The Busy Person's Guide To Eating Cleaner & Healthier Foods

With our busy modern lives it’s no wonder that we regularly choose convenience foods to get us through the day.

Did you know that chemicals, preservatives, toxins, artificial sweeteners and food coloring, even pesticide residues are consumed every day by the average person?

It’s true.

It’s also logical that the more processed food we consume and the more fast food consume, the higher the level of these irritants we will be taking in to our bodies.

Unfortunately the human body can easily become overloaded with these things, and we can't remove these substances effectively - so they naturally start to build up.

When this happens, it becomes harder to lose weight because our metabolisms slow down.

The answer to this problem is to aim at eating less processed foods, and eat more healthy fresh foods.

To eat “cleaner” means to eat more unprocessed foods, organic foods and natural foods.

Remember that calorie counting isn't part of this clean eating way of life. Either is white flour, sugar, or rice, all of which are highly processed and lacking in the vital nutrients our body’s need.

Try to focus on organic produce that's pesticide free.

If possible use free range chicken, and hormone free organic beef, and diary products.

Some people think that eating cleaner foods means there’s less variety in your diet. But this is far from the case, as there's a vast variety of foods you can eat.

However, you will usually need to spare more time in preparing your foods – because you can’t just nip to a vending machine or canteen while you’re at work. Many people who aim to eat cleaner and healthier foods will take a small portable cooler to work, or a lunchbox containing their new healthy diet.

A good idea if you’re at work, is to pack your cooler with apples, bananas, berries, non-fat yogurt, baked chicken breast, and whole grain wraps. Add a container of shredded veggies in a tablespoon of olive oil and a half a lemon and you have the makings of a tasty chicken wrap with a mixed fruit compote. This will make a delicious (and healthy) meal.

Another alternative would be to substitute non-fat cottage cheese for the chicken and add a tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese to the veggies and you've got the basis for a quick and easy Italian salad.

If you’re aiming to eat cleaner then make sure you have bottled water with you all the time. By drinking more water, you’ll be flushing toxins out of your body. Drinking plenty of water also helps with weight loss in general, if that’s one of your aims.

You can freeze the bottles to keep them colder for longer. Just make sure you don't fill the bottle completely full before you freeze it, otherwise it will break the bottle due to water expansion.

Pack enough in your cooler, and you'll have enough food for a few healthy snacks, too. If you work in an office, you can even stock a drawer with non-perishable snacks like dried fruit and nuts – which are healthy, tasty, and will stop you sneaking off to a vending machine for an unhealthy treat.

Try to compose your meals and snacks with nutritional value. Make sure your diet includes protein, whole grain high fiber carbohydrates, and lots of produce.

Follow this simple guide, and you’ll be eating cleaner (and healthier) foods, as well also losing that extra weight in no time at all.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself having more energy and zest as well!