Clean eating had such a wide range definition. Some people consider clean eating as washing their food (ha ha ha...) while others only count organic, non GMO, locally grown food as clean eating. I prefer to meet somewhere in the middle as I am not an extremist.
Many people have asked what recipes I make and what I eat that has helped me with my weight loss. I have to tell them that I'm not much of a cook (gasp) and that I just eat lots of fruits, some veggies, and try to increase my protein intake. I try to choose lower calorie options because the ultimate goal is to burn more calories than you take in.
Choosing the healthy option is my primary goal. So if I pick an apple over a cookie... I win. If my apple happens to be organic and locally grown... double win. But either way, as long as I pick the healthier option I feel happy with my choice.
When you are changing your diet to the healthier option or challenging yourself to eat "Clean" you have to, HAVE TO, find foods that you like and start incorporating them in your diet. If you buy a bunch of spinach because it is healthy, but you in fact dislike it greatly... you are not going to eat that spinach no matter how healthy it is.
I found this to be the case with green smoothies. As much as people claim "you can't taste the spinach or insert leaf green here" I can taste it. And I personally don't like my fruit tasting like spinach either. I like spinach alone, or in other contexts... but not in my smoothies. And then there's the whole I don't prefer to drink my calories. I would rather eat the whole fruit and a bowl of spinach then mix it together in a shake. But that's me. So I didn't jump on the green smoothie bandwagon.
I love love LOVE most fruit. Berries are my favorite, but I also eat a ton of pineapple, peaches, grapes, banana's, and watermelon as of late. I pick the veggies I like and buy those. Green beans, spaghetti squash, zucchini, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, spinach, are my favorites. I do sometimes mix it up, but I mainly stick to what I like. I however am a creature of habit and tend to eat the same things over and over.
I like/love dairy so I have a lot of Greek yogurt and cottage cheese and low fat string cheese because it provides you with a pack of protein for not a lot of calories. If I have cheese in a recipe I buy the low fat variety and I now use skim milk on my cereal.
I try to pick whole grains whenever possible, but I still have rolls on occasion and white bread. I bake my own wheat bread once a week and use that for sandwiches. I try to pick cereals without a ton of sugar like cheerios and rice crispies. I eat steel cut oats often and sweeten it with maple syrup or honey. Honey is a great option for a sweetener because it has a lot of health and healing qualities and boost your immune system.
Speaking of immune system, I drink the juice of 1 lemon in a glass of water every morning. It is supposed to provide your body a cleanse as well as boost your immune system. More on this HERE
I don't eat a ton of meat, but I like it. It just takes some time and planning to prepare so I don't eat it all the time. I really like eggs and eat them frequently. I eat 2 whole eggs and add 2 whites and then like to mix it with spinach, ham, and jalapenos. And I just started eating them with homemade salsa which has made me love them even more.
I haven't eliminated processed foods. I like deli meat, and some of the lower calorie crackers and I LOVE PRETZELS and of course cold cereal. I really have to watch my sodium because I love all things salty! But I try to eat as many fresh items as possible.
I do occasionally have fast food, or go out to eat with friends, or my husband. But I just try to pick healthy options whenever possible and make sure that those occurrences aren't daily. I still have dessert sometimes and I eat dark chocolate frequently. I feel I can still enjoy food, but not over indulge.
This I my reality. I am not one to follow a strict diet that makes me feel limited. Some people really thrive eating like that, but I just couldn't do it. I would rebel/rebound/cheat so fast and then constantly feel bad and probably quit. It is so hard to live so strictly.
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