The Cleaner Life Month
4 Jun
You may have noticed that I’ve been talking a lot about processed foods lately. Lately I feel like I’ve been eating more processed food than I should. I’ve been trying to cut certain things out of my life (sweet n’ low) but at the same time, I’ve been too quick to add “convenience foods” into my life. Buying lunches here and there. Eating out at Panera. I know that sometimes you have to eat out. But I haven’t HAD to do anything. I’ve left good food sitting in the refrigerator so I can have the convenience of a salad that’s made especially for me.
When Hangry Pants left a comment on a recent blog post about an eating clean challenge, I was totally up for it. I emailed her and before I knew it, I was reviewing her guidelines and tweaking them to fit mine. I’ll be honest: this challenge is really scary to me. There are a lot of changes I’ll need to make, and it will be a lot of hard work. And with some upcoming events in Lobster Land (Bonnaroo, visiting with family, 4th of July), I’m nervous that I won’t be able to follow this plan 100%. But as Heather said, it’s more about thinking and “not just automatically eating goldfish because they’re there.” So you know what, why not. I’m going to do this.
Below are the Hangry Pants challenge guidelines. I have tweaked Heather’s guidelines to fit what I’m trying to accomplish. I am going to follow this program the best I can.
Food Goal: Reduced Consumption of Processed Foods & Toxins
-
Milk
-
Less soy in general and no tofu. Switching to organic milk.
-
Be more aware of the hidden soy in products.
-
-
Sweeteners
-
No artificial sweetener including sweet n’low in my lattes and/or coffee (which I’ve already begun to do!), diet coke, diet tea (!!), etc.
-
No white sugar.
-
If I buy something in a package it should have organic sugar in the raw, honey or maple syrup.
-
If I bake something for myself I will use agave or natural sugars like bananas.
-
-
Bread
-
No white flour.
-
Try to get mostly organic wheat bread and other whole grains.
- Begin baking my own bread with natural and organic ingredients.
-
-
Processed Foods
-
The no white flour rule applies to all foods. Along with Heather, I want to drastically reduce my packaged & processed foods intake, which includes crackers and granola bars (that contain many ingredients). These are my two quick “go-to snacks.” I want them out of my life! If I must have something processed, it will be organic.
-
-
Caffeine
-
Max 12 ounces per coffee/day. No sweet n’low!
-
-
Produce
-
Purchase mostly certified organic or local produce.
- I will more than likely join a CSA, which is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. This will give me the opportunity to do so.
- Visit more farmer’s markets on the weekend. There is one within five minutes walking distance from my apartment, and I’ve never gone!
-
Product Goal:
-
Research products before I buy them.
- Always check the ingredient list.
Heather is doing something with Paraben, Petrochemical & Sulfate Free products. I don’t know much about that, so I am going to read about her experiences and maybe change this guideline down the road. For now, I’ll just research it.
Why I’m Doing this Challenge
- I want to quit eating convenient foods that are not convenient for my body.
- I want to stop wasting produce and instead cook more regularly and eat meals that are mostly made from my two hands.
- I want to know where my food is coming from.
- I want to know what ingredients are going into my body.
- I want to feel better physically.
Hey, maybe this challenge will help me sleep? You never know!
The Cleaner Life Month runs from June 8 – July 8. This is a very busy time for both Heather and me – as we both have parties and countless celebrations. We both know this won’t be an easy month for either one of us, but we’re up for the challenge.
And I’m pretty excited about pairing up with Heather for an official Hangry Pants Challenge. I’m sure to learn a lot and think more deeply about what I’m eating.
Good luck with your challenge! Those are some great ideas and I wish you the best of luck.
AWESOME CHALLENGE! I’ve been feeling similarly myself and have tried to incorporate some similar changes. I can’t wait to follow along
That sounds like a great challenge! Good luck
this sounds awesome! I’m totally up for something like this. I ‘ve been trying to do more things like this anyways, but maybe this is the kick I need
check this out:
http://www.hungryhungryhippie.com/2009/05/caribbean-solutions.html
if you want more info on other paraben free products hit up any whole foods or health market. there are lots of good options out there!
