Real Clean

​Perception. Perception is the way a person might look at a situation or in this case, a definition. Everyone’s definition of eating “clean” is different. Each person has their own opinion and what works for them is what works for them. This is my opinion on the subject and the way that I look at the different aspects of eating. I do not count calories. I do not count points. I merely eat what is good for me and indulge in moderation. First and foremost I want to stress the point that clean eating is NOT a diet; it is a lifestyle. It is not a short term fad diet but a way of life. You have to stop thinking of food as a comfort or something to do when you are bored and start to think of food as fuel for your body. Once you have accomplished that goal then you are on your way to a healthier you!

​Clean eating is basically feeding your body the best foods possible so that it can function properly. For example, if you put bad gas into your car you won’t be going very far I’m afraid. But, if you fill up your car with the correct type of gas then you can drive across the whole country! The same goes for your stomach, if you eat greasy fast food or an entire box of Oreos everyday then you aren’t getting the necessary nutrients that your body needs to function properly and keep you feeling good.Some people say if it leaves your plate messy and greasy then it will leave your stomach like that too. One good way at determining if it is clean or not is to read the label. If the label has ingredients that you cannot pronounce then you are better off without it. Clean eating is all about consuming less ingredients and more nutrients. It’s about eating less processed and more natural.

    Eating whole wheat and whole grains is a great place to start but it doesn’t end there. Consuming plenty of fruits and veggies each day is a vital part of your meals each and every day. Knowing I am not the only one who has a hard time, I just want to say that it is not as hard as it seems. I have gone sixteen years refusing to eat anything that was considered a fruit or vegetable but now it is part of every meal. If you are still hesitant, pick one vegetable and one fruit every week and try something new. Especially with veggies there are so many different ways to prepare them so that they taste different. For me, I hardly like anything raw. All my veggies have to be either cooked, steamed or sautéed.

    Just remember this is a big change so take it slow to prevent becoming overwhelmed. Change just a few things each week and choose healthy swaps for certain unhealthy options. Keep an open mind and know that these aren’t restrictions but options for a better, healthier future. So now that I have blabbed enough, I thought I’d show you guys an example of a normal day for me and what foods I take to work for the day. I also want to point out that I do eat 5 to 6 small meals a day instead of 3 larger ones. For breakfast I will always have a banana with something whether it be some whole grain cheerio’s or sometimes I’ll have a whole grain waffle and top it off with a dash of cinnamon. About 3 hours later I’ll have the Special K protein bar, see below, which is absolutely delicious! Then some lunch, which in this case is steamed broccoli and carrots with a chicken salad that is topped off with some all natural cubed cheese. After I get off work I’ll usually have another smaller protein bar as a pre workout snack as well as just to hold me over until dinner. As you can see I am definitely not depriving myself either and I never get so hungry that I think about just grabbing something quick and easy. It is all about preparing your meals ahead of time so you have all those healthy options at your fingertips.

​Moving on to one of my favorite chicken recipes! It’s called Oven Baked Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken. I know, I know, it’s a really long name but it is amazing. I love it because it is super simple even I can make it as well as the sweet element the brown sugar adds to it. So if you have a sweet tooth this is definitely the one to try soon!

OVEN BAKED GARLIC BROWN SUGAR CHICKEN

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 tablespoons brown sugar

3 teaspoons olive oil

Directions:

1.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and lightly grease a casserole dish

2.

In a small sauté pan, sauté garlic with the oil until tender (or until brown)

3.

Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar

4.

Place chicken breasts in a prepared baking dish and cover with the garlic and brown sugar mixture (it’s a mixture not a glaze but feel free to add some honey if desired)

5.

Add salt and pepper to taste (I never do)

6.

Bake for 25-28 minutes

 

Here is some pictures of how I cooked it!

 

 My sautéed garlic!

Garlic and brown sugar mixture!

 

Make sure to evenly distribute the mixture onto the chicken! I also poke holes in the chicken as well to help the mixture soak in!

TA DA!!!! Amazingly yummy SWEET chicken! (ignore the half that's already gone!)