How to eat clean

By Mandy Matthews

The fresh aroma from heirloom tomatoes simmering into a colourful combination of peppers, mushrooms and onions may be defeated by a single slice of chocolate cake. However, for a collection of people living and eating clean every day, chocolate is a desirable image in their dreams.

The comforting taste of fresh baked cookies in autumn does not change Pina Ciotoli’s lifestyle. While helping manage the WindsorEats online culinary guide, Ciotoli has made the decision to eat a gluten-free organic diet. She said she cannot remember what the inside of a McDonald’s looks like.

“I don’t think I am a food snob, I just have a real appreciation for food and food culture,” said Ciotoli.

Clean eaters plan ahead, read labels to spend money wisely and learn to cook with fewer ingredients. The fastest growing method is to eat a lot of plants, include meats and enjoy grains.

The satisfaction of making clean-eating strawberry ice cream is just as good as it tastes for the 38-year-old cookbook author and food blogger. Designer of the website The Gracious Pantry, Tiffany McCauley’s favourite place to be is the kitchen. She said sometimes it is still a struggle to keep a healthy diet and admits to not being perfect.

“The biggest difference I’ve noticed is in my approach to food,” said Ciotoli. “I now look at food as nourishment instead of comfort. That’s an important distinction for a lot of people to make.”

When the clock is ticking faster than you are, drive-thrus seem to be the fastest option. Maybe instead of crispy chicken, you will pick the grilled alternative. Clean-eating devotees prepare many of their meals ahead of time. Simple items every foodie has in their cupboards are salad dressing, brown rice and freezer leftovers. Clean eating is a simple concept of eating food the way nature intended.

Ciotoli prepares for every harvest by planning ahead. For autumn she has stocked up her pantry with spices, gluten-free flour and coconut sugar to bake delicious pumpkin favourites.

“You make a decision to have a change in diet… that requires you accommodating that change,” said Ciotoli. “It’s not going to be as easy as me going to the grocery store and grabbing frozen food. Instead my meals are planned out.”

She said since the decision to change her diet she has lost weight and feels less bloated, less tired and happier. Ciotoli is also part of meat shares and chicken co-ops. Although most of the farms she goes to are on the outskirts of the city, she still thinks saving money on processed foods is worth spending on the extra whole goods.

McCauley said she did not know how to cook when she started and claimed her first attempts at cooking and clean eating were complete disasters.

“If you care about being healthy, you absolutely must care about the food you put in your mouth. Our bodies need real food,” said McCauley. “It’s really as simple as that.”