What You Need to Get Started with Clean Eating
There is really very little that you need to get started with a clean eating challenge. The thing you need the most is a good understanding of they types of foods you should be eating. We’ll take a look at the basics as far as what kitchen equipment you will need and a list of clean eating foods to get you started.
Good Attitude
Another important element is a good attitude during this process. Find joy in cooking and eating healthy foods for both you and your family. You deserve to be healthy and happy so make it a positive experience.
Equipment
It’s really nice to be able to cook or make anything that you are interested in making. If you wanted to make single servings of turkey meatloaf, then you need a muffin pan. If you want to make a breakfast smoothie you’d need a decent blender. If you want to make stir fry then you’d need a skillet or a wok. Veggie lasagna? You need a baking dish! So while you don’t need to have any special equipment, it’s nice to have some basics so that you aren’t limited when you begin looking at recipes.
Here is a good list to get you started on a well-equipped kitchen:
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- Good Knife Set including paring knife
- Crockpot or Slow Cooker
- Food Processor
- Rimmed Baking Sheet
- Baking or Casserole Dishes
- Nonstick Frying Pan
- Nonstick Saucepan
- Mixing Bowls
- Colander
- 4 or 5 Cutting Boards
- Muffin Pan
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- Vegetable Peeler
- Kitchen Shears
- Intant Read thermometer
- Wire Whisk
- Microplane Grater
- Potato Masher
- Spatula
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Wooden Spoons
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Healthy CookBooks
Healthy cookbooks are important to have in your possession so you have a good idea of what a clean eating recipes looks like. This will start to change your relationship with food over time by showing you foods that are healthy and tasty. The best cookbook for beginners would be The Whole30 – The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom. You can get that right here!
Time
Some of the daily challenges will require you to set aside a little bit of time. You’ll need time to plan meals, to prep meals and to shop. Don’t stress about this too much. Clean eating doesn’t have to be a complicated or time-consuming process, and we’ll share some tips and tricks to keep it simple.
You can spend less time prepping and making a meal than you would sitting in the drive-through waiting for lunch. You will also need to make time to shop for food. And again, we have some tips to make this as stress-free, and fun, as possible.
Accountability
It’s important to think about how you’re going to stay motivated during this challenge. There will be temptations. There will be bad influences and opportunities to step away from the challenge. Just remember that no one is making you do this challenge. You’re doing it because you want to look better, feel better, improve your health and lose weight.
By the end of this 30 day challenge you will have changed. You will have changed how you feel and the way you look at food.
You’re doing it for you! Decide how you’re going to hold yourself accountable. Some people find that public sharing and posting their successes, and mistakes, on social media helps. Others find that a journal can help them work through the ups and downs by writing about their experiences.
Join a Facebook group that does Clean Eating Challenges and can help you stay on track.
Others find that doing the challenge with a friend, or buying themselves a reward when they’re successful, works. Track your food, get social, or find some other tool to help you stay accountable. It can, and does, make a difference in your experience and your success.
Now that you know what to expect and how to prepare, it’s time to get right to it. Each day you’ll be adding to your lifestyle and creating a new habit. Some days will be more challenging than others. By the end of the month you will have embraced a new way of eating and you will have made some significant changes to your eating habits.
