Clean eating ideas

angiezturn
angiezturn Posts: 49
in Food and Nutrition
I've been clean eating for about a month now and I'm sooo pleased with the results. My skin is amazing, that is what I've noticed most. I just joined MFP today, however I have been going to the gym 5x a week and changed my eating habits a bit over a month ago and have lost 10 pounds.
I would love to know for those of you clean eating what your staples are and some further Ideas.

My staples:
Avacods (I spread this instead of mayo)
Fruit
Sweet peppers
spinach
Fish
Organic eggs (whites only)
Organic chicken breasts
Whole grain wraps
Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk
Cucumbers
Asparagus
Sweet potatos
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Replies

  • saraann4
    saraann4 Posts: 1,296 Member
    I just have to ask because I am seeking to incorporate clean eating into my diet. How is whole grain tortilla wraps and organic almond milk considered clean eating? I thought clean eating was eating w/out it being processed?
  • kamanda85
    kamanda85 Posts: 113 Member
    Bump... I don't have any suggestions for you- but I'm wanting to start eating clean myself.
  • wookiemouse
    wookiemouse Posts: 290 Member
    Clean eating is not totally unprocessed foods - 5 ingredients or less with names that you recognize (no chemicals or preservatives). And no refined sugars or white carbs. You can't eat plain whole grains, you know. ;)

    Add oatmeal to your list, that's a definite go-to in my house.
  • jcmartin0313
    jcmartin0313 Posts: 574 Member
    Is there a clean eating bible?
  • saraann4
    saraann4 Posts: 1,296 Member
    Clean eating is not totally unprocessed foods - 5 ingredients or less with names that you recognize (no chemicals or preservatives). And no refined sugars or white carbs. You can't eat plain whole grains, you know. ;)

    Add oatmeal to your list, that's a definite go-to in my house.


    hmmm yeah... ok.
  • kamanda85
    kamanda85 Posts: 113 Member
    I don't have any staple - but I remembered I had found the blog thegraciouspantry.com and she has a ton of recipes. I think she also has several lists of staple foods.
  • angiezturn
    angiezturn Posts: 49
    From what i've been reading. Breads in clean eating is done by eliminating any breads that use white flowers. The only way to really clean eat breads is to make it yourself. (IM too lazy!!) But there are some great varieties of whole grain breads now on the market. You just need to really read the labels. As for milk. Due to the hormones and steroids used in today's dairy farms is my reason for switching to almond milk (however I can't get rid of cheese I love cheese!!). Almond milk is general made from made from raw, soaked almonds, water, vanilla and a pinch of sea salt and when used in things you can hardly taste a difference. Not all my eating is clean, but I'm sure trying!!
  • ktbug1186
    ktbug1186 Posts: 266
    I think your doing great. There's nothing wrong with wheat tortillas or almond/soy milk. good job :)
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    Clean eating is not totally unprocessed foods - 5 ingredients or less with names that you recognize (no chemicals or preservatives). And no refined sugars or white carbs. You can't eat plain whole grains, you know. ;)

    Add oatmeal to your list, that's a definite go-to in my house.

    Thank you! I drink unsweetened coconut milk...
  • JacquelineD35
    JacquelineD35 Posts: 279 Member
    From what i've been reading. Breads in clean eating is done by eliminating any breads that use white flowers. The only way to really clean eat breads is to make it yourself. (IM too lazy!!) But there are some great varieties of whole grain breads now on the market. You just need to really read the labels. As for milk. Due to the hormones and steroids used in today's dairy farms is my reason for switching to almond milk (however I can't get rid of cheese I love cheese!!). Almond milk is general made from made from raw, soaked almonds, water, vanilla and a pinch of sea salt and when used in things you can hardly taste a difference. Not all my eating is clean, but I'm sure trying!!

    Im working clean eating into my diet I am not 100% but its a process like all things... I've stopped eating white bread and have switched to Sprouted Bread, no more rice instead I eat Quinoa and have switched to Almond milk as well.
  • MalloryCurrent
    MalloryCurrent Posts: 62 Member
    I am doing a clean eating challenge next week. I am very excited about it and can't wait to see the results!!
  • ctooch99
    ctooch99 Posts: 459 Member
    I am really surprised by how many people get hung up over the words "processed and "unprocessed" on MFP. Unless you are picking your own food from your own garden (which some people do), your food is processed to a degree. Avacados are IQF'd in a processing plant for transport as they will spoil almost immediately.

    I kinda prefer "fake" food to "real" food. A Twinkie is fake food. An Avacado is "real" food...
  • saraann4
    saraann4 Posts: 1,296 Member
    I think your doing great. There's nothing wrong with wheat tortillas or almond/soy milk. good job :)

    I never said anything was wrong with wheat tortillas and almond milk. I was just under the impression that clean eating meant no processed food. I love processed food, would love to cut a lot if it out though :ohwell:
  • marjoleina
    marjoleina Posts: 189 Member
    Anything by Micheal Pollen, also the China Study is good, or Real Food Matters by Mark Bittman.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    I just have to ask because I am seeking to incorporate clean eating into my diet. How is whole grain tortilla wraps and organic almond milk considered clean eating? I thought clean eating was eating w/out it being processed?

    Its not clean.

    And also makes no sense to not eat whole eggs.
  • angiezturn
    angiezturn Posts: 49
    I will look into those! Thanks!!
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    Clean eating is not totally unprocessed foods - 5 ingredients or less with names that you recognize (no chemicals or preservatives). And no refined sugars or white carbs. You can't eat plain whole grains, you know. ;)

    Add oatmeal to your list, that's a definite go-to in my house.


