Hey, healthy eaters. I need yo help

nanabanana06 · November 2014

So, I'm on day 3 of "clean" eating. I like it. I like knowing that I'm eating things how they should be, nut anything processed and pseudo healthy. Anyways, I started on a really rigid food plan and I've decided after this week I'm tossing it. Firstly, all the foods are far too veggie heavy, not the good kind of veggie heavy. I'm cool with eating more fruits and veggies, and have been. However, eating 4 salads in a day and having an all veggie meal is killing my tummy. So much gas and what not. So, I'm switching my menu around next week to have more healthy whole grain carbs and bit more than half a chicken breasts worth of protein. However, I had some questions for those of you that also eat cleanly. Firstly, what about milk? We've always used organic milk and milk products. I'm cool with dropping my coffee creamer for something else though. Secondly, breads? I got some sprouted organic bread for now, but tips for picking breads without having to drive to Central Market once a week just for whole wheat pita bread and some loaf bread that isn't sugar filled BS.

Also, any tips and recipes would be awesome. I have really liked it so far. I am eating 5-6 meals a day and have kept things clean, so far. Though I'm sure my Starbuck's cappucino is pushing it.

TJ1979 · November 2014

I don't do dairy or gluten so I can't help. But I can tell you that the gas gets better once your body gets used to that much fiber and cleans out all the gunk. Sorry for the mental image on that.

bumpuser9353653 · November 2014

Quinoa. It's got protein and all kinds of good stuff in it. Use it like rice and mix veggies and/or other protein into it.

stoneycakes · November 2014

Nana, when I was on the MSPI diet, I started making my own bread to control the ingredients. Google "No Knead bread" and you'll get all kinds of easy bread recipes that take very little preparation time. My favorite is this one, but you might want to look at others if you're only doing whole grains.

https://www.simplysogood.com/2010/03/crusty-bread.html

nanabanana06 · November 2014

Thanks Maple and TJ! I have really upped the veg the last few days. However, I'm a little tired of 3 salads a day and long for some mother effing pasta or soup. I think it's the whole fall thing, it's too cold to be eating cold food. My menu currently is almost all veggies and fruits, and almost no carbs. I think the lack of carbs and protein to back up all the veggies is whats hurting me. This morning I ignored my menu and have 2 hard boiled eggs and avocado on a piece of sprouted bread and it felt so much better than just yogurt parfait that was on the menu (I ate it for lunch).

I can get raw milk though. I just haven't in a long time due to cost, but am willing to switch back for the time being. It'll be nice to put in my coffee again and on top of my oatmeal. I'd love to learn how to make pita bread, I'm going to try to make whole wheat bread this weekend though.

stoneycakes · November 2014

Oh Nana, make yo'self some homemade soup! It's so easy to make soup that complies with a clean eating diet.

nanabanana06 · November 2014

I'll have to try that Maple! I'm building my menu for next week as I'm figuring out the things I like. Focusing on using my dinners as lunches and so on. I've also employed pinterest on my recipe searches. So far the only thing set in stone is that I'm totally going to match myself up some steel cut oats for breakfasts and pick fruits I don't hate. I am not a berry person, by any means.

Mandmeesh · November 2014

I didn't read the other responses yet.

All of my research about organic milks, etc, ended with the knowledge that you're paying double the price for nothing. The terms that companies use to promote their products (natural, organic, grass-fed, etc) are just marketing ploys. Organic milk usually just means that the cows can see the outside world from their barn. But that's my two cents. I say stick with the milk you've been using (not necessarily coffee creamer

)

Also, salmon, quinoa, almonds, spinach, white potatoes, broccoli, green beans, canned tuna (chunk light) hard boiled eggs, oatmeal, protein shakes. Those are great foods for a healthy diet.

I recommend not making insanely drastic changes. You want to make sure that what you're doing to make changes is something that you enjoy and will make into a lifestyle change. Instead of doing the fad diets like TV promotes ("Lose 1000 pounds in a week!!!") I recommend making changes that you love and will continue doing forever.

DanandVan · November 2014

I switched from fakey creamer to a recipe I found on pinterest. You mix half and half, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla. It doesn't last forever in the fridge like the fake stuff, but that is probably a good thing

I find I do better when I make a big pot of something and eat some all week. Lately, I've made lentil soup, quinoa salad, bean/cheese/brown rice enchiladas (easy to make so I doubled and froze half!), and Cuban black beans and coconut rice (found this on pinterest too. So good!).

Brandiewine11 · November 2014

I definitely recommend making your own bread. My bread machine is perhaps my most favorite kitchen appliance. When I was working full time I didn't have time to do it all myself, but using the bread machine makes it so easy!

tjkdlhb · November 2014

Bread Machine!!!!!!!!!!!

