I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how living in a deliberate way can quite literally transform your life. What exactly do I mean by deliberate living? Deliberate living means focusing on creating your life instead of simply responding to your physical surroundings.

What in the world does this have to do with clean eating? Clean eating, for me, has always been about making choices which enhance my life. Eating in a healthy way not only helps you to feel and look better, it is also a way to honor your higher self. It means making choices based on respect of self. Many people begin the journey of wellness by eating clean and then broaden their journey to include general wellness (as in yoga and meditation), exercise, and holistic healing. It’s all part of the  journey toward living in optimal health for the rest of your life.

I encourage you to begin eating foods that will keep your body functioning in the best possible way. That includes LOTS of vegetables (especially green ones), fruits and lean protein. Choose organic when possible. Definitely buy local. Eating in a deliberate way takes time and attention. It means taking the time to prepare your food yourself instead of hitting the drive through.  It means actually SITTING DOWN at a TABLE to eat – not eating standing in the kitchen over the sink or at the kitchen counter. (I’ve done both of those way too many times!) Eating is supposed to be a sacred act. It’s a time to slow down and nourish your body and appreciate what you are eating. It is a way to respect your body. Eating out of a bag in your car is not what I would call a spiritual experience.

This may seem a little hippie-ish to some. I’ve been playfully teased plenty of times by people who see me as a “hippie”. I take it as a compliment. By the way, do you know what the definition of a hippie used to mean? Back in the 60′s it meant someone who meditates, attends outdoor concerts and eats organic food. All of those things are mainstream today.

Today practice being a deliberate eater. Eat clean. Purchase from local farmers and farmer’s markets. Incorporate lots of fresh, whole foods into your everyday life. SIT DOWN when you eat. Smile and say thank you when people call you a hippie.

 

aaronmcintyre / Food Photos / CC BY

Here’s a few of the “foods” that I witnessed kids eating last week: Doritos, Wendy’s food, Cocoa Pebbles and Capri Sun. BLECH! How can people give this crap to their kids? These kids were all kids and parents who I know personally. These are intelligent, involved, caring people who love their children immensely. What is disturbing to me is that these foods are given to them on a regular basis. These are not occasional “special treats” as some people like to call them. (Although I’m not really sure how processed sugar, high fructose corn syrup and gmos can be considered special)

So what do I do? Nothing. I say nothing because I’ll be accused of being judgmental and intolerant. Yet by saying nothing I become part of the problem. I’ve learned through personal experience that people, mothers in particular, get very defensive about this topic. I believe that’s because they KNOW intuitively that what they’re feeding their children is wrong but they’re doing it anyway. Anytime you do something that your heart tells you is a bad choice you feel it in your gut. That feeling is an alarm which tells you to stop doing what you’re doing. You wouldn’t let your 2 year old cross a busy street alone right? You want to keep them safe. Why does this not translate to what kids are eating? Why do otherwise well meaning parents get so lax on this issue?

One explanation I hear quite a bit is  that “my child just won’t eat vegetables” or “my kid won’t eat chicken unless it’s shaped like a dinosaur”. I need to call bullcrap on that argument and here’s why: An adult in the family (usually the mom) is the one buying the groceries. The adult is the one bringing the food into the house. Do people seriously think that if they don’t buy processed food that their kid just won’t eat? Really?

Many times with kids food becomes this power struggle thing. I’ve gone through this situation MANY times with my two children.The solution is to give them choices – healthy choices. This way the child feels like they have some control over what they’re eating. “Would you like an apple or a banana?” “Would you like a carrot or some sweet potatoes?”

You’re the adult – you’re in charge. The kid does not run the show. You do.

And please don’t come at me with the money argument.  Have you seen how much Lunchables cost? Processed food is expensive.

Offer new choices. Lots of vegetables and fruits. Cut up carrots and celery and offer those as snacks. Most kids love fuit too. Nuts and dried fruits are good options. Plain yogurt is another good choice. You can mix in a little raw honey and some fresh fruit. Natural peanut butter and hummus are great things kids can dip their fruits and veggies into. (Can we please all just stop it with the bottled ranch dressing? It’s filled with processed crap.) See my post here about how truly gross ranch dressing is. http://cleaneatingbasics.com/nasty-food-of-the-week-ranch-dressing ‎

I know this post is harsh but I’m growing more and more concerned about our children’s future health. Childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are all on the rise in children. ALL of these are preventable and can be reversed by making better food choices. Don’t our future generations deserve the gift of better health?

 

Summer is just around the corner and for many people that means a road trip or two is in the near future.  One of the big rules of clean eating is to ALWAYS bring food with you if you’re going to be away from home and in the car for awhile. So what’s a clean eating person to do if you can’t be at home to prepare healthy meals? Eating clean can get challenging if you’re travelling for longer periods of time. Are there any acceptable quick car food type snacks that won’t wreck your waistline? Here are some places to get relatively healthy meals and snacks while on the road:

Gas stations: Surprisingly, you CAN find relatively clean food at gas stations. You can almost always find some sort of fresh fruit at the register. Beef jerky, nuts, dried fruit and trail mix are all acceptable snacks. I’ve even occasionally even found decent protein bars at gas stations!

Grocery stores: Going to the store doesn’t tend to cross your mind when thinking of a quick meal. However, all of them are have a section with fresh produce and fruits. Places like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods often have ready-made sandwiches and salads that you can grab on-the-go with nutrition information attached. This is my favorite thing to do when I travel, because most grocery stores now are carrying organic products.

Fast food: Fast food places are an absolute last resort. Having said that, there are a few rules to follow if this is truly your only option. First, select meat that is grilled, not fried. A grilled chicken salad (dressing on the side) is usually a pretty safe option. Watch out for condiments! Fast food condiments can add a lot of fat and calories — like mayonnaise and oil based sauces. Use a little ketchup, mustard, marinara, or BBQ sauce instead of creamy sauces and spreads. Half a packet of BBQ sauce or honey-mustard sauce from most fast-food chains, for example, will add about 23 calories, no fat grams, and about 80 milligrams of sodium. Another thing to watch out for is side items. Avoid french fries and onion rings! If you need something to keep your entree company, look for fresh fruit cups or side salads. One last point about fast food places is to avoid drinking your calories. Sodas, sweetened tea, lemonade, and fruit drinks all give you calories with absolutely no nutrients.

Eating on the go doesn’t have to be an unhealthy situation. Choose wisely and you’ll look and feel better all summer long!

 

In this interview with Fitness magazine last month, Jillian Michaels stated that if you have leftover food that you should simply toss it. Not only toss it in the trash, but “pour salt on it or pour your drink on it” so you won’t be tempted to eat it out of the trash. She went on to say that if you feel guilty about “wrecking” food, then you shouldn’t worry because “it’s not going to starving children in Africa”. How do you feel about this?