Eternal Sunshine Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 There are so many definitions of clean eating around. I have recently completely changed my diet and don't eat anything that is processed. I have completely quit sugar (honey, pure dark chocolate and fruit are OK though). I am not really doing this for weight loss, just trying to be in the best possible health 1 Link to post Share on other sites
CarrieT Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 What is your definition of "processed?" Technically, a good quality yoghurt is processed... Anything that is made with ingredients is processed... A cooked chicken breast has been processed by heat.... The only non-processed foods are raw, but sometimes a food is better for you AFTER processing! I'm a food snob and I tend to shy away from foods that are pre-made (no canned foods with the exception of tuna) or frozen. I only buy fresh ingredients and prepare them myself. I also avoid white flour and white sugar. And no "instant" foods except nuts. I have a massively-stocked kitchen but there is nothing like chips or cereal or packaged meals. I have ingredients and unless you like eating spoonfuls of condiments, almost everything is something that has to be prepared in some fashion. I do buy "processed" condiments; soy sauce, fish sauce, mustard, etc... To me, that is Clean Eating. Link to post Share on other sites
Titanwolf Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 In terms of body composition, there's no such thing. If you're eating for internal health, foods from the earth and animal meats. Grains are sketchy, but isn't as bad as most. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I eat whole foods. Foods I can pronounce and reproduce at home from ingredients easily found at the store or in nature. I am so used to eating this way that when someone at work brought in a "homemade cake" I could taste the chemicals and preservatives because she had used a mix. My pet peeve is supermarkets with their fake bakeries. Sure they bake the items there but from mixes. Read the labels. Fifty different ingredients listed, most unpronounceable. I don't even have to read the labels any more. If I see a two inch square block of text, I know it's fake food. Most baked goods have fewer than ten different ingredients. Look at any recipe. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 If you grow it and/or raise and kill it yourself, where you control the process from birth to consumption, you've eaten 'clean' of the influence of any other human, but not natural, process, as you've made all the human choices for your food intake along the way. There are still certain influences of plant and animal genetics which pre-exist and are outside of one's control, but IMO such a program is about as clean as one can get. I've got the space and equipment for it, but man it's a lot of work, so I go to the store/fruit-vegetable stand/slaughterhouse for raw materials. For example, I had some organic quinoa with homemade (from my own tomatoes) tomato sauce and simmered 'bad' (from the store) sliced round steak for lunch today, along with a mixed greens salad. Not really 'clean' but a compromise I can live with. I was taught by someone who cooked 'from scratch' and had her own garden and processed her own animal carcasses so highly processed food have seldom been a part of my diet and I generally only eat out when traveling or visiting friends. Good luck. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
River Rain Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 My definition is like what Carrie said nothing pre-made. Although I guess my goat milk is pre-made...I use that to make my own yogurt and cheese, I can't have a goat here, lol...but I guess I just try to stay away from anything where I can't understand the ingredients. I'm lucky to live in the country where I can buy fresh produce (most of the year), and free-range chicken from farms, and also freshly caught fish from local fishermen. For me though, I'm not a purist, sometimes I'll buy some chocolatey sweets, though I avoid sugar as much as possible. None of this diet crap too, I use butter...do you remember Snackwells?? Too many chemicals in "food" these days! Congrats on eating healthier! Link to post Share on other sites
EasyHeart Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 "Eating clean" usually means avoiding processed foods. I've never heard of cooking, baking, fermenting, drying, etc. as being "processed"; I think that's a ridiculous definition. "Processed" more typically means having chemical additives. I envy carhill, but we city folk can't even think about raising our own food, so we've got to make do with finding trustworthy sources. Get to know the butcher and produce manager where you shop; they can be a great source of what's fresh and what's in season. Stick to things like fresh meat, fruits & veggies and whole grains. Read the labels of everything you buy. If you buy beef, the only ingredient should be "beef" and not a bunch of chemicals; if you buy a can of beans or bag of rice, the ingredients should be "beans" or "rice" and not a bunch of extra chemicals and flavorings. (Anything with a 'flavor packet' is right out, of course!!!) I've made a concerted effort to gradually cut out sugar from by diet during the past few years, and it's amazing how quickly you can lose your sweet tooth. I picked up a red delicious apple yesterday (which are in season and beautiful up here) and I could only eat half of it because it was WAY TOO SWEET! ) I found that the best thing to do is phase out bad foods and replace them with healthy foods gradually. That way you slowly replace bad eating habits with healthy eating habits, but it's more likely to be a permanent change. For me at least, making rapid lifestyle changes doesn't work; it's too easy to fall off the wagon unless the habits get imprinted in my brain. Good luck! 3 Link to post Share on other sites
veggirl Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Avoid animal fats / proteins for cleaner eating. You don't need to drink anything other than water. Link to post Share on other sites