Soooo easy and you control your ingredients!

I like www.100daysofrealfood.com All of her recipies are great that I've tried so far. And not hard to make. The honey-whole wheat only has 5 ingredients.

I change the water for milk-egg and use the dough setting for hamburger/sandwich buns ( rolled out and cut with large round cup -400 oven for 9-11 mins) or english muffins (rolled and cut, but cooked on a dry cast iron pan) Her tortillas are awesome. I freeze the breads for easy lunches.

Slowcooker is also awesome. I make soups from scratch, from my own broth. It's super easy. I've just found that you've got to leave it to simmer for a ridiculous long time. (usually 24 hours for the broth and 5-6 for the soup) to get a good broth. I use 2-3 chickens or one turkey.

Companies spend a lot of money to make people think they can't cook or it's too time consuming. The bread maker and slowcooker do all the work.

I can't say we're totally real-food or healthy eating... but we're moving in that direction and I love that site so much for helping with easy real recipies.

edit: now that DS is starting solids, I substitute maple syrup for honey.

countrycotton · November 2014

I don't know much about clean eating, but a fun way to get veggies that is not like eating veggies at all is kale chips. You just rip the kale into chip size pieces, toss in a tiny amount of olive oil and add seasoning to your liking. I use garlic and paprika. Place in a single layer on a cookie sheet, then into a 350 degree oven for about 8 minutes. SO tasty, you will never know your not eating lays, and WAY more addicting!

freezorburn · November 2014

For breads, I like the Artisan Breads in Five Minutes a Day series. The general idea is that you make a large batch of dough that is good for 3-5 loaves, depending on how large you make them, and the dough lasts about a week. So you just pull it out and bake it when you need it. The same dough can be shaped into a boule or baguette or whatever shape you like, or you can make pizza.

They also have some great tips for getting enough steam into your oven to get the crust nice and crunchy.

I've tried a few recipes out of their Healthy Breads book and they're pretty good too. Same principle, but working a few whole wheat and whole grain flours into it.

pblge · November 2014

Vegetarian and very "clean" eater here. I do think that switching out for a real whole grain bread is one of the best things that you can do for your diet. There do tend to be high quality whole wheat breads in most grocery stores these days. If there's a "hippie foods" section in yours, try looking there. You know--where the keep the soy milk and the organic mac & cheese.

There's so much easy veggie-rich cooking that you can do! Maybe start with a good cookbook or two to get ideas? I also love the Vegetarian Times website for finding recipes.

I also think organic milk products are very important, especially for pregnant or nursing moms, but the problem is that there hasn't been a ton of good quality research done. The dairy industry has sponsored the bulk of it, and it's highly suspect for that reason. My husband is vegan (I know, I know), so we use flax milk in this house, although pretty much the second I got pregnant I started craving vast quantities of cheese and yogurt.

I do tons of cooking, almost all vegan and ridiculously healthy, so I can tell you lots more about cooking veggies with a better idea of how you like to eat. We're actually hosting a vegan Thanksgiving feast next week!

freezorburn · November 2014

Here's a blog post about baking your own pita

I hear you about Central Market. Great selection, but not always convenient. We used to shop at their sister store in Greenwood, until it closed down.

agm04 · November 2014

The best advice I can give here is not to be too rigid/all or nothing. I've been down that route and it doesn't lead good places. Discard labeling foods as good or bad and just makes choices that feel good for you and your health. It sounds like you're on the right track with that though.

Milk - I drink organic mostly because dairy doesn't bother me, and organic tastes better and lasts longer. I count macros though, and often substitute unsweetened almond milk if I need something lower carb. Bread - this one drives me nuts. All the "clean" breads are dense and high calorie (which is fine in some cases, not always). I tend to buy the whole wheat mainstream brands and just eat them in moderation.

nanabanana06 · November 2014

Thank you! I love fresh bread, but I lazy and Dave's Killer Bread is amazeballs. I'll switch to that next week. I think in reality this all makes sense. Eat closer to the earth, nothing processed. Also, less sugar. Sugar is my crutch, my addiction. I've been switching things to honey and raw sugar, but coconut sugar looks pretty awesome.

TJ1979 · November 2014

I use coconut sugar and love it. It's got a bit of that raw sugar/brown sugar taste to it. And it doesn't spike my blood sugar.

nanabanana06 · November 2014

I love the taste of raw sugar. It makes everything have that molassasy flavor. I'll be picking up some of the coconut sugar and some whole wheat pastry flour next shopping trip.

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