FUNCTIONAL Clean Eating

Question from one of the members from my Clean Eating and Fitness group:
"My biggest need is to take the time to convert/remake recipes of meals my family likes and eats to cleaner versions.  I don't feel like I should be making two meals every night, one for me and one for them."

After much thought and consideration, I have decided that I'm calling it FUNCTIONAL CLEAN EATING
Clean eating isn't an EXACT term with precise guidelines to follow.  That means that I get to make up my own interpretation of  what I think clean eating should be.




FUNCTIONAL CLEAN EATING IS NOT

• A diet or eating plan with RIGID RULES
• Calorie counting, subtracting, or calculations of any kind
• Exactly defined
• To be over thought
• Eating foods that have been injected with chemicals you can't pronouce

FUNCTIONAL CLEAN EATING IS

• Open to a interpretation 
• An easy lifestyle to adopt- if taken slowly
• About eating foods in their most natural state POSSIBLE
• Avoiding foods that have been stripped of their nutritional value

MY BASIC GUIDELINES
These guidelines are what I have found to work for me.

• Unrefined whole grains
• Eating fresh fruits and vegetables with each meal (making up 50% of the "plate")
• Drinking 1/2 my body weight in WATER
• No artificial sweeteners
• Restricting my sugar intake- 1-2 sweets per week
• Eating healthy fats from natural sources: nuts, coconut oil, avocados
• Choosing foods closest to their NATURAL STATE as possible
• Constantly learning how to cook and eat as cleanly as possible
• Simplifying things by planning and prepping
• One weekly "cheat" meal!

MY BASIC GUIDELINES FOR FEEDING MY FAMILY

• Make vegetables and fruit readily available at all times
• Encouraging, not forcing, the kids to try new "clean" foods
• Making 1-2 of their favorite "less clean" meals every week
• Family cheat meal once a week- such as ordering a pizza
• My kids get to have their own choice of 1 box of "sugar" cereal each week
• I will also buy a "treat" for each of them each week-they get to choose it.  Sometimes it's Oreo's and sometimes it's chips.  I don't limit their intake, but when it's gone, it's gone.
• Sometimes I do cook 2 dinners, I don't know how to get away from that.
• Sometimes I just eat what they are eating.
• I know that whatever I make will still be healthier than fast food.

When I first started eating clean, many of my meals were a DISASTER!  Even I thought that they were disgusting.  I have had to learn through trial and error and you will too.  

ABOVE ALL REMEMBER THAT 

 

Many of you may not agree with my idea of "functional" clean eating, but that doesn't matter.  You need to come up with your own interpretation.  Just be a good example, make the best choices possible and eventually your family and friends will have a desire to join you in your healthy lifestyle.  Don't try to make everyone become "clean eaters" cold turkey.  Transition them into it slowly.  Make small changes and eventually you will notice a BIG change.

For more great tips/ideas check out The Gracious Pantry Clean Eating 101