How Far Will You Go to Eat Clean?

A

activegirl

Cathlete
Hi Everyone,

I just wanted thought it would be interesting to get some additional thoughts on this, especially since that question about Cathe's family eating clean got me thinking. How far will you/have you/ are you going to eat clean? I have really made a firm commitment this year, and have found myself taking my own dinner when I go out with friends to a restaurant, planning my meals a week in advance, preparing a weeks worth of lunches on the weekend. You get the idea. I'd be interested to know what the rest of you are doing? Any tips, tricks, or ideas you would like to share?
 
I think that a lot of eating clean is preparation. I bring a bag full of the foods that I eat every day to work. I avoid eating or ordering out and I try my best not to stray from my prepared lunches. I make a lot of meals that I can use several times (ie turkey chili, pasta, fajitas, etc.) and even freeze to use at a later date.

I won't bring my own food out to a restaurant or someone's house, but most of my friends and family are courteous to my eating and will make sure that there is something for me to eat if I am going to their house. I try not to make this an inconvenience on the people around me b/c it is my personal thing but for example, my office manager always makes sure that I will be covered if we have an event, party, etc. (My office is great like that anyway). I am not VERY strict, but I do try to follow a plan.

I don't force it on anyone around me (ie BF and his daughter eat what they please and I make them what they like)but we all do eat the same meals. I will make protein and veggies or whatever, but sometimes they will eat an additional item that I may not or I will make me an additional item that they may not eat (IE SPINACH!). I eat clean a lot of the time but I definitely allow treats and stray. I guess I am not a good model b/c I refuse to never eat things that I love and I won't eat completely clean. I don't want to feel like I am on a "diet" and eating 100% makes me feel too restricted.

Hope you get some good tips along the way!
Christine
 
I always bring my own dinner to my Mother's house when we go there to eat. My family eats what they want when they want with no regard to nutrition. My mother and daughter just roll their eyes but they're always curious.

We eat out very rarely.

I keep a container of oatmeal and protein powder in my overhead at my desk. I bring my own lunches and snacks to work every day and make sure I bring fruit so I do not succumb to "sugar" pressure. You know, like cake, cookies and candies co-workers bring in.

I do not buy bad temptation food when I go grocery shopping. Out of sight, out of mind.

I do allow myself Smart Ones ice cream treats a few nights a week. I also allow myself to eat pistachio nuts because I love them and they contain good essential fat. But, I buy a lb a week and then measure them out in 4 oz containers and store them in the refrigerator. I allow myself 4 oz a day.
 
I'm on a specific mission to get down to 14% bodyfat, so I'm only eating one cheat meal per week, plus one "treat" on that same day. I cook my food the night before, and bring it to work with me. My boss is used to me saying, "let me just eat real quick, and I'll be right there..." I'm lucky!

My DH has no interest in clean eating. So I still make *whatever* for him for dinner. (He is kitchen illiterate, or kitchaphobic, not sure which) Last night was taco night...for him! I come in with my egg whites over spinach, and he just shakes his head.

If I know we have plans to eat out, then I save my cheat meal for that time. If something unexpected comes up, and we go out, I request that we go to Sea Galley, because I can still eat modified clean. I can get the salad bar and fish,shrimp, crab, or calamari for protein. I call this modified clean, because restaurant food will be too high in sodium no matter what!
 
Hello.

Well I certainly have never gone to the lengths to eat clean that these ladies have!!! Maybe that's why I don't see the muscle definition I have always wanted even though I have lost weight and work out all of the time....?

Anyway...all I have ever really done as far as my eating is concerned it cut the fat and basically try to eat balanced meals. That's it. When I was actively trying to lose weight I would avoid eating out as much as possible and I would allow myself one very small "cheat" per day to keep myself sane. (ie-a single piece/slice of whole milk mozzerella was a great one for me coz I LOVE cheese!)

