Good morning everyone!
Have you ever had that internal debate over quality versus quantity in terms of our health?
In society, it seems that many of us hold onto the belief that the only way to be successful in weight loss or dieting is that calculations (calories in vs. calories out, burning x amount of calories per day) will lead us to get results and quality of food gets put on the back burner.
In my opinion, the quality of food we consume should be more important than the quantity.
{ almond butter & ezekiel bread; paleo may be all the rage now, but I still love my carbs }
When I first started losing weight, I was a slave to the 100 calorie packages.
Maybe I could eat more of these, but I’d never feel satisfied. Not surprising, as these items are filled with chemicals and preservatives.
It’s easy to stick to those really low calorie foods, but in the end you’re so devoid of any nutrition that you end up hungrier than before.
Why have one egg when you could have 5 egg whites for the same amount of calories? Discounting the fact that whole eggs contain the most nutrition and benefits when we are eating these foods WHOLE.
{ one of my favorite snacks these days; coconut milk and strawberries }
This also leads to the “eat clean” movement.
Yes, I consider eggs clean, full fat yogurt is more clean compared to the 0% processed variety.
However, everyone has there own definition of ‘”clean eats”.
Eating clean is seen as a good thing, but when clean eats become too restrictive is that really considered a good thing? If we view eating clean as fuel, quality, nutrients, and ingredients instead of focusing on calories, I think that’s better for overall health.
{ even though peanut flour isn’t a whole food, I still and will continue to enjoy it! }
It’s also necessary we don’t become too obsessed with eating clean. If we are only eating these healthy foods with no leeway, food consuming all our thoughts, planning and scheduling meals; well that just gets in the way of living life and eventually becomes emotionally and mentally draining.
Being restrictive, obsessive, and isolating isn’t healthy. Eating clean can be part of our daily lives, but we can’t live to eat clean.
Eating foods we like shouldn’t leave us feeling guilty, we have to be able to indulge some of the time.
Obviously, I’m not perfect in this way of viewing food. I still hold onto beliefs that I must “eat clean”, now I’m trying to “unlearn” my clean eating obsession.
{ so wine may not be the epitome of health, but that won’t stop me from enjoying it every once and a while }
There are still foods I won’t eat, as I view them as unclean, and still label food as “good and bad”.
It’s a struggle to change these thoughts, even if they are disordered.
I’m slowly coming to terms with what works for me, instead of looking to others for the next new thing. I know I’ll get there eventually.
How do you define clean eating?
What’s your favorite food to indulge in?
Have you ever been too obsessed when it comes to food?
Hope everyone has a fantastic day!
About Lisa
‘Eating clean can be part of our daily lives, but we can’t live to eat clean.’ – LOVE THIS!! I am obsessed with food thoughts since I am in recovery. Thoughts and habits that were in your life for 18 years, are hard to change, but as you say – eventually I get there.
Exactly! Wishing you the best my friend!xo
Great post, sweetie pie! I, too, used to focus on CALORIES (years and years ago), but am sooooo beyond past that now. Quality is definitely over quantity, BUT I still eat what I enjoy even if it isn’t technically “clean”
Love you – text me!!
Yes! So agree! So glad we got to chat! Obvi it needs to happen weekly! xoxo
I love your definition of clean foods… and I totally agree with you. I consider myself a “clean eater” however I love love love ice cream and fro yo!!! Itz all about balance!! (And coconut and strawberries?? Got to try this – love the looks!)
Yes! It’s delicious!
i wish our society would just RID itself of stupid numbers. You are right! it’s about what’s in the food and the nourishment. I Rarely read the calorie content on labels, i want to know whats in it! Sadly, so many good foods are altered these days to make lower calorie and that’s considered clean eating? Bah! ok, venting done!
I wish the same Lindsay! I think nutrition would be so much easier without the silly numbers! Exactly! I always want to know what’s IN the food not how many calories is in it. Haha, I understand the vent:)
Quality vs. Quantity any day! Love this post Lisa. I think it’s so important to balance this idea of “clean” food with the indulgence now and then. No guilt necessary!
Completely! Guilt free eating is the way to be.
Great post! I personally define clean eating as eating real food. It is SO about the nutritional value instead of the calories/macros – I completely agree with that! I feel best when I eat whole foods, but that doesn’t mean that I am going to cut out wine and things I love. Oh, and carbs? Yes, please
I love my oats!
Oh man, life without oats and wine would make me super sad ha.
After defining myself as a clean eater (and being stuck in the good vs bad food dichotomy) now I’m just eating to feel good. I let nutrition guide my eating (eat lots of protein, veggies, and healthy fats and carbs) but if I have a craving, I won’t restrict myself because it’s a “bad” food. After years of calorie counting on and off, I’ve determined that I’m much happier without it! I’m learning that my body will tell me what it wants, when to eat and when to stop.
I had that thinking as part of my identity so I felt it was so hard to “give it up” but I was just being silly! There’s no good outcome to having a boring clean eating identity. That would make going out with friends suck just a tad.
Eating clean to me just means you can read the ingredients and are familiar about where they come from. I don’t believe in “clean eating” – it is different for everyone.
Oh yes, I agree with your statement Kailey! It really does differ for everyone.
I really love this post. I am on a calorie restricted diet (1200 cal/day) & while I try to make sure I’m getting QUALITY calories, I still find myself obsessing about it. I plan what/when to eat, how to burn off a high amount of calories with workouts, and these thoughts often consume me. With practice and time we will overcome it
We will definitely conquer this thinking Karla!
I hate hate the labels of clean and unclean, I think a diet is so personal and should be what works with your body. not what is considered clean.
For me, clean eating means that most things in my diet have been minimally processed: fat free Greek yogurt, fruits & veggies, nuts, nut butters, free range chicken, etc. Basically, if these things make me feel good, I’m happy! That also means that I’m able to sneak in 1 or 2 not-so-”clean” things each day.
