Clean Eating

kwrecks · January 2014

Any of you eat completely clean? Was it hard to transition from eating regular junk to clean eating?

DH and I need to diet but we talked about it and we'd both rather make a better lifestyle instead of dieting. He is an all or nothing type of guy and he wants to eat completely clean. I'm worried about transitioning and I am nervous that if it's super hard or if we jump into it too fast, that he will end up cheating or whatever and not stick to it. Any advice?

As I'm writing this, I started thinking maybe it should be in the wednesday weight check in or whatever, so if that's the case, ignore me.

youtubebeauties · January 2014

I've been 'clean' for about a year. I can tell you the difficulty of making the transition to clean eating will depend on how your eating habits are now. If you're eating lots of refined, processed stuff it will be more difficult. If you've already cut that out, it will be considerably easier. I'd suggest you allow yourself a cheat day (or meal) once every couple of weeks; personally, this is the only way I keep from feeling deprived.

There's a book & DVD I'd suggest you take a look at. Check out the DVD 'Knives Over Forks', & Dr. Fuhrman's Eat To Live book. The DVD is an eye-opener & the book completely changed how I approach food.

Congrats on making the change & keep us updated with your progress!

TexasGirl81 · January 2014

Don't over think it. I know it's easier said than done. Once you get past the first three days seriously by then you don't even want to eat bad and eff it up. Even if you mess up once it's ok. It's all mind games. The mind is powerful. Drink lots of water.

Eating clean, is a great start rather than some full blown diet that may not last. I just tell myself I want/need to eat clean for me of course but for LO too, so she knows all about eating right by watching mommy and daddy eat right.

I want it to be second nature for her. There is so much temptation out there, and I hate seeing obese kids. It drives me batty!!! That's a different bone to pick though. Once you get past 21 days, you should be at a stage where you crave healthy. Stick to your guns as much a possible.

If you fall, get back up quickly! Only you are in control of you! Good luck kwrecks!!

CaliforniaDream87 · January 2014

DH and I just went paleo. I will say though, if I wasn't eating clean prior to starting this I would be having a VERY tough time. It's definitely a transition. I feel so much better though. We don't eat any junk (we don't buy it so the temptation isn't there). I don't even allow myself a "cheat" as of now because for some reason when I used too it would make it harder to get back on track. It gets easier. You can do it!

Marvel1013 · January 2014

Can I ask people for their favourite recipes or foods while clean eating???

youtubebeauties · January 2014

Marvel1013 said:

Can I ask people for their favourite recipes or foods while clean eating???

I like to do once a week cooking, and a big crockpot of chili lasts us an entire week.

For the chili, I just use 4 cans of low-sodium black beans, 2 cans diced tomatoes, 2 cans diced tomatoes w/chiles, green pepper, red onion, & corn. If you aren't vegan/vegetarian, you can add ground turkey. Set on high for 4 hours.

Rowcate · January 2014

I am having a hard time switching the rest if the family but for me I love it. Everything tastes so much better and now when I taste something processed I don't want it (unless it's sweets, the one thing that's always a struggle). I follow 100 Days of Real food on FB and follow her site. She has some great recipes. I also like Food Babe.

Edit: posted too soon

kwrecks · January 2014

If its canned, is it considered clean still?

LJUTCMommy · January 2014

@Kwrecks I am confused too. I thought clean eating was pretty much paleo, but now this thread has me confused.

Can someone give me brief definition of clean eating?

I was under the impression it was mostly fruits, vegetables, and proteins (meats) cooked with the minimal amount of processing. For example, a kale salad and grilled chicken would be "clean eating" to me. Crock pot meals, I wouldn't have considered clean eating because they cook for so long and often involve canned and processed items. I also thought "clean" meant eliminating most, if not all, grains and dairy. Maybe I'm wrong?

Rowcate · January 2014

My understanding of clean eating is using organic non processed food. I try to not purchase anything with more then 5 ingredients on the label or any ingredients that I cannot pronounce. I just use fresh ingredients to make things at home. I try to use fruit, honey or maple to sweeten things instead of sugar. I still sometimes eat bread or pasta but it I make sure its 100% whole and contains no preservatives or other unnecessary chemical ingredients. That's some of my version. Paleo is way too "clean" for me but probably would be the best way to go if you were that committed.

TexasGirl81 · January 2014

We are currently doing only fruits and veggies. H is juicing now, I only juice in the morning. Maybe a homemade soup every now and then. I cannot allow myself to cheat when I'm in these stages. Or I will just have no damn control.

