Clean Eating | Lean, Clean and Green!

The phrase 'clean eating' gets banded around a lot at the moment and this is what I stick to 95% of the time with my diet ~ by diet I refer to what I eat on a daily basis not a weight-loss diet. I write a lot about fitness and exercise on my blog but nutrition is just as important as exercise ~ for weight control, energy levels and health benefits! So I thought that I would share with you my views on eating clean and healthy.

Quite often you see people who follow diet plans such as Weight Watchers will eat the branded 'diet' products. A lot of these products are highly processed and and contain a lot of chemicals. Next time you pick something up in the supermarket have a read of the ingredients list. Can you pronounce everything in there? Do you recognise all of the ingredients? If the answer is no to either of those questions just don't buy it! If you have these chemicals in your diet they can cause you to lack energy, cause hunger and hold onto stubborn fat cells. One of the worst culprits which we are all guilty of drinking is Diet Coke and diet sodas. I speak from experience as I used to be addicted to the stuff! By ridding yourself of these chemicals and artificial sweeteners you can look forward to brighter skin, higher energy levels, a healthy brain and liver and a boosted metabolism! 

What is clean eating?

Clean eating is simply eating foods as close to their natural state as possible ~ fruits, vegetables, lean protein, juices, smoothies, Greek yoghurt, nuts. Foods which are highly processed or contain highly processed ingredients are not considered 'clean' foods. Eating clean isn't and shouldn't be difficult ~ cook from scratch, prepare meals in advance, read the labels! You can whip up a super easy pasta sauce using a tin of chopped tomatoes, olive oil and some black pepper ~ simple and delicious. You don't need to spend hours over the stove.

One of my favourite recipes which is lean, clean and green is Karena's Turkey Chili. I often make up a big batch and simply re-heat it when a quick and easy dinner is needed. I love to eat this after spinning as I am usually starving! There is not need for clean, healthy food to be boring. Get creative in the kitchen, the possibilities are endless ~ I like to browse Pinterest for ideas. You can bake healthy treats such as Perfect Fit Chocolate Cake or chocolate brownies if you are in need of a chocolate fix.

I like to plan my meals and we will have evening meals planned before we do the food shop so that we know exactly what to buy. This also cuts down on waste and saves money! I make sure to eat a  good breakfast before I leave the house. A favourite at the moment is Overnight Oats with whatever fruit I have at hand. I make sure to prepare and take my meals to work with me ~ lunch and two snacks. It might seem like I pack a lot but I want to make sure that I fill up on good foods and I'm never tempted by a bar of chocolate at the dreaded 3:30pm energy slump!

If you fail to plan, you prepare to fail!

Don't forget about hydration amongst all this. Hydration is key to keeping both your metabolism and energy levels up. So drink up! A great place to start and learn more about clean eating is Tone It Up, they also post lots of great recipes on a regular basis. If you have any clean eating recipes or tips share them below :) Another tip of mine is to remember that everything in moderation is fine ~ so enjoy a bit of chocolate today and Happy Easter!

Top pictures from weheartit ~ edited by me
Bottom pictures Instagram @jaynebecca