No matter how many people you ask about what Real Food and Clean Eating means, everyone’s definition will probably be different. But I would think that purists would agree on what Real Food and Clean Eating are NOT.
Ideally…
- Real Food doesn’t have an ingredient label.
- Real Food doesn’t have an infinite shelf life.
- Real Food isn’t made in a chemistry lab.
- Real Food isn’t genetically modified (GMO).
- Real Food isn’t sprayed with pesticides or toxic chemicals.
- Real Food animals aren’t found in overcrowded, filthy feedlots.
- Real Food animals aren’t fed antibiotics.
- Real Food fish aren’t from overcrowded, diseased, and contaminated fish farms.
Simply put, Real Food and Clean Eating are about eating foods that are untouched, as natural as possible. They aren’t treated or enhanced. Real food and clean eating are about focusing on foods that are as close to their natural, original state without any alterations of any kind. We, humans, were meant to eat simple, clean and natural foods.
If you are new to the concepts of real food and clean eating, you may be asking yourself…Does that mean that I am not eating real food and that my food is dirty? I once read an article that asked the very same question and in the end, the writer dismissed the concept and basically called it hogwash. I would argue that if you are eating any foods that are described above, then you are correct – You are not eating real, clean foods.
It’s not about physical dirt on the outside that makes food ‘dirty.’ It’s what is on the inside or how it is processed or the products that it is made of or combined with that determines if it is real or clean.
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Overview: What Types of Foods are Included in Real Food and Clean Eating?
- Carbs: Organic, ancient, whole grains. Preferably gluten-free, wheat-free.
- Dairy: Whole, raw and from grass-fed/pastured animals. Raw and unpasteurized dairy is best.
- Fats: Unrefined, virgin, cold-pressed from sources such as coconuts, olives, avocados, and grass-fed animals.
- Fruit: Organic, local, in-season.
- Meat/Seafood: Grass-fed, pasture-raised, wild-caught sources.
- Vegetables: Organic, local, in-season.
Buying and stocking the right foods is key! Read these articles for more insight and planning guidance…
- Pantry, Fridge and Freezer Essentials
- Real Food Lifestyle is Achievable Now With 3 Easy Steps
- Favorite Kitchen Tools for Real Food Cooking
Also, to help you with your real food and clean eating journey, I have guides and printables that are available in my FREE resource library. When you sign up for my newsletter, you will get exclusive access to these resources along with motivational emails and news about the cool stuff happening at RFR. Click here to sign up today for FREE.
Why Real Food and Clean Eating?
Let me ask you a question. If you had to make a choice between living in one of two places that would ensure that you live a HEALTHIER life, which location would you choose?
- Would you live in a remote location with easy access to fresh fruits, vegetables, grass-fed/pastured animals and wild fish?
- Would you live next to a well-stocked grocery store filled with unlimited frozen meals and snacks?
Remember – The objective is to choose the HEALTHIER location…Most people would choose #1 to be healthier but #2 is likely their current lifestyle. So you clearly understand why you should eat real food.
The reasons are endless, but in short: Food Heals. Greek physician, Hippocrates, who lived from 460-370 BC knew the importance of food way back then. He has been famously quoted as saying: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” And to this point, real food and clean eating have helped me and my family overcome so many health challenges and to eliminate our dependence on prescriptions.
Benefits of Real Food and Clean Eating
Do you have a condition that you take prescription medicine for? Are you suffering from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease? Are you overweight? Do you have diabetes, pre-diabetes or insulin resistance? Do you take any number of over-the-counter medicines for any reason?
With real food and clean eating, I lost 40 pounds within six months and have kept the same weight for over 3 years! I am no longer a slave to counting calories or points. The cellulite in my legs has almost completely disappeared. I used to have LPR (aka silent reflux). My LPR is gone and so is the medicine that I took to control flare-ups. Prior to eating real food, I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. It’s gone and so is the prescriptions that the doctor prescribed! I no longer have sugar cravings. The aches/pains throughout my body are gone; no more need for acetaminophen. My skin improved. No more mid-day crashes! I have better memory. Hello deeper, more restful sleep! I could go on and on…
Everyone is different and the time that it takes to heal your body from your food and lifestyle choices or other issues could vary. My husband had cancer and is STILL trying to heal from the devastating effects of chemotherapy almost five years later. He has seen improvement in some areas because of targeted food choices like fermented foods, but the battle is not yet over.
Small Real Food and Clean Eating Changes Can Help
Simple changes and smart substitutions, a concept that I call KISS (Keep Incorporating Smart Substitutions) can help you to easily transition into your real food and clean eating journey today. For example, I had a friend who only changed one thing in her diet — meat. She switched from eating/buying conventional, store-bought meat to eating grass-fed beef and pastured chicken like the quality meat from ButcherBox and she immediately felt the difference. Within a few weeks, she noticed that she was no longer needed to take over-the-counter pain medicine. Check out my post Grass Fed vs. Grain Fed Beef about why you should consider switching out your beef, as well.
Real food and clean eating are how everyone should eat. Your body is struggling to maintain balance. You have one life to live – feed it well!
From our family to yours…
Don’t wait until an unfortunate health issue (major disease/cancer) forces you to change how you eat.
It’s your turn. What are you waiting on? Do it for yourself, your family, your children, your grandchildren. Do it for the opportunity to live life better off than you could have otherwise. Eating real food is more simple than you think. Now that we are eating real food and feel great, there’s no turning back to our old habits. You can do it, too!
Until next time, keep it REAL,
This post contains affiliate links. See full Affiliate Disclosure for more details.
