Clean Diet Principles

Do you struggle with knowing whats good for you and whats not? How exactly to have right balance with your diet and lifestyle.
Well the good news is so do I, and I can safely say so do most people.
It is strange that the term "dieting", which is any restrictive eating behavior, in today's society it seems to be a more acceptable means of weight loss then eating healthy and exercising, and low-carb and low-fat fad diets are directly marketed at people still stuck in that "90's" frame of mind.  That aside, sports nutrition research has come a long way in recent years and it is widely excepted in the research and the fitness community alike, that the way to a healthy lean body is by eating "clean."

So are you eating "dirty?"

Well do you eat pre- packaged foods, processed foods, refined sugars, high saturated fats and sodiums? Because all those things are very dirty! A clean diet is goal and lifestyle, and your aim should be to eat as much fresh foods and lean meat/ protein sources and you can.

What is clean eating?

Seems like a bold and controversial topic to tackle and everyone seems to have a different opinion on it; however, the general consensus of “clean eating” is a diet void of processed foods and consisting of many fresh ingredients where possible.

My approach to “clean” eating is a 90%/10% approach... I eat “clean” as much as I can, and that 10% may be my cheats or occasional non clean products... At that quantity it isn’t going to affect my health and keeps me sane!

 I don’t believe there should ever be a one way diet approach as we are all so different and have different goals...

To give you an idea a good apporach to breaking down a balanced meal is to ask yourself these questions?

Is there a lean protein source?
Is there a starchy carbohydrate?
Is there a fibrous carbohydrate?
Is there a good fat?

If yes, then you have yourself the foundations of a very balanced clean meal. Made cleaner by the fact that everything should be raw (not the meats - the veges or fruits) and as organic as or when possible.
As far as ratio, well they can differ between person to person and depending on the meal and quality of the source, your goals and body type. Weighing your food is an option and can be real helpful for getting your eye around quantity, but generally the old "palm of the hand" trick is always a quick and good way to go.
As far as meals in a day, well once again that can vary from person to person and sex to goals etc. But myself I have 6-8 meals a day, and I generally front load my starch carbs (carbs at its highest quantity in the morning) as they are important in synthesizing protein and keeping me full, but they are hard to digest and you want your body repairing when your sleeping not digesting, and you may find you wake up bloated.

So what foods come under each category?

Well if you keep it simple like I have to when I'm a student budget-

Then your protein sources will be:
WPI, chicken breast, turkey mince/breast, tuna/ salmon,  BULK eggs, tofu, kangaroo, lean red meat and nuts/seeds.

Starchy carbs:
Sweet potato, brown rice, quinoa, wholemeal and rye products if you can digest it

Fibrous carbs:
Bascially most fruit or veges

Good fats:
fish oil, avacado, flaxseed oil, coconut oil, macadamia oil, virgin olive oil, nuts and nut butters

Obviously you can have a lot more, but that's what I have access too and can afford most of the time. But if you follow that simple principle and make sure each meal contains these things that your on your way to providing your body with a good clean diet.

Things get a lot more complicated then this, but like I said this is the very basics of the "clean" eating concept
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Thanks,
Hope its helpfull!!! :)