Clean eating is a way of eating that involves healthy food choices. It is not a quick fix diet plan designed to encourage quick weight loss. More importantly, clean eating promotes a lifestyle change that promotes overall health and well being. Weight loss may be an added benefit of clean eating. Anyone can follow a clean eating diet regardless of age, race or physical condition although it is always a good idea to check with your doctor prior to making drastic diet changes.
Definition
The premise of clean eating is to stick as close to whole natural foods as possible. Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, water and complex carbohydrates are the building blocks of the clean eating diet. Replacing sugary desserts with fresh fruit will help you to develop a taste for natural sugars. Clean eating also refers to eating foods as close to their natural form as possible. For example, a baked potato is a much better choice nutritionally than a bowl of potato chips.
Foods to Avoid
The more processed a food is away from its natural form, the worse it is for you. Clean eating restricts processed foods with preservatives and added sugar. Processed foods are often high in calories, fat, sugar and sodium. The clean eating diet also restricts foods with trans fats which contribute to a variety of health problems such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Sugary beverages and foods with artificial coloring also should be avoided when trying to eat cleanly.
Clean Eating Practices
Clean eating practices are just as important as the food choices you make. Try to eat five or six small meals a day and always eat breakfast. This will help your body maintain the fuel that it needs to get you through your day without an energy crash. Cooking meals at home and packing lunches for work will help you to avoid pitfalls and difficulties from eating out. Dining out is not forbidden, though, and choosing entrees with sautéed vegetables and lean meats will help you stick to the plan. Clean eating also recommends eliminating or greatly decreasing your alcohol consumption and drinking water throughout the day.
Making the Switch
Adopting a clean eating diet plan does not have to be an all or nothing approach. Being too strict about eating cleanly can leave you frustrated and overwhelmed if you are used to eating the typical American diet full of processed and sugary foods. Make small changes in your meals at first by incorporating more vegetables. Fill your kitchen with fruit instead of processed cakes and cookies to snack on. Allow yourself a favorite treat a couple of times a week in moderation. Eliminate one glass of soda per day and replace it with ice water with lemon. Start slowly and gradually make new changes to your diet in an effort to eat cleanly and living a healthier lifestyle.
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