    If it comes from a package bought from the store, it has more than 5 ingredients and is not clean.
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    our staples change seasonally, so right now they're very different than what they'll be in six months.


    year-round
    black beans
    chickpeas
    onions
    garlic
    kale

    store bought year-round
    feta cheese
    pecorinio cheese
    eggs
    oatmeal
    wasa crackers

    right now:
    zucchini / crookneck
    blueberries
    lettuces
    snap peas / english peas
    bok choi
    cucumbers
    bean sprouts
    swiss chard
    basil
    oregano
    thyme
    sage

    coming soon :
    tomatoes
    tomatillos
    peppers (both hot & sweet)
    eggplant
  • angiezturn
    angiezturn Posts: 49
    I just have to ask because I am seeking to incorporate clean eating into my diet. How is whole grain tortilla wraps and organic almond milk considered clean eating? I thought clean eating was eating w/out it being processed?

    Its not clean.

    And also makes no sense to not eat whole eggs.

    Whole eggs are great! But I have high cholesterol so I try to avoid the yolk.
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    And also makes no sense to not eat whole eggs.

    that depends on whether or not you eat meat.
  • jamiealdridge02
    jamiealdridge02 Posts: 93 Member
    I've been eating clean for about 5 weeks and have dropped 5 lbs. I love oatmeal, plain non-fat greek yogurt, eggs, all natural peanut butter, and all kinds of fruits and veggies. I have found some great websites that have wonderful recipes- cleaneatingmagazine.com is a good one and their magazine has great recipes yum!

    Also, if you go on pinterest, you can find some great clean eating stuff. I am not a purist yet, but I would say I am probably eating 90% clean foods and I feel so good. I've suffered from colitis for over three years and other digestive issues. Although they are not gone completely, my flare-ups have decreased significantly and are much less severe.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    From what i've been reading. Breads in clean eating is done by eliminating any breads that use white flowers. The only way to really clean eat breads is to make it yourself. (IM too lazy!!) But there are some great varieties of whole grain breads now on the market. You just need to really read the labels. As for milk. Due to the hormones and steroids used in today's dairy farms is my reason for switching to almond milk (however I can't get rid of cheese I love cheese!!). Almond milk is general made from made from raw, soaked almonds, water, vanilla and a pinch of sea salt and when used in things you can hardly taste a difference. Not all my eating is clean, but I'm sure trying!!

    You can kid yourself and everyone else here, but there is nothing clean about bread bought from the store.

    And there are no whole grain breads. They sprinkle a couple of chunkier grain pieces in and call it "whole grain".
  • Elle_45
    Elle_45 Posts: 43 Member
    Tosca Reno has some great books on clean eating.
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    clean eating to me means what I cook at home. I regularly cook legume (lentils and beans), beef, chicken, LOTS of fruits, I drink a milok chocolate shake with ovaltine almost daily. I basically eat clean by knowing what I'm putting into my plate.

    My staples:
    whole wheat bread
    peanut butter
    skinless Chicken
    Beef
    Ground beef
    LOTS AND LOTS of fruits
    olive oil
    veggies that I hide into my dishes
    milk
    chocolate ovaltine
    protein shake
    lentils (love me some lentil soup)
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    I think your doing great. There's nothing wrong with wheat tortillas or almond/soy milk. good job :)

    I never said anything was wrong with wheat tortillas and almond milk. I was just under the impression that clean eating meant no processed food. I love processed food, would love to cut a lot if it out though :ohwell:

    you have to pick your battles a little. i use almond milk in my green smoothies. it is processed, but so is a green smoothie. and i consider my green smoothie to be very "clean"

    i process most of our "processed food" myself. that way i can control the ingredients. we grow a considerable amount of our food and also subscribe to an organic CSA share. right now, our diet is very clean with the occasional dirty. I wouldn't have it any other way.
  • BeetleChe13
    BeetleChe13 Posts: 498 Member
    Everyone has different definitions of clean. I've been trying to eat cleaner, and my skin is now glowing. I just eat as many fruits and veggies as I can. Other than that, oatmeal, cheese, milk, and protein powder are my "staples." My diet vastly varies on what we have in the house.
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    Everyone has different definitions of clean. I've been trying to eat cleaner, and my skin is now glowing. I just eat as many fruits and veggies as I can. Other than that, oatmeal, cheese, milk, and protein powder are my "staples." My diet vastly varies on what we have in the house.

    i can't agree more about the physical benefits of clean eating. my hair is shinier and seemingly darker than ever, my skin glows and my nails are strong. i have way less acne and all kinds of other little things that other women my age experience, i do not. and by that i mean: helllz to the y-e-s
  • sarabluebell
    sarabluebell Posts: 68 Member
    if your really into clean eating you should look at emeals.com Its a menu site that you have to subscribe to but its not very much and i think there are a few free recipes. They have lots of different menus..I use one that goes with the points program.
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    Is there a clean eating bible?

    no, i don't think there is, but you can start with any book written by Michael Pollan. Also look into Polyface Farms (Joel Salatin) and these two will give you most of the information you need to get started.
  • angiezturn
    angiezturn Posts: 49
    I agree, my skin is amazing!! I am not sure if its from all the working out and activity or from better eating.. Or from both? All I know is my hair has grown probably 3 inches in 2 months and my skin simply glows.

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