What is Clean Eating Anyway?

It has occurred to me that I talk a lot about eating clean, but maybe haven't been too specific about what exactly that means. I simply believe it is the best way to obtain a balanced and healthy life. Most importantly, it is a lifestyle, not a diet. With that said, I live by Dr. Cooper's philosophy of 80%/20%, meaning I try to eat clean 80% of the time with a 20% "cushion" for more indulgent foods. Because if it's not already abundantly clear, I have a soft spot for making and sharing dessert!

So what are the basic principals of clean eating? Below is an exerpt from Clean Eating magazine. I included a few of the points I felt most important to highlight.

Borrowed from the July/August issue of Clean Eating Magazine:

How to eat and live clean: The soul of clean eating is consuming food in its most natural state, or as close as possible. It is not a diet; it's a lifestyle approach to food and its preparation, leading to an improved life-one meal at a time.

*Eat five to six times a day- three meals and two to three small snacks. Include a protein, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and a complex carbohydrate with each meal. This keeps your body energized and burning calories efficiently all day long.

*Get label savvy- clean foods include one or two ingredients. Any products with a long ingredient list is human-made and not considered clean.

*Learn about portion sizes- and work toward eating within them.

*Slow down and savor- Never rush through a meal. Food tastes best when savored. Enjoy every bite!

For more information about clean eating, check out The Eat Clean Diet, Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Cookbook (my absolute favorite!!) and Clean Eating magazine!