If you’ve been toying with the idea of a clean eating lifestyle, you should hone in on what this type of diet is going to do for you. The following provides info on what is allowed and not allowed, and basically how it works.
Basic Rules of Clean Eating
A good place to start with clean eating is to learn about the simple and basic rules involved with this lifestyle. In general, you are focusing more on healthy, whole, and fresh foods.
Instead of counting calories or cutting your carbs, you are simply trying to cook more, using fresh ingredients, and avoiding highly processed foods. This means no longer using canned fruits and veggies, and only having eggs or dairy foods that are from free-range or grass-fed animals.
With a clean eating lifestyle, you should focus on reducing saturated fats and trans fats. You also want to reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake as much as possible.
Avoid Processed Foods
Processed foods are a major no-no on the clean eating diet. You want to use as many natural and fresh ingredients as you can.
If it comes in a package, consider whether there is a more natural version of that ingredient. For example:
Want shredded cheese? Instead of getting packaged pre-shredded cheese, choose to buy a block of healthier cheese you grate yourself.
Choose Fresh Produce
With clean eating, produce is going to be a big part of your diet. You can also have some carbohydrates and plenty of protein, but fruits and veggies are a good portion of your meals, particularly with lunch and dinner.
You want to have fresh produce as much as possible. This means even trying to reduce how often you turn to frozen veggies. And to save money and have a larger selection, try finding local farmer’s markets.
Start Cooking More
Cooking is a major component to eating clean. It would be very difficult to do if you were not cooking on a regular basis. You don’t need to be a natural-born chef, but you should be able to follow a simple recipe.
If you don’t have a lot of time to prep and cook, invest in some appliances that help the process go faster, such as a food processor for chopping, and a slow cooker to cook your meals during the day while you are at work or school.