Clean Eating

Eating clean basically means that foods are selected from those in their natural state; unprocessed and whole. For example tomatoes are a clean food whereas ketchup is not. Homemade tomato sauce may be considered a clean food if it is prepared from scratch with all ‘clean’ ingredients.
This is not necessarily a low calorie approach to dieting with a greater emphasis being placed on the quality of the foods selected. It's important to eat a healthy breakfast every day and never skip meals. Prepare for meals that must be eaten away from home by packing nutritious foods that travel well and by planning in advance.
I try to do five-six small meals every day that are to be composed entirely of clean foods. Each meal should contain around 300-400 calories and must contain protein as well as complex carbohydrates.
Cheat meals are allowed only once a week or so. (I didn't cheat at all my first 90 days of p90x) This means that this is a very strict plan that will require a great deal of discipline in addition to implementing a dramatic overhaul of diet and lifestyle for most people.

 

Recommended Foods

• A wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables form the foundation of the diet.
• Complex carbohydrates include legumes as well as whole grains such as brown rice and oats.
• Lean proteins such as chicken breast, turkey and fish.
• Sources of healthy fats include olive oil, avocado and raw nuts.
• Foods to avoid include all processed foods, refined grains, sugar, foods containing saturated and trans fats and alcohol.

Sample Diet Plan

Breakfast Shakeology

Morning Snack Apple with raw nuts and dried fruit

Lunch Mediterranean style French lentil salad

Afternoon Snack Smoothie with fresh fruit and yogurt

Dinner Roasted chicken breast with sweet potatoes and asparagus

Dessert Apple cranberry crumble

Look for other meal ideas here.


On the whole this is probably one of the best plans available when considered from the perspective of the nutritional quality of the diet. Eating clean requires tremendous discipline and may interfere with some aspects of your lifestyle, but with careful planning it can certainly be achieved and you will see the difference in your body. I do this type of eating in 30-60 day stretches.... I implement the concept into my diet long term but I only stay super committed for shorter, set out, periods of time. 

Check out this article and recipes in Shape Magazine. 

More good recipes here! 

Confession Time

One of the things I struggle with constantly is time management. I want to badly to do everything and be superwoman but I know I can't be. I feel spread thin a lot of days and some things just go undone... like dinner. HA! But joking aside, one thing I have agonized over during the last year, is the incredible amount of guilt I feel when I am away from my son or working on things that require him to be on back burner. If I am on the phone or working on the computer and I have to turn the tv on to occupy him, I start feeling like a TERRIBLE mother. When I see him being destructive or lashing out because I know he needs attention, I once again, feel like I am selling him short. I have made a commitment lately to work harder than ever before because I know it's worth it. I LOVE what I do and I am so blessed to have a home business that provides me the ability to be at home. On the flip side, when I am playing with him or at the park or doing kid stuff I start to feel the urgency that I should be working!!!! AHHHHH it's a constant inner battle. I deal with it and I am sure ALL mom's do! I know its only a season of imbalance and trying to keep priority where it needs to be while working hard. I just feel like it's time for me to share this. When London was tiny and slept most of the day- I never though much about it. I was choosing to work instead of watching the Ellen Show....safe to say "good choice." But now, unless it's during the precious 2 hours of nap time that I HOPEFULLY get, I must choose between those big brown eyes or the passion I have for my business. I am trying to find creative ways to do both! For example last week London colored pictures, mommy made a "to do" list. I know I can't do everything and I know I will fail at times in both my business and as a mother but, God willing, I will strive to do my best in all areas and just trust that my efforts will pay off. I know I am a better mom because I have a purpose and a drive to provide for and help my family. I also know that I am better in my business because I can relate to other mom's doing what I am doing!

Whew, it feels good to just get that off my chest! Well, nap time could end any second... so I should get to work :)