how do you eat clean?

randa_behnam
randa_behnam Posts: 488 Member
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
i know that sounds like a stupid question but i bought a book on it and it just doesnt seem realistic with my lifestyle. i cant afford fresh fish all the time or smoked salmon for breakfast etc etc.

i try to use little oil when cooking and have seriously cut down on breads and pastas and i never eat processed foods unless you count tinned tomatoes when i make a bolagnese sauce....

i dont really drink much and i cook everything myself but in this day and age and the price of everything its not so easy to follow. i do like porridge for breakfast and the occasional chocolate bar as a snack... but in order to be a "clean eater" what more do i have to do? at this rate im not going to enjoy anything i eat lol!

Replies

  • Kirsty_UK
    Kirsty_UK Posts: 964 Member
    commenting so I can read the reply - I def dont eat clean, but I would like to eat cleaner, and the advice might help me :)
  • neenaj33
    neenaj33 Posts: 347 Member
    I like it durtyyyyy
  • randa_behnam
    randa_behnam Posts: 488 Member
    I like it durtyyyyy

    really helpfull, thanks
  • merrick7871
    merrick7871 Posts: 161 Member
    I agree. I would like an easier explanation of this myself.
  • Strobins05
    Strobins05 Posts: 716
    It's just that. Eating clean is NOT eating a lot of processed foods and eating more natural foods. Think fresh, natural, alive! Try to eat more naturally grown items than items that are prepackaged. My two cent, LOL. PLUS there are tons of books and literature on clean eating. Good luck!
  • carajo
    carajo Posts: 532 Member
    Stay AWAY from anything containing HFCS(high fructose corn syrup) or partially hydroganated anything!!! Those are man made your body cannot processs them! Anything all natural is perfectly great for you!!!! Oats, almond or coconut milk, string cheese, all fruits and vegg. sweet potatoes, nut butters, just read labels carefully and be sure it doesnt contain those 2 things especially and you are on your way:)
    Also if you can grow it or kill it(sorry graphic) your golden!
  • randa_behnam
    randa_behnam Posts: 488 Member
    Stay AWAY from anything containing HFCS(high fructose corn syrup) or partially hydroganated anything!!! Those are man made your body cannot processs them! Anything all natural is perfectly great for you!!!! Oats, almond or coconut milk, string cheese, all fruits and vegg. sweet potatoes, nut butters, just read labels carefully and be sure it doesnt contain those 2 things especially and you are on your way:)

    woah i would have NEVER even thought to look out for those!! its going to take me forever to do my food shopping now lol!

    thanks x
  • UnderConstructionJ
    UnderConstructionJ Posts: 87 Member
    Hope this helps some...as I had the same question since you see so many people talking about it...and depending on the website you get varying answers. Well someone explained it to me the simplest by saying... You only eat things that either grows out the ground or has a parent...and cut out all processed foods. So that mean only eating lean meats, veggies, & fruits....drinking nothing but water and every once in a while green tea. No sugar, breads, pastas, etc.
  • JULIUSKITTY
    JULIUSKITTY Posts: 126 Member
    my own idea of clean eating is diffrent then others Im sure. Things I have done, cut out pork 95%.. I cant cut the pepperoni :/ pork is the dirtiest meat. Pigs dont have sweat glands so much of the toxins remain in there bodies. I cut out all frozen prepared foods. I tried them and there so high in sodium they bloat you up no matter how much water you drink. I cut out almost all high fructose, but we all have a cheat day.. mine was yesterday. anyway... there i ketchup that you can buy now- (if you like ketchup) Hunts brand that does not have high fructose in it now.. it says on the label make sure it reads that. I buy only milk that clearly says it doesn not use hormones or steriods in the animals. Fish is great- but so is produce. I have gone semi vegan because I find it easier healthier and more affordable. Plus not everyone is a huge fish fan.
  • JULIUSKITTY
    JULIUSKITTY Posts: 126 Member
    and the obvious one is cutting out soda, some candy, and foods with corn syrup.
  • jltother
    jltother Posts: 14 Member
    I lost a good deal of weight by just eating within my calories. I didn't watch what I ate some much, I just limited the amounts that I was eating and cut out the big no-nos like fried foods and sugars. That said here are somethings that I have been doing recently to keep loosing weight.

    Cutting out the carbs after lunch as much as possible.

    Being smart about the carbs I eat. Whole grain as much as possible and fruits.

    Eating as much protein as I can. I try for 1gram per pound of body weight.

    Some type of protein with each meal if possible.

    Eating grilled roasted or steamed as much as I can.

