What is Clean Eating?

Do you ever wake up in the morning experiencing bloating, inflammation or just feeling…not your best self? We’ve all been there but how many times have you really deep-dived to find out the cause of your discomfort? What if we told you that the answer could possibly be found in your diet? 

Let's talk about clean eating. You've probably heard the term before, but what does it actually mean? And more importantly, how can you adopt a clean eating lifestyle without completely overhauling your life (and giving up all of your favorite foods)?

We are here to answer all your cleaning eating questions and provide the insight you need to make the switch to a healthier lifestyle. So whether you're totally new to the concept of clean eating or you've already started your clean eating journey, I have a list of tips on how to make it work for you. Keep reading to find out what it means to eat clean, what to look for and the benefits of balance—I promise, it's not as daunting as it might sound!

Diet Culture vs Food Freedom

The definition of clean eating can vary depending on who you ask.

In general, when we talk about clean eating, we’re referring to consuming whole, unprocessed foods with clean ingredients. In other words, if the food has a label with a long list of ingredients that you can't pronounce, it's probably not a healthy choice. 

Opposite of our mission, instead of focusing on real ingredients free of chemicals and additives, dieters focus on filling their plates with whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein sources and healthy fats. These foods are not only nourishing for the body, but they're also generally lower in calories and higher in fiber than processed foods full of refined ingredients and artificial substances. As a result, people who eat healthier foods find it easier to reach or maintain a healthy weight, improving their health and well-being. 

However, at Wake Up and Read the Labels™ , we go beyond just the nutrition facts. We define “clean eating” as eating foods with real ingredients. We also don’t refer to our clients as dieters, they are clean eaters or label readers! Food industry choices are full of preservatives, gums, fillers, refined sugars, inflammatory oils and white/wheat flours that are all causing a leaky gut, inflammation and more. We don’t want you to restrict yourself from eating your favorite foods. Rather, finding alternatives with clean ingredients that aren’t as harmful to your overall well-being. We help our clients create freedom around food to live a healthier and happier lifestyle. 

What Identifies a Food as Clean?

When it comes to food, saying food is clean isn't literal (but you should definitely wash that apple before eating it!). When I call a food clean, it just means that it's as close to its natural state as possible with little to no processing or added chemicals. It’s all about choosing the foods that provide maximal nutritional benefits. For example, a clean protein source would be something like grass-fed beef and grass-finished beef compared to grain-fed beef. 

                                                            How Do I Start Clean Eating?

You might be wondering, “Where can I even find clean foods? I don’t have time to go to my local market every weekend!” No problem. We scouted your local grocery stores to help you easier find clean foods products, such as Walmart, Target, Sprouts, Kroger, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Thrive Market. Beginning your clean eating journey isn’t as hard as you think. Start by looking in your pantry or fridge and pick out the three things you commonly eat and ask yourself—does it list words you can’t pronounce or identify? If so, look around our Instagram for tips or learn about our programs that can help you. Secondly, take some time to read the labels in the grocery store before you buy. 

 Benefits of Clean Eating

There are plenty of benefits to eating clean, it's all about feeling your best and getting the most out of your food. When you eat cleanly, you're giving your body the nutrients it needs to function at its highest potential. Some people experience more energy, better digestion and improved mental clarity. Some even find relief from chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure and pre-diabetes when they make the switch to clean eating. Of course, we are not doctors though. Not everyone’s bodies react the same way to a clean diet, but we’re here to share with you our clients’ experiences, starting with the Founder of Wake Up and Read the Labels™, Jen.

When Jen discovered clean ice cream, bread, tortillas, proteins, condiments, crackers, cheese, yogurts, pasta, fried foods…

• Her waist got smaller
• She kept up in workouts
• She didn’t need two coffees
• She jumped out of bed
• She didn’t need reflux medication

It takes time to research and keep up with a list of clean foods, but labels still apply every time you eat. Traditionally, we put a whole bunch of familiar products into our carts and hope we’ll exercise more and eat less. How many times do we fail at this process before it’s time to wake up and try a new strategy? We have no control over the ingredients we don’t understand. It’s just a big hope of shopping more healthy. Our team helps discover the ways to bring your favorite foods back into your life without the preservatives to help you feel better everyday. 

Are You Ready to Wake Up?

If you're looking to improve your overall health, clean eating is a great place to start. By making simple changes to your diet and incorporating more clean foods into your meals, you can begin to see some amazing results physically and mentally. Our rule of thumb: the more simple the ingredients, the better. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, neither does your body. Our goal is to help people feel less bloated. Many beginners to clean eating will see great results quickly. More experienced healthy eaters will gain the knowledge to help them feel even better than before. 

We are expert food coaches who specializes in helping people throughout their clean eating journey and help our clients find foods with real ingredients. If you're ready to start feeling your best and reaping the benefits of clean eating, it's time to Wake Up and Read the Labels! Check out our Instagram for recipes and tips to jumpstart your clean eating habits.