The following article if from a blog called www.skinnymom.com
She has a lot of helpful articles on eating clean and fitness. This one I picked out is easy reading and very helpful on inserting your baby steps into eating and cooking clean. Melina
Clean eating isn’t a fad diet. It’s a permanent, healthy way of eating that, with a little practice, can (and should) become a way of life. Clean eating is eating for the sake of nourishing your body with food as close to it’s natural state as possible. There is no math, no point systems, no insane calorie restrictions. When you begin to replace the processed, fried and unhealthy foods from your diet with whole grains, fruits, veggies and lean protein, your body will respond in amazing ways.
Your muscles will respond to the added lean protein by growing which will speed up your metabolism.
Your body will respond to the whole grains by regulating itself.
Your body will also rid itself of water weight caused by excess sodium that is PACKED in processed food.
To make getting started on a clean eating path as simple as possible, we have created an acronym:
C: COUNT your meals. You should aim to eat 5-6 times a day (3 meals and 2-3 small snacks). Shoot for every couple of hours. This will keep your metabolism burning all day long!
L: LEAN protein! Each meal should contain about a palm-sized serving of lean protein (white-meat chicken/turkey, fish, black beans, egg whites, etc.) Find your favorites and keep them on hand.
E: EAT your fruits and veggies! They’re delicious, filling and packed with what our bodies need.
A: AVOID processed and refined foods. White flour, sugar, bread and pastas are no-nos. Replace them with complex carbs such as brown rice and whole wheat. Also, read ingredient lists. A long list means ‘not clean’. Read Food Labels Translated: 10 Alarming Ingredients to Avoid!
N: NEVER eat mindlessly. Too often, we tend to grab a food and toss it back without even a thought. The next time you go to eat something, ask yourself, “Will this do anything positive for my body?” and “Will I regret this choice later?”.
Check out 4 must-have ingredients for clean eating here!
4 Must Have Ingredients for Clean Eating!
by Brooke Griffin | April 4, 2013
Are you on the “clean eating wagon” yet? Eating foods that are “clean” means the food isn’t processed or chemically injected. If you are thinking about trying it, it may take a little bit to get used to…and a little more effort shopping and prepping wise. But, it’s so worth it. Here are 4 ingredients that we suggest having in your fridge at all times to help you stay on track!
1. Lemons: They add flavor to pretty much everything; water, tea, salads, salmon, chicken, etc. This little yellow beauty is filled with vitamin-C and can be a real flavor bomb. The best part? It’s almost no added calories!
2. Bell peppers: Yellow, green, red, orange; we love them all! Great to just cut up and eat fresh or dip in some hummus. Cook them into all of your meals; grilled, broiled, or roasted – they are wonderful each way. They are said to help with fat-burning and have tons of vitamins and potassium!
3. Greek yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt is extremely versatile. You can bake with it, substitute it for sour cream, or eat it as is. Other yogurt can be high in added sugar, but plain Greek yogurt is naturally low in sugar and has around 10-15 grams of protein (depending on brand). Add your own sweetener, like organic wildflower honey or fresh fruit and top it off with some toasted oats and almonds.
4. Leafy greens: Greens like romaine lettuce, spinach, kale, collards, etc are essential in eating clean and general good health. They are packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Super easy to toss into a salad, blend into your smoothies, or saute for dinner. Enjoy!
While there really are so many foods that are “clean” foods, these are just 4 of the basics that we feel are great to have at-hand whenever you need them.
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