My 5 Tips for Eating Clean

9/18/2012 *Sara-Marie* 17 Comments

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As you are all aware, I began to change my diet a few months ago to a clean eating diet. That means that I strive to eat real, whole foods like meat, eggs, fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and good fats like coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado. This way of eating just makes so much sense to me and has really changed my life. I've never felt better. I thank God everyday that He opened up my eyes! Overly processed, created in laboratory, type of "food" is not real food at all, and will not make me healthier.

Along this journey, I've talked with a lot of people about the changes I've made and the most common reactions are:

The answer to the first one is easy. I can eat A LOT. There are a bajillion types of vegetables and fruits out there - not to mention tons of different meats to pair them up with. Have you looked at any of my food posts lately? I'm not depriving myself AT ALL.

The "how" of it all, is a very good question and I'm going to try to sum it up in 5 easy tips:

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2. Clean out your kitchen.  Take a box and throw in all of those prepackaged, overly processed foods. Find a food pantry and donate it. Or at least put it out of sight. If you see it, you crave it. Even if you're not hungry. Don't set yourself up for failure. Only keep good food around - and plenty of it!

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3. Be creative. Try a new recipe or buy a vegetable you've never tried before. Keep things interesting - you just might find a new family favorite. Pinterest is recipe heaven! Just keep your eyes on the healthy stuff.

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4. Buy a new spice/seasoning every week. Experiment with new flavor profiles and different ethnic flavors. I can't tell you how many different ways I've prepared roasted cauliflower and each time it feels like a new vegetable. Or if you're tired of grilling chicken breasts using the same boring seasonings, you'd be surprised at what a new spice can do for it and for you! I have found out that I really like typical Indian flavors and Moroccan flavors. Keeps things new and exciting!



5. Be Prepared. This is really the most important of them all. Always have good food choices available no matter where you are: at home, at work, in the car, at a hotel, at the park, etc. When hunger strikes, you have something wholesome to turn to instead of a take-out menu, drive-thru or vending machine. Believe it or not, I try to always carry some "emergency protein" for times like those. All natural, minimally processed beef jerky works really well and is easy to carry in your purse. If you're going on a trip, pack a cooler with already cooked chicken tenders or turkey slices. Fruits and veggies are easy to pack as well. Baby carrots and celery are our go-to snacks, as well as bananas and oranges. But protein is the most important to curve hunger and cravings.
I also recommend taking out a couple hours a week to do lots of prep work in one shot. Make a couple of meals and package them up in single servings to easily grab with you on your way to work.


Or prep a bunch of veggies that you can easily throw into your morning omelet or your salad throughout the week.



Double a recipe and freeze half for those crazy busy nights where you know you'll only have 15 minutes to throw a meal on the table. It's all about being prepared. Also, one big clean up is better than multiple clean ups!