Your Unclean *must have*

Splenda for me, too. My one vice. I haven't made the switch to Agave and I am not a fan of Stevia. Eventually I will get there...

I think my downfall is "fast" food, especially on a day when I've been in school until 5 and have so much HW to do...and I don't mean Burger King or Wendy's...its just that as you all know, easing clean can sometimes mean a little extra work in the kitchen. So yeah, my downfall is that once or twice a week dinner where we're both just too tired to cook...I've found that that often means that we order pizza.
Hmm...
Hold on, I'm having an epiphany.
Pre-make personal pizza's for myself and let my DH order out for pizza!
Hey, anyone have a good recipe for clean pizza crust?

Turkey HIll makes all natural ice cream with only 4-5 ingredients and it's GOOD!

My "unclean" must have item is now Haagen-Daz sorbet...i used to allow myself organic fro-yo on Friday and Saturday nights but I wanted to see if I could find something with as few ingredients as possible but yet taste great and that would make me feel like I was having a little something..

I was never a sorbet person but I love their strawberry and raspberry sorbets...and yes, I do eat the chocolate sorbet, as well...the ingredient list is short and I can live with it:

Water, Strawberries, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Pectin, Chokeberry Juice Concentrate, Elderberry Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavors

In tosca's recharged book it gives suggestions for "cleaner" t-bell. I am thankful.

Well, my non-clean foods are:
diet packets of Hot cocoa (very processed and with some chemical junk for sweetener) This is something I want to cut way down on!!!
and I eat, at least once a week, some processed Lean cuisine type dinner. Tons of chemicals!
Too much chicken.
and Diet ice cream, and LOX. and mozzarella cheese (I like to melt it on whole wheat pitta bread)

I imagine you're not allowed to eat foods that are smoked with nitrates, like LOX. I get it every so often, at Trader joes (4 oz. for $3) and put it on whole wheat pitta with some soft goat cheese.

HELP!!!

For me:

* White Rice. I don't like brown...period. And once in a while I'll do the multi-grain varieties if I am having grilled shrimp and pineapple.

* Coke...nuf said!!

* Sugar and butter. I am the type of Clean Eater that is more about whole foods which these are. I tend to even make my own butter as well! I buy my sugar from Hawaii as I have watched it being produced and feel safe in knowing it's produced far better than most sugars. I'm a baking-Queen, trying to start a business with it as well. Butter and Sugar will always play a role in my life. With moderation it's all good!

I've also found that since I have begun to scratch cook and bake, I don't eat nearly the amount of sugar and fake sugars as before. It takes a lot less to satisfy a craving now. I can have 5 bites of my cake and be good to go not wanting another bite. If I were to make it from a box, buy it premade, or the diet varieties... I wouldn't be able to stop after a few bites; it takes more of the processed foods to satisfy the cravings vs scratched cooked and baked.

But like others have said, Clean Eating is a personal thing and about what YOU consider Clean.

Great, so organic sugar is acceptable! :-) Thanks AFM!

KIMISTRY1: I think everyone has their own definition of clean eating. In short, to me and many others, it is eating whole foods and foods with a minimum of processing (to some not even whole grain flours are acceptable); nothing artificial (and that can vary as well since many processed foods may be naturally “derived”); organic when possible – although to many- myself included, local may supersede that. Minimal packaging/waste, composting and recycling may come in to play as well. Education is BIG! Learn about what you are eating and doing.

Bottom line: You need to decide for yourself where the line is. Just like with weight loss and exercise, start with realistic goals and try to work for improvement.

-A

Edited by: AFM-SPARK at: 12/5/2009 (21:22)

My downfalls are bread (like most here), white rice (with butter, of course), mayo and sweet iced tea! I just started eating clean a couple weeks ago and I'm doing well for the most part. However, I get cravings every now & then. If I do indulge, I try to keep the portions small.

I made iced tea this week with organic sugar. Is this considered clean? (praying for the answer to be yes!)

