When when I first heard the phrase “clean eating”, I was confused. Were people just now realizing that they needed to wash their food? Surely not. So what was this weirdo trend called “clean eating”?
And so my journey began.
What I didn’t understand is that no matter what I did to my food, if I didn’t start with food free from dangerous chemicals and additives, then my effort to remove the residue from my foods was really in vain. Which meant that no amount of scrubbing, soaking, peeling or cooking was going to entirely remove the danger from my food.
While there is no exact definition for “clean eating”, however, the best explanation I’ve found so far is this: eating clean consists of eliminating foods that have additives, preservatives, and fillers – instead eating food in its most natural state.
One of my favorite sites to reference does a fabulous job of outlining what you should and shouldn’t eat when transitioning to “real food”. REAL FOOD! This is a term I have fallen in love with, especially when in a grocery store. It puts my shopping list in perspective so easily.
According to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment, in 2013 USDA tests found a total 165 different pesticides on THOUSANDS of fruit and vegetable samples. 165!!! That’s insanity! When I read this, my first instinct was to throw all of the food out of my pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.
I felt betrayed. Was anything safe to eat?
If it was safe, was it affordable? Let’s be honest, we’re on a budget and it would take me hours in the grocery store reading ingredient labels and finding “organic” food on sale. It was an overwhelming mission (and that’s putting it nicely, without the use of profanity). Thankfully, the Environmental Working Group also provided more information than I could have asked for about how to purchase safer foods. Through a vast array of mediums, they educate and empower consumers so that we can make safe, informed decisions about the products we buy and the companies we support. They do the work for us! From cosmetics and household products, our food and our environment, they research it all!
Feeling overwhelmed? Here are some helpful links:
The Shopper’s Guide is also a downloadable app that makes it easier to reference during a shopping trip with restless children. Note: the guides suggest donations, but donations are NOT required to access the information.
EWG’s Good Food on a Tight Budget
EWG’s 2015 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce
This is a journey. Don’t expect perfection overnight. The truth is, we still eat cheese puffs in moderation, but now we do it from a different point of view. We know it’s considered a food product, but not a source of clean nutrition. I make sure my children understand that it’s the exception and NOT the rule.
Recently I began a minimalist challenge and included a pantry cleanse. Above is my love letter to my family. I share this only because our refrigerator still has skeletons. Some days can feel overwhelming, but a lot of days are starting to feel like VICTORY. In fact, the habits are beginning to feel instinctual. The pantry looks less intimidating and processed. The grocery store trips are getting faster. And my family (the most important reason for this journey) is catching on and learning to be more conscious in their choices; they are also claiming that they feel better! That alone has been worth all of the research and lost leisure time!
Finally, a really important note to fellow mommies along the way: We all deserve safe food, but this takes time, patience and forgiveness. Our grocery stores and fast food options make this really tough. Don’t forget to show grace to yourselves along the way. You need to know that YOU’RE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB! Even when we have to drive through a fast food lane, know that you haven’t failed. This, too, is part of the journey. Your choices will transform and feel more natural. Tackle one product or habit at a time. This is about what you do a majority of the time and NOT the minority of the time. Eventually, you will find a place of balance and routine where you feel like you can rest comfortably.
Tackle one product or habit at a time. This is about what you do a majority of the time and NOT the minority of the time. Eventually, you will find a place of balance and routine where you feel like you can rest comfortably.
