Total Basset Case: Keepin it Clean {Eating}

Aug 15, 2013

Keepin it Clean {Eating}

So let me preface this with the fact that I am 0% an expert or doctor or a nutritionist.
This is just what has worked for us, the way we live life and eat day to day.

We embarked on the journey of exploring clean eating this past Spring. 
We took our time and scoured the internet for the ins and outs of clean eating, Whole 30 and paleo eating to determine which method was right for us and our life style.
At first glance, we thought Whole 30 was (and is) awesome BUT it was a little intense for us (example here). 

So after lots of reading and thinking, we decided that we would go the clean eating route with touches of paleo.
Basically we decide to follow some guidelines while also adjusting the plans to what worked best for our lifestyle, while keeping within the parameters of the two plans (to the best of our ability).
This is a good article comparing the two.

All in all, we wanted to be eating clean, non processed/refined, healthy food.

Honestly, clean eating wasn't all that different from how we were eating before we were just putting more thought in to what we were putting in our body.  As far as veggies, fruit and lean meat, that is what we eat 90% of the time any way so that was easy for us.
What we did get rid of and stop buying was bread and dairy products.

Now let me say, we obviously break these rules every now and again (specifically on weekends) but for the most part, we do our best to stay on track.
I am a big fan of the 80/20 rule.  That is what works the best for us; healthy wise and sanity wise.
Let's be honest, I need ice cream in my life every now and again.

We decided to go full force clean/paleo the month before we left for Australia.
(Well except my 1 diet coke a day because I just can't stop that terrible habit...I know, I know.)
Then when we returned it was all that much easier to jump right back into our clean ways.
Honestly, the first 3 days were rough and we sorta wanted to slap each other out of hunger.  BUT after that (and since then) it's been smooth sailing.
We both feel better all around, sleep better and are able to work out more efficiently.
They aren't kidding when they say you are what you eat.
It is to the point now that when we eat something that is greasy or fried or just not very clean, our bodies and can tell...
And to me that is the biggest selling point...if you are putting something in your system that you body is then totally shouldn't be in your body, right??
(This photo doesn't really have anything to do with this post except the fact that Floyd is ticked that we no longer have bacon or cheese in the house. Photo by Casey)

I promise clean/paleo eating isn't hard.  PROMISE.
It does take a little more time and a few more minutes in the grocery store but it's worth it.
And shockingly enough, our grocery bill ends up being about the same as it was before.
We do read a lot more labels now but I (dorkishly) find it fun to know what's going in our bodies.
If I can't recognize or pronounce an ingredient, there's a large change it isn't coming home with us. 

Here is what you will find in our house at any given time:
-veggies for days
-ground turkey/chicken
-chicken breasts
-lean lunch meat
-homemade mayo
-sweet potato waffles
-almond butter
-eggs, so many eggs
-homemade oat flour (for cooking)
-coconut oil/spray
-Luna bars
-0% milk fat Greek yogurt
-organic granola (no sugar)

Now I know that list isn't 100% clean/paleo but this is what is working for us.
There are TONS of great resources online for recipes, articles, shopping lists and support.

Again, I am no expert, nor a doctor and we clearly have our splurges and hiccups BUT we've been doing this for a while now and it's really working for us.
And believe me, the benefits far out way the work.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

AND! To get one lucky reader started off on the right track, eMeals is offering up a 3 month subscription for one of their plans! How awesome is that?! I would go with the clean eating if I were you ;)
Just follow eMeals on Pinterest  and for an extra entry tell me which plan you would choose!
I'll use to choose a winner and announce on Monday!
And if you can't wait for the winner, you can sign up with eMeals here!
Seriously, the recipes I've been getting are amazing and so delicious!

And I have to give a big thank you to Lauren who I turned too when we embarked on this clean/paleo journey.  She is a wealth of knowledge and answered a ton of questions for me. 


