What is clean eating?
You may have heard the term eating clean and wondered; what exactly does that entail?
Let me break it down for you:
• Eating foods that have not been processed; staying away from convenience foods that are pre-packaged. For the shelf life; these foods have undergone a chemical process that removes the natural nutrients. Look for terms like hydrogenated, artificial, high fructose corn syrup, trans-fat, enriched, bleached, benzoates and many more. It takes time, but you can Google ingredients on a label if you are unsure. To keep it from being so complicated; if it is prepackaged, stay away from it.
• Avoid saturated and trans-fats.
• Choose lean cuts of meat. Cut excess fat off before you prepare. If you are using hamburger meat, choose nothing less than 96% lean. I still rinse it after cooking to ensure there is no fat.
• Fresh deli meat, not packaged is a must. Choose fresh deli meat that has no preservatives, the cheaper per pound may not be the best option. Buy an extra turkey or two and cook your own when possible.
• Eat fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, fresh being the optimal choice. Canned foods have been processed and contain large amounts of sodium for shelf life.
• Choose whole grain pasta and 100% stone-ground wheat bread. This is tricky again, read the label because some bread’s contain high fructose corn syrup or enriched and bleached flour. You may find great bread options at your local health food store, Whole Foods, Fresh Market and Publix grocery stores.
• When possible make your own breads and muffins using natural wheat flour that has not been enriched or bleached.
• Choose organic pasta sauce, or make your own.
• Spice up your meals with natural herbs.
• Stay away from vegetable and canola oil. Extra virgin olive oil would be a great choice.
• Be selective where you shop. Your local butcher, farmer’s market and health food stores will provide healthier selections and make the learning process a little less confusing.
Eating clean does take preparation, but you have to start somewhere. The first step is just to begin, and will get easier as you go. Cook extra and take the leftovers for lunch. Fast food is definitely not an option if you are eating clean. To prevent the temptation pack your lunch.
Being healthy and fit comes with a price; it is called hard-work, dedication and research. In the long run, your body will thank you, and you will be amazed with your results.
