Are you looking to clean up your diet? Do you want to improve your nutritional standing but are not too sure where to start?
Clean eating is all about eating foods in their natural, unprocessed state. It is about avoiding all the packaged and manufactured foods we see lining the supermarket shelves today and instead, focusing on foods that nourish your body and provide an abundance of nutrients to each and every one of our cells.
If you have been following an eating plan rich in processed foods, it can be quite challenging to at first make the transition to clean eating. The good news is it doesn’t have to be. Here are four great ways to jump-start your clean eating plan…
1. Eat One Salad Every Day. Adding one large salad to your meal plan every day will give your nutritional profile an instant boost. Fill this salad with dark leafy greens, fresh fruits, seeds, nuts, and a lean protein source if you want to make it a main meal.
Having a salad each day can help you take in three to four servings of fruits and vegetables, which tends to be the hardest food group for most people to take in.
2. Ditch The Deli Meats. It is also a wise move to consider ditching the deli meats. As tasty as the club sandwich may be, deli meats are highly processed, loaded with nitrates, and very high in sodium. Instead, try freshly shaved chicken or roast beef. You can often find these at the deli counter if you ask for them. It’s far purer and will be in line with clean eating principles.
3. Check Your Breakfast Bowl. If you sit down to a bowl of granola for breakfast, the bad news is this is anything but clean. Give your breakfast bowl a thorough examination by checking the ingredient label on the package. When in doubt, go with oatmeal. It’s one of the cleanest breakfast options you can get.
4. Cut Out All Alcohol. Finally, as much as you may dislike doing so, if you want to give your meal plan a boost, consider cutting out all the alcohol you are consuming. Alcohol is anything but clean, as it is a toxin you are putting into your body on a daily basis.
Choose water or club soda more often when out with friends and you will notice a difference.
Try these four tips, and you can jumpstart your clean eating efforts and begin feeling better about what you are putting into your body.