Clean eating is as simple as it sounds. Forget about the complicated menu plans of Dr Adkins; the single food diet where you eat the same one item for weeks-- instead learn to emphasize sensible, nutritious eating. With the clean eating approach prepare to still eat delicious meals that leave you satisfied and less hungry, healthier, and are actually GOOD for you! Sound too good to be true? Once you get the hang of clean eating you'll never want to go back. The key to a happy healthy you is all in what you eat!
The concept of “clean eating” isn’t new.
This fat-loss and muscle gain plan has been around for several decades now and you may be surprised that it wasnt the buff shredded body builders, athletes and fitness models who introduced this way of living. In fact, this idea of clean eating first became popular in the 60s by the free love crowd. However, clean eating is so back to the basics, that no one really can take full credit for actually developing this approach to optimum health and nutrition.
What exactly does eating clean consist of? Well, the basics are simple--
•Consume 5-6 smaller meals evenly spread throughout the day, every 2-3 hours.
•Drink half your weight in water- say you're 150lbs, aim for 75 oz. a day
•Always combine complex carbohydrates with healthy fats and LEAN protein at every meal
•Avoid refined sugars, especially sugary beverages and candy
•Eat a wide-variety of whole, unrefined and unprocessed foods in a form that’s as close to natural, of the earth as possible.
•Avoid saturated fat and trans fats, substituting them with healthy, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
•Rather than eating "empty” calories you would find in fast food, soda, snacks etc, substitute nutrient dense foods including fresh fruits and vegetables.
•Know your portion sizes and practice portion control at every meal.
There are numerous proven benefits to Eating clean including:
•Improved energy
•Increased muscle growth
•Decreased body fat
•Decreased risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease and cancers
•Overall better health and immunity
•Less consumption of sodium and sugar, artificial dyes additives and chemicals.
•Believe it or not - Less expensive! Clean Eating is actually more cost-effective than eating fast food or pre-packaged food or fast food. In example, the cost of a Big Mac Meal is more expensive than it is to make a hearty natural pot of vegetable soup which would also serve many compared to a single sized fast good meal.
Timeless- you don't go on a clean eating "diet"- its a holistic lifestyle change that you practice your entire life.
The ultimate goal of Clean Eating is to eat a product at its optimum natural state- while the nutrients and vitamins are all still there. The problem with processed foods is that the natural elements of natural foods are stripped away and replaced with chemicals, dyes, and toxins.... Who really wants that in their body?
Lastly, I'll provide you with a typical day of clean eating--
Breakfast: Bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit and scrambled egg whites
Morning Snack: Peanut butter with banana on whole wheat toast
Lunch: Sliced chicken breast (from a home-cooked chicken breast, NOT deli lunchmeat) on a whole wheat or multi grain mini pita with fresh spinach and tomatoes, with 1 cup dark leafy salad topped with olive oil and vinegar.
Afternoon Snack: 1 cup Greek yogurt with fresh fruit/granola
Dinner: Salmon filet with herbed brown rice and steamed asparagus
Evening Snack/Dessert: Smoothie- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 2 tbsp pb, 1 packet or scoop of shakeology, 1 banana BLENDED.
6 small snacks and meals all balanced with carbs, protein and healthy fats, spread out over the day. Depending on your goals (fat loss versus building muscle), the amount of fat and protein can be adjusted :)
Tomorrow I'll go into more about the all natural healthy meal supplement of SHAKEOLOGY.
Further questions, just ask :)
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