Sriracha Hot Sauce; Taco Bell (although that's becoming rarer) and like many others- bread made with white flour. I don't buy it but sometimes, if it's good quality bread, I will eat it - sometimes is OK. Same for white rice (brown basmati just doesn't work for me w/ Indian food) sometimes is OK, but hey, 10's of millions of people around the world eat white rice or bread every day and have healthier diets than we do here in the US.

um prepacked fish since im so super busy and a single mom. it makes things easier

I truly only drink water. I have a coffee in the afternoon but only a couple days a week. I think my beverage "treat" would be crystal light. I can't tell you the last time I had it, but I have a little packet in my purse for emergencies. I would rather drink a tall crystal light, then a margarita when I am out with friends. A crystal light is a great sweet treat!

A splurge of mine is kettle chips. I am pretty sure it's not clean!

I would certainly go with smaller loaves! It is just my DH and me and he isn't really interested in taking up my lifestyle. So when I make a nice loaf of healthy bread I know I will be the one to eat it. Luckily most things freeze really well.

Loren

Loren, I think you make good points there. Junk is junk no matter what "good" ingredients you throw in with the junk. If I'm going to eat junk then it's got to be really great junk. Like fresh, sourdough bread made with organic, unbleached white flour. And when I eat it I am fully aware that I am eating something that will clog up my digestion and I better not eat too much or I will be sorry. But I thoroughly enjoy every bite!!

And yes, I agree with you that if a person splurges a few times a year with that sort of indulgence it's not going to put a big dent in their health unless they already have something majorly wrong to begin with. Eating whole, organic, fresh, local as much as you possibly can every day will leave you with a little room to spare for that occasional treat.

My trouble is that there are only 2 of us living at home here and when I make something like a loaf of bread made with white flour I will end up eating most all of it myself in just a few days. And THAT isn't good for me--my body will rebel and I will feel very uncomfortable. Maybe I have to learn to just make "baby" loaves eh?!!

Laurie,

Here's the recipe I used to create my own starter: www.kingarthurflour.com/recip
es/start-
your-own-sourdough-starter-re
cipe

And more detailed instructions/tips if you want:
www.kingarthurflour.com/tips/sourdou
gh
-primer.html

And this recipe makes awesome nummy bread: www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/merl
in
s-magic-sourdough-bread-recipe

Once the starter is, well, started, it keeps in the fridge. I pull it out once every week or 2 to feed it.

There's also several recipes of what to do with the starter you remove for feeding.

Steph

Is that a sourdough starter?

I've never used a starter. It's been a while but I did the 2 large boiled potato starter. You boil them until they are mush let them cool, add enough flour and warm water to make a very thick batter in a non metal container cover and set onto of the frig or some where warm for 24 hours. When it starts to boil add more flour and water and let sit for a day or three more. The longer it stands the stronger the flavor. Then place in a tightly covered non metal container in the frig us when ready replace used portion with flour and water. Sorry the recipe I have does not give measurements.

DH bought a starter packet at our local health food store. He got it started, and I fed it for him once. Now it is still sitting in a bowl in our extra fridge!

I guess we're just gonna have to get some more and "start" over again - PUN INTENDED! LOL

Okay I gotta know .. how do I make homemade sourdough bread?!!!

I think people like catch all. For example if it is whole grain or whole wheat the it is good for you. No, oatmeal cookies made with oats and wheat flour with lots of sugar and chocolate chips is NOT good for you. I think it is a sliding scale. A sour dough bread made with as clean as possible ingredients will be better for you than a 100% whole wheat loaf from a store that has two types of sugar and HFCS (and a bunch of added junk). Give and take. And if the few loaves you eat a year are going to be what does you in then something was very wrong to start with!

I love bread! Never made homemade sour dough before though....

Loren

"I'm a total sucker for fresh sour dough bread white flour and all"

Doode! me too!!! I have a starter bubbling away in my fridge, just waiting...

"I just can't wrap my head around the idea that if something is low-glycemic that that makes it automatically good for you"

ME EITHER!!! Just like I don't get why the poor potato keeps getting a bum rap! In theory it's impact on an unsuspecting person's blood sugar/insulin level is WORSE than table sugar!

What. ever...

Anywho, I digress. IMO, if you're going to eat bread, eat bread that you know what's in it... pay the extra for artisan bread, like you said... or take an afternoon to craft your own.

Either way, use your own personal experience and goals dictate your food choices. Not some dude in a lab coat with a chart of 'good' and 'bad' foods.

