clean eating

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I get asked all the time what the “best diet” to follow is.  No diet is the best diet!  The best thing you can do for your health is to eat CLEAN!  What does that mean?  Eating clean simply means eating food in its most natural state.  Ask yourself, how many changes did a food go through before ending up on your plate?  If a food contains artificial ingredients, preservatives or contains ingredients that you can’t pronounce then it is not considered a “clean” food.

Eating clean is a way to get back to basics,a lifestyle change, a way to reset your body by cleaning out the junk!  When you begin to “eat clean” you will crave REAL food, not artificially processed “fake” foods which harm your health.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated!  

Follow these tips to clean up your diet:

Eat more fruits and vegetables – Grab carrot and celery sticks for a snack or have fruit for breakfast.   They are nature’s fast food!  Add more raw fruits and veggies to your day for added enzymes and nutrients.

Shop the perimeter of the grocery store – If you stay on the outside of the grocery aisles you will only purchase REAL food such as produce and lean protein.  When you venture into the inner aisles of the grocery store you may be tempted to buy highly processed foods such as pop-tarts and soda…yuck!  Ok, you may have to sneak in to grab beans and grains but get in and get out quick!

Buy food in season – The best way to do this is to visit your local farmers’ market and buy food that is fresh out of the ground!

Cut out the white stuff – Say goodbye to white processed foods such as white bread, sugar, pasta, and rice.  These foods have been stripped of their nutrients and are void of nutrition.  Choose whole grain alternatives or switch to brown rice, quinoa or millet.

Go Organic! – When possible, only buy dairy, eggs and meat products that are organic or certified humane.  This ensures that no antibiotics or hormones have been used.

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www.beginwithinnutrition.com

start small and keep it simple


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There is so much hype out there on taking healthy eating to the extreme.  We’re forced to believe that if we don’t make dehydrated pulp crackers, add goji berries, hemp hearts and bee pollen to everything we eat or own a super duper blender such as a Vitamix we are never going to be healthy.  Yes, I admit that I am a sucker for the “super foods” and consider my Vitamix a beloved member of the family…  However, you DON’T need these things to start living a healthier life!  Start small and don’t get overwhelmed by all the hype.

Follow these simple steps to improve your nutrition:

  1. Drink more water.  Choose water over sugar laden beverages.  A general rule of thumb is to drink ½ your body weight in ounces.  For example; if you weigh 150 lbs, drink 75 ounces (~9 cups) per day.
  2. Bulk up on fiber to keep you full all day long.  Aim for 25-30 grams of fiber per day.  Make half your plate vegetables at meals and reach for fruit for snacks.
  3. Just say NO to white processed foods such as refined sugar, white flour and white rice.  These foods lack nutrients and send your blood sugars soaring.  Instead, opt for whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat sprouted bread and quinoa.
  4. Cut out processed meat products such as salami, hot dogs, ham and sausage.  I’m not going to lie, these foods are evil!  I know nothing says summer like the smell of dogs roasting on the grill.  Don’t worry, you can enjoy them every once in a while (if you have to) but please don’t eat them on a regular basis!

These little changes will add up and your body will thank you!  Before you know it you’ll be grabbing for that bottle of kombucha, making kale chips and purchasing a juicer :)

 

For any questions on this topic or other nutritional concerns contact me at www.beginwithinnutrition.com