What does clean eating mean to you?

funkyspunky872
funkyspunky872 Posts: 866 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I want to focus on eating cleaner foods, but I find myself feeling guilty for eating anything that comes in a package -- multigrain sandwich thins, Amy's organic meals, lunch meat, even steam packs of vegetables. I'm the only one in my family who considers health, so I typically eat a lot of microwavable and single-serve things for less hassle.

What is clean eating to you?
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Replies

  • ali_b83
    ali_b83 Posts: 324 Member
    To me, it's not eating packaged crap. We eat a lot of chicken, fish, beans, rice, eggs, quinoa, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, etc. When I need something sweet I have homemade protein bars that I make, that way I know exactly what's in them. Basically, we eat nothing that comes in a box.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    Good question, I don't think I even know the answer but I will guess:

    Fresh fruits and vegetables - Clean
    Steamed vegetables- Still clean
    Frozen vegetables- Still clean?
    Frozen processed dinners with a serving of fruits and/or vegetables - Not clean

    If this is incorrect please let me know because I love me some easy frozen vegetables :)
  • violetta88
    violetta88 Posts: 117 Member
    To me it's doing everything I can to avoid chemicals and processed foods. When I'm in the supermarket I check the labels on everything - if I can't pronounce what's in it, I don't buy it.

    It also means buying organic whenever I can, but that stuff's expensive :(

    Of course this isn't exclusive, because I can't give up every little thing that isn't clean - it just means I do the best I can!

    Don't feel guilty - plenty of clean food comes in packages. Just read the ingrediants so you know exactly what it is you're eating!
  • feast4thebeast
    feast4thebeast Posts: 210 Member
    Washing your food? LOL Just not processed. Comes back to the old calories in vs calories out at the end of the day though. I do think the partitioning of them is also important especially when your trying to lose stubborn fat :)
  • DaGsGirl
    DaGsGirl Posts: 194
    Slowing down on the processed foods and also cutting wayyy back on fried foods and sugars.
  • brandivestal
    brandivestal Posts: 2,637 Member
    Exactly, no processed foods, preservatives, coloring ect! Things that come from the earth and animals...
  • stpetegirl
    stpetegirl Posts: 241
    Clean eating for me is staying away from processed and prepackaged foods! Not cooking with sodium or using sugar or sweeteners unless its natural honey. And of course, staying away from fast food!
  • m16shane
    m16shane Posts: 393 Member
    To me, it's not eating packaged crap. We eat a lot of chicken, fish, beans, rice, eggs, quinoa, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, etc. When I need something sweet I have homemade protein bars that I make, that way I know exactly what's in them. Basically, we eat nothing that comes in a box.

    Doesn't yogurt and cottage cheese come in a package? ;)
  • melbaby925
    melbaby925 Posts: 613
    Good question, I don't think I even know the answer but I will guess:

    Fresh fruits and vegetables - Clean
    Steamed vegetables- Still clean
    Frozen vegetables- Still clean?
    Frozen processed dinners with a serving of fruits and/or vegetables - Not clean

    If this is incorrect please let me know because I love me some easy frozen vegetables :)

    I'm all over the frozen veggies as long as they don't have the sauces, butters, and extra salt! I consider them clean and eat them all the time.

    I tend to follow the less is better approach to food - if there are ingredients that I don't need the internet to search for a definition, and there are only a few of them in the list, then it's clean!
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    buffalo wings while im in the tub.
  • feast4thebeast
    feast4thebeast Posts: 210 Member
    I am going to be aukward here but I have a few friends who have difficulties with gluten so in that case that would not be a clean food to them but to you others it may be viewed as exceptionally clean.
  • jr1985
    jr1985 Posts: 1,033 Member
    I'm totally with you!!! I just recently decided 'clean eating' was the way to go... but what is 'clean' and what isn't 'clean' there are some that go to the extreme that anything that is not in it's most natural state is not 'clean'... that includes doing ANYTHING to it cooking veggies, meat etc, cheeses, certain grains... so I just decided to go as low processed as possible, but i LOVE cheese and have no intentions of giving it up... so I go with cheeses that are less processed... I try to basically follow the Jesus diet when I can... (although I do still eat Pork and shrimp) but if it were around over 1000 years ago, I can eat it... if it wasn't, I try not too.
  • funkyspunky872
    funkyspunky872 Posts: 866 Member
    Thoughts on Amy's frozen meals? They're my favorite. :|

    But I get where things are going, and I guess you're all right. Some things just naturally have to come in packaging.
  • MtnKat
    MtnKat Posts: 714

    Frozen vegetables- Still clean?

