Starting any new diet or clean eating techniques can be a daunting task for those of you who have separation anxiety from your
sugars.
Believe me. I know what it’s like to want to walk over to that Hershey Syrup on your counter and down it like it’s the last thing you’ll ever drink/ eat in your life. If Hershey Syrup helped me lose weight it would be my new favorite topping.
But unfortunately, it does quite the OPPOSITE.
That’s why it’s time to break off your sugar affair before it gets out of hand and start eating clean.
What is Clean Eating?
Clean eating refers to fueling your body with nutritious and wholesome foods from natural sources.
It involves eliminating most processed and packaged foods from your diet and instead replacing them with whole foods that our bodies are designed to process.
By eating healthier and cleaner, you will ultimately give yourself more energy and will kick start your weight loss journey.
Clean Eating – 6 Basic Steps to Get Started
1. Stock up on produce
Trade in those cookies and chips for fruits and vegetables. Take the time to go through your refrigerator and cabinets and get rid of heavily processed and unhealthy foods.
Adding fruits and necessary greens into your diet increases your energy and allows you to receive the healthy vitamins your body needs.
Start snacking healthy by keeping some raw nuts around.
Don’t deprive your body of these nutrients!!
2. Think whole grain
Foods like quinoa, oats, and brown rice are the perfect starting points for clean eating.
Steer clear of white breads, pasta and sugar.
By replacing refined carbs with whole grains, you’ll be giving your body more antioxidants, energy and inflammation-fighting nutrients. It is also proven to help people lose weight faster! (Who wouldn’t want that?)
3. Say NO to processed foods
Often times those packaged foods that claim to be healthy are not the best options. They contain additives and other processed ingredients that can ultimately do more harm than good to your body.
In some cases, processed foods have become handled beyond recognition.
Those orange and red colored chips are NOT that color in there natural state. Having a colorful plate is great for clean eating, but only when those colors represent healthy sugars, fibers and grains.
By steering clear of packaged and heavily processed foods you can also reduce your exposure to BPA and other chemicals found in plastic.
4. Cut back on Sugar
We all know how amazing sugar tastes, especially in desserts; but over consumption of sugar can lead to weight gain and heart conditions over time.
According to the American Heart Association, women should have no more than 6 teaspoons per day and men no more than 9 teaspoons per day.
However, in today’s world many Americans consume about 4 times that amount!
The first step in limiting your sugar intake is by reducing high sugar products such as soda, candy and desserts. However, bad sugars can be found in foods that many deem healthy like cereal and granola.
That’s why it is important to look for foods with very little sugar or no sugar at all.
And don’t worry about sugars found in fruit and dairy. They come rich in fiber and protein to help reduce the effects of sugar on insulin levels.
5. Keep yourself hydrated
Our bodies are made up of about 60% water. This means we need water to function properly.
By staying hydrated with a glass of water instead of sugary drinks sold in the supermarket you are doing your body a favor. Water is proven to have many health benefits that even help prevent cancer and aid in weight loss. More often than not thirst is mistaken for hunger.
Drinking water also helps with making your hair and skin healthier while flushing out waste or bacteria in your digestive systems.
Feeding your body with the essentials will allow for certain nutrients to be circulated and can help you get on track to healthy living.
6. Watch out for Sodium
Along with sugar, salt is another enemy of ours.
Research states that 1 in 3 Americans have high blood pressure mostly due to a high consumption of sodium.
By cutting back on processed foods you can easily reduce your intake of salt.
Now this doesn’t mean get rid of salt entirely, but it does mean that you should use it sparingly when cooking.
Clean eating doesn’t have to be bland. Instead, use different herbs or spices when you cook to add flavor to your meals.
Some salt alternatives include:
- Garlic/ onion powder
- Finely chopped onion
- Fresh lemon juice
- Oregano
- Black pepper
By following these 6 steps you can be well on your way to cleaner and healthier living. Get started today and let clean eating be your new lifestyle!
Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! I would love to answer any questions you may have!
