Okay ... so define "eating clean"

[jcm]

With all the talk of clean eating, and my attempts to do so, just wanted to clarify WHAT that exactly means. I've always assumed it's no processed food essentially, with lots of veggies/fruit and lean protein. Is that basically correct?

 

[banslug]

JCM, I'm not sure the TECHNICAL definition, but paraphrased....clean eating is eating foods in their original state, as opposed to processed or played-with. For instance, a baked/steamed potato instead of mashed. An apple instead of applesauce.

Personally, when I use the phrase CLEAN EATING, I also define it as eating 5-6 smaller meals a day to keep my metabolism and blood sugar on an even keel (there are other trains of thought on this, but again, this is my personal take). Also, each of those meals include a protein source, a carb/grain and veggies. And MY clean eating version includes TONS OF WATER!

HTH!

ENJOY! It's a yummy state of being and the difference in how I FEEL is remarkable when I eat cleanly.

Gayle

 

[jamaicagirl]

I love the words clean and eating seperate, when they have nothing to do with one another, but when you put them together, ICK!
Maybe that is why I still have some junk in my trunck!!


Michelle

 

[Jaffas]

I love the words clean and eating seperate, when they have nothing to do with one another, but when you put them together, ICK!
Maybe that is why I still have some junk in my trunck!!


Michelle

I thought I was the only one who dislikes the term clean eating. I never use it. I much prefer Michael Pollan's motto "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants. I don't even agree with the all processed foods are bad theory. Human beings would not be the dominant species on this planet if it were not for their ability to "process" food thus making it possible to digest the nutrients that would otherwise be locked in mainstays like corn and soy. I know many will disagree with me but I can handle it.

 

[SirenSongWoman]

Clean eating means eating foods that are as close to unprocessed as possible like vegetables, whole grains and lean protein sources. Sounds simple but, as John Berardi (Precision Nutrition) recently remarked, most people don't even understand what he's saying when he says to eat unprocessed grains (like oats or qunioa... not wheat thin crackers).

 

[fit44]

I love the words clean and eating seperate, when they have nothing to do with one another, but when you put them together, ICK!
Maybe that is why I still have some junk in my trunck!!


Michelle

I agree!

I think it's one of the terms that has quickly become abused. Like natural, organic, range free. They are buzz words that are over used and often far from the truth. Remember this when you shop for food!!!

I think the best we can do is look for food that heals our body, improves our health.

 

[kathryn]

I thought I was the only one who dislikes the term clean eating.

I don't like it either.
It's a gimmicky term, IMO.
I prefer to describe a healthy way of eating as 'whole-food, plant-based' or something like that.
And some authors include things in their version of "clean" that I don't think are healthy (like really high sodium levels in some of Tosca Reno's reciepes).