H said something hilarious this morning. He said I just keep telling myself all the food in the world is contaminated and all I can eat is fruit, veggies, and juice. He said it's been working. Hell he's reaching his goal quickly. He made a bad ass zucchini pizza last night. Bomb!!!!!!!

Eta: I should clarify the base of the pizza was the zucchini.

Soleil3 · January 2014

youtubebeauties said:

Marvel1013 said:

Can I ask people for their favourite recipes or foods while clean eating???

I like to do once a week cooking, and a big crockpot of chili lasts us an entire week.

For the chili, I just use 4 cans of low-sodium black beans, 2 cans diced tomatoes, 2 cans diced tomatoes w/chiles, green pepper, red onion, & corn. If you aren't vegan/vegetarian, you can add ground turkey. Set on high for 4 hours.

I would be so grossed out to eat only chili all week.

Soleil3 · January 2014

If you can't handle moderation, then cut it out by removing it from your house and NOT going shopping for food when you are hungry. Drink a lot of water, and know that very often people confuse hunger cues with thirst cues.

For me clean eating is eating from mostly the outside of the grocery store, not going inside the aisles. Meats, cheese, fruits and veggies, etc. A lot of people cut out pastas, we do them once or twice a week. Its not meals in a box, or processed junk.

Crockpot meals are certainly clean eating, depends on what you put in them. I usually use frozen veggies over canned.

Check out SKinnytaste for some kickass recipes, tbh I've used the full fat ingredients as often as the fat free ones and it still tastes good either way.

Soleil3 · January 2014

kwrecks said:

If its canned, is it considered clean still?

Yes and no? Canned usually has sodium or something to preserve, but also as soon as veggies are picked, their nutrients start dying. So canned food is almost more "filler" than really really good for you. Frozen veggies though, are picked and flash frozen, and they retain a lot of the goodness that would be lost otherwise. Some say frozen is even better than fresh depending on where the stores produce comes from.

RoosterMemphis · January 2014

Soleil3 said:

youtubebeauties said:

Marvel1013 said:

Can I ask people for their favourite recipes or foods while clean eating???

I like to do once a week cooking, and a big crockpot of chili lasts us an entire week.

For the chili, I just use 4 cans of low-sodium black beans, 2 cans diced tomatoes, 2 cans diced tomatoes w/chiles, green pepper, red onion, & corn. If you aren't vegan/vegetarian, you can add ground turkey. Set on high for 4 hours.

I would be so grossed out to eat only chili all week.

/dead

sfeebs13 · January 2014

Like Sol said about canned food... Each time a fruit or veggie is cut or sliced it loses some of it's nutrition. Fresh produce is the best way to go.

I eat "clean" always really have. SO eats a lot of junk food. He doesn't participate as much in the diet although he needs to more than I.
We have been on the GF/wheat free diet and I've notice I've been craving bread since the change. But it's getting better and I do feel a little bit "lighter" if that makes sense.

GL! With whatever you choose.

Plusalso... I couldn't eat chili all week either. Too much.

MagPie 1986 · January 2014

kwrecks said:

If its canned, is it considered clean still?

I say 'yes' as long as there are no additives

ETA: I just read the entire thread and would add that, yes, fresh is always better but I'm definitely not going to get upset at myself for eating canned veggies. It's always better than processed foods/sides.

A simple way to do things is to turn over the package instructions, read the label, if you cannot pronounce everything in the ingredients or you don't know what something is, put it back. That's what we do and it's worked well for us

GL, it's one of the best lifestyle changes you can make!

RoosterMemphis · January 2014

I don't want to be anywhere near anyone that eats chili all week. Fuck no.

Marvel1013 · January 2014

photo 91DE3D15-0726-49E9-9A5E-182630057205.gif

janneann1127 · January 2014

For me, it was all about finding healthy substitutions. I stopped drinking soda, and now drink water most of the time, sometimes ice tea. I cut out most white things, and replaced them with brown. Wheat bread, brown rice, etc.

I also try to eat 5–10 servings of fruits and veggies per day. Just by doing that, you start replacing unhealthier things with fruits and vegetables to hit your goal.

Also, if there is something that I really want but I know it's bad, I will have it but I will just have a small amount.

then I never feel too deprived.

All of that being said, I probably only eat clean about 70% of the time. The rest of the time, I eat what I want and don't feel bad. :-)

LJUTCMommy · January 2014

This thread is actually making me feel pretty good as apparently we do "eat clean" at home. I was confusing clean and paleo. Thanks for all the explanations!