I love that definition Carly!
Eating clean for me is mostly unprocessed food including organic veggies and meat. I also think it’s clean to eat cookies made with real organic butter, flour, raw sugar and eggs opposed to pre-packaged cookies. I’m really working to become less restrictive with food groups lately. As long as something has fresh ingredients and it tastes good, I’ll eat it.
I like that Chelsa, it’s true eating clean can be eating cookies that aren’t highly processed. Like using real butter, sugar and flour!
For me clean eating means eating minimal (if any) processed foods. Eating a lot of vegetables and nutrient dense foods!
GREAT post! I couldn’t agree more Lisa! Clean eating to me is just being able to recognize the ingredients in my food. If it’s an ingredient I can’t say or have never heard of, I try my best to stay away from it. BUT! I don’t beat myself up about it if I do have the occasional “processed” or “un-clean” food. I just do my best to eat healthy and give my body quality ingredients and nutrients!
I remember the days I’d beat myself up about eating certain foods, but honestly what a waste of time! I’m so glad I’ve come over that hump. When you’re feeling guilty at all, it’s too much time wasted. I mean I love eating healthy, but life would be a bore without some added fun stuff in the mix!
Great post, Lisa! To me, eating clean means eating real, minimally processed food that isn’t full of chemicals and preservatives. That being said, I’m definitely not a clean eater 100% of the time, but I know from past experience that trying to be isn’t actually all that heathy. I come from a past of being absolutely obsessed with eating 100% clean, and it lead me to one of the darkest places that I’ve ever been. Of course it’s important to eat food that nourishes our bodies, but not at the cost of depriving ourselves of food that nourishes our minds. I mean… a life without cookies, ice cream, and gummy bears? Totally not worth it
I have to agree that being 100% healthy is simply not healthy! That leads to guilt, judgement, restriction, obsession. AKA awful things to feel. I’ve been there, done that and it sucked! Ha.
Were you in my mom’s kitchen earlier? We had exactly this conversation. I can’t believe all of the crap added to these “healthy” diet foods. Eat good food that you can pronounce. The end. I can pronounce “wine” like a champ.
That’s hilarious. Ick, all the “healthy foods” these days are so not. They’re just low calorie, filled with disgusting ingredients. Hahah. Oh yes, I’m with you on the wine!
Awesome post! I have been following you for a few months now and needed to comment on this. I agree with EVERYTHING you said. I don’t think anyone could have said it better. Posts like these, that everyone can relate to, is what makes me a daily reader. Thank you
Thank you Beth!! I SO appreciate your kind comment!
What a great post! I often get obsessed about trying to be “perfect” when it comes to eating and getting down on myself when I splurge or indulge in my eating habits from time to time. I try to remind myself, however, that eating clean does not mean being perfect. It means eating whole, healthy foods as often as possible, while splurging or indulging in moderation. Balance is absolutely key!
Also, I totally hear you on the carbs thing. I could never be on a low-carb diet. I love them way too much. Plus, our bodies need them!!
Thanks Hannah! I can still fall into that obsession as well, especially while blogging about food but I just had to be mindful what I’m reading and how I interpret things. And yes, eating clean doesn’t mean perfection! Gosh, I’d be a little nutty without my carbs!
Lisa, What you’ve written speaks right to me. I’ve spent too long focusing on trying to eat the right food that it’s created a bit of an obsession (?ED), that now I need to unlearn some of those bad habits.
Thanks Connie! I’m glad this post spoke to you! Obsessing about food definitely leads to disordered eating!
Love this!! I read what’s in my food before I even look at the “label”. Quality vs Quantity anyday!
Totally, I do the same now!
Thanks for the thought-provoking post, Lisa! Personally, I think clean eating can easily be overdone. If it means being aware of what you eat, trying to avoid unneccessary ingredients most of the time and – as you said – focusing on the quality of food it’s okay with me. But when it gets to avoiding anything even slightly processed, turning down foods made by others because they have sugar in them or restricting from one’s own cravings I think it’s too much. Honestly, sometimes I just want to eat my Grandma’s cookies or enjoy the not-so-clean chocolate or chips at a friend’s house like everybody else. That’s quality (of life) to me, too.
Favourite food to indulge in? I’m super boring and will say (Lindt) chocolate every day.
Lindt chocolate it totally not boring! I love everything you said, truth!
I almost always make an effort to make healthy choices and to eat “real foods”, but like your postbsays, the problem is taking clean eating to an extreme. If eating clean becomes an obsession (ED loves this) then you can miss out on social events, family and friend dinners, traveling and even working or going to school. food should never be a controlling, rigid and abusive master! You have a lot figured out!
Proud of you xo
Love you!
Great post! I make an effort to eat clean most of the time but I think it’s soo important to live your life and sometimes eat those unhealthy things that makes you happy. It’s quite easy to bounce back into exercise and clean eating so some treats here and there isn’t going to hurt– it will only help to kill those cravings!
Just curious, what are the foods you still won’t eat?
Very true Katy! Some foods I still won’t eat are anything that’s considered a “treat” like a cookie, banana bread, stuff like that that has been processed. And a lot of real treats in general actually, like cheesecake, cakes, cookies. I have a hard time allowing those into my diet right now. It’s something I’m working with with my therapist and nutritionist and I know it will get easier if I just keep allowing them to make appearances in my diet from time to time.
Thank you for your post! I follow Tosca Reno’s Eat-Clean Diet series. She is the founder of the term and so inspirational. I can’t believe she’s 53 years old – she looks not a day over 30. She’s helped me overcome so many eating struggles. Thanks again for sharing
No problem! I’ve been following her for a while too, she’s very inspirational!