Wondering how to eat clean? We crafted the best guide on how to eat clean for beginners.
Clean eating. It’s one of the best things you can do for yourself. If you want to eat better and work more healthy habits into your life, then you’re in the right place! We’re here to help you get started.
What is clean eating?
Clean eating is a lifestyle choice that focuses on eating whole, unprocessed foods. Think vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and unprocessed meat, poultry and dairy products. So, rather than reaching for highly-processed foods loaded with calories, added sugars and weird ingredients, opt for nutrient-dense foods that are close to nature.
Eating clean also emphasizes the quality of foods you eat, rather than how much you eat. Most diets (once again clean eating is a lifestyle, not a diet) encourages people to eat less and reduce their caloric intake. Instead, clean eating focuses more on what you’re eating, not the amount.
What are the benefits of clean eating?
There are so many incredible benefits to eating clean, including:
- Weight loss. Because weight loss occurs when you burn more calories than you are taking in, many people who eat clean experience a decrease in their weight. This is because whole, unprocessed foods are typically lower in calories.
- Improves Digestion. Eating natural, whole foods that are high in fiber is one of the best ways to improve your digestive health.
- Strengthens immune system. Having a balanced, well-rounded diet consisting of different vitamins and minerals primes the body to fight infection.
- Increases energy levels. The best way to keep your energy levels up is to follow a healthy, balanced diet.
- Better heart and brain health. The foods you eat play a key role in keeping your heart and brain healthy, as well as improve function.
- Reduces inflammation. Because clean eating emphasizes whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains, you are also benefiting from the anti-inflammatory properties they provide.
- Prevention of diseases. Following a clean lifestyle and eating plan prevents diseases such as obesity and cancer.
Best Clean Eating Cookbooks:
How to Eat Clean for Beginners:
Now, let’s get into the little things you can do to start eating clean. The best part? It’s insanely easy!
Step 1: Reevaluate what you have at home
Of course, one of the first things you should do is check your fridge and pantry for any unhealthy foods. Think anything processed, with a long list of ingredients and unnecessary sugar, salt, or grease (chips, cookies, cereal, processed canned foods, sweetened fruit juices). To avoid being wasteful, consider giving your unwanted foods to someone who will put them to use.
When it comes to deciding what to add to your pantry, start with the basics. Healthy oils such as olive and coconut are perfect choices, as well as whole grains including quinoa and brown rice. Having a variety of nuts and seeds – almonds, walnuts, chia, and flax – are staples that you can also easily make use of. Simply build your pantry to satisfy your own needs and tastes!
Step 2: Get comfortable reading food + beverage labels
Whether you’re browsing at the grocery store or looking through your pantry at home, look out for ingredients you don’t recognize or foods that have a long ingredient list. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, you probably shouldn’t be eating it.
If you come across something in your pantry that isn’t clean, try and see if there is a healthier alternative. Replace flavored oatmeal with unsweetened oatmeal, granola with nuts, and mayo with hummus (just to give you a few ideas). The goal is to be as natural, few ingredient focused as possible.
Step 3: Be creative + try new things
When you’re trying a new way of eating, it might be a little daunting. The thing is, there are so many delicious foods that are great for your health, and all you need to do is simply try a few of them.
If you’re eating roasted carrots as a side for dinner, try adding parsnips, rutabaga, or butternut squash. These vegetables are probably ones you don’t think of, but they have a completely unique nutrient profiles that are key to a balanced diet. Plus, they’re insanely delicious.
Step 4: Cook more!
Cooking for yourself is one of the healthiest things you can do. When you prepare and cook your own food, you are in total control of how much salt, sugar, and oils you’re adding. Studies also show that those who cook at home consume less calories, carbohydrates, sugar, and fat compared to those who cook very little or not at all.
Step 5: Try meal prepping
Preparing your meals in advance is a great way to have well-balanced meals on hand, and in the right portions to avoid overeating. Meal prep is also great because you decide the quality and source of the food you’re eating (freshness of your produce, how much oil you’re adding, whether your meat is organic or not).
We also love meal prepping because all the ingredients you use can be purchased in bulk, you can freeze what you don’t use for later, and you won’t have to spend money eating out. Essentially, we like to think of meal prepping as a super simple way to eat healthier, more affordable, convenient, and satisfying meals.
This post was all about how to eat clean for beginners.