Lauren {Stylized Existence} said...

i am really proud of yall for sticking with it - in the end, it is really about what you can manage and it seems you guys have really made a big change but still allowed yourselves sanity and have not taken the fun out of eating. GREAT JOB! and thank you for the shoutout - you're the ;)

Jess said...

What are some go to lunch items you eat?

Audra said...

I recently had to give up dairy because I'm nursing our daughter who has a slight allergy to it, and I can't believe the difference! I eat pretty clean for the most part, but cutting out dairy has been a real game changer. I've dropped the last of my baby weight and I swear my muffin top went away overnight. Thanks for sharing some ideas, I love reading about what other clean eaters eat. And don't worry about the Diet Coke thing, if someone told me I had to give up my coffee I'd probably go on a rampage.

Just saying hi because I just found out you're another Columbus blogger! :)

k8te said...

this is great, we have also been trying to eat cleaner...but still are eating some processed stuff (instant oatmeal, coucous, etc) here and there! i second the other commenter, would love to hear what you're eating for lunch! i am not a fan of leftovers (bratty, i know!), so packing a clean lunch is hard for me!

Lauren {Stylized Existence} said...

Lunch ideas:
-Tuna salad with HOMEMADE mayo (don't use hellmans or anything made with canola oil) - i love this recipe Eat over lettuce or spinach.
-Chicken salad (with walnuts, grapes, and celery) with homemade mayo.
-Lettuce wraps with buffalo chicken, avocado, and tomatoes inside (make buffalo chicken in crockpout)
- Big salads with grilled chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, carrots + italian viniagrette
- Egg salad with homemade mayo
- Lunchmeat roll ups (but with QUALITY lunch meat - not regular deli) - roll sliced veggies or avocado inside lunch meat
Here are a few links with more ideas:

Jordon said...

LOVE this post. In the past month or so I have definitely been more conscious of what I am eating and I can tell a huge difference. I definitely am a FIRM believer in the 80/20 plan because I would go crazy otherwise!!

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

I'm not the girl who's cutting out bread or pasta or rice, but I don't eat as much of it as I used to. I try to eat more veggies and lean protein and fruit.

Those sweet potato banana waffles look fabulous! Pinned.

Kayla Peveler said...

That is AWESOME girl! I'll have to try the sweet potato waffles, they sound amazing!! Caleb and I don't follow a "set diet" we just eat cleaner than normal and track everything. It's working for us! :)

Erin said...

this is how i eat pretty much all of the time, my boyfriend is having a really hard time getting on the bandwagon though!!!

Danielle Carroll said...

Sarah, this sounds so much like what Steven and I do too. Just healthy, clean foods but following Paleo guidelines a bit too. I tell people we follow a Paleo and/or Candida free lifestyle and the results have been absolutely amazing!! We feel so great compared to just one year ago and look better too ;)

Erin LFF said...

Thanks for sharing girl! I'm really struggling to eat a lot better, but we're slowly making the right changes. I'm definitely going to check out all your links though and try to learn even more too!

Candice Williams said...

My best friend has been doing Paleo for years and years. Before anyone really knew what it was. She has tons of food allergies and she swears by it. I'm a vegetarian so it is a no go really for me but I do clean it and it has made all the difference in how I look and feel!

Allison said...

I loved what you said about wanting to slap each other with hunger. Hahahahahha. It sounds like you two are rocking the healthy eating. I have been working so hard to give up Dt. Coke and have done pretty good, but I still have them whenever I eat certain foods...aka the ones that aren't healthy. Guess I should just eliminate both and be done with it. Haha.

Marianna Dunn said...

I feel ya on the diet coke. So bad but so good!! And I would choose the gluten free plan! But I've been looking at emeals for months now, wanting to give it a try!

Lainey said...

I followed on pinterest.

Lainey said...

I would definitely choose the Clean Eating Plan. I have been trying to do this myself and it would be great to have the help of eMeals.