In preparation for launching the blog a few months ago, I created a list of my top clean eating success tips but never got around to sharing it. Since we just wrapped up the Healthy Lifestyle Reset challenge with the Simply Wholesome Roots community, I thought now was a good time to finish putting the list together.
The reset challenge aside, I think it’s a really important time to pay attention to the nutrients we are (or are not) putting into our bodies. A nutrient-dense diet is going to provide you with the best foundation for overall health. With all of the concerns surrounding viral threats, it’s time to take ownership of our health. The lifestyle choices that we make can either promote health or promote disease in our bodies. The research is clear that eating our veggies really is super important, and even boosts our immune system!
That being said, I know how overwhelming it is to begin to make a transition from the standard American diet to a healthier, cleaner diet, such as paleo, Whole30, or the paleo Autoimmune Protocol (AIP). I was a youth minister at the time I began to make a lifestyle shift with my nutrition choices. Believe me, it is hard to eat clean as you are serving pizza at youth nights and attending camps and conferences full of processed food. Hard, but not impossible! At least not when following the 80:20 rule (keep reading for that tip below).
The clean eating success tips that follow are some of the principles that helped me to transition my diet, my habits, and ultimately gain my health back. Most people get caught up on the things you will no longer be consuming, rather than focusing on the things you will be adding. I have followed all three of the above mentioned clean eating palates at various times and each one has its challenges, but also its amazing benefits!
One more note, in my humble opinion, it’s not so much about the “label” of what diet you are “following”. I believe what is important is that you are focusing on getting in as many vegetables as you can, and as much variety as possible, healthy proteins and fats, and avoiding as much processed foods as possible. From there, I do think it’s important to listen to your body and avoid foods that you are sensitive to. So with that being said, these are my top tips for successfully cleaning up your diet!
Number one: Announce it!
Let your friends and family know you are prioritizing your health and choosing to clean up your diet and lifestyle. This will hold you accountable to your own commitment, and also communicate to your loved ones that you may be choosing to do things a little differently. Approach the conversation from the perspective of your personal health choices and how you may notice feeling better when focusing on nutrient-dense foods.
Focus on what you are gaining, not what you are giving up. This is all about mindset. I do not believe it’s restrictive to avoid a food that makes you feel terrible, it’s actually very freeing!
The other benefit of announcing your lifestyle shift to friends and family is that you can invite them to join you! Even if they don’t, most people want to support their loved ones in making healthy choices. So simply bringing awareness can help increase understanding and diminish hurt feelings at family gatherings.
Number two: Align your Kitchen
This one is really important to set yourself up for success! Clean out your fridge and pantry of any items no longer in alignment with your new diet and lifestyle choices. If you are just giving something up for a short time (saying doing a Whole30), then put those items in a box out of reach. Know yourself and your weaknesses. By removing items that you know will be challenging to avoid, it will remove the temptation. Plus, you can donate most non-perishables or pass them on to a friend in need.
If you have other family members that are not shifting their diet with you, have an honest conversation with them about your goals, potential setbacks, and brainstorm a way to be supportive of each other. Perhaps that person can shift part of their diet with you. Or you may be able to designate a certain shelf in the pantry that is just for their snacks.
On that note, I would suggest and recommend that other family members can fairly easily clean up at least 80 percent of their diets while holding on to their splurge snacks or items. After all, you will be eating delish, wholesome food! No one is going to starve. But more on the 80:20 rule in a minute.
Number three: Have a plan
Perhaps the most important tip, you must have a plan! Meal plan, make a grocery list and shop weekly. This will reduce the likelihood of getting take-out on your way home. It will also reduce the stress of trying to decide what to eat when you are hungry or figure out what you are cooking for dinner at five o’clock in the evening.
Besides, you are more likely to plan delicious meals and recipes you enjoy if you can plan ahead. Last-minute meals can certainly be tasty, but they can also be very bland. Keep your schedule and cooking times in mind. You can find a healthier version for just about any recipe! If you are new to meal planning and need some guidance, check out my post on Meal Planning Hacks.
Number four: Have a backup
Now, I know I just told you to have a plan, but we all know that life happens. Plan a few quick backup meal options that are easy to throw together if life throws you a curveball. If you are already under stress, then you certainly don’t need the added stress of wondering what’s for dinner.
A couple of non-perishable items in the pantry, frozen meals, or frozen produce does the job! Here is a list of what I try to have on hand: canned chicken or salmon, a clean salad dressing, sweet potatoes, frozen broccoli, frozen salmon, frozen leftovers (pot roast, burgers, etc.).
One of my favorite backup meals that take just minutes to make is grilled frozen salmon, with microwaved frozen broccoli and cauliflower rice. Add a little seasoning to it all and dinner is served!
Number five: Healthy Snacks
Be sure to have a healthy snack on hand at all times. A clean protein bar or fruit in your purse will keep you away from the vending machine when hunger strikes or you find yourself without a healthy option at a social gathering. Other options include jerky, protein bar, a clean chip option (plantain, sweet potato, apple, etc.), and fresh veggies.
Number six: Start with the 80:20 Rule
Start with the 80:20 rule. Basically, this means you give yourself room to be flexible 20% of the time. Practically speaking, this can look like allowing yourself grace to choose something less than ideal on the weekends, or when you are in social gatherings.
Personally, this approach was very helpful for me when I first began transitioning my diet about six years ago. I was still a youth minister and had less control over my diet when on retreats or events with the teens.
This approach to transitioning your diet and lifestyle helps many people see initial improvement and feel motivated to continue! From a women’s health perspective, just speaking from clinical experience, I have noticed an improvement in many of my clients’ cycles when they strive to clean up their diets at least 80% of the time.
That being said, this is where it’s important to know yourself. Do you do better with baby steps or a cold turkey approach? Once I transitioned to AIP, I found I needed to go cold turkey.
Summary
So there you have it! Those are my six tips to transition to a cleaner diet successfully: announce it, align your kitchen, have a plan, have a backup, healthy snacks, and start with the 80:20 rule. It is normal to experience overwhelm whenever you try anything new, but I encourage you to adopt a few of the suggestions above and give it your best effort for 30-90 days. That’s exactly what I did, and then I couldn’t deny the positive impact it had on my health! I hope these tips have provided you some confidence and motivation to shift your own nutrition in a positive direction.
For more lifestyle tips, check out my post on 5 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle.
If you enjoyed this post and want more recipes and tips on how to simplify your healthy lifestyle for a wholesome, rooted home click here to join my newsletter. You will be the first to know about new posts and get access to bonus content exclusively created for my Simply Wholesome Roots community. And I have a welcome gift for you, too!
Comments are closed