This is such an awesome idea! I am going to think about my own goals and tweak these for my own I think. I think it’s such a good idea to work towards a cleaner lifestyle!
Great challenge!! Good luck. I love that you are focusing on bringing a new awareness to your eating habits. I can’t wait to hear how awesome you feel by cutting out the white sugar and flour.
Also, I finally started a blog, the Spice of Strength! (YAY!) Check it out sometime! There isn’t too much on it yet since I JUST started two days agao. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
http://thespiceofstrength.wordpress.com
LOVE IT! I’m in, but may become murderous after 1 day without diet coke. Just a warning
Can I still drink wine?!!?!?!
This is an excellent challenge. I feel like I eat well but there are still so many processed things in my life. I’m going to try to cut out tofu and soy milk, even though I enjoy them. Good luck!
Good luck! I know you ladies will do amazing!
I think that is a great idea!! I’d love to try the challenge, but I think I already do it!! (Minus a few organic granola bars here and there!) It makes me feel AMAZING I had to start eating like that becase of my stomach problems….changed my life!
You are so cute, Rose! I wish you had time to meet up with me. If you’d like to on your way back my cell number is still the same!
Yay for you! I’m trying to make a lot of changes like this myself, though not quite as officially.
Way to go on taking on a new challenge. Just curious, why are you so down on soy? It seems to me that it has benefits in addition to its potential drawbacks.
I’m excited to hear more about this challenge! I’m making a personal push toward eating more locally right now, and that tends to eliminate a lot of processed foods by default. It’s definitely going to be a challenge.
Great goals! Good luck!
good luck.
you will feel so so so much better.
I have to say I KNOW
Im not entirely processedfree (by any stretch) but for ME Im less processed than a few years ago and feel far better!!
I think these are great changes! I have been trying to do most of this for awhile, but I definitely still slip up here and there… the biggest problem for me is the expense… but I think you’ll feel a dramatic difference as you switch to more whole and less processed foods.
Is polenta okay? I’m not really clear on what polenta is just yet… And do you think you’ll also cut back on meat or does that not go with this scheme?
Awesome girls! You will both rock this!
I am curious to learn more about hidden soy! What do I look for, is it disguised as another name? And what about cane sugar? If I buy something that has sugar in it, I want it to be either honey or organic pure cane sugar instead of refined icky stuff.
Rose I bet you’ll notice a big difference in how you feel and I wouldn’t be surprised if this helps you sleep better and reduce the tum troubles.
awesome challenge girl! im going to try and incorporate these into my daily eating/living habits! you guys are awesome!!!
I LOVE this challenge. I’m trying to eat cleaner myself. No tofu though? What will you do on Tuesdays???
Good luck, Rose! I need to start eating cleaner too, so maybe I’ll try to cut back along with y’all… anxious to see how this month goes!
wow! I commend you, Rose! GOOD LUCK! I’m excited to follow along
Wow, good luck! I would recommend seeing what you can do and don’t kick yourself if something doesn’t work out. I think becoming more aware of labels is really good – I too have started to realize that certain products just aren’t worth it.
I’m definitely going to do something like this as well, but I haven’t thought it through yet.
Are you still accepting guest posts for your vacation week?
I’ll be joining you guys!
Love this challenge, Rose and Heather! I thought I didn’t eat many processed foods, but when you mentioned crackers, granola bars, soy milk and tofu (all things I eat a lot of) I was shocked. Clearly I need to take a closer look at what I am putting into my body. Thanks for the reminder, I’m looking forward to observing your progress and making changes to my own eating habits as well.
June seems to be a challenge month, everyone is doing some kind of challenge! good luck to all of us!
I love the idea of doing this challenge. I need awhile to plan it out, but may join you in a week or 2. I have already cut out sugar and tofu/soy (I miss my silken tofu smoothies!)
My husband and I are doing a mini challenge- from now until the end of June we are going to take advantage of the longest days of the year by doing outdoor activity every evening, to squeeze out every last bit of daylight. It doesn’t seem like much of a challenge, but after working 11-12 hours a day, sometimes the last thing I want is to be active! I am sure we will be thankful when its dark at 4 this winter