    I think frozen veggies are clean. I often freeze veggies from the garden or farmers market. As long as there isn't a bunch of chemicals in your frozen veggies, you should be good imho. I love those steam variety packs...I can almost eat a whole one myself lol.
  • JBott84
    JBott84 Posts: 268 Member


    I tend to follow the less is better approach to food - if there are ingredients that I don't need the internet to search for a definition, and there are only a few of them in the list, then it's clean!

    This is how I feel, although I am not the greatest at it - but I have started paying more attention to what's in there.
  • sun33082
    sun33082 Posts: 416 Member
    buffalo wings while im in the tub.

    No need for the tub, buffalo wings are pretty clean. Just chicken, butter and hot sauce (cayenne and vinegar).
  • iluvprettyshoes
    iluvprettyshoes Posts: 605 Member
    LOL I thought clean eating meant growing your own food w no pesticides etc. and only eating that!! hahahaha

    Well, good then I'm relatively close to being a clean eater! Much closer than I thought!! YAY!!
  • mike_littlerock
    mike_littlerock Posts: 296 Member
    I heard a great rule to tell if you should eat it.. ask yourself if your grandparents would recognize it as food, and would have had it available to eat.
  • EDesq
    EDesq Posts: 1,527 Member
    To me, it's not eating packaged crap. We eat a lot of chicken, fish, beans, rice, eggs, quinoa, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, etc. When I need something sweet I have homemade protein bars that I make, that way I know exactly what's in them. Basically, we eat nothing that comes in a box.


    See, that right there kills your definition of "Clean"...Rice (Processed), Beans (dried, processed)..same with quinoa, cheese, yogurt, NUTS. NOW, the question is "How Processed" do you want to get your food? And how much additives/sodium will you allow. I have no problem with Frozen Veggies, or canned organic-sodium free beans. Clean is what YOU say it is....because I eat "clean" but now and then I will eat a burger out or a bag of chips.

    My thing is to eat Healthily, forget the "Status" crap! Read the book if you want to get technical. It's just a "concept with a twist" that's been around like forever! Same shyt, different day! Just like MOST of the stuff out now...new generation>>>REITERATIONS!
  • Danielle_2013
    Danielle_2013 Posts: 806 Member
    You may want to google or pick up a copy of Tosca Reno's Eat-Clean Diet.. she's pretty exhaustive in her definition of what clean eating is and isn't..

    In a nutshell...

    ■A wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables form the foundation of the diet.
    ■Complex carbohydrates include legumes as well as whole grains such as brown rice and oats.
    ■Lean proteins such as chicken breast, turkey and fish.
    ■Sources of healthy fats include olive oil, avocado and raw nuts.
    ■Foods to avoid include all processed foods, refined grains, **sugar**, foods containing saturated and trans fats and alcohol.
  • funkyspunky872
    funkyspunky872 Posts: 866 Member
    To me, it's not eating packaged crap. We eat a lot of chicken, fish, beans, rice, eggs, quinoa, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, etc. When I need something sweet I have homemade protein bars that I make, that way I know exactly what's in them. Basically, we eat nothing that comes in a box.


    See, that right there kills your definition of "Clean"...Rice (Processed), Beans (dried, processed)..same with quinoa, cheese, yogurt, NUTS. NOW, the question is "How Processed" do you want to get your food? And how much additives/sodium will you allow. I have no problem with Frozen Veggies, or canned organic-sodium free beans. Clean is what YOU say it is....because I eat "clean" but now and then I will eat a burger out or a bag of chips.

    My thing is to eat Healthily, forget the "Status" crap!

