What is Clean Eating?

There have been many mentions of "clean eating" around here and I have stated that I was going to post about my decision to go clean. I began this post and quickly realized that I should break it into 3 parts.

a. What is clean eating?
b. Why I chose to eat clean.
c. What changes have been made?

This post is mainly going to be summing up what it means to eat clean.

I want to begin with laying it out there very clearly that I am no expert. I haven't devoted hours or years to studying and becoming knowledgable about this subject. I have spent "some" time and what I found, I liked, so I continued. If it interests you I encourage you to bing it! There are a ton of resources for information out there.

So, onto eating clean. What is clean eating?

Exactly that! Eating.

It is not a diet. It is not a weight loss plan. You are eating, just simply as close to the way it was intended. Looking closely at grains, sugars, protiens, etc. and finding them in thier form closest to how they were created.

So, how do you know if something is clean? Look at the label. I am not by any means completely clean. My ministry doesn't allow it! =) However I try to maintain that level when at home. So here is what I do to measure things up to cleanliness!

Things like flours, sugars, fish, chicken, beef, fruits and fruit products (sauces, juice, etc.), vegetables and vegetable products shouldn't have ingredient lists. If they do, it should be very limited. Make sure you check the lists!!! I went to pick up some fresh chicken one time and by chance glanced at the ingredient list. To my shock, fresh chicken (at least this brand) had an ingredient list. Including things like high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and salt. What? I didn't know meat needed anything other than seasonings that we put on it before cooking! Frozen or canned fruits and veggies are terrible offenders with preservatives and sugars.

As far as grains go look for 100% whole wheat or variations like that. When a grain product has been "enriched" it is a fancy way of saying it's been "de-riched." The process of being enriched means the removal of all vitamins from the grain to make it finer. In doing so your body processes this differently. So look for the whole grains, better yet...make it yourself!

So, let me run through a typical day of what it might look like to go clean. Morning coffee, ENJOY! Instead of white sugar, grab a bottle of agave nectar or a bag of evaporated cane juice. Morning breads like toast, waffles, pancakes, and muffins are not difficult at all to make clean! Here is a recipe I made up for some very yummy pancakes and here is a post about making recipes clean from an AMAZING blog! Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, and hot breakfast cereals are wonderful...IF they are whole grains. Make sure you look at the lists! Don't go for the prepackaged oatmeal...FULL of sugar and preservatives! Make it yourself! Here is my recipe.

Snacks - any fruit of veggie, roasted nuts in sea salt, whole wheat toast or pita with a nut spread made with nuts and salt, guacamole and corn chips (look at the ingredient list!), hummus and whole grain pita chips, banana whip, spinach smoothies, yogurt (look at the ingredient lists!) and nuts or fruit, ...are you getting the point? The options are ENDLESS! I was to repeat what I said earlier. This. Is. Eating.

I have been encouraged by the various things I have found to eat! I enjoy eating now and for the first time in almost a year I am able to eat things that I had began to eliminate from my diet. All of the sudden my body is able to digest things and here is my reason. It's not being plagued by chemicles and preservatives it was never meant to process. I have begun experimenting with different things that I never expected! It has been a lot of fun!

I am still learning and I don't know all the answers! But, I am learning! I am still learning!

Soon I will make sure to post about why I chose this! As for now, anyone reading this who knows more than I do, please pass along any info they can!

Oh, and before I forgot! Be sure to check out this blog! She has a TON of helpful resources and information! She is clear and understandable in how she presents the information. If you are new to this, which I am, this is the place to go!