Guest Post: Clean Eating Survival Guide

I'm very excited to have Karly of Clean Eating Survival Guide here today sharing some shopping tips for clean meals and snacks.  Follow her on instagram to see great recipes, snack ideas, and inspiration for clean meals.  Next week I will share part 2 of this guest post with a shopping list of clean options for each food category (protein, etc.)

 Your Clean Eating Shopping List Survival Guide

People often use excuses as to why they can’t eat healthy, most commonly- “It is too expensive” or “I don’t know what to buy at the grocery store”. I have to admit, I have used these excuses plenty of times to the point where it is ridiculous but after being well off on my way on my clean eating “journey”, I have found that eating clean and buying my groceries instead of eating out has saved me A LOT of money and it will save you money too!

 For those who do not know where to start when ‘clean eating’ grocery shopping, I have provided a list of grocery items that are essential for clean eating. Please note; you don’t have to buy all the items on the list, pick and choose to your taste!

Tips:

♥ Plan ahead; Write a meal plan before hand and check off what you already have in the house, that way your not going to buy something you’ve already got in the house or of similar use

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♥ Don’t ever go shopping on an empty stomach or go shopping in a bad mood – the worst possible thing to do!! I eat clean 99% of the time and I still seem to end up in the chocolate isle when I’m starving or feeling down!

♥ Less is more! I used to always go to the grocery store and buy a heap of fancy ingredients I never used to use; I mean who has time these days to make fancy food during the week? I always stock up on protein and veggies because if I’m stuck for time it takes not very long to prepare a bowl of veggies and a piece of chicken or meat for my lunch for the next day.

♥ Get rid of all Junk food in your pantry and kitchen to avoid binge eating or resorting to it when you haven’t prepared anything else!

♥ Know how to read the nutritional label on foods; Firstly concentrate on the list of ingredients section- if sugar is the 2^nd or 3^rd main ingredient obviously this product is packed full of sugar and is not clean. After that then you can concentrate on the table of sugar, fats, carbs etc.

♥ When grocery shopping buy your favorite chocolate bar, ice cream or ingredients for your favorite meal and set a meal time and day to have this “cheat” food – Everyone is allowed a cheat meal it keeps us sane! 

Quick Recap of my week:

I had decided as part of the Pinterest Challenge hosted by Merrick and her sisters I would start tracking my progress regularly for my workouts.  I am happy to share that in my first week of tracking (fourth week of consistent weight training, strength training, and running) I have lost 1/2 inch in my waist and 3 pounds!  I still have a long way to go, but I'm trying really hard to do this the healthy way by eating clean, making exercise a lifestyle, and living by the 80/20 rule.

I also joined up with Nikki and Manda for the #30in30 challenge.  The goal is to complete 30 miles in 30 days any way you like.  I love to run so that is my method of choice.  However, some girls are biking, walking, swimming, etc.  I encourage you to join up!  You can follow each of them via blog land, twitter, or instagram to get motivation.  And if you like you can follow me- I'm constantly sharing recipes, food prep ideas, fitness motivation, and pictures of my pups.  ;o) So far this week I've completed: 4 miles (I've decided only to include my deliberate runs, no dog walking or leisure walks)

I love using Nike+ to track my runs.  If you use it my name is coachg13.  We can cheer each other on! I've also been doing my Jillian Michaels workouts when I can't get a run in and I've been sticking to my new strength training, core routine.  I'm seeing great results (as you can read above) and can't wait to see what the measurements read next week!

How have you done this week?  Keep up the good work, ladies, and link up below! <center> <a href="http://sweettea-lemonade.blogspot.com"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aIv8kbAwnUU/UMDUOF6SFfI/AAAAAAAACXg/wcQwoBS2TNI/s320/running3.jpg" /></a></center>