Once I stopped trying to actively LOSE weight, I eased up a bit on the "cheat allowance" and the meals eaten out but still tried to cut the fat as much as I could. I never had to cook separate meals for my dh because he could deal with the lower fat content...that was the only thing I really ever watched.

After I have the baby I may have to come to this forum and get some SERIOUS advice! I would still like to SEE more of those muscles I have made over the past couple of years!!! :)


Have a great work out!

~Wendy~
Due Date: 5/19/05

http://www.bullmarketer.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/Sports/exercise/thumb_exercise15.gif

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?WENDYMIN
 
Your egg whites over spinach sounds great, can you share the recipe?

I clean eat all week, only one day a week do I eat whatever and that even has been reduced because my body just doesn't crave crap food anymore. I always take my lunch to work, eat oatmeal as a mid-day snack and eat lots of fruit. My only problem right now is I get extremely hungry around 7:30-8 p.m. and I try to limit it to either Zoe cereal, a bowl of Malt-O-Meal or a slice of bread with PB & J on it. I try not to eat after 8 p.m. I also drink lots of water and tea during the day.
Debbie in OH
 
I try to eat clean as much as I can. I bring my own lunch and snacks to work with me and avoid the sweets co-workers bring in. DH doesn't get home until late, so I usually make my own "clean" dinner and then make a seperate meal for him. I try to give myself a "cheat day" if there is some kind of event coming up. Next month we are going to Vegas for the weekend so I am going to allow myself to enjoy some foods I wouldn't normally eat, but I have made a commitment to myself that I will eat clean every day until then.
The Holiday's of course put me a little behind on my goals, so now I am picking myself back up and getting serious again.

Katie
 
I have done the obsessive bring your own food everywhere thing and it is B O R I N G. My mantra is moderation in everything. I eat healthy but not exclusive of anything. I am not over weitht or under weight in fact I get many compliments on my shape. I found through past experience the more I obsesses the more likely I am to fall away from good habits. I personally plan healthy family dinners for 5-6 nights per week and we eat out 1-2 nights. I have healthy choices on hand for lunches and breakfasts and snacks. ( This may not work for all, but I am a WW lifetime member and have been through the forming good habits stage already.)
If a person needs to form good habits to begin with, then journaling and planning every meal can be very helpful.

Everyone is on her/ his own journey and it can be very helpful to find out what works for others. Good luck!
Judy
AKA "Likes2bfit"
sport-smiley-009.gif
http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif

http://groups.msn.com/CatheAddicts/jafitmamalikes2bfitfamily.msnw?Page=1
 
Judy,

I guess I'm really lucky because I love clean foods so I don't find bringing my own food boring. I've always loved vegetables and fruit and plain meats, meaning the thought of putting gravy on something makes me turn my nose up. My body just feels better when I eat this way. This from an Italian girl who was brought up on lots and lots of pasta and cannoli's.

To each their own, I guess.
 
I don't think it's necessary to "go far" to eat clean. I feel strongly that if you have to change your lifestyle in order to eat right, it won't last. I think it's important to have an eating plan you can live with forever, and that means incorporating permanent change into the way you eat. I don't believe you can accomplish that by bringing your own food to a restaurant. Not only won't it last, but it's unnecessary. Restaurants will bring you the sauce on the side if you want it, and they're always very nice about leaving the butter off the broiled fish. Eating clean is just about making smart choices, like choosing the fruit cup instead of the cookies. It's not rocket science, and it shouldn't be high maintenance. High maintenance = doomed to failure.

Okay, I'm climbing down off my soapbox again.... }(

-Nancy
 
I make my own meals most of the time. When I go out to a restaurant (rarely, such as when I'm travelling, because it costs a pretty penny for food that isn't as good as what I can make myself), I choose the cleanest thing (that's vegan) on the menu. When I go out and I know there won't be a lot for me to eat (both pretty clean and vegan), I will eat a bit beforehand, so I'm not too hungry, then I eat a small meal.
 