If only I could manage to actually take my lunch to work and avoid the vending machines...

CaliforniaDream87 · January 2014

KatieS7 said:
@CaliforniaDream87 what does eating paleo look like?

@katies7 I got the book "practical paleo" and it's been a big help. Basically all we consume is protein, veggies and fruits. No dairy, at all. No processed foods whatsoever (not even to cheat). It's the strictest version of "clean" there is pretty much. I really want to change my lifestyle and stop consuming processed foods. Were doing it or 30 days and then figure out how to continue from there.

BlueJewelM · January 2014

Nothing to add other than I hope I can find the motivation to consume better foods. I really need to give up soda but I'm addicted. Like, not even in a joking way. I CRAVE a daily Pepsi.

I would really like to phase into clean eating.

Soleil3 · January 2014

BlueJewelM said:

Nothing to add other than I hope I can find the motivation to consume better foods. I really need to give up soda but I'm addicted. Like, not even in a joking way. I CRAVE a daily Pepsi. I would really like to phase into clean eating.

If its just the fizzies, seltzer water and cranberry juice is delicious.

BlueJewelM · January 2014

Soleil3 said:

BlueJewelM said:

Nothing to add other than I hope I can find the motivation to consume better foods. I really need to give up soda but I'm addicted. Like, not even in a joking way. I CRAVE a daily Pepsi.

I would really like to phase into clean eating.

If its just the fizzies, seltzer water and cranberry juice is delicious.

I may try that!

. I read this really interesting/sad article about sugar addiction in Marie Claire last year that really hit home for me...I think I eat way too many carbs and "crash" around 3pm. So the fizzy, sugar, caffeine combo makes me happy...

I need to find a new "happy" tonic.

Katie6202 · January 2014

CaliforniaDream87 said:

KatieS7 said:
@CaliforniaDream87 what does eating paleo look like?
@katies7 I got the book "practical paleo" and it's been a big help. Basically all we consume is protein, veggies and fruits. No dairy, at all. No processed foods whatsoever (not even to cheat). It's the strictest version of "clean" there is pretty much. I really want to change my lifestyle and stop consuming processed foods. Were doing it or 30 days and then figure out how to continue from there.

I did paleo from thanksgiving to Christmas, an had dramatic results. I felt amazing and lost a Significant amount of weight in 30 days. I'm having a hard time still craving sugar- which it turns out is because I'm not eating enough fat in my diet (I have a nut allergy, so I basically am only getting extra fat in avocado and coconut milk) anyway, I wish you good luck! It was life changing for me!!

lkobriant · January 2014

BlueJewelM said:
Nothing to add other than I hope I can find the motivation to consume better foods. I really need to give up soda but I'm addicted. Like, not even in a joking way. I CRAVE a daily Pepsi.

I would really like to phase into clean eating.

The only way I've found to successfully kick the soda habit is cold turkey. The first few days suck but even a little bit was too much, I'd go overboard. The sparkling water does help for the carbonation craving though. Good luck! Sodas are always the hardest for me.

Soleil3 · January 2014

mgg242 said:

What does everyone do for breakfast?

A bowl of cheerios or a bagel heaping with butter and cream cheese...

We are really just 1 meal a day people. We do a really good healthy dinner, and snack most the rest of the day.

janneann1127 · January 2014

mgg242 said:
What does everyone do for breakfast?

Wheat toast, a scrambled egg with light cheese, and fruit. Or oatmeal with berries. About 2 hours after breakfast when I'm feeling hungry again I make a smoothie. Banana, strawberries, blueberries, yogurt, ice, and a splash of OJ. Sometimes I add a little spinach too.

BlondieBia21 · January 2014

I'm gagging at the fact that chili could be eaten all week. That's one of the grossest things I've heard. :-S

Cosmic+Love · January 2014

mgg242 said:

What does everyone do for breakfast?

Old fashioned oatmeal with a banana cut in. No milk. I don't eat clean, but I am on a no dairy/soy diet. So, most processed foods are out.

CourtJack · January 2014

I've been juicing for a couple months - just for breakfast.

That's my attempt at clean eating. I do eat mostly organic meats-H hunts so we always have venison and we also split on a 1/4 cow-a local cow, of course.

But anyways, I'm obviously not doing a great job at clean eating given I'm still 20lbs overweight. Hmmmmm. I guess I could be considered the local cow.

Ok. I don't mean that, but I couldn't help it. I set myself up. Come on.

Want a personalized experience?

Clean Eating

Re: Clean Eating

Choose Another Board

Search Boards