Many people are looking for a way to lose weight and improve their health in a healthy way. Fed up with fad diets, people want an eating plan that will not only help them lose weight and get fit, but also a plan that is more of a lifestyle, not something that they have to go "on" and "off." Eating clean is one way to do just that. Here are a few tips to get started eating clean.
Stop Drinking Soda and Other Sugary Drinks
Sugary beverages such as soda and some fruit juices have absolutely no nutritional value and actually make you feel worse both physically and mentally. Sugar-laden drinks spike your blood sugar quickly, which causes fatigue and hunger and cravings for even more sugar. Opt for lots of water or your favorite teas flavored with a natural sweetener if desired and freshly-squeezed or 100% fruit juice. If you don't like the taste of plain water, try adding some flavor like lemon or lime.
Switch to Whole Grains
The main goal of eating clean is giving the body foods that are not overly processed. Wholegrain breads and pastas have been processed less and contain no added sugar or white flour as white bread and regular pasta do. Make sure you read the ingredients list when purchasing whole grains. Many wholegrain foods contain high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is also included in white bread, and the verdict is still out on the healthfulness of HCFS. Consuming HCFS is not a part of eating clean, so reading ingredient lists and avoiding HCFS as much as possible is a step in the right direction towards eating clean.
Opt for healthy tortillas such as whole wheat tortillas or corn tortillas since they are minimally processed and retain their nutritional value. Tip: when using corn tortillas, warm the tortillas before use because otherwise, they will break apart when you try to roll them.
Keep Clean Snacks Within Easy Reach
Instead of buying chips and cookies, choose fresh fruits and veggies, slivered almonds, granola, and other healthful, clean snacks. Clean and chop (if desired) fresh fruits and veggies as soon as you get them home from the grocery and store them in a container in the fridge so they're easily accessible and ready to eat when you are hungry and looking for a snack. Also, you can make a lot of healthy snacks ahead of time and store them in a container as well or freeze them for later use. Keep ingredients needed for smoothies on-hand at all times since smoothies are a quick and easy clean snack.
Eat More Often
Eating mini-meals keeps every two to three hours throughout the day keeps blood sugar levels under control, no crashing and burning especially eating clean foods. Eating every two to three hours also keeps hunger and cravings at bay.
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