Ok, I'll stop now, too. ;)

Part of why I asked about the sour dough bread is that a lot of sour dough breads are given a sour flavor by adding powdered vinegar and/or other flavorings to enhance taste. Not many on the market are actually made with only sour dough starter because using pure sourdough starter won't give quite as "sour" a flavor as the commercial kind. It also is denser and doesn't rise as well. So...I'm skeptical.

I think watching the glycemic thing is good especially for people who are way over-weight or have diabetes. Can't really argue with that. I just can't wrap my head around the idea that if something is low-glycemic that that makes it automatically good for you. I think there is more to consider. It's just like so many people who avoid gluten and eat a lot of junk just because it is gluten-free. Or vegetarians who also eat junk just to avoid eating meat-sourced ingredients or nutrients.

Send me some links or some kind of information that will show me different (that eating white flour, as long as it is in sourdough bread, is healthful) and I'll get off my jag!!

PS: I'm a total sucker for fresh sour dough bread white flour and all...I just know that I'm eating junk!
YUM!!

Edited by: ANIDUCK at: 12/1/2009 (18:12)

Amy, it depends on how many calories you want. Either one is clean if they are organic is my take. If they aren't organic or raw from a local farm then I know what's in them so I couldn't in all good conscience consider either clean. Some folks might not be so picky but if they knew what was in store-bought, pasteurized milk they might lean towards my way of thinking!! LOL!

RE: Sourdough... Not sure if Tosca recommends it or not, but the 'fermenting' process of making sourdough helps to make it a lower GI/Glycemic load food.

As to the rest of the conversation, I'm with the 'eat real food' camp... that's my definition of clean, at least. I know there's a 'no dairy/no bread/sugar' component, but for me, as long as I can identify it (aka it grew in/above the ground or walked/swam/flew), I'm good with it.

That aside, I totally love my measly scoop of super processed cocoa mix in my coffee in the mornings. :)

I have to have my morning coffee!!!! Is it better to have 1/2 & 1/2 or light cream?

Farm raised fish, no matter how sanitary the farm, tends to have MORE of the mercury contained in the flesh. It's always recommended to get fish that is caught WILD. I'll see if I can find the list of the best fish to buy.

I believe Sour Dough bread, because of the way it is processed is ok. It's the only bread that has a low glycemic impact on your system, because of the 'sour' in the dough and the way it reacts with the yeast . . .

I'll see if I can find that article too! :)

Someone help me to understand the sour dough thing. I heard that Tosca recommends it. Is she recommending a 100% whole grain version? How can any food be considered clean if it is made with white flour that has had the bran and germ removed? Really, help me to understand this. I have had whole wheat sour dough and it wasn't terrible or anything, not at all. I've even made it myself; it just wasn't that wonderfully tasting white flour crusty artisan loaf that is sooooo hard to resist!!
Knowwhaatahmeen??

Edited by: ANIDUCK at: 12/1/2009 (13:44)

I've read that most all sushis are highly tainted with bad fish--fish that isn't fished with healthy environmental concern. We have a couple of sushi joints here in Portland that use only the best fish; fish that is as clean as possible from the metals and other junk that is in most fish. They use either farmed fish from a fish farm that is local and environmentally responsible or wild-caught fish from cleaner seas.

But this kind of sushi is very rare.

You name... I like it!

I was talking about typical margarine. Yes, there are some "margarines" available that don't have hydrogenated fat in them. But still, they are just another product that has another step or two of "processing" to get it to market...unless, of course, like ELECTRALYTE, you make the blend yourself with fresh organic butter and a good, expeller pressed olive oil. I've seen recipes for that but if I want both butter and olive oil on my spinach, for example, I just put a bit of each on it; simple.


Edited by: ANIDUCK at: 12/1/2009 (13:32)

My biggest problem is bread. All I can say is I need help in that area.

LIMELITSHINES,

I don't like the taste of plain Stevia. I buy the flavored extracts, they're much better. I use them on my baked apples, coffee, sparkling water etc. My fav's are root beer, cinnamon and English Toffee.

Wine is mine ;)

Edited by: VAJ38DD at: 12/1/2009 (11:49)

What an interesting thread! Thanks for starting it. :)

You will get this dark chocolate "when you pry it from my cold, dead hands." That was the first food that came to mind. I have cut back somewhat since SP tracking showed me just how much I was eating, but it's still a constant in my day. I try to take small pieces and use the "no teeth" rule to make it last.

