Low carb, Atkins, Paleo – you’ve tried them all? The newest nutrition trend is called Clean Eating. However, Clean Eating is not another reduction diet, it’s a nutrition concept. The name says it all. If you want to knock your body into shape before summer comes, eating clean sounds like a plan.

It was Tosca Reno who popularized the Clean Eating concept & she believes that we should focus on natural, whole foods. This is not about avoiding calories, but rather processed and cured foods.

We’ve summed up the most important principles of Clean Eating for you.

1. Eat regularly, several times per day

Opt for 5 to 6 smaller meals per day. Ideally, you should eat every 2 to 3 hours. Don’t skip any meals — especially not breakfast. Plus, make sure you chew thoroughly; at least 25 times for each bite.

2. Opt for whole foods whenever possible

The food you ingest should be natural, unprocessed, unrefined and without additives. Freshly prepared or cooked foods available without packaging (especially plastic) are ideal.

3. Combine your ingredients wisely

Include lean protein and carbohydrates as high in fiber as possible in every meal. Fruits and vegetables on a daily basis are a must and when it comes to fats, go for vegetable fats like rapeseed oil for cooking, olive oil for your salads or avocado instead of butter. In general, stick to the following rule: less meat, but more veggies – always freshly prepared, if possible.

4. Don’t drink your calories

Another vital principle is to drink at least 2 liters per day. However, make sure you choose calorie-free drinks!

5. Avoid sugar, alcohol & the like

Try to avoid the following ingredients: sugar, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, saturated fats and sodium.

By the way, these Clean Eating principles coincide with the World Health Organization’s recommendations for a healthy diet. This means, those who eat clean will also benefit their health. Plus, it’s okay to have a few “non clean” treats every now and then.

Therefore, the 5:2 rule is a great starting point: Eat clean 5 days a week, and you can enjoy some “not clean” treats the other 2 days of the week.

Just try it out & let us know how you feel!

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