Tips to Get Started With a Clean Eating Diet
In the United States, over 160 million Americans are obese or struggling with their weight. The foods we eat might not offer us the nutritional benefits and add a few extra pounds instead.
If you made the decision to start consuming clean eating meals, you might not be aware of simple things you can do to change unhealthy eating habits,
In this article, we will share some tips to boost your clean eating diet.
Add Whole Grains
Although refined carbs such as pasta, white rice, cookies, bagels, and more make you think you’re full, they have very little nutritional value.
There are many ways you can add more whole grains to your diet. For breakfast, choose oatmeal or whole-wheat toast instead of white bread or a bagel.
For lunch and dinner, experiment with a cup of quinoa, barley, or brown rice. When you feel like snacking, try a cup of air-popped popcorn instead.
Add More Fruits and Vegetables
When was the last time you ate five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables?
The most convenient way to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet is by preparing a smoothie. For example, for breakfast, blend together, a frozen banana, berries, a cup of spinach, and almond milk. You will have a nutritious start to your day.
To snack during the day, grab an apple or a banana and take it on the go. For lunch and dinner, make sure you always add a side of veggies.
For example, you can cook a side of homemade vegetable soup.
Added Sugar Is Out
You can find added sugar in almost everything such as ketchup, honey mustard, teriyaki sauce, and more.
For example, instead of eating cereal with dried fruit, substitute it for oatmeal and fresh strawberries.
Cut the recipes in half — for example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, you can get away with using 1/3 to 1/2. You will not even notice the difference.
You can also try adding extracts such as orange, vanilla, or lemon to substitute sugar.
Cut Back on Processed Foods
You can avoid processed foods by avoiding those products that come out of a box, can, or packaging.
Sometimes we resort to processed foods because we fail to plan ahead. If you’re hungry and in a hurry, hitting the vending machine is more convenient.
For example, instead of snacking on a box of cookies, try packing a green apple with peanut butter or peaches with cottage cheese.
There are also ways for you to make homemade versions of processed foods. You can make crispy kale chips, salad dressing, or homemade granola bars.
Drink More Water
One simple way to clean your diet is by drinking more water and ditching processed beverages such as energy drinks, soda, and juices.
If it’s difficult for you to drink water, start carrying a reusable water container. You can set yourself goals and even start a water drinking challenge with your friends and family.
Clean Eating Diet: The Bottom Line
As you can see, it’s possible to start a clean eating diet by making a few changes to the way you eat and shop for food.
You can start by eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Make it a habit to plan ahead and prepare homemade snacks, substitute white rice for quinoa, and cook with extracts instead of sugar. Also, don’t forget to drink more water.
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