    I'm quite liking this. :) I was thinking about doing the whole 90% clean, 10%... other. Haha.
  • DeadMarsha
    DeadMarsha Posts: 203
    My vague definition: you can recognize & pronounce the ingredients on the back of the box. ;)

    I usually put it back when it has tons of additives (excessive sodium... many 'low fat' alternatives compensate by making it super salty) any form of fructose (there is almost always an alternative without it... except for Sunchips... There is no alternative to Sunchips). ;) Processed sugars seem like the opposite of natural to me. =P I also try to eat local & organic when I can because I believe the 'clean food' movement goes hand in hand with sustainability. =) I love to buy at markets (one good thing about summer!)
  • SithChicky
    SithChicky Posts: 74
    Good question, I don't think I even know the answer but I will guess:

    Fresh fruits and vegetables - Clean
    Steamed vegetables- Still clean
    Frozen vegetables- Still clean?
    Frozen processed dinners with a serving of fruits and/or vegetables - Not clean

    If this is incorrect please let me know because I love me some easy frozen vegetables :)

    I'm all over the frozen veggies as long as they don't have the sauces, butters, and extra salt! I consider them clean and eat them all the time.

    I tend to follow the less is better approach to food - if there are ingredients that I don't need the internet to search for a definition, and there are only a few of them in the list, then it's clean!

    We have them all the time too, mostly broccoli, only veggie my kids like. I see nothing wrong with just plain frozen veggies, but as you said, nothing with the extras. :)
  • violetta88
    violetta88 Posts: 117 Member
    RE: Amy's meals ... I don't eat them personally, but you might find this:

    http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/amys-frozen-meals-healthy/

    quite interesting.

    Organic ingredients and no preservatives = pretty good. Although you might want to keep an eye on the sodium.

    Overall it's probably still better to make your own, but if you like frozen meals I don't think you'll get much healthier than this :smile:
  • hiker359
    hiker359 Posts: 577 Member
    It means I wash my hands prior to eating and that I use clean dishes and utensils.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    Good question, I don't think I even know the answer but I will guess:

    Fresh fruits and vegetables - Clean
    Steamed vegetables- Still clean
    Frozen vegetables- Still clean?
    Frozen processed dinners with a serving of fruits and/or vegetables - Not clean

    If this is incorrect please let me know because I love me some easy frozen vegetables :)

    I'm all over the frozen veggies as long as they don't have the sauces, butters, and extra salt! I consider them clean and eat them all the time.

    I tend to follow the less is better approach to food - if there are ingredients that I don't need the internet to search for a definition, and there are only a few of them in the list, then it's clean!

    We have them all the time too, mostly broccoli, only veggie my kids like. I see nothing wrong with just plain frozen veggies, but as you said, nothing with the extras. :)

    Awesome! I don't like salt anyway, I grew up without it, and never became accustomed to the taste. Butter is good, but broccoli is plenty good without butter. I was actually just munching on some steamed broccoli from Whole Foods. The only ingredient was broccoli. Perfect!
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    It means I wash my hands prior to eating and that I use clean dishes and utensils.

    Pretty much this.
  • ali_b83
    ali_b83 Posts: 324 Member
    To me, it's not eating packaged crap. We eat a lot of chicken, fish, beans, rice, eggs, quinoa, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, etc. When I need something sweet I have homemade protein bars that I make, that way I know exactly what's in them. Basically, we eat nothing that comes in a box.

    Doesn't yogurt and cottage cheese come in a package? ;)

    Nope, a tub doesn't count :wink:
  • PayneAS
    PayneAS Posts: 669 Member
    This is what I use to determine what is "clean":

    food-pyramid_clean-eating_eMeals2.png
  • Janrr
    Janrr Posts: 12
    This is a very good question, and it will mean different things to different people. For me, It is almost impossible to define "clean eating" . When I buy fresh vegies from a farmer's market, I have considered them close to nature.. However, how do I know what harmful chemicals have been used on them. I try to eat at least some of my foods as close to their natural state as possible. Are they "clean foods?" I don't know. I eat quinoa, steel-cut oats, unprocessed barley, fresh fruits & vegie. They are among my better choices, but I still eat what I consider is a "treat",now and then. Three months ago, I cut out regular & any type of Pepsi from the things I eat on a daily basis.. This was a daily habit for many years;. I usually had one for breakfast..& 1 or two more durring the day, I can't say I feel better in any way, but I know that carbination and the ingredients of soft drinks can't be classified as "Clean Eating." I try to eat reasonable foods, but I have not made a scientific study of it. .

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