Friends, gather round for some easy clean eating shortcuts. I mean, I really love a big fat cheeseburger every now and then, with a Diet Coke. But, the sodas and the burgers don’t usually leave me feeling healthy and energetic, and they definitely don’t leave me feeling swim-suit ready. So, though I’m not hard core or anything close to perfect, I try to stick to a fairly “clean” and wholesome diet most of the time. The definition of “clean eating” might be generally ambiguous, but for me it’s whole grains, fresh lean proteins, plenty of fresh produce, lots of water, less sugar, fewer refined white carbs, fewer preservatives & processing.
It’s not as complicated as you might think, this clean eating thing. Breakfast and snacks seemed to be our weak points, so here I’ve gathered a few of our favorite easy fixes for sprucing up our eating habits.
1. Pancakes. A major favorite at my house. Instead of enriched processed flour and high-sugar mixes, we really love this brand–I’ve found it at Costco and at Sam’s Club. My boys are crazy about it. To amp up the pancakes with extra power I often add mashed banana or a scoop of rolled oats to the batter, and they are amazing with blueberries. These are heartier, fluffier and more flavorful than typical store-bought mixes. My boys sometimes even enjoy them plain–without any syrup!
2. Greek yogurt. I personally don’t eat yogurt at all, but my husband and children love it. It was an easy thing to swap out high-sugar content regular yogurt for Greek yogurt. It’s higher in protein and lacks the refined and processed stuff that isn’t so great for you. We aren’t particular about the brand, really. My kiddos like any fruity kind, but my husband likes it plain. Sweeten with a little honey, add a little wholesome granola and fruit, use in smoothies, or use plain as a base for dips and dressings.
3. Multi-grain crackers and chips. It’s the crunchy-salty stuff that gets me every time. It’s a good thing I like these hearty, crispy, grainy types of crackers/chips for snacks, so I can leave the regular chips on the shelf. As satisfying as my favorite tortilla chips (and equally awesome with guacamole, fresh salsa, or hummus!) but contain good-for-you ingredients and none of the junk.
4. Pure maple syrup. Albeit pricier than the artificial stuff, we’ve found it really worthwhile. And delicious. Coffee drinkers–try it to sweeten your coffee in place of those little pink sugar packets or refined sugar! At our house, we love it on pancakes, over granola, on sweet potatoes, even on top of old fashioned oats. It has so much flavor over the artificially flavored brands, you’ll use less but enjoy it so much more. It’s a great way to enjoy a little sweetness in your clean eating habits.
For more clean-eating helps, check out my thoughts here.
This post is not sponsored by any entity, I’m just happy to share some of my favorite products for a healthier lifestyle. I’ve found all of these at both average grocery stores and big box stores like Costco and Sam’s, and Amazon. I’d love to know some of your favorite clean-eating fixes!
Kimberly
...by day, making a home where the buffalo roam. By night, pretty much the same thing, punctuated by the occasional fantasies of sunny beaches, italian movies and sparkling lemonade.
