Do you know what the “clean eating” movement is all about? It’s a lifestyle based on consuming as many fresh ingredients as possible, cooking for yourself as much as you can so you will know what is in your meals, and reducing processed foods.
Cooking this way isn’t just about cooking from scratch. It’s also about knowing what you are eating and knowing the source of the foods you consume.
Here are some guidelines for clean eating:
PLANNING AHEAD
When you cook from scratch, you will need to plan ahead to ensure you have all the fresh ingredients you will need. A common assumption is that cooking from scratch takes more time, but this is not always true. There are many easy meals that can be cooked from fresh groceries you have purchased.
Of course, some extra preparation time may be required for chopping vegetables or shredding cheese. When you taste the freshness of the food you have prepared, you’ll appreciate why clean eating is so popular.
COOKING FROM SCRATCH
Some convenience foods are low in fat and calories, but they are often loaded with salt, sugar, or chemicals for a longer shelf life. Some processed foods have shocking nutritional contents – you may be very surprised at what some of those labels tell you!
By utilizing fresh ingredients and making the food yourself, you can control everything. Being aware of how much fat is used and choosing the best fat for your needs is a helpful exercise. Some fats are highly processed, like corn and canola oil. Instead, you may want to use olive or grapeseed oil for clean eating.
Eating organic and non-GMO foods is always healthier, and a wide range of organics are easily available in supermarkets.
MEAL PLANNING AND MAKE-AHEAD MEALS
You don’t need to live a busy lifestyle to appreciate having more downtime. Making some of your meals ahead of time can make life so much easier for those times when you are tempted to skip a meal, order in, or pick up fast food. Alleviate the desire to make unhealthy choices by having delicious meals already prepared and ready to go.
If you have a favourite easy meal that can be made ahead, make five of them and seal them in airtight containers for the freezer. Most vegetables can be cooked then frozen without a problem, as can fruits. Any food with a high water content, such as salad greens, tomatoes and potatoes should never be frozen raw – you may not recognize them later!
BULK BUYING
lean eating is easy on the pocketbook. You can buy items in bulk and store dry items easily at home. Although the upfront purchase may be higher, over time you should notice a substantial cost savings. Rice, grains, beans, spices, dried herbs and other whole foods can easily be purchased in larger quantities.
CONCLUSION
You are what you eat. Paying more attention to what you consume, planning ahead to ensure you are eating healthfully, and keeping clean ingredients easily available at home will help you eat clean and save money. If you would like to learn more about your body and how you can serve it best through your diet and lifestyle, please check out my Holistic Health Coaching program here. I would be happy to work with you to help you get to your optimum health so you can feel your greatest!
