6 Tips for Clean Eating

You hear a lot about clean eating. But do you know what it is and what it can do for you? Do you even know how to incorporate into your eating plan? I didn’t really understand these things until I started eliminating foods from my diet and did some research.

So I thought I would share some tips for you to understand what clean eating is and know how to use it in your life. It really isn’t as hard as it seems! Check these tips out.

Did you know that many recipes can be adapted to clean eating? For instance, you can have your pizza, cookies, ice cream, even cake or doughnuts, as long as they are made with clean ingredients. Here are a few more tips to go clean.

• Limit processed food.
This is probably one of the biggest changes in your diet. Processed foods are loaded with hidden sugars, sodium, unhealthy fats and preservatives. Clean foods are whole foods without added ingredients.

• Watch out for fat, salt, and sugar.
Clean foods are usually naturally low in all of these ingredients.

• Don’t drink your calories.
Reduce alcohol, sugary soft drinks and specialty coffees. Water should be your first choice. Other clean drinks include 100 percent fruit juice that can be diluted with sparkling water.

• Eat more vegetables and fruit.
Add veggies to everything. Spinach can be added to smoothies and eggs. Add sweet potatoes to brownies. Add all natural applesauce to cakes and other baked goods instead of oil. Mash cauliflower instead of potatoes. Add shredded carrots to turkey burgers.

Sneaking nutrient rich vegetables and fruit into everyday foods is a great way to get picky eaters to eat more veggies and fruit.

• Choose whole grains/nix refined grains.
Choose unrefined over refined foods like brown rice, millet, amaranth, and quinoa. Clean sugars include honey, pure maple syrup, and dehydrated sugar cane juice.

• Eat the right portions.
Your plate should have more fruit and veggies than protein and grains. A healthy balance throughout the day will help you feel better and maybe even lose some weight.

Eating clean doesn’t have to be difficult or feel like a science experiment. Common sense is a lot of it. Doing away with anything processed or with added ingredients is the main thing to remember.

I remember someone telling me to shop only the perimeter of the grocery store and this is pretty true, in most cases. Also, like I do, hit up the farmers market any chance you get for healthy, organic meats, veggies and fruits.

I hope these 6 tips for clean eating helped you. Let me know how clean eating has changed your life!

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