
This is what I do. I rarely get a response.
I also think the question of why choose that term -- or why claim to not eat "processed" foods when you do -- is an interesting one.
I usually don't get an answer to that either.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Ask for clarification, cool. Point out that since 10,000 people have 9,000 definitions, there is no way to know what the word/phrase means, okay.
This is what I do. I rarely get a response.
I also think the question of why choose that term -- or why claim to not eat "processed" foods when you do -- is an interesting one.
I usually don't get an answer to that either.
I'll answer.
I like the word - to me it encompasses what I try to achieve. I have very set ideas about what I personally consider to be clean foods (as you have said it's mainly wholefood and a traditional way of cooking from scratch). For me it is one word that just covers that.
I don't claim to not eat processed food - I try to cut it out a lot - a difference. When I'm feeling crappy and can't be bothered to cook I may buy a big bag of Doritos or something. I don't dislike these foods I just try not to eat them because I personally believe it's doing me some good to eat 'clean'.
Does that make sense? That's why I asked the insulting question - I couldn't get my head round what was wrong with that. - which you clarified from your own experiences.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Ask for clarification, cool. Point out that since 10,000 people have 9,000 definitions, there is no way to know what the word/phrase means, okay.
This is what I do. I rarely get a response.
I also think the question of why choose that term -- or why claim to not eat "processed" foods when you do -- is an interesting one.
I usually don't get an answer to that either.
I'll answer.
I like the word - to me it encompasses what I try to achieve. I have very set ideas about what I personally consider to be clean foods (as you have said it's mainly wholefood and a traditional way of cooking from scratch). For me it is one word that just covers that.
I don't claim to not eat processed food - I try to cut it out a lot - a difference. When I'm feeling crappy and can't be bothered to cook I may buy a big bag of Doritos or something. I don't dislike these foods I just try not to eat them because I personally believe it's doing me some good to eat 'clean'.
Does that make sense? That's why I asked the insulting question - I couldn't get my head round what was wrong with that. - which you clarified from your own experiences.
Hmm, maybe we can have an actual interesting discussion about this. ;-)
Do you make assumptions about what others eat? I guess one thing that bugs me is that people here seem to think that people who don't eat "clean" eat quite poorly, when really most of us also care about nutrition, but just don't like the term or the ideas that seem to be inherent in it.
And to elaborate on that, what I see as different between "clean eating" and "moderation" are:
(1) Clean eating focuses on "processing" as if that were relevant to nutrition, when it's not necessarily given the wide variety of processed foods. Moderates seem more likely to believe that at least some forms of processing -- like freezing fish or veggies, canning tomatoes, the dairy products I mentioned, etc. -- makes food more available, which is good. If it weren't for "unnatural" things like processing and carting foods in from more southern climates, here in the northern midwest I would not have much produce in many months.
I personally prefer not to eat highly processed foods (what I'd call convenience foods), but to me that's not the be-all about weight loss since I really didn't when I was fat either. I never liked fast food, and always have been someone who likes cooking and is a bit of a food snob (I don't really like eating foods out of packages at all, I don't believe storebought baked goods are anywhere near as tasty as homemade, and I actually get even weirder than that). So I don't see that as a major change I've made or need to work on, and it feels rude to me to claim that how I prefer to eat is inherently "healthier" than how others prefer to eat when really it's just a matter of taste. (Whether people eat healthy or not to me is about their overall diet, not whether they occasionally have a Big Mac, so why claim one way is "clean" and one is not?)
(2) Clean eating seems to focus on the goal being NEVER eating less nutrient-dense foods, whereas I prefer to focus on getting a good overall diet, but don't see a benefit to elimination.
I always find it intriguing when people use the term "clean" without really meaning either of the 2 things that I think distinguish them from moderation folks like me.
Maybe it's that I tend to be overly prone to all-in ways of thinking? When I was really into "natural" eating I strongly considered trying to be as locavore as possible (which is nuts given where I live), made everything I could from scratch for a while (everything, in kind of a nutty way), and somewhat convinced myself that if I did this I could eat whatever I wanted (which is true only in that if I was really strict what I could eat would be limited). Anyway, in addition to not liking the term "clean" I could never say "I eat clean" because it would seem like a lie or hypocritical, since like I said I eat greek yogurt and dried wholewheat pasta and frozen fish and I go to restaurants (with good quality food, I think, but clearly not made by me), etc. I have trouble understanding how some CAN claim to "eat clean" when they include foods that are supposedly not on plan.
That is likely just a different overall way of looking at things (or me being weird, who knows). ;-)
Unfortunately the irritating discussions and assumptions at MFP have caused me to have a really negative reaction and perceive a kind of "I'm better than you" attitude when someone claims to "eat clean," which I probably should try to temper, at least until the person confirms that they have such an attitude.0 -
I too usually assume "eating clean" is basically along the lines of Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet books. Very limited processed foods and sugars with less starches than many would eat.
Sort of along the lines of Michael Pollen's "Eat food. Mostly Plants. Not too much." With the added caveat of make sure you get enough protein at every meal.
JMO
But, the term eating clean will attract many who feel the need to comment on the cleanliness of food and how well it was washed. So very very funny....sigh. It's one of a few topics that pop up around the boards which some feel the need to nit pick over the language.0 -
I assume people are using clean eating to mean a whole foods based diet and let the context of their posts determine the details. I don't find the term confusing or insulting.0
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To me its rinsing my fruits and veggies three times.0
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