I wrote in my post Fitness Inspiration 101 that I would tell you soon what I am going to do about the food in my life. The answer to that is simple: eat clean.
I’ve gone through bouts of eating clean in the past, but I have never stuck with it as a lifestyle. I realize that when it comes to food, I can’t make an all or nothing change; it needs to be gradual if I want it to stick. Ok, I lied. The truth is, I don’t really know HOW to make it stick with me when it comes to making food habits, so I’m hoping this time a gradual change will work.
My Eat Clean Goal
My goal is that by the end of 2013, I will be able to call myself a bona-fide clean eater. Yes, I’m allowing more than a year to make this happen, because like I said, I want this to be a lifestyle. With that in mind, I plan on taking small steps to get there.
How I’m Going to Eat Clean: Think Positive
Four years ago, I adopted a dog, Roby, and less than a year after that, I bought a house for the first time, and adopted another dog, Belle. When I got these two dogs, I had no clue that it meant that I would say “sianara” to the furniture in my front room. But, the two of them together were a force to be reckoned with, and while I prefer to have furniture in my front room, I moved it out so as to minimize the damage they could do. I’ve lived in the house more than three years now and while you would think it’s silly, for me it’s normal. I may not have furniture, but I love the doggy kisses and love I get everyday, and so it’s worth it to me.
These two are not the culprits. These are the next two dogs I got (four in total). They all give me doggy kisses.
I hope you don’t have the same experience as I do with dogs when it comes to their chewing tendencies, but the point I want to make here is that sometimes when you ADD things to your life, those things you ADD take up the space, or for whatever reason, cause you to get rid of something else. This is the concept I plan to use at least with this first step of eating clean. Where usually people think about the food they CAN’T eat, instead, I am going to ADD a food I CAN eat. And I won’t worry about (for now) what else I’m eating. Because I believe as I continue to add good things, they will eventually push the not-so-good things out. I think this is a positive way of approaching this, instead of the negative way of taking things out.
Add-In Number 1: Salad
My first attempt for this has been to answer a question that I have every day at lunch: what am I going to eat? I am one of those people who is constantly trying to reduce the stress in my life, so as I approached this food issue, I decided to answer this question in the simplest way that I could. I will eat salad. A BIG salad. No croutons or non-garden items in it, just pure vegetable goodness. Topped with a balsamic vinaigrette.
Do you know how easy it is to buy salad goods and prepare them or have them ready for your lunch? Super duper easy.
I go home for lunch. So all I have to do is pour a bunch of salad goodies in a bowl with some dressing, pop the lid on, and shake. Salad is ready.
I plan to do this “salad-for-lunch” thing indefinitely. The only thing that will make me stop from having this as a habit is if I start making full meals (clean of course) for lunch, which I can about guarantee isn’t going to happen in the near future. I have actually already done this for a week of work lunches, and it seems to be working out so far. But with me, these things can change, so I will keep you posted on how it works after a month or so.
So What Do You Think?
Do you think I’m crazy for adding and not subtracting? Am I not thinking of something that you have thought of in all of this? Is this a perspective you never thought of, and so maybe want to try it yourself? I’d LOVE to hear what you think. So give it a go in the comments section!
Love this idea!
And clean eating is SOOO much easier than what I chose to do for 30 days.. hehe.
I think breakfast/lunch are pretty easy, and that’s awesome that you get to go home for lunch! another tip I learned during my Whole30 is use Sunday as a prep day. So buy all the veggies, chop up everything and stock the fridge with tupperware full of ready-to-go green peppers, cucumbers, onions, whatever you like. We also do cauliflower rice and I peel my zucchini so I have the noodles ready to cook up whenever we make it. Oh! and I bake a ton of sweet potatoes.. very versatile
I think prep makes it super simple, and no excuses during the week. I love packing my breakfast/lunch because then it forces me to eat clean, save money from not having to go out, and there is also little thought to it, too.
I ate junk today (*gasp!*), but after I make it through this week, I’ll join you on the eat-clean train!
I think this approach makes perfect sense. It makes such good sense that I think I will give it a go as well. I have already made some changes, but with this ADD concept I think I can make more. Thanks Bethany!
I’m glad it makes sense to you so much that you are going to try it. It does make sense, doesn’t it?!
I’m pretty pumped about it and it’s been working for me so far. So there ya go!
Nice pictures inluding the cute pups. Yes the I applaud the theme and this quote “You are what you eat”!
Cheers
Thanks Dilip.
Your dogs are lovely! Cassie, my dog, takes over our furniture too, but the hugs and love I get are totally worth it! Good luck with the clean eating!
Thanks Rachel!
I love the idea. My only challenge with this would be getting bored with it. That’s when I look for alternatives that are just as good as say salad. I have always liked choices and that helps me keep it interesting and healthy. I am wishing you the best of luck with this. I am interested to see where this will take you.
Yeah–I said I would do this indefinitely for this very thing Susan–choices. I also like to have a variety and I plan on keeping that. I’m doing a salad for now because it’s easy and when I eat salad I’m happier.
Also though, it’s not that I won’t eat anything else, it’s my hope that adding a salad will push out my eating stuff (like donuts) at lunch that aren’t good for me.
If it works for you then that is great not for me but I don’t eat salad type food I prefer to have fruit
Fruit is good!
I don’t have dogs But I love dogs. I heard about pouring the salad dressing in a jar, then putting the leaves and other veggies on top. When time to eat it, just give a good shake and it is ready. Since it is in the jar, you can easily pack in the bag to take for lunch.
Guess, you are choosing nice dressings which won’t give you unnecessary calories…
Your idea makes the perfect sense for me. The positive mindset is what keeps us going! I will for sure continue checking on your journey, I feel I might get some serious motivation from you
I am wondering- have you already decided what you’re going to add next?
Hi Victoria–I’m so glad this one makes sense to you. And yes, I already know what I’m going to add next–but I’m not worrying about it for now, because I want this new “add a salad” goal to set in and become a habit before I jump into something else. But just between you and me, once I feel ready for it, I’m going to add the correct amount of water to my life.
I love salads! They never get old! So many ways to keep them fun, colourful and best of all tasty (while still keeping it clean!)
Me too! And I think it’s need you hit on the colorful part–I love color and if I can get that in my food, it makes me happier eating them.
Thanks for stopping by!!
I think you are doing the right thing. I’ve been stressed out lately and have binged on junk food. I need to stop buying junk food, else at night – this is what I do, chew the wrong things. Have put on weight – bound to happen – despite the thrice a week running…..
I guess, I should just chop apples, carrots and refrigerate to make it easier to avoid junk food (ah,junk food just seems so convenient, even as it is so wrong!)
Oh, I hear ya, Lubna. This is the type of bingeing I am attempting to stop. Junk food unfortunately is so convenient–prepackaged and ready to go…but yes, so wrong!
I didn’t know you were a runner. Kudos to you! Now, to chop those apples and carrots.
Just began running —- a wee wee bit, since last month. Like I said earlier, you inspired me to take it up again – after a long long gap.
Love it Bethany!! I’m a huge fan of clean eating and have written a number of posts about it. Starting small is the way to go. Cutting one thing out and replacing it with something is is a great start. Big ups to you, you can do it!
Thanks so much Suzanne! It has still gone great so I feel like I’ve hit onto something here with the whole “add” method.
I will have to come over and see what you have written about clean eating.
Thanks for stopping by.