Christmas and New Year's eve are both times to indulge in your favourite food. In the holiday season, people tend to crave fatty, carb-loaded foods that tick all the boxes of "comfort food". And when it comes time to snack; salty fried treats or cheesy snacks are always easily available at hand. A positive way to start the New Year is to try your hand at "clean eating". Clean eating isn't a diet or a fad, it is a constructive lifestyle choice one should make. It is eating a healthy and fresh diet loaded with vegetables, grains, proteins and healthy fats. Clean eating is an easy lifestyle choice to maintain as it just involves the cutting out of processed food.
If you're wondering why it is important to switch over to a clean eating diet; it is simply because it is an easy way to flush out excess toxins from your body. Foods available in the supermarket are usually over-processed and come loaded with calories and sugars. They lack basic nutrients – which are stripped away when the foods are processed. A majority of the vegetables incorporated in processed food are also treated with harmful pesticides.
Clean eating also increases the body's immunity and boosts your all-round health. You will feel instantly better once you cut out sugary snacks, biscuits, chips and salted snacks. Good, healthy, pesticide-free nourishes your body and gives you more energy. The key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to consistently eat clean. Finding alternatives to curb your sugar and salt cravings are not difficult. Options are easy to find once you open your laptop and do a little research.
To start, load up on nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables (leafy and green are the best!), nuts, pulses and hormone-free dairy. There are many brands in the market today that focus on pesticide-free vegetables and healthy alternatives to snacks. Introducing your children to clean eating early ensures that it is a path that they will choose for themselves in the future. The first step to transitioning into clean eating is to cut out ordering in food. When you cook your food, you are best aware of exactly what is going into your meal. Scour your vicinity for farmer's markets or organic brands of vegetables, fruits and pulses. Taking up this challenge as a family will increase the chances of maintaining your resolve to eat healthy together.