What Do You Mean by "Clean Eating?"
If you are a fan of my Facebook business page you will notice that I mention "clean eating" all the time!! I thought it would be good to let you know exactly what I mean by this.
When someone makes the choice to eat "clean" they are choosing to eliminate all processed foods and extra additives from their diet. Basically, you are choosing to eat whole, unrefined foods.
The basics of eating clean include - eating lots of fruits and vegetables. These are straight from nature - the idea is to stay away from anything that may have been altered in any way. I tell people to consume foods by "God" not by "Man."
Include meats, however; "whole" meats that you have chosen straight from the butcher or prepared yourself. You would be very surprised to find out what is actually in ground turkey, hot dogs, farm-raised fish.... (choose grass-fed beef, organic chicken, wild caught fish, organic free range turkey)
Eat fewer ingredients - try not to purchase items with more than 4-6 ingredients in the ingredient list. Also, be sure you recognize every ingredient. If you can't pronounce it, you probably shouldn't put it in your body and put it back on the shelf!! Generally speaking, if it doesn't have a label, it is GOOD for you!!
Clean Eating Guidelines:
-Eating small frequent meals 5-6 times per day to level blood sugar and prevent hunger (listen to your body! We are all different)
-Include lean protein, complex carbohydrates (vegetables) and heart healthy fats at each meal.
-LIMIT processed and/or refined foods (sugar, baked goods, candies, white flour, white rice, etc)
-Avoid trans fats (hidden in many things even if it says zero trans fat on the food label!)
-Limit sodas, high calorie juices and other drinks that give your body no nutritional value and lots of -unnecessary (unwanted) calories- these actually rob your body of nutrients!
-Limit high calorie, non nutritious foods (i.e. junk food)
-Drink at least half your body-weight in ounces of water a day!
If you have never eaten this way before it may take some practice and some time to get 100% "clean". Unprocessed, natural state foods have a different taste than frozen and processed foods. Your taste buds will go through an adjustment period.
Food can be very confusing! Let me help simplify it for you!! If you would like to learn more I would encourage you to schedule a one on one grocery store tour with me at your local grocery store. Please contact me to schedule. 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com
I also have put together a clean eating recipe book that contains 30 tasty and easy to make recipes if you need some ideas! Follow this link to my website to purchase: Clean Eating Recipe EBook
Questions? Please ask!!
Be Well!
Jackie
Copyright, 2013, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.
www.optimumwellnessmn.com
I have noticed that the only place you need to shop is the outside isles of the grocery store... and then there are a few areas you don't want to stop in....
ReplyDeleteThe deeper you get to the middle of the store... the worse the food gets.
You are correct! Shop the perimeter for the "real," living foods! Anything in a box or a can that is processed avoid!
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ReplyDeleteGreat post! Any advice on the number one thing to stop eating/doing to get on the right path to 'clean eating'?
ReplyDeleteHi! Yes, a few things that would be at the top of the list for clean eating: add more leafy greens and vegetables to your diet because those contain the most cancer-fighting ingredients and cut out commercial dairy and meat products! Those 2 items are what I tell people to purchase organic if they are switching over to eating more naturally! Because they are loaded with antibiotics, growth hormones, and etc! If you have any other questions please let me know! Thank you!!
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