>Your egg whites over spinach sounds great, can you share the
>recipe?
>

LOL, Debbie. That IS the recipe! I put about 10 egg hard boiled egg whites over 2 cups of raw spinach. A Tbs of flaxseed oil, and a tbs of whole, organic apple cider vinegar. Voila! I can't really stomach more than 6 hard boiled egg whites at a time, but I was behind on my protein for the day. And I usually dress this up more like a salad with bell peppers and grape tomatoes. Just did it pretty boring last night! :)
 
Hi Candi~
Thanks for your comment. I have to agree that I typically like the taste of simple healty foods, but I like chocholate too! LOL. I was raised by italians too and we always had lots of green leafy veggies along with all that pasta and red aouce (yummy). In fact, we had many healty meals it is just that portion control was not quite mastered well in my family if you know what I mean. We generally attributed it to our parents living through the great depression.
Judy
AKA "Likes2bfit"
sport-smiley-009.gif
http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif

http://groups.msn.com/CatheAddicts/jafitmamalikes2bfitfamily.msnw?Page=1
 
Very interesting.
I'm another believer in the "moderation" group. Maybe it is a European thing?:) My husband and I and our two kids eat very healthy. I'm actually very proud of the fact that the kids (14,17) are making healthy choices on their own. Nothing is "forbidden" or "bad' for them, but I never really buy cookies, chips, processed stuff, etc., We consider these things party specials and not "snack" . I do cook every day -- fresh, balanced meals and we all eat that, including the dog. :9
As somebody said earlier it has to be lifestyle change and not just a decision about eating clean. I've made lots of changes over the time -- and I'm still making them when I learn something new. I'm Hungarian and I do like many originally heavy Hundarian dishes. I cook them all but very light -- including the famous Hungarian Chicken Paprikas.. I use cooking spray for almost everying, low or non fat versions of the heavy dairy, plenty of fish and white meat, red only occasionally. We always have different kind of fresh fruits in the house. I also switched to whole grain a long time ago. In cereals I follow the 5/5 rule -- must have 5 gr fiber and less than 5gr sugar. I don't use sugar at all, I don't even have it in the house. On the other hand I do eat chocolate, but only a very small piece almost every day w/ my cappuccino in the afternoon. :) :) :) When we go out to eat -- happens once ot twice a months -- I just order stuff that I consider healthy and in most restaurants it is not a big deal. l usually share my dessert with somebody. My weight (5'7 - 128lb) is about the same in the past 30 years or so....
IMHO planning and home cooking is the secret! Mari
 
Judy,

Yes, the portion control is what I have a problem with. My grandmother cooked almost everything from scratch and 99% of the time we had fresh vegetables and she always kept a variety of fruits around. I'm sure that's where my love for fruits and veggies comes from. But, there was always afternoon coffee with Bisciotti, Italian brownies or Italian cookies and of course cannoli's on special occasions.

Eventually I was overweight...about 50 lbs in high school. I know this is one of the reasons I'm so anal about my eating. My chocolate craving is all but gone. I will have a Smart Ones fudgecicle every once in awhile.

I thought you were Italian... You remind me of Tony's wife in the Soprano's (I can't think of her name right now!)
 
I'll go as far as my refrigerator. I'm not the kind of person that will make it a huge priority. I almost never buy prepared or frozen food, but if I don't feel like making dinner or cleaning the kitchen, I'm getting a sub or pizza and say "nuts" to clean eating!
 
I soak all of the whole grains i eat. Rice, oatmeal, etc... all get socked for 24 hours before eating. Organic as much as i can. I use real food and make my own salad dressings.
 
How far would I go? Let's see; I plan my meals out 12 weeks at a time, I cook huge batches of food every weekend, I haven't eaten a fast food meal or red meat in over 3 years, I have ordered egg whites at McDonalds, and I carry a cooler full of food everywhere I go. I also haven't sat down to eat the same meal as my family in over five years, yet I prepare 3 meals a day for them.
Candy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top