Clean Eating

It gets defined in a lot of ways. The definition I'm familiar with is "whole or minimally processed foods".

So basically preparing your meals from whole raw/frozen/canned ingredients that do not contain additives. The more processing of the ingredient or the more additives the less clean the food is.

But some people simply define it as 'healthy foods' and others have more limiting or obscure definitions.

Having seen several clean eating threads today I decided to ask Google for a definition. Here are a few of the top results (which should make it about as clear as mud :laugh: )

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/plans/diets/clean-eating/
At its simplest, clean eating is about eating whole foods, or "real" foods — those that are un- or minimally processed, refined, and handled, making them as close to their natural form as possible.

http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/smart-choices/clean-eating
1. Choose whole, natural foods and seek to eliminate or minimize processed foods.
2. Choose unrefined over refined foods.
3. Include some protein, carbohydrate and fat at every meal.
4. Watch out for fat, salt, and sugar.
5. Eat five to six small meals throughout the day.
6. Don’t drink your calories.
7. Get moving.

http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/10_ways_to_eat_clean
Eating clean is a good way to refresh your eating habits: it’s about eating more of the best and healthiest options in each of the food groups—and eating less of the not-so-healthy ones. That means embracing whole foods like vegetables, fruits and whole grains, plus healthy proteins and fats. It also means cutting back on refined grains, added sugars, salt and unhealthy fats

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2015/03/27/what-does-clean-eating-mean-to-dietitians
**all of the below are from this link which asked various dieticians for their definition**

“Since there is no scientific consensus on the definition of clean eating, I define a clean eater as someone whose diet consists of 80 to 90 percent whole foods, 80 to 90 percent cooking and preparing their foods from scratch, using minimally-processed foods and including superfoods in their diets.” – Manuel Villacorte, MS, RD, author of "Whole Body Reboot: The Peruvian Superfoods Diet"

“Clean eating is about exploring and enjoying the amazing flavors our foods inherently offer. Authentic, traditional dishes with their signature flavors from herbs, spices and cooking techniques are a great example of clean eating that has been around for generations.” – Jennifer Ignacio, MS, RD, Nutrition Communications Manager for the Compass Group North America

“When I think of clean eating, I think of Sankofa. The African word and symbol Sankofa translates as ‘to go back and take.’ The symbol of a bird arching its neck to take an egg from its back symbolizes one taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present. Clean eating aims to do just that, promoting positive progress in health by reaching back to a time when we ate more wholesome, minimally processed foods.” Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, author of The African American Guide to Living Well with Diabetes

“Clean eating = eating foods where nothing healthful has been taken away, and nothing harmful has been added." – Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, author of "The Superfood Swap"

“Clean eating simply means eating with micronutrient and macronutrient goals in mind, with as much variety as possible, without restrictions. It's not an extreme dieting technique; it's a way of improving your eating habits so you are not over-consuming foods heavily processed and stripped of nutrients.” – Jim White, RD, ACSM Health Fitness Specialist, owner of Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios, Virginia Beach

“Clean eating is when I can see all of the ingredients I am eating. For example, a lunch of grilled salmon over salad with lots of veggies as opposed to a bowl of processed macaroni and cheese where I can't pronounce the ingredients on the label. Clean eating means the least processed fresh food that focuses on a rainbow of colors from fruits and vegetables, not from a cereal box.” – Jayne Newmark, MS, RDN, owner of Newmark Nutrition, LLC, Phoenix, Arizona

“It’s is my mantra, my go-to safety net. To me, clean eating means eating food I know will benefit my health, mind and body. It’s not all vegetables, whole grains, fruit and lean protein; sometimes it includes a small piece of chocolate or a glass of wine, when I have balanced it out with physical activity. It’s a state of mind and a way of life to remain as positive and as proactive as I can about my health as I approach ... 60.” – Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, Author of "The Doctor’s Detox Diet: the Ultimate Weight Loss Prescription"

“For packaged foods, I consider a product to be 'clean' if I can look at the ingredient list and know I could have purchased all of the ingredients and made it myself in my own kitchen, but I didn't have to because someone made it for me.”- Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD and author of "Slim Down Now: Shed Pounds and Inches with Real Food, Real Fast"

“Clean eating is focused on reading labels to make sure there are fewer ingredients; but the best clean foods come with only one ingredient – and many have no labels: leafy green vegetables, berries, citrus fruit, tomatoes, nuts, seeds, wheat berries, oats, lentils, chickpeas and more.” – Sharon Palmer, RDN, author of Plant-Powered for Life

“Maybe I'm old fashioned and fact oriented, but I think the most important definition of 'clean eating' should be for foods chosen and prepared to minimize the threat of food-borne illness. For example, wash fresh produce, clean cutting boards to avoid cross contamination and cook raw meats to proper internal temperature. That's clean eating.” – Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RD and author of "The Slim Down South Cookbook"

“Clean eating is buying, preparing, cooking and enjoying food that is both nutritious and delicious. Balancing food groups and never restricting. Life is too short and food too delicious!” – Ximena Jimenez, MS, RD, consultant dietitian in Miami

"Clean eating is about power washing your diet, to strip away the clutter and enjoy the clean taste of a crispy apple, a juicy tomato or nutty brown rice.” – Leslie Bonci, MPH, RDN, Director of Sports Nutrition at UPMC Center for Sports Medicine

Clean eating is when I can see all of the ingredients I am eating

So if I make a soup with bay leaves and pull them out before serving, I'm not eating clean?

Every attempt to explain "clean eating" just winds up creating more confusion.

Alluminati wrote: »

ndj1979 wrote: »

Alluminati wrote: »

I just saw a commercial for Panera bread who is claiming that all their food by next year will be completely clean. Here is Panera breads definition of clean eating: https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/articles/what-does-eating-clean-mean.html

So my guess is they will be serving whole cows and chickens and such.

those panera bread commercials are stupid and annoying...

so I guess they are planning on keeping live turkeys in the back and when I order a turkey sandwich they will slaughter and clean it on site; cook it; and then serve it? I guess I should order a day ahead now???

Same here. Every time I hear that annoying girl talking about "clean" and "fresh" and kids all happy slurping white soup it triggers my eye rolly.

Kermit with an eye rolly, yes, I can picture it!

It is just a marketing term these days.

Don't complicate things. All clean eating means is eating single ingredient foods....
like chicken, fish, rice, broccoli, potatoes, fruit etc.

My grandma used to make a great apple pie.

Processed ingredients like flour and sugar and butter, oh no! But tasty.

I don't get this idea that grandmas didn't use processed foods, though. Mine was born in 1919 and lived on a farm much of her life, but like the rest of us she used some processed foods. (My grandfather's family had a mill, so they even processed foods, the demons!)

WinoGelato wrote: »

ANothing wrote: »

Don't complicate things. All clean eating means is eating single ingredient foods....
like chicken, fish, rice, broccoli, potatoes, fruit etc.

That sounds kind of boring. You can never eat soups, stews, sauces? What about paella? Lasagna? Ratatouille? Why not a vegetable medley? I make roasted potatoes with olive oil, fresh rosemary, and whole garlic cloves. Suddenly the potatoes aren't clean because I combined them with other ingredients?

No, I don't think that is what is usually meant (can't answer for the poster above). It's foods made from single ingredients. Like the difference between making a stew at home from single ingredients vs. buying a can of premade stew.

Look at the ingredients! !! If you can't read it, don't eat it!!!!

LindaGraziano1 wrote: »

Look at the ingredients! !! If you can't read it, don't eat it!!!!

I'll starve if I ever lose my glasses!