Eating Clean in the New Year

It seems as if every time I head into the gym, I hear people talking about their New Year’s resolution to commit to something called “clean eating.”

Plenty of books want to tell you how to do this. And not all of the authors totally agree on what it means to eat clean.

I think the easiest way to describe this no-nonsense approach to dieting, is to say that it’s eating anything that comes from the Earth and is not altered by human processing.

So a potato would be perfectly OK to eat but a potato chip would not. Homemade mashed potatoes would be all right as long as all the ingredients were natural.

However, many of the “clean eaters” that I know don’t eat mashed potatoes. In fact, they probably opt for sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes. And they wouldn’t put butter on them, just cinnamon.

For breakfast, you could eat plain oatmeal or fresh fruit. Snacks like almonds, carrots, or celery with natural peanut butter would be acceptable, too. Unfortunately for some, protein bars would fall under the processed category and be off-limits.

A salad at lunch is great but hold the croutons. Those don’t grow on a farm.

For dinner, meals tend to include grilled fish or chicken with no bottled seasoning. Herbs are a favorite for their natural flavors.

The theory behind clean eating is that your body functions best when you feed it food that doesn’t contain a plethora of artificial ingredients and preservatives. It’s not a fat-free diet because you’re allowed to eat healthy fats like those found in avocados and walnuts.

It’s definitely not an eating plan for everybody – especially kids who are used to Cheerios and Rice Krispy Treats. But for those of us trying to find the right fuel for our bodies, it’s a healthy alternative. Of course the best food advice will come from a registered dietician.

Learn more about Bon Secours Nutrition and Weight Loss programs.

Alice Warchol is a certified fitness instructor and freelance health writer.