I agree that butter is "clean," and I also drink real cream in my 1-2 cups of coffee a day. (Not sure coffee can be considered clean or not, but the cream is! lol) I get my dairy raw when I can.... http://www.westonaprice.org/

Hmm, that is actually a hard question. I am able to avoid most things by just not buying. I do find it hard to not have custard when my DH wants his celebratory custard for getting an A on his tests.

Loren

I take a stick of butter and a half cup of olive oil and blend. Keep in the fridge. That's clean.
Almond milk ruins coffee! ewww..I have to have it black. It was hard giving up creamer.
Ice Cream is my greatest downfall. Used to be beer but I gave that up :)

sushi

You can get fairly clean sushi, but it's made with white rice - and ya gotta dip it in soy sauce (although HD and I did buy some tamari a while back - it's just remembering to bring the tamari to the restaurant...)!

I have the same mindset as the pp above... I view clean eating as eating REAL foods, and to me, butter is a real food, as is milk, cheese, etc. I know that its better organic, but thats too costly, so I use the cheaper stuff (probably with hormones unfortunately), but I use very little of it.

My downfall is cream in my coffee. I've tried skim milk, 2%, almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, lol. I have honest to goodness tried them all for weeks at a time, and I just can't do it! I've finally just allowed myself to use a tbsp of 10% when I have my coffee because I just don't like it any other way.

My other thing is chocolate! But I've been buying 70% and I'm surprised to find that I like it a lot (I used to be a milk chocolate girl). I used to scarf down a whole bar to satisfy my chocolate cravings, but with dark, I can have just a piece and thats enough. Must be because its so strong, lol.

To me, clean eating is just eating real (not fake) food, preferably organic and preferably as whole as humanly possible. I don't eat any "diet" foods, including FF stuff or artificial sweetners. That means I do eat real butter and honest to goodness, full fat cheese, I just eat it in very small portions. I can usually control myself around high fat ingredients like that.

My worst vice is probably sugar. I do have a sweet tooth. I've switched to sweeteners like agave and sucanat, but I still use more than I should. I'm gradually cutting back. For now, I just include the calories in my plan and don't stress over it.

The things I really can't control myself around are salty crunchy snacks like chips and even worse, sweet and salty stuff like kettlekorn or yogurt covered pretzels. I can find all natural versions of these at my local Whole Foods. I don't think they're necessarily clean, but at least they're not full of HFCS and stuff. Still, I try to stay away from them because I just can't control myself around them.

mine is Splenda. I really need to just make it happen and switch over to Stevia. I just really dislike the taste of Stevia.

As a reformed sugar addict (hardcore sugar addict) . . I'm finding that I still have trouble breaking the 'sweet' cycle. I'm definitely working on it though. I've been cutting WAY down! And I kicked the salad dressing habit! yay!

I have *thankfully* not had to deal with white bread yet .. but my downfall in that catagory would be sourdough bread .. warm, straight from the oven!! I would rather have white rice but I know that if its in the house i will eat it, so I dont buy it .. but yeah probably diet soda would definately be my must have :) .... on the whole margerine thing ... doesnt Tosca mention in her book to have Olive Oil margerine?

I don't think butter is unclean. Diet Soda? ablolutely unclean!! Butter is fine. It all depends on how much or how quickly you want to lose weight. But it's not unhealthy or unclean. We've been all brainwashed about saturated fats. Now margarine? BAD!! don't eat it!! That is my firm 2 cents!!

I think the unclean food that I find the hardest to resist and do cheat on sometimes is bread made with white flour like French or Italian breads. I can't resist when they are put on the table in front of me. Yum,yum yum!!

Mine would have to be hot chocolate. But I have begun using sugar free and like it. I add it to my coffee in the mrng and again in the evening. Helps with the 'gotta have something chocolate' craving.

So a lot of people dont eat 100% clean, What is your unclean must have? What are you not willing to give up?

I would have to say mine is probably butter and a diet soda every once in a while. I just like how things taste with butter instead of Olive Oil and I love diet dr. pepper!!!

So whats yours?!