This Is What a Day of Clean Eating Looks Like

It’s easier than you think.

Clean eating is great, but I try not to be strict about these things because otherwise they become suffocating instead of empowering, but I like structure and routine as they help me make sure I’m happy with what I’m eating on a daily basis.

Breakfast
Eggs people. Eggs are the best thing ever. Unless you’re a vegan, in which case they aren’t. Eggs are versatile. You can make egg tacos, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, omelettes…I’ll stop now.

Beyond their versatility, eggs are full of protein and low in fat. I mean it doesn’t get sexier than that.

So I always start with eggs. Then I add something green. Maybe a plate of spinach and arugula with some olive oil, or peas if I want something with a little fiber that will keep me full.

As a rule, I stick to water until 8am, when I arrive at the office.

Snack
Okay so don’t freak out, but I don’t snack. Unless I’m indulging. I’m usually not hungry until lunch, but I can pretty much guarantee that at exactly 12 midday, like clockwork, my stomach will roar.

Lunch
Yes, I’m one of those people who makes my own lunch every day. No, I don’t spend my entire weekend meal-prepping. I usually make my lunch while I make my breakfast. To make it easy, I tend to just put stuff in the oven. It’s a simple mathematic equation when it comes to my lunch: Protein + Carb + Fat. Usually in that order. When it comes to protein I usually eat a chicken breast or a salmon fillet, as they’re fairly low in fat, and good whole food sources of protein. For carbs, I turn to vegetables – think a head of broccoli, or some beets. Fat tends to come in sauce form, like an olive oil-based sauce. I pretty much chop the vegetables, place them and the protein on a lined baking sheet, sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and herbs, and then drizzle lightly with olive oil and cook in the oven for 30 minutes or so.

Snack
Once again, I usually try to avoid snacking, but if I do feel the need to indulge, the office always has a fruit basket or bowls filled with nuts. The perfect quick and healthy pick-me-up.

Dinner
Admittedly dinner is where I tend to be more lenient about what I’m eating, but I still try to stick to eating clean. Take tonight’s dinner for example; cauliflower steaks, topped with caramelised onions, pan-fried chickpeas and chili-infused tomato sauce. Filling, delicious, clean.

Drinks
Lots of water. Like a crap ton. Two mugs full before I leave home in the morning, around four more between arriving at the office and eating lunch, and then two or three in the afternoon before leaving work. I tend to have a maximum of 3 cups of coffee spread throughout the day. Then I drink tea after dinner (not as a rule, but that’s usually what happens).

Et voilà!

Why not give it a try? Here, I even had our nutritionist Frida put together a clean eating shopping list for you:

1 tray of large eggs
1 pack of salmon fillets
1 pack of chicken breasts
1 pack of corn on the cob
1 pack of cherry tomatoes
1 head of broccoli
1 head of cauliflower
5 large carrots
1 large sweet potato
1 bunch fresh beets
1 bunch fresh radish
1 large bag of arugula
1 large bag of spinach
2 cans of chickpeas
1 bottle of olive oil
5 apples
1 bunch of bananas
5 oranges
1 pack frozen peas
1 bag almonds

Can you think up any fun clean eating recipes to try?

Check out the recipes page in the app for more inspiration!

/Femi, The Girl Who Hates Working Out

RELATED: This Is Why Healthy Eating Sucks, And How To Fix It

Make clean eating easy with Lifesum. Click here to find out why you should be using a fitness tracker app!