Clean Eating – How to Be Part of the Latest Food Trend

Over the past five years, the phrase “clean eating” has been cropping up with growing regularity. A survey commissioned by Flinders University found that one in four women follow clean eating advice they find online. But there is a lack of clarity as to what clean eating really means and how to adopt it in our everyday lives.

What clean eating is – and what it isn’t

Conceptually, clean eating is all about eating the best and most natural options from each food group. It is not so much about cutting things out as finding better alternatives for foods that are less healthy or highly processed. It also doesn’t necessitate a major impact on your wallet. We all know that natural food stores can be expensive, but as we will see in the following three pointers, there are cost-effective alternatives.

Use local sources

Governments the world over are pushing farm to fork initiatives as part of their sustainability strategies. In essence, this involves encouraging and incentivizing shops and restaurants to source their supplies locally. It is a strategy that we can follow at home, too, and as well as doing our bit for the environment, it also encourages clean eating.

When produce doesn’t have to travel so far, less processing is necessary. Obvious examples include fruit, vegetables and bread. But think more broadly, too. You can even source treats like confectionary and bottled spirits from local independent manufacturers if you do a little research – and you’re guaranteed to notice the difference in taste.

Reduce your meat intake

Let’s be honest, you’re less likely to have a local source of beef and lamb on your doorstep, and that’s maybe a good thing, so meat generally has a longer journey from farm to fork. Also, if you have to watch your weight or blood pressure, cutting back on meat can work wonders.

Don’t panic, if you love the occasional steak or roast chicken, that’s fine. But explore alternatives so you can have some meat free days. A black bean burger is a great place to start!

Whole grain is a whole lot better

Whole grains are among the “cleanest” options as they have minimal processing. But shop carefully, and don’t take a “whole grain” food label at face value. Look closely at the ingredients, and check just what has been added.

Also, a great rule of thumb is that the cleanest whole grains tend to look very similar to how they appear out in the field.