What is all this CLEAN EATING business about?

It’s what all the cool kids are doing these days, and so it seems that the #cleaneating ‘craze’ is settling in as more of a ‘lifestyle’. While I am still partial to a square of chocolate and a glass of wine here and there, I love the clean eating stress of healthy, whole, unprocessed foods as part of your diet. Knowing that you don’t need to sign up for expensive packages and detox plans to be ‘clean’, here are eight easy guidelines for you to start adopting…

1. Whole, natural goods > processed foods.This generally means anything in a box, bag, can, or package, though of course you can get some great fresh foods packaged or frozen, so just ensure it is high quality.2. Unrefined > refined – When you can, increase your adoption of whole grains like brown rice, millet, amaranth, and quinoa. You can throw out your refined white sugars too by using honey, maple syrup, brown rice malt syrup and dehydrated sugar cane juice.

   3. Include protein, carbohydrates and fat at every meal-  It’s important to make sure you are including all three to nourish our body and curb your appetite between meals. Protein is important for building muscle, and will keep you feeling fuller for longer.

2. Reduce fat, salt, and sugar- Once you have adopted unrefined whole foods, this becomes rather easy as ‘clean’ foods are usually naturally low in fat, salt and sugar.
3. Eat five to six small meals throughout the day- This can come in the form of three main meals, and two or three snacks in between. While keeping your blood glucose level steady so your energy level doesn’t go through dramatic peaks and troughs, following this format also prevents you from skipping meals and overeating.
4. Don’t drink your calories- Water is number one, though other ‘clean’ options include unsweetened tea, 100% freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice, milk or dairy alternative milk blends such as the great power combinations of Oat & Almond and Soy & Almond Milks from Vitasoy.
5. Get physical- No matter what your diet, you cannot ignore your body’s need for regular physical activity. While helping to decrease fat, strengthen and build muscle , and assist in burning more energy while you are at rest, it will also keep your heart, lungs, and bones healthy and strong.
6. Remember food’s purpose-Food is about nourishing your body, but also about celebration, and sharing a meal with family and friends. How you eat your food is just as important as what you eat, so make sure you sit down for your meal, turn off the TV, turn off your computer and really focus on and enjoy the meal you have prepared.

To kick you off on your clean journey, try my Green Juice and my Garlic and Chilli Brussels Sprouts recipes.