How I've Changed My Relationship With Food and My Top 5 Tips to Begin Clean Eating

The majority of my life, I’ve had a pitiful relationship with food.  For as long as I can remember, food was comfort for me and I thought that it helped me feel better.  As an overweight child, I thought that it was just in my genes to be overweight.  As I became a teenager, I began to think that how I looked on the outside was a measure of my self-worth.  Throughout my teenage years, I put myself on so many diets that I can’t remember them all.  But I do remember about a year when I would only eat cereal, another year when I would only eat cheese toast and not much else.  I also remember time when I wouldn’t eat hardly anything at all.  Then there were times when I would snack throughout the day and exercise my little heart out after school to stay slim.  I had in my mind that this was the way to stay skinny.  Not eat much and exercise more.  Then college and pharmacy school came and food became more of a comfort and helped me cope with stress.  I continued to exercise but eventually my body couldn’t sustain what I had been doing to it.  Once I began working as a pharmacist, that stress became worse and I began snacking at work on junk food and sugary drinks to help me have the energy to make it through the day.  

This cycle continued for years until one night it all hit me like a ton of bricks about two and a half years ago.   I realized that I never had any energy.  I felt horrible.  I could barely make it through my hard workouts.  I weighed more than I had ever weighed in my life.  I was absolutely unhappy with how I felt.  And I was completely unhappy with how I looked.  This was the night that I drew the line in the sand and said enough was enough.  I woke up the next morning and began to learn about clean eating and how to nourish my body to feel better.  None of these changed happened overnight, but one by one these changes became habits.  Then I began to realize how good I felt and I’ve never looked back.  

Now, thirty five pounds lighter, with clean eating, portion control, amazing workouts and daily Shakeology, I’m healthier than I’ve ever been.  I feel better than I’ve ever felt.  This combination of daily habits is all that it takes for me to keep the 35 pounds off.

This is how I began clean eating two and a half years ago.  These are my top 5 tips to begin eating clean.

1.  Find tools and resources to learn about clean eating.  Books, blogs, magazines, etc are how I learned to eat clean.  I’m also a resource to help you learn about clean eating – I’m here to help!

2. Clean out your pantry and refrigerator.  Rid your house of processed foods.  If it’s not in your house, you can’t eat it and you probably won’t think about it.

3. Avoid added sugars and artificial sweeteners.  Added sugars are hidden in many foods we eat, reading the labels helps tremendously.  And we just don’t need artificial sweeteners, the chemicals aren’t good for us.

4. Avoid as many processed foods as you can.  Especially white breads, white flours, white pastas and boxed foods.

5. Eat foods in their whole, fresh state.  Fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients!

Simple Roasted Squash

You’ll be amazed at how simple this recipe is – yet it tastes SO GOOD!

Eating clean can be simple and can definitely taste delicious!

Roasted Squash and Zucchini

Ingredients:

Fresh squash and zucchini

Olive oil

Flavor god Italian Zest

Prep time: It depends on how neatly you arrange your squash rounds.  My sister came over tonight and laughed at my organized squash arrangement!

  

Directions: (No joke – it’s this easy!)

1.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees

2.  Line baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with coconut oil spray or olive oil spray

3.  Slice squash and zucchini into rounds (not too thick)

4.  Line rounds up on pan, overlapping each piece slightly so the air can circulate under

5.  Drizzle with olive oil

6.  Sprinkle with Flavor god Italian Zest

7.  Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how brown and crispy you prefer

This is one of my favorite side dishes to keep in the refrigerator to eat plain or make a little more exciting by adding to tomato sauce.

Enjoy!