Clean eating?

Lean meats, whole grains, healthy fats... probably stuff like that.

I think I eat clean (mostly). However, I also know that there are people who would say that I don't.

For me, I cut out things like Lean Cuisines, by cooking chicken and vegetables on Sunday and dividing it up over the week. So, I would make a chicken stir fry out of chicken, fresh veggies, olive oil, spices, soy sauce, divide it up, sometimes add brown rice. That way, I'm getting less preservatives.

That's not to say I never eat Lean Cuisines, I just eat them less.

I try to stay away from baked chips. I would rather bake my own at home (if I can).

I think diet food, although often lower in calories is less "clean" than non-diet foods. For example, you can get ice cream with milk, sugar and eggs only (or you can make it at home that way). Or you can get diet ice cream with a bunch of things I can't pronounce.

So, in short, it means different things to different people. For me, it's making more at home (which means spending a lot of time in the kitchen) and eating less diet foods (which leads to more calories, but also more satisfaction (I think)).

Mostly raw foods.

One-ingredient items.

Basically anything found on the outside aisles of the grocery store.

Oh, I'm also gonna add that 'incorporating it into every day meals' means you're gonna hafta start cooking. Not just popping something into the oven or microwave.

Also, no white stuff...bread, potatoes, rice or dairy

What about blue potatoes and chocolate milk. lol.

Make sure you use the antibacterial soap to clean the food. It kills 99.9% of the germs.

Generally "clean eating" is eating well balanced meals that are healthly. They are all natural, not necessarily organic, but are high in nutritous vlaue. If you are eating meat you will gravitate towards leaner meats that are still packed with protein. Instead of eating white bread a clean eater would eat a source of carbs that adds more value (and is gluten free). They will also eat fruits and veggies instead of empty calories found in most snacks.

The idea of clean eating is to add value to/maximize your calories. The "cleaner" you eat, the more food you will consuming and the more nutrients your body will receive. It's about maximizing your caloric intake.

In perspective: A McDonalds meal is about 1500 calories (depending on what you get). A clean eater would be able to take those 1500 calories and spread it over 6-7 meals. Everyone on MFP essentially is taking steps to eat "cleaner", there are just degrees of "clean eating" and it varies by how hardcore you would like to be.

I have friends who only eat food if it can be harvested or hunted. That means only fresh raw foods. Anything in a can, jar, container would not be consumed. They literally only shop in the produce aisle and meat department of the grocery store and purcahse indgredients (spices etc) separatley.

Oh, I'm also gonna add that 'incorporating it into every day meals' means you're gonna hafta start cooking. Not just popping something into the oven or microwave.

lol I cook everyday. Lean Cuisines are my lunch. But I have 4 children, so incorp. into my meals meant... How can I make my kids eat the meals I cook also lol

Kids get to love it really fast. Get them cooking with you. They can help with food prep cleaning veggies and fruit enjoying the colours and smells. You can make fresh pasta with them (very fun! - they usually love rolling it out and cutting it into stripps). Homemade pizza is awesome. A good crust recipe takes about 3 days so start the dough on Wed for Friday pizza. It's not that much time but the dough rests in the fridge for long periods of time so the gluten can relax. Let them choose the toppings.

In general clean eating refers to eat foods that are as close to how they are found in nature as possible. The more processed a food or the more man-made additives it contains, the less 'clean' it is.

For example - brown rice is typically considered clean because it is minimally processed. White rice is more processed, so not clean. Brown rice flour and products made from the flour such as bread or pasta are less clean. Bread and pasta made from white flour are overly processed and not clean.

Most pre-prepared meals, such a Lean Cuizine or frozen pizza, are not clean because they are processed and usually contain a lot of additives.

Some people take it to more extremes than others, but in general the more natural a food is, the cleaner it is.

Anything thats not prepackaged or already cooked is clean to me. Fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains, etc. NOT lean cuisines, hot pockets, smart ones, instant oatmeal and crap like that.

^^ This! It's way cheaper too because your money is going to the food not the brand. Ever notice when you buy a t-shir for example with a trademarked logo it's more money. Same with food. Kellogs is a trademark. You can just buy the oats which are fresher, have fewer chemicals and cost much less.

Clean eating = NO processed food. Whatsoever.

You could try the book Eat Clean by Tocsa Reno, she explains things in pretty clear terms and provides recipes.

I love her. Her husband just passed away last week =(

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