Tips for Clean Eating
This is what I want to do. This is what I will try to do. I have always heard of clean eating but never attempted it because it sounded hard. Starting today I am working on doing this in my household.
It is time to get back to nature. It is time for transition from stuffing you up with toxin filled “junk” food to what nature offers us it its cleanest healthiest forms. It is time to come back to nature’s fold.
Move away from a diet high in processed, packaged and fast food which are void of nutrients that the body needs for normal function and thus avoid the chemical additives that are found in highly processed, packaged foods.
Clean eating is eating foods that are in their natural state, or as close to it as possible. Incorporating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fermented foods, and pasture fed raw dairy and organic pasture fed meats and fresh seafood. Also cut out unhealthy fats and replace them with oils that include health benefits.
Switch over to nutrient rich, whole, real foods.
Do not use white processed flour: This flour has no nutritional value and contains no fiber. It is best to use whole grains that have been prepared traditionally. It is best to consume it wholly or after sprouting them which is better for digestion.
Avoid processed sugar: It is healthy to replace regular granulated sugar with natural sweeteners such as honey, Stevia, coconut or palm sugar/nectar etc. It is the best way to keep out carbs.
Include lots of fresh fruits and veggies: Fresh fruits and vegetables are always the best. Most of us have completely lost touch with the idea of eating with the seasons and procuring our food items from our own locality or farmer’s market. Because of that we’re losing the nutrition in the foods due to the lack of freshness which happens considering the time it spent in transit. They sell more than just fruits and veggies and the kids love going. You can see a trip I took with Bonnie Bluebird to our local market.
If not fresh food, you can go for frozen food. But be sure it is just the fruit or vegetable that you are buying and not added sugar and added sauces. It is better to avoid canned fruits and vegetables as many cans are lined with BPA, a toxic plastic. It is time to become an informed consumer.
Look for quality meat:The same principle can be applied to meat also. Purchase from your local farmers and stay away from pre-packaged and processed meat. If you can, look for organic, grass fed meats that are antibiotic free. It will be more expensive. Avoid highly processed meats, such as packaged lunch meat and hot dogs.
Consume clean dairy: It is better to choose raw, non-homogenized varieties of diary. Consume whole milk and not ultra pasteurized ones. Cheese, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese are healthy, but it is important to make sure that they are pure, and have no additives.
It is also important to look inwards and recognize the changes in your body as season changes before you choose your food. Look at the seasons to guide you. Roots in the winter can warm you up, young tender greens and shoots in the spring can help to awaken your body, juicy fruits and vegetables in the summer helps you to cool off, and feasting in the fall to prepare your body for another winter.
these sound like good suggestions – lately I’ve been using honey or stevia and it is nice alternative to sugar or similar ingredients to sweeten smoothies, etc.
I’ve found that the easiest guideline for clean eating is to stay away from almost everything in a box.