What Does Clean Eating Look Like?

Written By PFC Fitness Camp • 4 min read

Whether you’re new to healthy living or if you’re familiar with many of the basics, you’ve likely heard the term “clean eating” before. What once started as a buzzword has become popular, helping many people to achieve healthier lifestyles. But what exactly is clean eating, and how can you implement this way of eating into your life? Learn more about this weight-loss nutrition staple and how to implement it.

What is Clean Eating?

So, what is eating clean? Because clean eating is not a federally regulated term, you may receive different interpretations of an answer based on who you ask. Generally speaking, eating clean refers to consuming foods as close to their natural state as possible. This sometimes means eating organic food containing few chemical additives and preservatives.

Clean eating to lose weight also nourishes the body with nutrient-dense foods, filling it with plenty of vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. Including these healthy foods improves heart and brain health, helps your body maintain a healthy weight, and increases energy levels. People who eat clean often report having increased satiety, more energy, clearer skin, less inflammation, and a healthy digestive system, to name a few.

Clean Foods You Should Know About

If you’re wondering how to start eating healthy, here are a list of foods you can include for weight loss nutrition:

• Vegetables

  Out of all the best clean eating tips, the most important thing is to eat plenty of vegetables throughout the day. Broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lettuce, peppers, onions, tomatoes, corn, carrots, avocados, and mushrooms are just a few vegetables to include.

• Fruits

  Fruits are full of fiber and contain plenty of vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy. While there are plenty of fruits you can include in your diet, some to consider are strawberries, oranges, blueberries, bananas, apples, pineapple, mangoes, and raspberries.

• Lean meats and other protein sources

  Lean meats, eggs, and legumes are important protein sources in a clean-eating diet. Avoid eating processed meat products like hot dogs, pepperoni, bologna, and salami. Instead, aim for eating grass-fed beef, chicken, sustainably caught fish, dried beans, lentils, plain nut butter, and unflavored nuts.

• Whole grains

  Whole grains are essential to a clean eating diet because they contain plenty of much-needed vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Some whole grains you can eat include quinoa, brown rice, oats, whole-wheat pasta, air-popped popcorn, bulgar, barley, buckwheat, and millet.

• Dairy products

  Dairy products include calcium, which is important for bone health, and protein, which can help stabilize blood sugar. Greek yogurt, milk, cheese, kefir, and cottage cheese are just a few examples of what you can include in your diet.

A Few Clean Eating Tips

While it can seem overwhelming, starting a weight loss nutrition journey can be simple. Start with a few simple steps to reach your goal. If you’d like to eat clean and begin a healthy diet, start with these tips:

• Start cooking

  Start making simple, healthy foods at home instead of relying on convenient or fast foods. Prioritize preparing fresh, healthy food for yourself as often as possible.

• Cut out sugar

  While many people know to avoid excessive desserts on a diet, some may not know that sugar is a common additive in many processed foods. Get used to reading the labels on any foods you buy, and aim to buy those without added sugar.

• Eat Local

  The fresher the food, the better! Head to a local farmers market to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies. Eating local not only ensures healthier food for you, but it’s also better for the environment.

• Drink plenty of water

  There can be plenty of unnecessary sugar and calories in drinks. Shoot for drinking water throughout the day. Not only does it help you feel less tired, but it can help you curb hunger and keep you hydrated.

• Avoid refined carbs

  You’re missing out on vitamins, minerals, and beneficial fiber when you eat refined carbs such as pasta, rice, and white bread. Studies consistently demonstrate that diets in whole grains lower your risk of developing colon cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

• Meal prep

  Not everyone has time to cook every meal. For many people, meal prep is a game changer in eating healthy. Simply pick one or two days throughout the week to cook meals for yourself and store them in the fridge or freezer.

Take a Step Further: Accelerate Your Clean Eating Journey

While clean eating is essential to healthy weight loss nutrition, it’s only part of the picture. If you need more help reaching your goal, consider joining the award-winning weight loss retreat at Premier Fitness Camp. Our comprehensive approach to a healthy lifestyle is clinically proven to deliver long-term results and help you learn healthy eating habits. Request rates and learn more about how our luxury weight loss retreat can transform your health today!