wtf is clean eating

Let's start with a disclaimer. Clean eating can walk on a very thin line of disordered eating. I, as I'm sure many other women, have fallen victim to thinking clean eating is attainable and expected 100% of the time. That is bullsh!t. Eat food when you are hungry, regardless of how "clean" it is. Food is the fuel that your body needs and deserves.

So why am I writing a blog post about clean eating if I know it's not always attainable?

Because I also know that incorporating more (not all) clean foods into your life will make you feel good. I have this blog, and Instagram, and community because I want to make you feel good.

Now, let's get into it.

What is clean eating?

Dietitians, nutritionists, health influencers, etc. will all have different definitions of the term clean eating. To me, clean foods are nutritious foods and clean eating is adding in nutrition where you sustainably can. Clean eating is aimed towards whole, unprocessed foods that will make you feel your best. Emphasis on the feel, because it is important to remember eating "right" or "clean" is not to look a certain way, it is to feel a certain way.

Why should I eat clean?

Adding in more nutrients is never a bad idea. Since transitioning my diet into more clean foods - I don't bloat as much, my hair is healthier, my skin glows more, but most importantly I am happier.

What are examples of clean foods?

Clean foods are essentially the basics - fruits, vegetables, carbs, fats, and proteins. The trick to adding more clean foods into your life, is so simple. Find the ones you like! I love spinach, so I add it into smoothies, on top of pizza, and everywhere else it makes sense. I don't love squash, so I barely eat it and that's ok. Try new foods, figure out which ones make you feel the best, & eat them more.

But aren't carbs bad?

Diet culture has tricked generations of people into believing carbs are an unhealthy, unclean source of food - bullsh!t. Your body needs carbs to live. Same goes for fats. I eat at least 1 avocado a day and have never felt better. Simplifying meals will make them more clean & easier to make, which is a win win in my book. Pasta a la Maya is essentially just brown rice penne, sautéed tomatoes and mushrooms, on a bed of spinach with a bunch of red chili flakes and salt - the world's easiest bowl of pasta that I eat at least once a week. Eat your carbs! They are a delicious source of energy.

What if I don't always want clean foods?

Don't eat them :) Seriously, eating clean is great, but so are Oreos. We, as a society, focus way too much on what we're supposed to eat. Instead, tune into your body and figure out what it wants to eat. Sometimes you'll want a green smoothie and salmon salad. Other times you'll want In-N-Out. Both are ok. Find balance in eating what makes your body feel good and what makes your soul feel good.

xx Maya