There is a new trend toward healthy eating. It's called eating clean and encompasses fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, lean protein, low-fat dairy products, whole grains and water. Processed and packaged foods and excess alcohol and sweets are not considered clean diet foods. By eating clean diet foods and exercising, you can gain health, increase your metabolism and possibly even lose weight. The Eat Clean Diet was created by Tosca Reno, a fitness model and author. She changed her life by adopting a healthy and clean eating lifestyle.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are staples of a clean diet. Dark leafy greens such as kale and spinach are good clean diet foods. In "The Eat-Clean Diet," author Tosca Reno recommends artichokes, broccoli, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, green beans, and leeks, among others. She also says blueberries are a superfood, but all berries are very good for you. Other clean diet fruits are apples, cherries, figs, peaches, apricots and watermelon.
Basically, any fresh fruits or vegetables are clean diet foods. Try to eat them clean, which means without any added sauces. Spices and olive oil can help make them more tasty. Frozen vegetables are clean diet foods, as long as they are just the vegetables, without any added sauces or preservatives.
Whole Grains
Whole grains belong on any clean diet food list. Whole grains are complex carbohydrates, which are broken down by your body slowly over time. They help keep you full longer, too. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, good sources of whole grains are bulgur, brown rice and plain oatmeal.
Another example of a clean diet food is quinoa, a whole grain used by the Incas. It has a nutty taste and can be found in health-food stores or in the health-food aisle at your local grocery store.
Protein
Most plant protein sources are clean diet foods. These include most beans and legumes including lentils, soybeans, kidney beans, chickpeas and black beans.
Other sources of clean diet protein are lean chicken breast, lean ground turkey, eggs, lean red meat and wild-caught salmon.
Nuts and seeds are also clean diet foods. Consume them raw or roasted without any added salt or sugar. Nut butters such as all-natural peanut butter and almond butter are also good sources.
Lowfat dairy products such as plain Greek yogurt and low-fat milk are also clean diet foods. Other examples are soy milk, rice milk and almond milk.
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