Clean Eating; Getting Started

By Renee Burchfield

 If you’re like me and most people you made a resolution, at the beginning of the month, to be healthier or lose weight. How is it going, are you still on track? Today I am going to share a lifestyle change that will help you reach your goal and is easy to stick to. The issue with most diets or programs is that they are so limited that they cannot be stuck to for a long period of time, clean eating is different in this way. When eating clean you are only eliminating 80% of the processed foods that you eat, which makes it easier to stick with.

What is Clean Eating?

Clean eating is exactly that, it is removing the preservatives and chemicals that they put in foods from your diet. The food that is eaten is as close to its natural form as possible. So you are looking at whole, unprocessed, and unrefined foods. Mainly the goal is to stay away from foods that have undergone a lot of different transformations to be the product you eat. The perimeter of the store is your friend and where you will find the bulk of your clean eating foods.

Steps to get started!     

  • Drink lots of water: It is recommend about 64 ounces a day. If you don’t drink a lot of water now start by replacing one or two of your sodas or coffee a day with water.
  • Eat vegetables: Besides the obvious good things about vegetables, you can eat and eat them without adding hardly any calories to your diet.
  • Pick whole grains: Brown rice, whole wheat bread, and quinoa are examples of better options.
  • Read labels: My rule is if I can’t pronounce it, then I don’t need to eat it. Also the fewer ingredients included the cleaner the food is.
  • Reduce Sugar intake: Fruits contain a lot of natural sugar that are better for you then artificial sweeteners however they still do not need to be eaten in high amounts.

Tips to be successful:

  • Don’t dump all the highly processed foods at once: The reason is because it would cost a lot to restock you pantry, and it’ll be easier for your body to adjust to the change in your diet.
  • Cook at Home: Cooking at home allows you to be in control of what goes into your food and the amounts of each ingredient.
  • Take it one day at a time, even one meal at a time: If you mess up don’t let it ruin the rest of the day or the week. Just start back over and keep going, one or two meals will not ruin you.
  • Do it 80% of the time: It is unlikely that you will be able to eat perfectly clean all of the time. So if you make it a goal to eat most of your foods clean then you have wiggle room to eat other foods without feeling guilty.
  • Be creative: The options can get bland, so be creative and play with spices to change it up.

Some Staples to keep on hand.

  • Chicken: Chicken is my go to meat because of the price and versatility, plus it is delicious in any form.
  • Fresh vegetables: your favorites, anything green is a great option
  • Nuts: Are great for snacks, just make sure not to eat too many for a snack.
  • Frozen fruit: Most any fruit is great for smoothies as well as desert options
  • Whole grain breads and pastas: For those that can’t survive without carbs

Don’t be scared off by what can seem like an overwhelming amount of information out there about clean eating, take it a step at a time. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing clean recipes and snacks over at Married and Hungry if you are looking for more information.

 

20141127_085341 - CopyRenee discusses her favorite parts of life over at Married and Hungry. Upon getting married and finding very few tips online on being a new wife she decided that she would share her journey. Being a self-proclaimed food nerd she shares her favorite recipes as well. Also trying to become craftier she even shares her Pinterest craft trials. You can keep up with her at @marriedanhungry over on Twitter, and Married and Hungry’s Facebook page.