crosswordfiend Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Avoid animal fats / proteins for cleaner eating. You don't need to drink anything other than water. Care to elaborate? What's wrong with animals fats and proteins? Back to the OP, the most important thing is to cut down on your fructose intake which you seem to be doing. Also, eat lower glycemic index carbohydrates. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ian.delano Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I think there is nothing wrong with animal fats and proteins, but we must control the consumption of it, as what I see, in a balance diet, meat are also included but in a lesser amount. Link to post Share on other sites
EasyHeart Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I love meat!!! 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Hawaii50 Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I think "Clean Eating" is a varying spectrum, obviously. Everything from a total fast-food and processed foods diet to a 100% anal-retentive vegan. Just depends where I'm at and what I have access to, I always sway towards the better stuff. Link to post Share on other sites
GLDheart Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I find the women and thier thoughts on "clean eating" in this thread very interesting. Link to post Share on other sites
pink_sugar Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 You can still have sugar, but go for raw cane sugar or even raw coconut sugar. It's not bad for you in moderation. Link to post Share on other sites
crosswordfiend Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 You can still have sugar, but go for raw cane sugar or even raw coconut sugar. It's not bad for you in moderation. Last time I check both raw cane sugar and raw coconut sugar were still sucrose = 1 glucose + 1 fructose. This produces the same effect in the liver as white sugar. Link to post Share on other sites
veggirl Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Care to elaborate? What's wrong with animals fats and proteins? Back to the OP, the most important thing is to cut down on your fructose intake which you seem to be doing. Also, eat lower glycemic index carbohydrates. cholesterol, unhealthy fats (saturated), added hormones Link to post Share on other sites
EasyHeart Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I love meat!!! 2 Link to post Share on other sites
veggirl Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I love meat!!! did I offend you or something? Link to post Share on other sites
River Rain Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I love meat!!! Is there an echo in the room? I think EasyHeart loves meat? I could be mistaken... 1 Link to post Share on other sites
River Rain Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 cholesterol, unhealthy fats (saturated), added hormones I totally agree with you, in fact I went vegan for a year to detox...but I'm back to being a carnivore, long story...dairy/bean/soy/wheat allergies therefore problem with protein. I buy my chicken and fish fresh, and there are no added hormones at the farm where I buy them. Saturated fats, yes, cholesterol, yes. But I balance it out with the rest of my diet. Don't you think, in moderation it's okay? Taking away the moral aspect I mean? Just looking for a viewpoint. Link to post Share on other sites
EasyHeart Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 did I offend you or something? No, not at all!!! I was just offering the counterpoint. Plus, I really like meat! (Even bunny meat . . . ) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
AngrySmile Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Though from my other posts where fruits and vegetables are dominate, I'm with Easy Heart: I love meat. I am by no way shape or form a healthy eater. At least, not consciously. I'll cook up a storm of food, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna make some things from scratch (What's up Zatarains/Ramen!). But at the same time, I'll make my own mac and cheese, but I'm pretty sure my cheese is most likely processed. Then I'll make a stir fry with fresh veggies, that's cool. Or eat just a bucha fruit. I don't have a great diet. Then somedays I just need a Big Mac. Real talk. I just do. I can't help it, but I do tend to eat fresher foods/cook my own meals by my nature. So, clean eating is not necessarily for me, but I'm pretty sure that I'm doing alright...maybe? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
veggirl Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Though from my other posts where fruits and vegetables are dominate, I'm with Easy Heart: I love meat. I am by no way shape or form a healthy eater. At least, not consciously. I'll cook up a storm of food, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna make some things from scratch (What's up Zatarains/Ramen!). But at the same time, I'll make my own mac and cheese, but I'm pretty sure my cheese is most likely processed. Then I'll make a stir fry with fresh veggies, that's cool. Or eat just a bucha fruit. I don't have a great diet. Then somedays I just need a Big Mac. Real talk. I just do. I can't help it, but I do tend to eat fresher foods/cook my own meals by my nature. So, clean eating is not necessarily for me, but I'm pretty sure that I'm doing alright...maybe? Do you get physicals yearly? That'll tell you if you're doing all right-the bloodwork results Link to post Share on other sites
Imported Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Please don't be a vegan. Every vegan girl I met....stank. Their farts are the worst and I deal with dudes at work that you'd think would put out some really bad farts, but no....a tiny vegan girl puts out much worse. And they fart like all the fricken time. Link to post Share on other sites
veggirl Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Please don't be a vegan. Every vegan girl I met....stank. Their farts are the worst and I deal with dudes at work that you'd think would put out some really bad farts, but no....a tiny vegan girl puts out much worse. And they fart like all the fricken time. maybe they eat lots of beans? I hate beans. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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