    Eating 5 or 6 meals a day. Controls portion size and keeps you blood sugar level.

    Only having healthy options around really helps.

    Pre-logging your food is also a really good idea.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    It's just that. Eating clean is NOT eating a lot of processed foods and eating more natural foods. Think fresh, natural, alive! Try to eat more naturally grown items than items that are prepackaged.

    I agree with this. I try to eat clean, however my definition of clean seems different than some others on MFP. I home cook 99% of what I eat and I don't use much in the way of packaged foods, so by default I eat clean using my definition. For instance, today for breakfast I had eggs, cheese, toast, and butter. Lunch is wheat pasta with kale, olive oil, and parm. cheese. Dinner is fish and veggies. To me, that is a clean day of eating. Some people would disagree and tell me pasta isn't clean eating, but that doesn't work for me. If I recognize the ingredients, as I do for pasta (flour and water), it is OK by me.
  • JULIUSKITTY
    JULIUSKITTY Posts: 126 Member
    two other nidbits, I make my own homeade spaghetti sauce tastes better and healthier then in a can. And STAY away from white bread!! I buy the nice thick wheat bread.. I like oroweat because it has low cals for being a hearty wheat bread.
  • Strobins05
    Strobins05 Posts: 716
    I lost a good deal of weight by just eating within my calories. I didn't watch what I ate some much, I just limited the amounts that I was eating and cut out the big no-nos like fried foods and sugars. That said here are somethings that I have been doing recently to keep loosing weight.

    Cutting out the carbs after lunch as much as possible.

    Being smart about the carbs I eat. Whole grain as much as possible and fruits.

    Eating as much protein as I can. I try for 1gram per pound of body weight.

    Some type of protein with each meal if possible.

    Eating grilled roasted or steamed as much as I can.

    Eating 5 or 6 meals a day. Controls portion size and keeps you blood sugar level.

    Only having healthy options around really helps.

    Pre-logging your food is also a really good idea.
    Ditto! Also, thanks for my tip of the day "Cutting out all carbs after lunch as much as possible", good one!
  • sheclimbsrocks
    sheclimbsrocks Posts: 110 Member
    I joined a farm share and am now cooking vegetables that I had never heard of before. It's exciting! I've been splitting a share with another family for about 3 years now so I get fresh and local veggies year round. Can't get any cleaner than that! You can look up Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in your neighborhood, if you're interested.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I've read many definitions of "clean eating". Some are very extreme, some are more reasonable. Just stick to as many natural whole foods as possible per your budget and location.
  • randa_behnam
    randa_behnam Posts: 488 Member
    what about frozen foods like frozen peas and sweetcorn.... and frozen fish fillets....or even mince beef? so i know i can stock up on the correct foods.

    i had no idea about the corn syrup at all.... so i shall look out for that.

    thanks for all the tips guys... doesnt seem so hard after all.
  • applebobbrush
    applebobbrush Posts: 235 Member
    I stumbled upon a great website 100daysofrealfood.com. She writes about eating "whole" food instead of such highly processed stuff. She gives great recipes on how to do that. It's stuff that I never would have thought of, but really easy stuff especially if you are cooking for picky eaters like I have in my house. she gives great ideas on where to find these whole foods, if you don't have access to those places she even gives ideas for healthier whole foods at Walmart :). I really like her website.
  • unmitigatedbadassery
    unmitigatedbadassery Posts: 653 Member
    Eating clean (or paleo as I do) doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, a lot of times, it can be more economical than going to McDonalds. Here are a couple links to get you started. I've been rolling paleo for almost 3 months and I'm unemployed. It can be done.

    http://hunter-gatherer.com/blog/how-eat-wild-cheap
    http://www.crossfitwest.com/?p=6461
    http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/10/11/how-to-eat-healthy-without-breaking-the-bank/

    Hope this helps.
  • lakersfan4life
    lakersfan4life Posts: 322 Member
    everyones idea of clean eating is a little different. Mine is taking a shower before i go out to eat.
  • hockey7fan
    hockey7fan Posts: 281 Member
    If the frozen veggies are just veggies, then they are fine. Shop mostly in the produce section and then add your meat selections to it. Stay away from the boxed or canned or highly processed stuff and you will be fine.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    what about frozen foods like frozen peas and sweetcorn.... and frozen fish fillets....or even mince beef? so i know i can stock up on the correct foods.

    i had no idea about the corn syrup at all.... so i shall look out for that.

    thanks for all the tips guys... doesnt seem so hard after all.

    Frozen foods are fine as long as you check the label to be sure there are not a lot of additives. When you buy frozen peas, the ingredients should say "peas".
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