Take Pleasure in Eating - The Clean Way

If you've read any blog or magazine lately, you've probably heard of something called "clean eating." The world of nutrition is full of buzzwords and trends, and clean eating seems to be shall we say, "trending" as of late. So, what is this trendy nutrition term all about? Clean eating has gained major traction lately due in part to consumers' desire for fresh, wholesome foods that are free of ingredients that are difficult to pronounce. Although there is no strict definition as to what clean eating means, and the term will most certainly evolve, below are some of the core principles of which I believe most would agree.

1. Limit processed food: Try to eat as many foods throughout the day that are as close to their natural state as possible. For instance, think of eating an apple instead of having applesauce. A great way to do this is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store where all of the produce, dairy and lean meats are located.
2. Check the ingredients: If you pick up a product at the grocery store and it has a long list of ingredients, it's most likely considered a highly processed food. But, this doesn't mean you have to be perfect and choose all-natural foods with no processing. Instead, make your best effort to make the majority of your foods free of preservatives and artificial ingredients. The bottom line is the fewer ingredients the better.
3. Cook more meals at home: The more you can control your food environment, and the ingredients in your food, the better off your waistline and bank account will fare. Restaurants often rely on a lot of heavily processed foods for ease of preparation, and it's often just as easy to make healthier versions of your favorite restaurant meals at home. Try these clean recipes on Cooking Light.
4. Take pleasure in eating: When you take the time to not only choose foods that are wholesome and nourishing, you'll come to appreciate where the foods come from, how they work to nourish your body and the way in which they help keep you healthy.
5. Take a moderate approach to eating: People don't fail diets, diets fail people. The cornerstone of many diets is restriction and deprivation, which is impossible for many to achieve. What I like about the clean eating movement is that it emphasizes making positive choices most of the time, but that doesn't mean you can never indulge and truly savor something that you love.

Guest blogger: Maisie Ostrye, MS, RD, LDN