How to Cut Out Processed Foods...and Add Clean Foods into Your Diet

I would like to start out by thanking everyone who follows my blog! Your support has  made this once small and personal journey more worth while. For those of you who have just started or are interested in eating clean, then below are some tips that will help you along the way!

1.  Avoid any and all packaged food products that contain more than 5 ingredients
2. Nothing artificial: that means sweeteners, colorings, or flavors. If it doesn't come naturally, then you should not eat it!
3. No fast foods! They are laced with fat, sodium, sugar, and cholesterol- none of which you need excess of in your body
4. Try new whole grain foods
   • In my experience, whole grain pasta and breads are easiest to adjust to. Switch from white to whole grain/whole wheat
   • If these are easy transitions, try brown rice next!
   • If you like texture and variety in your foods, try pearl couscous and quinoa. They are ethnic grain varieties that go great with an assortnment of dishes... my favorite is couscous. It is so delicious and taste great with a dash of Parmesan cheese.
5. Try adding 2 fruits and vegetables to every meal! Berries go great with breakfast and carrots, celery, and cucumbers are great lunch snacks. You do not necessarily have to go to farmers market to get fresh produce
6. Substitute canned veggies for their real counterparts. Even frozen vegetables are better than canned since they are picked at the pique of season and are instantly preserved...without syrups, salts, or other preservatives. Not only are they fresh but you will get more vitamins and minerals out of your food
7. Buy fresh animal proteins. Steer clear of big name meat, poultry, and fish mass producers. The closer they are killed to you, the fresher and healthier they are since they use less preservatives to keep and "enhance" their flavors. 
8.  “eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.” If you had to peel, chop and deep fry potatoes every time you wanted French fries then you might not eat them very often. 

 CHOSE:

1. Fruits and veggies...DUH
2. Unsweetened dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese
3. Eggs
4. 100% whole wheat and whole grains! check the label here, just because the packaging says it is doesn't make it true! The first ingredient should always be whole wheat flour, NEVER enriched anything
5. Wild caught seafood
6. Limit beverages to water and milk. Unsweetened teas and coffees are okay in moderation (sorry, this means that the vast majority of Starbucks drinks do not qualify)
7. Seeds, nuts, and popcorn (the unsalted, unflavored, unbuttered kinds of course)

In all, check the ingredient list to see what the product is really made out of; if the ingredients sound like it was made in a meth lab, TOSS IT!

-Eating Clean in College